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Nathan Beman's flag (U.S.)

Historical

image by Jack Barrette, 10 August 2008

Description

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Description

From an ebay post (original image):

Here's Nathan Beman's flag. This exceedingly rare 14-star-10 stripe United States parade and rally flag is associated with Nathan Beman (one of Ethan Allen's "Green Mountain Boys." It is one of three known United States flags displaying 14 stars, representing Vermont's admission as the 14th state in 1791. This flag measures 20-1/4" on its hoist edge by 30-1/4" on its fly. Its field is composed of ten alternating, horizontal, white and red, 2" wide stripes commencing at the top with white and ending with red. Each is composed of strips of silk ribbon sewn together by hand. A sky-blue, silk canton, 10-3/4" square, has been sewn to the obverse side of the field in the upper staff corner, and extending part way (1/2") into the sixth (a red) stripe. No canton appears on the reverse side. After the appliqué of the canton to the obverse side, fourteen (14) white, silk, 5-pointed, 1 1/4" diameter stars were sewn to the canton, which consists of a star in the center of the canton surrounded by a pentagon of five stars. Eight more stars (in pairs) radiate to each of the four corners of the canton. Leading edge of the flag (but not the canton) has been wrapped around a soft wooden staff, 42" long and tapering between 1/2" (at top) and 5/8" (at bottom) and glued in place so that the flag could be waved at patriotic rallies or parades.

This flag was found in the attic of a home in Chateaugay, New York at a date after the house's sale in 1961. House had been the home of Frank Beman (great-great-grandson of one of Ethan Allen's "Green Mountain Boys" Nathan Beman (b.1757,d.1846). 1920's era newspaper clipping from Malone, New York includes a photograph of Frank Beman with this flag, and states Nathan Beman, who was originally from Shareham, VT, later moved to and helped settle Chateaugay. It also states that the flag passed thru Nathan's son George Beman, his children, then to its current owner (in 1921), Frank Beman. Nathan Beman assisted Ethan Allen during the surprise attack and capture of Fort Ticonderoga. It was the capture of its cannons and the eventual delivery to Dorchester Heights in Boston that allowed Washington to beat the British and win Boston in the early days of the Revolution. (estimated to have been made as a gift to Nathan Beman at some time between 1795 and 1815).

Jack Barrette, 10 August 2008