"Pierre" Maturin took some considerable fortune with him to Ireland in 1718/19 investing in property and position to establish his family in his adopted country. By 1724 he had accepted the deanery of Killala and in 1728 he applied for his arms
"To all and singular to whom these Presents shall come, William Hawkins, Esq, Ulster King of Arms of all Ireland, sendeth greetings. Whereas the Rev Peter Maturin, Dean of Killala, son of the Rev Gabriel Maturin, descended from an ancient Family of Mont Auriol in Guienne, not being certain with what colours his Paternal Arms are depicted, being a Chevron between two Martlets and a Mount, hath requested me to assign to the said Arms such colours as he may bear them without prejudice to any Person: KNOW THEREFORE, that I, the said King of Arms, by the power and authority to me granted under the Great Seal of this Kingdom, do assign and confirm unto him, the said Peter Maturin, the arms as before depicted, (viz) Argent (silver) a chevron between two Martlets (1) in Chief (at the top) Gules (Red) and a Mount in Base Proper (2), and for his Crest, on a Wreath Argent and Gules a horse full speed Argent with Motto (MINATUR) (4) . Which Arms and Crest may be borne by him, the said Peter Maturin, and his Posterity for ever, they bearing their due distinctions according to the Law of Arms. IN TESTIMONY WHEREOF, I have hereunto put my Hand and Seal of Office, this 6th day of February, 1728.
W. M. HAWKINS, Ulster King of Arms of all Ireland
(1) Swallows or martins in English heraldry but - as this was a French family - possibly "merlettes" young blackbirds, but again this may be just a pun if the birds are "orioles" in "Mont Auriol")
(2) A proper looking mountain, referring to Mont Auriol, at the bottom
(3) The bent barbers' pole in silver and red under the horse
(4) The anagram of Maturin being Latin for "He is threatened")
The "horse at full speed" became a well-used family symbol e.g. on the family graves at Gartan, Donegal and the signet rings of Henry Gabriel Maturin and Dudley de Mestre.
Maturin-Baird
When Charles Maturin married the heiress Jane Baird in 1848 the Maturin arms were quartered with those of Daniel Baird of Boom Hall, Londonderry.
"Arms on record in Ulster's Office. - Quarterly: 1st and 4th, per fesse or (the top third in gold) and gules (red) a boar passant proper between two crescents in chief of the second, and a dagger in the base of the first, Baird; 2nd and 3rd, Argent a chevron between two martlets in chief gules and a mound in the base proper, Maturin.
Crests. - 1, A boar's head erased proper between two branches of shamrock vert, Baird; 2, A horse at full speed argent, Maturin.
Mottoes.- Vi et virtute; Minatur"
The Maturin Arms and Crest
