by Elizabeth Nicholson White is a book of 130 pages,
printed in Pro\'idence in 1930.
The following lectures have been given before the
Society.
January 1-1-. The English Homes of the New England
Settlers by Capt. G. Andrews Moriarty, Jr.
February 16. Forty Years of Rhode Island Art by
Sydney R. Burleigh.
March 9. Early American Music by John B. Archer,
assisted by Ada Holding Miller, Soprano,
April 8. Rhode Island's Early Defenders by Brig. Gen.
John J. Richards.
Three special committees have been appointed this year.
The Entertainment Comniittee:
Mrs. Edward E. Johnson, Chairman
Mrs. Charles D. Cook
Mrs. Clarkson A, Collins, Jr.
RHODE ISLAND HISTORICAL SOCIETY
The Committee on the Portrait Gallery:
Dana Rice, Cha'uirian
Sydney R. Burleigh
Edwin A. Burlingame
The Committee to consider preliminary plans for the
observance of the 30()th anniversary of the Founding of
Providence:
Mrs. Herbert G. Beede
Chester W. Barrows
Howard M. Chapin
J. Jerome Hahn
John W. Haley
Charles Warren Lippitt
The following persons have been admitted to member
ship in the Society:
Rev. Lorenzo C. McCarthy
Mrs. Charles H. Merriman
George L. Miner
Mrs. Edward S. Moulton
Addison P. Munroe
Arthur L. Philbrick
Mrs. Gorton T. Lippitt
Mrs. William O. Todd
Mr. Walter F. Farrcll
Mrs. Henry S. Lanpher
Mrs. Charles O. Read
Mr. David C. Adelman
Mrs. C. Prescott Knight
Mr. George P. Newell
Miss Ada Almy
Mrs. George S. Bullock
Mrs. Maurice K. Washburn
Mrs. William C. H. Brand
Mrs. Austen G. Fox
Miss Hattie B. Barns
Mrs. Albert G. Harkness
Mr. Donald S. Babcock
Mrs. James F. Phctteplace
Miss Edith R. Danielson
Mr. Fred Morton Dixon, Jr.
Mr. Jonathan F. Comstock
Mrs. William L. Mauran
Mrs. Howard G. Hull
Mr. George Paul Slade
Prof. Albert K. Potter
Mrs. Joseph H. Regester
Mr. Herbert O. White
Mr. Louis W. Downcs
Mrs. Livingston Ham
Miss Louise Richards(jn
Mrs. Peter G. Gerry
Mr. Frederick \'. Waterman
Mrs. William F. Hoy
Mrs. Addison P. Munroe
Mrs. Everard Appleton
Miss Irene B. Butler
Mr. Elmer D. Nickerson
Mrs. Frank Nichols Phillips
Mrs. Stacy Tolman
Mrs. Paul A. Merriam
Mr. Alden L. Littleheld
Mr. James F. Phetteplace
Rev. Lorenzo C. McCarthy
Mr. Frederick A. Paige
Mrs. Edward W. Blodgett
Mrs. Henrv A. Whitmarsh
Mrs. Edward S. Clark
Miss Sarah Dyer Barnes
Mrs. C. Prescott Knight, Jr.
Mr. Clarence E. Peirce
E. D. Chesebro, M.D.
List of Active Members of the Rhode Island
Historical Society.
Hon. Joshua M. AdJcman
Mr. David C. Adelman
Mr. Frederick W. Aldred
Mr. Charles T. Aldrich
Mr. Edward K. Aldrich, jr.
Miss Lucv T. Aldrich
Hon. Richard S. Aldrich
Mr. Francis O. Allen
Mr. Frederick W. Allen
Mr. Howard \'. Allen
Mr. Philip Allen
Mrs. Frederick Allien
Miss Ada Almy
Miss Anna L. Andrews
Mr. Waher F. Angell
Mrs. Everard Appleton
Mr. Arthur H. Armington
Miss Maude E. Armstrong
Mrs. Edward E. Arnold
Mr. Frederick W. Arnold
Mr. James H. Arthur
Mr. Albert Babcock
Mr. Donald S. Babcock
Mr. Albert A. Baker
Mrs. Charles K. Baker
Mr. Harvey A. Baker
Mr. J. Wil'lard Baker
Miss Mary H. Balch
Mr. Luther C. Baldwin
Mrs. Walter S. Ball
Mr. Frederick D. Ballou
Rev. Clarence A. Barbour
Harry Lee Barnes, M.D.
Miss Sarah Dyer Barnes
Mr. Josiah M. Barney
Miss Hattie B. Barns
Hon. Chester W. Barrows
Miss Mildred E. Bassett
W. Lincoln Bates, M.D.
Mr. Earl G. Batty
Mrs. Daniel Beckwith
Mrs. Herbert G. Beede
Mr. Horace G. Belcher
Mr. Horatio E. Bellows
Mrs. Edward W. Blodgett
G. Alder Blumer, M.D.
Mr. J. J. Bodell
Mrs. Theodore P. Bogert
Harold Bowditch, ALI).
Mrs. Charles Bradlev
Mr. Claude R. Branch
Mr. John B. Branch
Mrs.Villiam C. H. Brand
Miss Alice Bra\ton
Miss Elizabeth H. Bra\ton
Miss Ida F. Bridgham
Mr. Herbert O. Brigham
Miss Eva St. C. Brightman
Mrs. Clarence A. Brouwer
Mr. Clarence Irving Brown
Mr. Cyrus P. Brown
Mr. Frank Hail Brown
Mrs. Frank Hail Brown
Miss Isabel R. Brown
Mr. John Nicholas Brown
Mr. Wilbur D. Brown
Mr. Alfred S. Browncll
Mr. Edward C. Bucklin
Mr. Harris H. Bucklin
Miss Clara Buffuni
Mr. Frederick H. Buffum
Mrs. William P. Buffum
Mr. Henrv Buker
83
84
RHODE ISLAND HISTORICAL SOCIETY
Mrs. George S. Bullock
Mr. George Rothwell Burgess
Mr. Sydney R. Burleigh
Mr. Edwin A. Burlingame
Mr. Raymond Buss
Mr. Alfred T. Butler
Miss Irene B. Butler
Mr. G. Edward Buxton
Mr. John H. Cady
Mrs. Charles A. Calder
Miss Helen G. Calder
Frank T. Calef, M.D.
Mr. Herbert C. Calef
Mr. Walter R. Callender
Mrs. Walter R. Callender
Mrs. George H. Capron
Mr. Thomas B. Card
Mrs. George W. Carr
Mr. Edward Carrington
Mr. William Carroll
Miss Anna H. Chace
Mr. Malcolm G. Chace
Mrs. Everitte S. Chaffee
Mr. Robert F. Chambers
Mr. Arthur D. Champlin
Mr. George B. Champlin
Mr. George Allen Chandler
Charles \Cchapin, M.D.
Mrs. Charles \'. Chapin
Mr. Howard M. Chapin
Mrs. Howard M. Chapin
Mr. William P. Chapin
Mr. Frederic L. Chase
Julian A. Chase, M.D.
E. D. Chesebro, M.D.
Mr. Albert W. Claflin
Mrs. Edward S. Clark
Mrs. Henry G. Clark
Mr. Prescott O. Clarke
Prof. Theodore Collier
Mrs. Clarkson A. Collins, Jr.
Mr. James C. Collins
Mr. Edward L. Coman
Mr. Jonathan F. Comstock
Mrs.V. A. H. Comstock
Mr. Walter J. Comstock
Mr. William P. Comstock
Mr. Charles D. Cook
Mrs. Charles D. Cook
Mr. Albert B. Coulters
Mr. Ernest S. Craig
Prof. Verner W. Crane
Mr. Frank H. Cranston
Miss Mary E. H. Cranston
George H. Crooker, M.D.
Mr. Harry Parsons Cross
Frank Anthony Cummings, M.D.
Mrs. Frank Anthony Cummings
Prof. S. Foster Damon
Murray S. Danforth, M.D.
Mrs. Murray S. Danforth
Miss Edith R. Danielson
Mr. William C. Dart
Mr. Foster B. Davis
Miss Marv Elliott Davis
Mrs. R. C. Davis
Mr. Charles J. Davol
Mr. Herbert R. Dean
Mrs. Thomas Hart deCoudres
Prof. Edmund B. Delabarre
Miss Alice S. Dexter
Miss Eunice W. Dexter
Mr. Flenry C. Dexter
Miss Louise Diman
Mr. Fred Morton Dixon, Jr.
Mrs. Harriet M. F. Dixon
Mr. Michael F. Dooley
Mr. Louis W. Downes
Mrs. Louis W. Downes
Mr. Robert T. Downs
Mr. Charles L. Drown
Mr. David Duncan
Miss Margarethe L. Dwight
Mr. H. Anthony Dyer
Mr. William Allan Dyer
Mr. Charles G. Easton
Mr. Frederick W. Easton
Mr. Alfred U. Eddy
Mr. Cyrus T. Eddy
Miss Isabel Eddy
LIST OF MEMBERS
85
Mr. William Holdcn Eddy
Miss Harriet C. Edmonds
Miss Edith Edwards
Mr. Walter Angell Edwards
Mr. [ames Elgar
Mr. William Ely
Mr. Frank W. Emerson
Mr. Ralph C. Estes
Mr. William Wood Estes
Mr. Walter F. Farrell
Mr. Henry A. Fitield
Mrs. Irving Fisher
Mr. Augustus H. Fiske
Mrs. Charles Fletcher
Mr. Elliot Flint
Hon. William S. Flvnn
Mr. Charles S. Foster
Mr. John R. P. Foster
Mr. William E. Foster
Mrs. George H. Fowler
Mrs. Austen G. Fox
Mr. Hovey T. Freeman
Mr. John R. Freeman
Mr. foscph W. Freeman
Mr. William C. Frv
Mr. Frederick H. Fuller
Mr. R. Clinton Fuller
Frank T. Fulton, M.D.
Mme. Annita Gahurri
Hon. Joseph H. Gainer
Mr. William Gammell
Mr. William Gammell, Jr.
George W. Gardner, M'.D.
Prof. Henry B. Gardner
Mrs. John T. Gardner
Mr. Preston H. Gardner
Mr. Rathbone Gardner
Mr. Daniel F. George
Hon. Peter G. Gerry
Mrs. Peter G. Gerrv
Mr. John R. Gladding
Mrs. Alice C. Gleeson
Mr. Robert H. L Goddard
Mr. George T. Gorton
Mr. Harrv Hale Goss
Mr. Eugene S. Graves
Mrs. Eugene S. Graves
Mr. Theodore Francis Green
Mr. Edward Aborn Greene
Miss Esther F. Greene
Mrs. Joseph Warren Greene
Mr. Thomas C. Greene
Mr. Ralph M. Greenlaw
Mr. William B. Greenough
Mr. Russell Grinnell
Mr. E. Tudor Gross
Hon. J. Jerome Hahn
Mr. John W. Halev
Mr. ElleryA. Hall'
Miss Annette M. Ham
Mrs. Livingston Ham
Mrs. Albert G. Harkness
Mr. Gilbert A. Harrington
Mr. Benjamin P. Harris
Miss Mary A. Harris
Mr. Stephen C. Harris
Mr. Everett S. Hartwell
N. Darrell Harvey, M.D.
Mr. William A. Hathaway
Mr. Edward Northup Hay
Miss Caroline Hazard
Mr. Rowland Hazard
Mr. Thomas G. Hazard, Jr.
Mr. Charles F. Heartman
Mrs. W. E. Hcathcote
Mr. Bernon E. Helme
Mr. .Arthur Henius
Mr. John Henshaw
Mr. Joseph G. Henshaw
Miss Mary G. Henshaw
Mr. Robert W. Herrick
Mr. William A. Hill
Mr. Frank L. Hinckley
Mr. Sumner W. Hinds
Mr. William L. Hodgman
Mrs. William L. Hodgman
Mr. George J. Holden
Mr. Charles .A. Horton
Mr. E. Harris Howard, fr.
Mr. Frederic W. Howe
86
RHODE ISLAND HISTORICAL SOCIETY
Mr. M. A. DeWolfe Howe
Mr. Wallis E. Howe
Mrs. William Erwin Hoy
Mrs. Howard G. Hull
Mr. Horatio A. Hunt
Mr. S. Foster Hunt
Mrs. Duncan Hunter
Mr. George Hurley
Mr. James H. Hurley
Mr. Richard A. Hurley
Mr. James Hazen Hyde
Mr. William S. Innis
Mr. Norman M. Isham
Mr. Benjamin A. Jackson
Mrs. Donald E. Jackson
Mr. Thomas A. Jenckes
Mr. George A. Jepherson
Mrs. Edward L. Johnson
George F. Johnson, M.D.
Mr. Edward C. Joyce
Mr. William L. Joyce
Dr. Lewis H. Kalloch
Mr. Francis B. Keeney
Mrs. Ellsworth L. Kelley
Hon. Charles D. Kimball
Mr. H. Earle Kimball
Eugene P. King, M.D.
Mrs. Eugene P. King
Mr. Victor H. King
Lucius C. Kingman, M.D.
Mr. C. Prescott Knight
Mrs. C. Prescott Knight
Mr. C. Prescott Knight, Jr.
Mrs. C. Prescott Knight, Jr.
Mr. Robert L. Knight
Mrs. Robert L. Knight
Mr. Russell W. Knight
Mrs. Webster Knight
Mrs. Rhea L. M. Knittle
Prof. Harry L. Koopman
Mr. John Krawczuk
Mrs. Henry S. Lanphcr
Mr. George R. Lawton
Mr. Thomas Z. Lee
Charles H. Leonard, M.D.
Miss Grace F. Leonard
Miss Anna L. Lestrade
Mr. George H. Lewis
Mr. John B. Lewis
Mr. [oseph W. Lewis
Mr. Fereiinand A. Lincoln
Mrs. Charles Warren Lippitt
Mr. Charles Warren Lippitt
Mrs. Frances Pomeroy Lippitt
Mr. Gorton T. Lippitt
Mrs. Gorton T. Lippitt
Hon. Henry F. Lippitt
Mr. Arthur B. Lisle
Mrs. Arthur B. Lisle
Mr. Alden L. Littlelield
Mr. Charles W. Littleficld
Mr. Ivor}- Littlefield
Rev. Augustus M. Lord
Mr. Albert E. Lownes
Mr. Harold C. Lyman
Mr. Richard E. Lyman
Mr. William A. McAuslan
Rev. Lorenzo C. McCarthv
Mr. Hugh F. MacColl
Mr. James R. MacColl
Mr. William B. MacColl
Mr. Arthur M. McCrillis
Miss Grace E. Macdonald
Mr. T. F. L McDonnell
Mrs. T. F. L McDonnell
Mr. Benjamin M. MacDougall
Mr. Charles B. Mackinney
Mrs. Herbert E. Maine
Mr. William L. Manchester
Mrs. William L. Manchester
Mr. Charles C. Marshall
Mrs. John F. Marvel
Mr. Fletcher S. Mason
Mr. Harold Mason
Mr. John H. Mason
Mrs. William B. Mason
Mrs. George S. Mathews
Mr. Archibald C. Matteson
Mr. Frank W. Matteson
Mr. William L. Mauran
LIST OF MEMBERS
87
Mrs. William L. Mauran
Mrs. Frank Everitt Maxwell
Mr. Harry V. Mayo
Rev. Charles A. Meader
Mrs. Paul A. Merriam
Mrs. Charles H. Mcrriman
Mrs. E. Bruce Merriman
Mr. Harold T. Merriman
Mr. Isaac B. Merriman
Mrs. E. T. H. Metcalf
Mr. G. Pierce Metcalf
Mr. Houghton P. Metcalf
Mrs. 1. Harris Metcalf
Hon. Jesse H. Metcalf
Mrs. Jesse H. Metcalf
Mr. Stephen O. Metcalf
Lt. Col. Willis C. Metcalf
Mr. William Davis Miller
Mrs. William Davis Miller
Mr. George L. Miner
Miss Lilian B. Miner
Hon. Louis Monast
Mr. G. A. Moriarty, Jr.
Mrs. Bentley W. Morse
Mr. Edward S. Moulton
Mrs. Edward S. Moulton
William M. Muncy, M.D.
Walter L. Munro, M.D.
Prof. Wilfred H. Munro
Mr. Addison P. Munroe
Mrs. Addison P. Munroe
Mr. Walter M. Murdie
Mr. Barnes Newberry
Mr. George P. Newell
Mr. George H. Newhall
Mr. Louis C. Newman
Miss Eliza Taft Newton
Mr. Paul C. Nicholson
Mr. Samuel M. Nicholson
Mr. Elmer D. Nickerson
Ira Hart Noyes, M.D.
Miss Mary Olcott
Mrs. Frank F. Olney
Mr. Erling C. Ostbv
Mr. Harald W. Ostbv
Mr. Raymond E. Ostby
Mr. Harry C. Owen
Mr. Frederick A. Paige
Mr. G. Richmond Parsons
Mrs. G. Richmond Parsons
H. G. Partridge, M.D.
Mr. Frederick S. Peck
Mrs. Frederick S. Peck
Mr. Stephen L Peck
Mrs. F. H. Peckham
Kathcrinc F. Peckham, M.D.
Mr. Augustus R. Peirce
Mr. Clarence E. Peirce
Mr. George E. Peirce
Mrs. George E. Peirce
Mr. John P. B. Peirce
Mr. Thomas A. Peirce
Mr. Charles M. Perry
Mr. Howard B. Perry
Rt. Rev. James DeWolf Perry
Mr. Marsden J. Perry
John M. Peters, M.D.
Mr. Albert N. Peterson
Mr. James F. Phetteplace
Mrs. James F. Phetteplace
Mr. Arthur L. Philbrick
Mr. Charles H. Philbrick
Mrs. Frank N. Phillips
Mrs. Gilbert A. Phillips
Mr. Byron A. Pierce
Mr. Thomas L. Pierce
Herman C. Pitts, M.D.
Mr. Albert H. Poland
Lewis B. Porter, M.D.
Prof. Albert K. Potter
Dr. Arthur M. Potter
Mr. B. Thomas Potter
Mrs. Dexter B. Potter
Mrs. Thomas L Hare Powel
Mr. Howard W. Preston
Mrs. Howard W. Preston
Miss Evclvn M. Purdv
Helen C. Putnam, M.D.
Mr. Patrick H. Quinn
Mrs. Gustav Radeke
88
RHODE ISLAND HISTORICAL SOCIETY
Mrs. George R. Ramsbottom
Mr. Walter E. Ranger
Mrs. C. K. Rathbone
Hon. Elmer J. Rathbun
Mr. George H. Raymond
Mrs. Irving E. Raymond
Mrs. Charles O. Read
Mrs. Joseph H. Regester
Mr. Charles C. Remington
Rhode Island State College
Mr. Dana Rice
Mr. Herbert W. Rice
Gen. John J. Richards
Miss Louise Richardson
Mr. Henry Isaac Richmond
Mr. Leonard M. Robinson
Mr. Louis E. Robinson
Mr. Robert Rodman
Rev. Arthur Rogers
Mrs. Mabel K. Rogers
Mr. Henry W. Sackett
Mr. Kenneth Shaw Safe
Mrs. T. Shaw Safe
Mr. Henry Salomon
Mrs. G. Coburn Sanctuary
Mrs. David S. Seaman
Mr. Henry M. Sessions
Prof. Robert F. Seybolt .
Miss Ellen D. Sharpe
Mr. Henry D. Sharpe
Mrs. Frederick E. Shaw
Mrs. Arthur N. Sheldon
Mr. Edward A. Sherman
Mr. Edwin F. Sherman
Mr. Harry B. Sherman
Mrs. Arthur F. Short
Prof. St. George L. Sioussat
Mrs. Charles Sisson
Mr. George Paul Slade
Mrs. Ruthven T. Slade
Mr. William A. Slade
Mr. Henry L. Slader
Mrs. Byron N. H. Smith
Mrs. Edwin C. Smith
Joseph Smith, M.D.
Mr. Nathaniel W. Smith
R. Morton Smith, M.D.
Mr. Walter B. Smith
Mrs. Whitney Smith
Mr. Sylvester M. Snow-
Mr. Robert L. Spencer
Mr. William A. Spicer
Mrs. Frank f. Sprague
Mr. Charles^R. Stark
Mrs. James G. Staton
Hon. Charles F. Stearns
Mr. Walter H. Stearns
Mrs. Charles J. Steedman
Mr. Thomas E. Steere
Mr. Oscar F. Stetson
Mr. Frederick A. Stevens
Miss Maud Lyman Stevens
Mr. Edward Clinton Stiness
Mr. Henry Y. Stitcs
Mr. Edward A. Stockwell
Mr. George A. Stone
Mr. Charles T. Straight
Mr. H. Nelson Street
Mr. Henry A. Street
Mr. John F. Street
Mr. Rush Sturges
Hon. Arthur P. Sumner
Mr. Frank H. Swan
Mrs. Gardner T. Swarts
Hon. fohn W. Sweenev
Mr. Robert W. Taft
Mr. Royal C. Taft
Bcnjam'in F. Tetft, M.D.
Mrs". Albert H. Tetlow
Mr. Charles F. Thatcher
Mrs. J. P. Thorndikc
Mrs. Frank W. Tillinghast
Mr. John A. Tillinghast
Mr. William R. Tillinghast
Louisa Paine Tingley, M.D.
Mr. F. L. Titsworth
Mrs. William O. Todd
Mrs. Stacy Tolman
Mr. Frederick E. Tripp
Mrs. Herman E. Trotter
LIST OF MEMBKRS
89
Mr. William ]. Tully
Mrs. Albert C. Tvlcr
Mr. D. Berkeley Updike
Mr. William H. \'anderbilt
Mr. William A. \'iall
Hon. Walter B. \'incent
Mrs. Arthur M. Walker
Mr. A. Tingley Wall
Mrs. Maurice K. Washburn
Mr. Frederick \'. Waterman
Mrs. Lewis A. Waterman
Prof. Arthur K. Watson
Mr. Byron S. Watson
Mr. Edward L. Watson
Mr. John J. Watson
Mrs. William B. Weeden
Mr. Edward H. Weeks
Mrs. Edward H. Weeks
Mr. Charles H. Welling
Mr. Richard Ward Greene Welling
Mr. Herbert ]. Wells
Mr. lohn H. Wells
Mr. Thomas H. West, Jr.
Mrs. Elizabeth Nicholson White
Mr. Herbert O. White
Mr. Willis H.White
Mrs. Gerald Whitman
Mrs. Henry .A. Whitmarsh
Mr. Victor Wilbour
Mr. Frank J. Wilder
Mrs. Elizabeth K. Wilkinson
W. Fred Williams, M.D.
Miss Amey L. Willson
Mr. Percy J. Wilson
Mr. William A. Wing
Mr. Wilson G. Wing
Mrs. George P. Winship
Mrs. Augustus A. Wolf
Mr. Carlos G. Wright
Mr. Nathan M. Wright
Mr. Lawrence C. Wroth
90 RHODE ISLAND HISTORICAL SOCIETY
The New England Flag
B\ Howard M. Chapin
The first so-called New England flag was a red flag
having a white canton in the upper corner near the staff/
It was in use from 1636 to 1686 and differed from the
contemporary English red ensign which carried a red cross
in the white canton. Although this flag with the plain
white canton is generally called the New England flag, it
may in reality have been merely a Massachusetts Bay col-
ony flag, for no evidence has been produced proving that
the flag was ever used by any other of the New England
colonies.
The second so-called New England flag was a white flag
with a red cross on which in gold appeared the King's
initials, I. R. in script surmounted by a crown. This flag
is illustrated in Samuel G. Arnold's "History of Rhode
Island.""' A contemporary drawing of this flag in colors is
preserved in London. Captain Byron McCandless, U. S.
N., the leading American authority on flags, called my
attention to the fact that this flag had gold fringe and that
there were tassels on the staff and that in design it was
similar to other flags carried by the King's soldiers. ' There
is nothing in the design of this flag that is distinctive of
New England. McCandless concludes that it was not the
territorial flag of New England, but merely the design for
the colors to be made for the use of the King's two com-
panies of foot soldiers in New England, which were au-
-^An illustration of this flag, together with a reprint of the documen-
tary evidence in regard to its use, is included in "Roger Williams and
the King's Colors" by Howard M. Chapin. Published by the Society
of Colonial Wars in Rhode Island, Providence, 1928.
-I, op. p. 496.
^Roger Williams and the King's Colors p. 24.
THE NEW ENGLAND FLAG QI
thorized at this time, 1686. The sketch of this flag,,
which was painted in 1686, is inscribed "New England
Colours", a phrase which might mean the New England
territorial colors^ as has been believed for over half a cen-
tury, or which might equally as well mean that the design
was jor colors to be sent to Nezv England, or colors for the
Nezv England soldiers.
The third so-called New England flag is often described
as the pine tree flag. If the flag with the plain white can-
ton was really the flag of the colony of Massachusetts Bay,
as is quite possible, and if the so-called New England
Colours of 1686 was merely the design for the flag to be
carried by the King's soldiers in New England, as seems
highly probably, then the tree flag is the first real flag dis-
tinctive of New England.
This tree flag appears under various forms. The earliest
reference to it was discovered by W. G. Perrin, Esq., the
leading British authority on flags, in Lieutenant Graydon's
manuscript flag book^ in the Pepysian Library at Magdal-
ene College, Cambridge. The book is dated 1686 and the
flag is illustrated in color, presumably drawn and painted
by Lieutenant Graydon himself in the year 1686.
The flag is a white flag with a red cross (the St. George
flag) with an oak tree in the first canton or quarter. The
oak tree is green, outlined in black and powdered with
gold dots. The flag is entitled "New England" and as it
is placed beside the English merchant jack which it closely
resembles, it seems safe to assume that it was the New
England tree flag in its jack form. The black outline and
the gold dots were presumably not essential to the design,
but were doubtless the embellishments of some artistically
inclined flag-maker, or possibly of Graydon himself. The
fact that an oak tree and not a pine tree was used is note-
worthv.
*'insignia Navalia by Lt. Gradon, 1686'", p. 19.
92 RHODK ISLAND HISTORICAL SOCIETY
The pine tree shillings of colonial Massachusetts have
been so famous that the fact that the willow tree and the
oak tree also appeared on the early coins of the colony of
Massachusetts Bay has to a great extent been forgotten.
George C. Arnold" lists five denominations of oak tree cur-
rency, four of pine tree and two of willow tree. Dr. Mal-
colm Storer, in a still more recent study of the subject,"
states that the oak tree was used on at least nine varieties of
dies. He points out the fact that the date on a particular
coin is not the date of issue, and that pine tree shillings,
issued up to the time the mint was abolished about 1688,
still bore the date 1 652. He concludes that the willow tree
series was minted first and that the device was changed to
an oak tree in 1662.
The tree, whether willow, oak, or pine, was one of the
devices commonly used in Massachusetts Bay as symbolic
of that colony, and as Massachusetts Bay dominated New
England commercially, its devices often came to be con-
sidered, especially overseas, as symbolic of New England
as a conscious geographic, even if not a legal political en-
tity.
Felt, in his history of Massachusetts currency,' relates
the following anecdote in regard to the oak tree shilling.
"Relative to our own specie, an interesting turn was
given by Thomas Temple — a warm friend of New Eng-
land and Governor of Nova Scotia — in conversation with
His Majesty, Charles II. Being introduced to the King,
while on a visit to London, he was permitted to kiss his
hand. This sovereign discoursed with him on the state of
affairs in Massachusetts, and discovered great warmth of
^Numismatic Guide. Providence, 1914, 12th edition.
''Old-Time New England, October, 1929.
'^Felt, pp. 38-39. Preble, p. 190, gives a variant story, crediting the
remarks to Sir Charles Temple. Storer in "Old Time New England"
gives a third variety of the anecdote.
THE NKVV K.\(;LA.\I) FLAG 93
feeling against them. Among other things, he said, that
they had inxaded his right by coining money. Governor
Temple told hnn, that the colonists thought it no crime to
make money for their own use. In course of the interview^
Mr. Temple took some of our coin from his pocket and pre-
sented it to the king. Seeing a tree on one of the pieces,
Charles inc]uired what sort of a tree that was. The im-
mediate reply was, it was the royal oak, which preserved
his majesty's life. Such an answer brought the king to good
humor, and induced him to hear the pleas which the gov-
ernor made in favor of our colony. It is presumed from
the character of Mr. Temple, that on this occasion he in-
tended no deceit, but a pleasant, figurative allusion to a
remarkable preservation of his majesty."
It seems probable that the original idea was to have on
the coins a tree symbolic of the forests with their poten-
tial resources and that any tree'^ was therefore considered
satisfactory. Subsequently at a much later date more pine
tree coins were minted and circulated, so that the name
fine tree shilling came into use. It will be remembered
that at a later date the codfish was used in Massachusetts as
symbolic of the importance of that industry.
The next reference to the New England flag seems to be
in "Le Neptune Francois,"' published at Amsterdam by
Pieter Mortier in 1693. It is shown in colors as a blue flag
with a white canton containing the red cross of St. George,
with a tree in the first quarter. The tree resembles a pine
tree more than an oak tree and presumably was green on
the flag. The illustration is entitled "Pavilion Anglois de
la N. Angleterre. Rouge. &c. Engelse Mag van N. Enge-
'^The act of the Massachusetts General Court of October 19, 165 2,
specifies a tree, but does not specify the sort of tree.
•'Preble, p. 1 89, apparently refers to this book. A copy of this edition
is in the Library of Congress. There is a 1703 edition with Hag sheets
struck from the same plates.
•94
RHODE ISLAND HISTORICAL SOCIETY
landt. Rood. &c." The tincture lines also show the color
of the held of the flag to be blue, but the description in the
text after the name of the flag would seem to indicate that
the field was red. The flags are hand colored and some
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THE NEW ENGLAND FLAG AS SHOWN IN "LH NKPLUNE FRANCOIS," 1693
TrGni copy ozvned by ]l'illia//i Davis Miller.
THE NEW ENGLAND TREE FLAG AS SHOWN LN ANOTHER COPY
OF "lE NEPTUNE FRANCOIS," 1693
In this copy the flag is so heavily painted that the tincture lines do
not show and owing to careless brush work the tree resembles a globe.
THE NF.W EN (-.LAND FEAG
95
copies are shown with red held, white canton, red cross
and green tree.'"
f^ew Ei^/enJ Enftgn
FROM "tHK PKl SKN I -I \1 1 OF IHK I'MVKR-^K,"' 1701
I/i the Admiralty Librarw Lomloii
The hrst English book that contains an illustration of
the tree flag is John Beaumont's "The Present State of the
Universe,"" wherein the flag appears in colors as a red
flag with a white canton having a red cross, with a green