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Taunton, Massachusetts (U.S.)

Bristol County

image by Tom Gregg, 5 April 1997

Description of the flag

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Description of the flag

The historic Taunton Flag is also the current, official city flag of Taunton, Massachusetts. The Taunton Flag as flown today has the ratio of 2:3 and the inscription is white.

Source: The Taunton City Clerk's office verified that the city ordinance which made the flag official included proportions.
Tom Gregg, 6 April 1997

This flag is based on a description that appeared in the Boston Evening Post, Monday, October 24, 1774:

"We have just received the following intelligence from Taunton--that on Friday last a liberty pole 112 feet long was raised there on which a vane, and a Union flag flying with the words Liberty and Union thereon."

At least one scholar has speculated as to whether the words were inscribed on the flag or on the pole. British red ensigns with "Liberty" or the word "Congress" were very popular in 1774-76 throughout the American colonies, from Massachusetts to Georgia.

Dave Martucci, 6 April 1997

The City of Taunton officially adopted this flag in 1974 (in conjunction with the bicentennial of the original flag-raising on October 21, 1774). The flag was in use long before becoming "official".
Tom Gregg, 7 April 1997