Bedford Flag

E314936

The Bedford Flag is an early American militia banner, believed to be one of the oldest surviving battle flags of the United States and traditionally associated with the opening battles of the American Revolutionary War.

All labels observed (1)

Label Occurrences
Bedford Flag canonical 2

How this entity was disambiguated

Statements (47)

Predicate Object
instanceOf historic artifact
military flag
allegedUseDate April 19, 1775
allegedUseEvent British march to Concord
approximateDimensions about 27 inches by 29 inches
associatedWithConflict French and Indian War (as part of British America)
surface form: French and Indian War
associatedWithEvent American Revolutionary War
Battles of Lexington and Concord
associatedWithPerson Nathaniel Folsom
surface form: Cornet Nathaniel Page

Jonathan Reed
associatedWithPlace Bedford, Massachusetts NERFINISHED
attributedDateRange circa 1720–1730
believedToBe one of the oldest surviving American battle flags
color red
country United States of America
surface form: United States
culturalSignificance symbol of early American patriotism
currentLocation Bedford Free Public Library
currentLocationCity Bedford, Massachusetts NERFINISHED
currentLocationCountry United States of America
surface form: United States
dateOfOrigin early 18th century
displayedBy Bedford Free Public Library
featuredIn American Revolutionary War histories
local Bedford historical commemorations
flagFieldColor crimson
hasBorder silver fringe
hasDesignElement armored arm
green laurel wreath
raised sword
silver scroll
hasInscription Vince Aut Morire
hasShape square
heritageDesignation important American Revolutionary War relic
iconographyTheme classical martial imagery
material silk
militaryUnit Bedford Minutemen
motto Vince Aut Morire
mottoLanguage Latin
mottoTranslation Conquer or Die
owner Bedford, Massachusetts
surface form: Town of Bedford, Massachusetts
paintMedium oil paint
preservationStatus well preserved
recognizedAs historic symbol of Bedford, Massachusetts
subjectOf scholarly debate about exact date of origin
symbolizes courage and sacrifice in war
resistance to British authority
typeOf cavalry standard
usedBy American colonial militia

How these facts were elicited

Referenced by (2)

Full triples — surface form annotated when it differs from this entity's canonical label.