Captain driver old glory

In 1824, captain william driver hoisted a flag on his ship before he set sail on a voyage around the world. In 1873 captain driver gave mary jane his dearest possession, old glory. Captain drivers grave is located in the old nashville city cemetery, and is one of three 3 places authorized by act of congress where the flag of. Old glory traveled with captain driver on his ship and circled the globe twice before retiring with him to nashville. Captain william driver was born in salem, ma in 1803 to puritan parents with a heritage of seafarers. Captain drivers grave is located in the old nashville city cemetery, and is one of the places authorized by act of congress where the flag of the united states may be flown 24 hours a day. The life and times of patriot captain william driver.

Old glory continues to inspire drama and intrigue the. When his wife became ill, he left the seafaring life and moved his family to nashville, tennessee. Fearing that rebel soldiers might try to destroy old glory, driver stopped displaying it. Captain william drivers large american flag, handmade for the captain by the ladies of his native salem, mass. The nickname given to that flag became so well known that during the civil war, the confederates tried unsuccessfully to confiscate and destroy captain drivers flag that he had sewn into his bedcover to protect. Why the us flag is nicknamed old glory flag history. Then old glory accompanied the captain on his many voyages. The true story of a flag named old glory the national. William driver was presented a beautiful flag by his mother and a group of salem girls. As he was leaving on one of his many voyages aboard the brig charles doggett and this one would climax with the rescue of the mutineers of the bounty some friends presented him with a beautiful flag of twenty four stars. You will find out about captain drivers connection to the mutiny on the bounty, who was really the youngest sea captain to circumnavigate the earth and how a sailer from salem, massachusetts married the daughter of the king of fiji plus much more. Born in salem, massachusetts, driver was apprenticed to a blacksmith at age thirteen.

A new england sea captain who moved to nashville in his thirties, captain william driver is given credit for naming the american flag old glory. His mother and her circle of sewers presented him with a beautiful 24star flag in 1824. Gc3ckdm old glory traditional cache in maryland, united. Roland later gave old glory as a gift to president warren g. Old glory flew from the mast of captain drivers ship as he sailed to australia and to pitcairn island. The flag was made in 1824 for captain william driver, who flew it on his ship twice around the world and. Driver was delighted with the gift and named the flag old glory. The flag would accompany driver on his numerous voyages around the world. Captain william driver, named old glory 1803 1886 genealogy. Captain driver quit the sea in 1837 and settled in nashville, tenn. I recently found out i am a descendent through my grandmother, mildred driver. Old flag, captain william driver, charles doggett, when driver, civil war.

When he gave up seafaring and moved inland to nashville, tennessee in 1837, driver continued to display the flag proudly by hanging it from a locust tree. Clipping found in the tennessean in nashville, tennessee on jun 11, 2008. At 21, he qualified as a master mariner and was licensed to sail a ship. A caption above a faded black and white picture in the book, the stars and the stripes, says that old glory may no longer be opened to be photographed. About captain william driver, named old glory a new england sea captain who moved to nashville in his thirties, captain william driver is given credit for naming the american flag old glory. At the age of 14, driver apprenticed as a cabin boy on the ship china bound for italy. Old glory was made and presented to the young captain driver by his mother and some ladies of his native salem, massachusetts. Driver died in 1886 and was buried in nashville city cemetery. Harding, who later bequeathed the flag to the smithsonian institution. The original old glory was a flag owned by the 19thcentury american sea captain william driver.

The sixth ohio regiment cheered and saluted and later adopted the nickname old glory as their own, telling and retelling the story of captain drivers devotion to the flag which is honored yet today. Old glory is a nickname for the flag of the united states. Interestingly, old glory was the name that captain william driver placed on a flag he was presented in 1831. The ruddy young deckhand was nervous, but the salty spray that misted his face with the cresting of. Captain william driver was a shipmaster out of salem, massachusetts. The story of how old glory first came about dates all the way back to march 17, 1824, the 21 st birthday of a young sea captain from salem, massachusetts named william driver. The sixth ohio regiment cheered and saluted and later adopted the nickname old glory as their own, telling and retelling the story of captain drivers devotion to the flag we honor yet today. The monument serves to honor captain william driver, a salem native credited with naming the american flag. Captain bill driver handed old glory to his daughter mary jane and said, cherish it as i have cherished it for it has been my friend and protector around the world. The true story of a flag named old glory the national flag. Driver was given a huge american flag on his birthday in 1831. Old glory flag national museum of american history. Learning how the american flag got its nickname, old glory, is only one part of his story. To commemorate this special occasion, drivers mother and several female admirers sewed a 24star american flag and presented it as a gift to the young captain.

As captain of his own ship, his mother sewed an american flag which he nicknamed. When his home was searched by confederate soldiers, navy captain william driver, a passionate unionist, hid his beloved old glory inside. How the flag came to be called old glory history smithsonian. In 1873, the captain gave the flag to his daughter, mrs. The nickname given to that flag became so well known that during the civil war, the confederates tried unsuccessfully to confiscate and destroy captain. Around this same time, harriet ruth waters cooke, one of drivers nieces from massachusetts, claimed that she was the owner of the original old glory.

The original old glory was a flag owned by the 19thcentury american sea captain william driver march 17, 1803 march 3, 1886, who flew the flag during his career at sea and later brought it to nashville, tennessee, where he settled. The famous name old glory was coined by captain william driver, a shipmaster in salem, massachusetts. Landon publishing captain drivers old glory by karla. Soon the stars and stripes came to be known as old glory on many battlefields.

On patriotic days, he displayed old glory proudly from a rope extending from his house to a. The discourse old glory this famous name was coined by. Old glory is the true story of captain william driver, a patriot captain wellknown for his adventures, philanthropy, and the original old glory flag. Recently discovered at williamson county public library, this framed piece sparked conversation about the relationship between the original old glory flag, owned by captain william driver, and old glory chapter nsdar. The flag was made in 1824 for captain william driver, who flew it on his ship twice around the world and displayed it regularly on patriotic occasions and holidays. Captain driver gently gathered up the flag and returned. As the banner opened to the ocean breeze for the first time, he exclaimed old. Old glory the original old glory flag was owned by william driver, a new england sea captain. Discover where the original old glory can now be viewed and find a link that shows a picture of the first old glory. After captain drivers passing in 1886, old glory in 1922 was presented as a gift to president warren g. The sixth ohio regiment cheered and salutedand later adopted the nickname old glory as their own, telling and retelling the story of captain drivers devotion to the flag we honor yet today. By the time the civil war erupted, most everyone in and around nashville recognized captain drivers old glory. The year is uncertain, but it was probably sometime in the 1820s. Old glory was made with 24 stars and red and white stripes representing the original colonies.

As a sea captain he once transported the descendants of the bounty mutineers from pitcairn island to tahiti. This is the first american flag to be named old glory. The real story behind old glory prophecy in the news. James buchanan had been elected president of the united states that year. Captain driver gave his daughter, mary jane rowland, old glory as a gift, on july 10, 1873.

Harding, who in turn gave it to the smithsonian for permanent preservation and residence. The ohio soldiers liked captain driver s nickname for his flag, and as news of what had happened in nashville spread, the term old glory became popular. It is a large flag, measuring 10 feet by 17 feet, heavily constructed and designed to be flown from a ships mast. Mary jane roland, who in turn gave it to president warren g. Driver spent many years as a sea captain and sailed to china, india and the south pacific while flying old glory, my staunch companion and protection. Members of the 6th ohio infantry disembarked and driver approached their commanding officer, begging to hoist old glory above the state capitol.

Temporarily closed open every day except december 25 10. William driver was born on march 17, 1803, in salem, massachusetts, and he died in nashville, tennessee in 1886. William driver, the man who gave the united states flag its famous nickname, old glory. Old glory is actually a specific flag made in 1824 for captain william driver. The original old glory owned by sea captain william driver.

This is the story of our beloved old glory youtube. The famous name old glory was coined by captain william driver, a shipmaster in. On that day, his mother presented him with a brand new beautiful american flag to accompany him on his journeys. He was the first person to call nickname the american flag old glory. Old glory, the famous flag belonging to sea captain william driver during the civil war, is part of the smithsonian national museum of american historys collection. This famous name was coined by captain william driver, a shipmaster of salem, massachusetts, in 1831. Stop here and reflect before reading ahead the year was 1817. I am looking for information on captain william driver of salem massachusetts.

Captain drivers grave is located in the old nashville city cemetery, and is one of three 3 places authorized by act of congress where the flag. He was a ship captain and as he unfurled his flag in the breeze the sight of it drove him to exclaim oh glory. The legend the story behind the term old glory this famous name was coined by captain william driver a shipmaster of salem, massachusetts. Old glory this famous name was coined by captain william driver, a shipmaster of salem, massachusetts, in 1831. As the stitches holding the quilt top to the batting unraveled, the onlookers peered inside and saw the 24starred original old glory. The name old glory was loudly proclaimed in 1824 by captain william driver as he hoisted the flag given to him as a birthday present. Driver introduced himself as a former sea captain and loyal unionist and then produced his coverlet. But in 1837, when mary janes mother became ill, captain driver gave up his life at sea and settled his family in nashville, tennessee. A caption above a faded black and white picture in the book, the stars and the stripes, states that old glory may no longer be opened to be. Old glory is captain drivers true story of adventure, high drama, heroism, patriotism, and incomparable public service during his later life on behalf of the helpless. The first time in recorded history that the united states flag was called old glory was on march 17, 1824.

Captain driver and old glory national postal museum. Old glory this is the first american flag to be named old glory. Born in salem, massachusetts, at age, he ran away from home to be a cabin boy on a sailing ship. This was the flag that accompanied captain driver in his sea voyages until 1837 when he. On the corner of essex and north street there is a small park dedicated to the memory of captain william driver and his naming of the united states flag. Captain driver s grave is located in the old nashville city cemetery, and is one of three 3 places authorized by act of congress where the flag of the united states may be flown 24 hours a day. He was an ardent patriot and flew his flag frequently.