Jane Long’s Flag
(1819 – 1820)

In 1819 James and Jane Long flew a Lone Star Flag, and “Jane Long lived under the protection of more flags as a Texian than any other, living in Nacogdoches, Bolivar Point, San Antonio de Bear, San Felipe de Austin, Brazoria, and then Richmond.” -- page iv, Texas Sinners and Revolutionaries, Jane Long and Her Fellow Conspirators by Jack C. Ramsay, Jr.

“Washington politicians tried to appease Spain and gain Florida by giving up all claims to Texas. Washington issued a warrant for the arrest of James Long. Jane Long was determined to wave the flag she had designed when her husband first proclaimed independence: a red banner with a single white star.” - page 17, Texas Sinners and Revolutionaries, Jane Long and Her Fellow Conspirators by Jack C. Ramsay, Jr.

© - Copyright, Jack C. Ramsay, Jr. 2001

Jane Long, 1798-1880; Jane Long, A Texan, 1819 –1880

“Most of her personal effects had been lost when American authorities seized her trunk. But for a brief time, Jane acted as first lady of a nation yet to be born. She was credited with designing a flag for the republic, a silk banner with a single white star against a red field. One account stated this emblem was unfurled from the Stone Fort in Nacogdoches upon Long’s proclamation of independence. Another noted that there were no authentic records of Jane’s flag, which ‘lives only in the memory of Texans’.” – page 13, Texas Sinners and Revolutionaries, Jane Long and Her Fellow Conspirators by Jack Ramsay, Jr.

Repeatedly I see accounts that Jane Long ran up her red petticoat as a flag on Bolivar Point. I do not buy any of these accounts since Jane Long would never have owned a red petticoat, petticoats worn only by prostitutes! It is my belief that she may have hoisted the red flag she designed on Bolivar Point to convince people that there were still people ready to defend the Bolivar Point Fort. Though she had designed her flag when James Long was leaving to join the revolution against Mexico; he would never have carried such a symbol into Mexico.

In 1819 James and Jane Long dared to fly a “lone star” flag. She was 21 years old!