This historic old flag, also known as the Paul Jones Flag, composed of
thirteen bars and but twelve stars, was unfurled by him and borne on
the Bon Homme Richard September 23, 1776, during the action with the
British frigate, the “Serapis,” and is probably the first flag bearing
the stars and stripes ever hoisted over an American vessel of war, and
also the first ever saluted by a foreign naval power.
This flag has been in the family of Mrs. H. R. P. Stafford, of Cottage
City, Martha’s Vineyard, since 1784, and bequeathed by her to the
National Museum at Washington.
But it must be remembered that Washington adopted the flag made by
Betsy Ross five months previous to this.
“THE OLD THIRTEEN.”
A Leaf from Illinois’ History.
In the little city of Shawneetown which is next in age to Kaskaskia,
and consequently the second oldest town in the State, there reposes
a relic of rare value, a genuine flag of Colonial days. It was found
in the attic of the “Posey” building and is supposed to have been
placed there by General Posey, who served under Washington in the
Revolutionary war. The flag is now owned by Mr. Robinson, an eminent
scientist, who for a life-time has taken pains to collect and preserve
many valuable things for Illinois’ posterity to see, especially rare
Indian curios excavated from in and around Shawneetown, which site was
once the pottery of the Shawanee Indians.
The old flag is in rather a good state of preservation although faded
and marred. Its thirteen stars are arranged similar to those on “Paul
Jones’ flag”—in bars, but not horizontal. The rows of stars are placed
diagonally and consist of one, three, five, three and one, which leaves
a star in each corner and five forming the center diagonal. Illinois’
“Old Thirteen” has been framed and covered with glass to preserve it
from the ravages of Time and to save it for the eyes of the children of
coming generations.