Genealogy - A Message From the Site Owner

Why is there more than one version of the Satterlee Coat of Arms displayed on this site?

If you have read the description of the Blazon of Arms and have read the other material on the use of the Coat of Arms, you have probably been able to discern the answer to this question for yourself:  There are differences of opinions among experts, historians, and family members on what the Coat of Arms for the family should look like.  I have no intention of telling anyone what is "right" or what is "wrong".  You are undoubtedly a fairly intelligent person.  Make your own decision.  Base that decision on any facts or emotion that you want.  Make it for yourself.  I have made my decision and it is displayed on this site. 

When I started this site, I had no intention of immersing myself in this controversy.  Honestly, I didn't even perceive it as a point of controversy.  I have seen three versions of the Satterlee Coat of Arms.  I have heard from three groups of people -- two groups telling me I'm wrong.  One telling me not to listen to the other two.  Now I don't mind people making suggestions to me.  I don't even mind it when someone points out that I have made an error in stating a fact.  I start out by assuming that the individual doing so has good intentions and also some factual evidence to offer that will assist us in jointly pursuing the truth.  I also have nothing but respect for those people should we come to different conclusions based on the available evidence.  What I don't particularly care for is a rude discourse bordering on a tirade and descending into rudeness and harassment that is wholly undignified of anyone who would make claim to any version of the Satterlee Coat of Arms.  I see this as having no place here.  Sadly, there are a couple of individuals who prefer to operate in the less respectful manner.  This truly troubles me.

My Dad introduced me to an interesting philosophy  when I was young.  It was the Holy Rule of Saint Benedict.  I share my Dad's fondness for an excerpt from Chapter 61: 

If a monk who is a stranger, arriveth from a distant place and desireth to live in the monastery as a guest, and is satisfied with the customs he findeth there, and doth not trouble the monastery with superfluous wants, but is satisfied with what he findeth, let him be received for as long a time as he desireth. Still, if he should reasonably, with humility and charity, censure or point out anything, let the Abbot consider discreetly whether the Lord did not perhaps send him for that very purpose. If later on he desireth to declare his stability let his wish not be denied, and especially since his life could be known during his stay as a guest.

But if during the time that he was a guest he was found to be troublesome and disorderly, he must not only not associate with the monastic body but should even be politely requested to leave, that others may not be infected by his evil life.
 

You are welcome to be here.  You are welcome to point out anything you would like to have improved.  You are welcome to contribute content.  But please, do not expect me to be the least bit tolerant of anybody's intolerance with myself or with others here.  The words of St. Benedict outline my hopes for the manner in which those who use this site will respond to any content left by anyone here.

Given the great diversity of those who bear this great  family name -- diversity in every respect of the word -- it may be the wiser course to celebrate our differences of opinion and rejoice in our common heritage than to bicker about how the family coat of arms should "really" look.  You may not realize it, but those who bear the name of Satterlee represent many faiths, many races, many interests, and many abilities.  Our forefathers would no doubt look at us in amazement if they could see what has become of their family.  I certainly hope that through our individual and collective actions they would look on us with pride.

I for one, prefer to celebrate and rejoice about our great family heritage rather than respond to those who seem to think they are entitled to dictate who is "right" and who is "wrong" in this disagreement.  You are entitled to do as you wish.  Please allow me and the other members of your extended family the same courtesy.

My hopes in offering this site to you to and the public is to serve as a point of contact for all Satterlee's.  I want this to be a community.  A place where people can share information on their ancestry.  A gathering place for family.    I know that sometimes family members have their differences.  More than anything I want this place characterized by mutual respect and caring.  

I want us all to try to live up to the ideals of our ancestors as symbolized in the Coat of Arms, whichever version you choose for yourself.  Some of them actually earned the right to bear the symbol by their work and deeds.  Perhaps those of us who follow them and use it by virtue of birth, at least owe it to their memories to strive for the ideals embodied in the symbol.

 

Sincerely,

 

William Thomas Satterlee