Taunton in the
American Revolution

Originally a native settlement called "Cohannet," Taunton was founded in 1639 by English colonists.

As Taunton and all the colonies grew, many colonists made their living by trading with England. But England was in debt, and saw the prosperous colonies as a potential way to solve their debt crisis.

England taxed the colonies to pay off their debts. In 1764 they passed the Sugar Act and the next year they passed the Stamp Act. Then England sent British troops to occupy Boston as people began to protest these new rules.

As tensions rose the colonists split into two sides:

Loyalists

Also known as "Tories"
Supported the King
Did not want independence

Taunton's best-known Loyalist was Daniel Leonard. He lived on Taunton Green but was forced to flee when a group of angry Patriots mobbed his house. He went to Nova Scotia before finally settling in Bermuda.

Patriots

Also known as "Sons of Liberty"
Opposed the King
Wanted independence

Taunton's best-known Patriot was Robert Treat Paine. He also lived on Taunton Green, and later was a delegate to the Continental Congress where he was one of 56 signers of the Declaration of Independence.

In the fall of 1774, colonial leaders gathered in Philadelphia and pledged united support should colonists have to defend themselves against force used by Great Britain.

When the news of support throughout the colonies reached Taunton, local patriots, on October 21, 1774, raised a Liberty Pole on Taunton Green and flew a flag to which they had stitched the words “Liberty and Union.”

The Boston Evening Post reported this event on October 24, 1774, as follows:

We have just received the following Intelligence from Taunton, that on Friday last a Liberty Pole of 112 Feet long was raised there, on which is a Vane and a Union Flag flying, with the Words LIBERTY and UNION thereon:--to the Pole is fixed the following Lines:

CRESCIT AMOR PATRIAE LIBERTATISQUE CUPIDO*

*Love of country and desire for liberty increase

Be it known to the present

And to all future generations,

That the Sons of Liberty

in TAUNTON

Fired with Zeal for the Preservation of

Their Rights as Men, and as

American Englishmen,

And prompted by a just Resentment of

The Wrongs and Injuries offered to the

English Colonies in general, and to

This Province in particular,

Through the unjust Claims of

A British Parliament, and the

Machiavellian Policy of a British Ministry,

Have erected this Monument or Liberty-Standard,

As a Testimony of their fixed Resolution

To preserve sacred and inviolate

Their Birth-Rights and Charter-Rights,

And to resist, even unto Blood,

All attempts for their Subversion or Abridgement.

Born to be free, we spurn the Knaves who dare

For us the Chains of Slavery to prepare.

Steadfast, in Freedom’s Cause, we’ll live and die,

Unawed by Statesmen; Foes to Tyranny,

But if Oppression brings us to our Graves,

and marks us dead, she ne’er shall mark us Slaves.

VB Main Street,South Side,City Square,1869,(2).jpg

Raised in Taunton, Massachusetts, in October 1774—nearly two years before the Declaration of Independence—the Liberty and Union flag is one of the earliest known symbols of colonial defiance against British authority. This powerful act of protest marked a turning point from petitions to action, making Taunton a key player in the movement toward American independence.

The current flag was adopted as the city flag of Taunton by a resolution of the Taunton City Council on October 19, 1974.

We celebrate the Liberty and Union flag with a festival to honor Taunton’s bold stand for freedom and unity—a moment that helped spark the American Revolution and still inspires today.

Taunton in the American Revolution