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13-Star American / United States Flag from War of 1812 Era
1813
Maker not marked
USA: Massachusetts, Weymouth
Silk, cotton, wool
overall: 78-1/4"h x 50-1/4"w
Gift of Francis and Christie Wyman
2008.048

White silk hand-sewn 13-star American flag. Twelve blue silk five-point stars are appliqued to each side in an oval. One larger blue silk star is appliqued on each side in the center. The white silk ground has a center seam. All edges are turned under and hemmed. One end has beige glazed cotton attached; there is a hole in each corner to hang the flag. The opposite end has beige glazed cotton attached (probably not original). Each side of this piece has red wool appliqued numbers, "1812."


In 1813, 8-year-old Harriet "Hattie" White (1805-1887) ceremonially presented this flag to a company of Weymouth Exempts. The flag is thought to have been made by the women of Weymouth. In 1798, Harriet's father, Captain John White (1757-1816), became commander of the Weymouth Light-Horse Troop. Harriet married Benjamin Clark Harris (1799-1842) of Boston in 1829. She told the story of this flag at family gatherings throughout her life. The flag was passed down within the family through five generations to the donor (Christie Kennedy Wyman).