Maggie's Farm

As a Revolutionary War reenactor who lives in the village of Canaan, the old North Precinct before the two Canaans divided int he 1850s, I've been thinking that this flag would be worthy of reporduction. As I have no liberty pole 78 feet high to handle a 15 foot scarlet flag, I'm inclined to sew one as a militia standard. A lightweight scarlet wool with white capitals is probably the most appropriate material.

I've been thinking a lot about this flag, being a Canaanite with a strong interest in both local and Revolutionary War history. Both Canaan/Falls Village and North Canaan were then one township with two parishes that later divided. I'm not sure in which of these communities was located "The Sign of the Brazen Ball" referenced in the article, but the Lawrence Tavern where the pole raisers adjourned for refreshment was in the northern section and still stands today. As for the timing of the flag raising, the so called Coercive Acts that closed the Port of Boston also revoked the Colonial charter of Massachusetts. This action was perceived as the greatest threat to private property rights, for it called home rule into question at every level, including deeds to land. This more than any other action by the Crown leading up to the Revolution spurred coordinated action in common cause across community and provincial boundaries, leading to the formation of revolutionary Committees of Safety and of Correspondence at the local level and the 1st Continental Congress.