In blue a silver bend sinister, charged with a red sword; the bend above accompanied by an ‘anvil’ and beneath with a ‘mercuriushelm’, all of gold. The crest hanging from a black belt on an ‘orange branch’.
Motivation: Used are the colors of the Coat of Arms from ‘Dongeradeel’ (and from the ‘Friese flag’), the silver Bend Sinister with the red sword symbolizes the ‘Kollumer rebellion’ of which ‘Johannes Wessels’ took part and for which he was arrested. It also symbolizes the spirit and thoroughness of the family. The color red symbolizes the blood that was drawn there and also the color of the ‘pompebled’ in the ‘friese flag’. The ‘anvil’ symbolizes the blacksmith he was and of which the name ‘Smedema’ was originated. It also symbolizes the sterling character and technical insight. The ‘mercuriushelm’ stands for salesman and commercial spirit, he had his own smithy. The ‘orange branch’ stands for those who are ‘Orangists’ as those who took part of the ‘Kollumer rebellion’ were for the ‘Principality’ or against the ‘radicals’, but also for loyalty.
The above Coat of Arms (COA) was applied for by ‘Hans Smedema’ (rightful descendent from ‘Johannes Wessels’) born at Leeuwarden on 27 march 1948, who allows in conformity with heraldic rules, all descendents of ‘Johannes Wessels’ to use it. It is approved by the ‘Fryske Rie foar Heraldyk’ at Leeuwarden and is published in the ‘Genealogysk Jierboek’ of 2004.
It may be used solely by all agnate (direct male) descendents of ‘Johannes Wessels’ born in ‘Morra’, municipality ‘Oostdongeradeel‘ on 16 December 1764. He adopted on 13 December 1811 the name ‘Smedema’. He was married on 24 may 1801 with ‘Lutske Geerts’ born in ‘Westergeest’ in 1774, who’s family in 1811 adopted the name ‘Ludema’. ‘Johannes Wessels’ died on 20 February 1827 in ‘Morra’ and his wife ‘Lutske Geerts’ died on 19 may 1840 also in ‘Morra’.
The crest was designed and drawn in accordance with standard heraldic demands by ‘Rudolf J. Broersma’, drawing master of the ‘Fryske Rie foar Heraldyk’.
