About The Oldest Flag In America
Recognized as the oldest and most complete flag in North America
A flag is a piece of fabric with a distinctive design used to represent a country, organization, or group. Flags serve as symbols of identity and are used in ceremonies, signals, and displays of allegiance.
The oldest flag in America is The Byfield Flag (also known as the Nathaniel Byfield Flag) dating back to 1687. The Varnum Armory Museum describes it as the oldest flag in America. The Battle of Rhode Island Association defines it as the oldest and most complete flag in North America.
It was found in the early 21st century, tightly rolled and long forgotten inside a large case of Civil War-era flags in Bristol, Rhode Island’s Burnside Building (a former armory). It had been stored away since the late 19th/early 20th century.
Associated with Nathaniel Byfield (1653–1733), a prominent English-born merchant, judge, and founder of Bristol, Rhode Island. He served as a captain (and later colonel) in the Bristol County militia. The flagpole’s wooden finial is engraved with inscriptions including “Nathaniel Byfield 1687,” “The Gift of Col. Nathaniel Byfield to the First Company of Militia,” and references to Bristol around 1724.
It served as the colonel’s company flag for the First Company of the Bristol County Militia (Company A). In colonial militia organization, the colonel’s flag was typically a plain red banner. This one appears to have been red with gold elements (tassels and fringe). It was likely carried in local musters and parades.
Byfield reportedly donated it to the town later in life, and it was paraded in Bristol’s 4th of July celebrations for decades. Made of silk or similar fabric (now fragile). It was damaged by age, folding, and storage but remains remarkably intact for its era.
In 2020–2021, textile conservator Maria Vazquez (associated with the Varnum Armory) performed detailed preservation work. This included cleaning, stabilizing, and mounting it flat in a custom climate-controlled case. The project was documented in the PBS film A Stitch in Time.
It lies flat in a protective glass case to minimize light and stress. The Town of Bristol, Rhode Island, retains ownership. On long-term loan and prominently exhibited at the Varnum Armory Museum in East Greenwich, Rhode Island (part of their Colonial Rhode Island exhibit). A detailed replica is also available for viewing.
It predates other famous early American flags (e.g., the Bedford Flag, ~1720s–1730s) and offers a direct link to late 17th-century colonial military life. It has been considered for display at the National Museum of the United States Army.
The flag’s survival is remarkable — many early colonial banners were lost to war, decay, or neglect. Its story highlights Rhode Island’s deep military history and the importance of local preservation efforts.