Hulbert Flag-177?

In response to fears of British raiding parties attacking Long Island during the summer of 1775, the 3rd Regiment of the New York Militia was activated.  In October, a company of 100 New York Militia under Capt. John Hulbert was ordered to Fort Ticonderoga, which had been taken from the British the previous May.

According to legend, Capt. Hulbert passed the time there by creating a Flag.  He combined 13 stripes, a common symbol for the colonies, with a new symbol, 13 stars.  The Flag was seen by members of the Continental Congress when the company marched through Philadelphia on their return to Long Island.  Following his stint with the New York Militia, Capt. Hulbert sailed off to do a bit of privateering in support of the American cause.

In 1926, a tattered Flag was found in the rafters of a barn once belonging to John Hulbert.  It was wrapped in paper along with Capt. Hulbert’s orders.  An incomplete study of the Flag in 1972 erroneously placed its creation in the 1840’s.  A more complete analysis in 1999 concluded the Flag to be 18th century homespun and constant with textiles produced on Long Island.

While the story of John Hulbert making the Flag remains in question, what is not in question is, the Flag which bears his name is one of the oldest Stars and Stripes in existence.

Sources:

Eggenberger, David “Flags of the U.S.A.” (1964) Ty Crowell Co.

Furlong, William and McCandless, Byron “So Proudly We Hail, The History of the United States Flag” pp. 80-81 (1981) Smithsonian Institution Press

McClain, Collette. “Capture the Flag” (2022) East Hampton Bay Star, https://www.easthamptonstar.com/east-magazine/2022120/capture-flag

Pennypacker, Morton. “CAPT. JOHN HULBERT AND HIS FLAG OF 1775.” New York History 14, no. 4 (1933) pp 356-69. http://www.jstor.org/stable/24470465

Very special thank you to Victoria Berger, Executive Director of the Suffolk County Historical Society, for helping me get the story straight.