Pine Tree Flag or

Washington’s Cruisers Flag-October 1775

“An Appeal to Heaven” was a phrase as well known to the American Revolutionaries as “No taxation without representation.”  English philosopher John Loche coined the phrase in his 1689 “Two Treaties of Government” to say when human government fails, people have the right to seek help from God.  The sentiment was echoed by Patrick Henry, Joseph Warren, Thomas Paine, and many others.

Lacking sufficient trees in England for Navy ship masts, the king claimed ownership of all pine trees in New England more than 1’ in diameter.  A 1722 decree made it illegal for colonists to cut down trees on their own land and led to several riots over the successive decades.  The pine tree became the symbol of liberty in New England.

In September of 1775, General Washington had two floating batteries constructed to bombard British occupied Boston.  These batteries flew a white flag combining the pine tree, New England’s symbol of liberty, with the famous quote by John Loche.  A month later, the Pine Tree Flag was flown on six ships commissioned by General Washington, making it the first Naval Ensign.

To find the facts on the Pine Tree Flag, pease consult the following sources:

Canby, George. “The Evolution of the American Flag” pp. 23-24, (1909) Ferris & Leach

Colonial Williamsburg. "Give Me Liberty Or Give Me Death!" Retrieved on 18 June 2023 from https://www.colonialwilliamsburg.org/learn/deep-dives/give-me-liberty-or-give-me-death/ 

Locke, John. “Two Treatises of Government” paragraph 242 (1689)

Naval History and Heritage Command. “Birth of the U.S. Navy” Retrieved on 20 May 2023 from https://www.history.navy.mil/browse-by-topic/heritage/origins-of-the-navy/birth-of-the-us-navy.html

New England Historical Society. “The New Hampshire Pine Tree Riot of 1772” Retrieved on 18 June 2023 from https://newenglandhistoricalsociety.com/new-hampshire-pine-tree-riot-1772/

Preble, George. “Our Flag, Origin and Progress of the Flag of the United States of America” pp.  138-143, (1872) Kessinger’s Legacy Reprint

Reed, Joseph, Col “Letter to Cols. Glover and Moylan” (October 1775) Retrieved 20 Oct 2023 from https://digital.lib.niu.edu/islandora/object/niu-amarch%3A80181

Warren, Joseph. “Letter to the Inhabitants of Great Britain April 26, 1775” (April 1775) Retrieved 12 June 2023 from https://www.revolutionary-war-and-beyond.com/joseph-warren-letter-to-the-inhabitants-of-great-britain-april-26-1775.html