The Seal of Roxbury

It's only been two weeks, but I still really dig my new job. What I like best - other than the flexible hours, working from home, and meeting new people around the city - is that I'm constantly learning.Yesterday, for example, I was given a copy of this image. It's the old seal of Roxbury when it was still an independent city. I wish I understood enough Latin to read the inscription. I'd also like to know who or what this woman represents. Even without knowing any of that, the drawing of the old city is cool. I'm guessing the train running across the middle of the image is the predecessor of the current Southwest Corridor line.

The woman who gave the image to me reminded me that all cities and towns in Massachusetts have had a seal, so that got me thinking about the official seals for all the other formerly-independent cities and towns which no longer exist. It'd be cool to see the old seals for the other neighborhoods which were absorbed into Boston (West Roxbury, Charlestown, Dorchester, show me what you got!). And what about those four towns that were drowned to create the Quabbin Reservoir? They must've had something, too.

Comments

[alkali]

"Roxbury trusts to God and its right arm."

[Saxetum = Latin for rocky place, hence Roxbury.]

[3D]

Hmm...interesting. Thanks for the translation.

[Dave]

The Dorchester town seal can be found here:
http://www.dorchesteratheneum.org/page.php?id=237

[3D]

Thanks, Dave.

[MarkB]

I just went to a talk by the people from the City Archive in West Roxbury. One of the archivists just found a copy of the seal of the Town of West Roxbury. It was very plain - just West Roxbury and some dates. Maybe they just didn't get around to a fancier seal before annexation.

[3D]

Hey Mark,

Thanks for posting. If you find the seal online, please send the link.

[Jason Turgeon]

I'm working on a better translation of the seal. "Dextris" can mean "right hand" but it also has connotations of generally being right or correct or just. It's a bit over my head so I've asked for some professional help, if I get a reply I'll post it here.

The ordinance approving the seal is online here: http://www.archive.org/stream/citydocuments5519roxb#page/72/mode/1up

There is a bit of an explanation of the image, and apparently the seal was dreamed up by B.E Cotting, MD.