Bucks of America Flag (U.S.)

Historical

Last modified: 2011-07-09 by rick wyatt
Keywords: united states | bucks of america | massachusetts |
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image by Randy Young, 31 January 2001

• Description

See also:

• Massachusetts Rev. War Flags
• U.S. Historical flags
• Massachusetts
• United States of America

Description

Source: "Flags to Color from the American Revolution."

On page 13 is the flag entitled the "Bucks of America." The flag's colors are described as "Buff field, letters; white stars; blue canton, scrolls, flourishes; green leaves, grass; brown buck, trunk." And there is a narrative of the flag, as well:

"John Hancock, Governor of Massachusetts, presented this flag after the war to a company of black soldiers for valor. We know little about the Bucks of America; they were among the thousands of black Revolutionary patriots."

The Bucks of America was the only all black military unit of the American revolution. They were volunteer "freemen of color". The flag was presented to them by George Washington & Massachusetts Governor John Hancock. Both men's initials adorn it, however the initials are in a curious order.
Al Kirsch, 4 July 2003

The initials JGWH are the initials of Governor Hancock's son John George Washington Hancock, who died at age eight from a fall he suffered while trying some new ice skates.
LTC Charles Johnson, 1 October 2006