The Page Family,

A Legacy of Service Carrying the Flag

Immigrating from England to North America, the Page family settled in Billerica, Massachusetts in the 1680’s.  The town consisted of some farms, a couple of mills, and a church.  Nathaniel Page, the first in a long line of Nathaniel Pages, became a prosperous farmer.  Dying suddenly, he left a wife and four children.  Contrary to the custom of the time, Joanna, his widow, never remarried.  The farm, known as Mrs. Page’s Farm, became even more profitable.

From the late 17th century to the mid 18th century a series of European wars spilled over to involve North American colonies.  Colonies relied on reserve militias for defense.  Men aged 16-60 were required to drill regularly and serve when needed to protect their town.  Militias carried flags for identification.  Flags were created and owned by the senior officer.  The junior officer, called the cornet, carried and protected the flag, with his life if necessary.

By 1706, Nathaniel Page II was part of a mounted troop.  These troops were more elite than foot soldiers and came from the well to do.  In 1720, town records refer to him as Cornet Page, a title he would have the rest of his life and beyond; his gravestone reads “the body of Cornet Nathaniel Page”.  Cornet Page likely carried the Bedford Flag.

Being too difficult for some families to get to church in Billerica during the winter, Bedford was founded in 1729.   Cornet Page helped build the new church and find the first pastor.

Two of Cornet Page’s sons were also commissioned as cornets.  Bedford Town records refer to Nathaniel Page Jr. as Cornet Nathaniel Page Jr. in 1738.  A year earlier, his brother John was commissioned as cornet in a county wide horse regiment.  His commissioning document is on display at the Bradford Free Public Library.  Both served as reservists during the final French and Indian War, but neither were called to active duty.  Their uncle, Christopher Page served as a Sargent in the in the provincial army at the beginning of that war.

Towards the end of that final French and Indian War, known in Europe as the Seven Years War, Nathaniel Page, son of Cornet John Page, served an uneventful eight-month active duty tour guarding the fort at Crown Point, New York. 

In the years following the war, relations between England and her North American colonies deteriorated.  By March of 1775, concern regarding threat from the British Army occupying Boston compelled Bedford to establish a rapid response Minuteman company.  Given his previous military experience, Nathaniel Page was chosen for the company.  Having no time to make a new unit flag, Nathaniel Page pulled out an old flag once carried by his grandfather.  The rest, as they say, is history.

The story of the Page family is the story of so many American families.  They arrived as immigrants.  Through hard work and determination, they built a life for themselves and in doing so, built a nation.

Sources

McDonald, Sharon. “The Bedford Flag Unfurled” Ch. 4-6, 8-11 (1996) Bedford Free Public Library

Society of Colonial Wars in Massachusetts. “Timeline” Retrieved 11 April 2023 from https://www.scwma.org/research-aids/#1628100755376-1148fc2f-3d78

Very special thank you to Sharon Lawrence McDonald, librarian at Bedford Free Public Library, for introducing the Page family to us all.