Flag of Taunton, Massachusetts

The flag was first adopted on 21 October 1774 after the Sons of Liberty had forced out American Loyalists from Taunton. On it, they raised the Red Ensign with the words "Liberty and Union" sewn onto it. The design of the Union Jack on the ensign predated the union of Great Britain and Ireland and did not include Saint Patrick's Saltire to represent Ireland. The Taunton flag was one of the first flags used within the Thirteen Colonies to express dissension against the Crown. It also initially symbolised underlying loyalty to the Crown as the Union Flag was viewed as the King's Colours. The popularity of the flag grew due to the Boston Evening-Post publishing it in a story. The wife of William McKinstry, the only Loyalist permitted to remain, expressed her disdain for the Taunton flag, and in response women Patriots dragged her from her house and forced her to march in front of the liberty pole where it was flying. == Present day ==

in September 2016. The current flag was adopted as the city flag of Taunton by a resolution of the Taunton City Council on October 19, 1974. It is not known what the original flag looked like; the current design is based on an incomplete contemporary newspaper description. The flag is flown in Taunton Green Historic District alongside the flag of the United States. In addition to being the official flag of Taunton, Massachusetts, the Taunton flag is also the official flag of Weymouth, New Jersey. Their reasoning for using the flag is that "its historical period is correct, it keeps alive an ancestor to our Stars and Stripes, and because it is always in production and therefore, cheap". Like in Taunton it can be seen flying outside Weymouth's town hall. == References ==