 | |
| Use | Other  |
|---|---|
| Proportion | 2:3 |
| Adopted | Used on American vessels by October 20, 1775;[1] formally adopted by the Massachusetts Council on April 29, 1776[2] |
| Design | A white field charged with a green pine tree, and the words "AN APPEAL TO HEAVEN" in capital letters above the tree. |
The Pine Tree Flag (or the An Appeal to Heaven Flag) was one of the flags used during the American Revolution. The flag, which featured a pine tree with the motto "An Appeal to Heaven", or less frequently "An Appeal to God", was used by a squadron of six schooners commissioned under George Washington's authority as commander-in-chief of the Continental Army beginning in October 1775.
The pine tree is a traditional symbol of New England. The phrase "appeal to heaven" appears in John Locke's Second Treatise on Government, where it is used to describe the right of revolution.
The flag is the official maritime ensign for the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, though the script was removed in 1971. It was used by state navy vessels in addition to privateers sailing from Massachusetts.[3]
It is also used by liberty activists and enthusiasts of the American Revolution to commemorate the Pine Tree Riot, one of the first acts of resistance by the American colonists to British royal authority eventually culminating in the American Revolution.[4]
- ^ Richardson, Edward W. (1982). Standards and Colors of the American Revolution. University of Pennsylvania Press. pp. 59, 90. ISBN 0812278399.
- ^ Cite error: The named reference
MarcLeepsonBookwas invoked but never defined (see the help page). - ^ Naval History Center FAQ. Retrieved from http://www.history.navy.mil/faqs/faq122-1.htm Archived October 4, 2012, at the Library of Congress Web Archives.
- ^ Graham, Michael (June 4, 2024). "Nashua Says No to Displaying Historic N.H. Pine Tree Flag". NH Journal. Retrieved June 6, 2024.