National Treasures - Decatur Naval Collection
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NATIONAL TREASURES - Decatur Naval Collection
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ZFC3557—Commodore Stephen Decatur photographic image on porcelain by photographer J.L. McCormick, of Boston. During the 19th century, advances in metallic emulsion (silver halide) application enabled and popularized photographic reproductions on a variety of surfaces, such as this porcelain ceramic image of Commodore Stephen Decatur. Decatur bore the namesake of his uncle, Commodore Stephen Decatur, Jr. (1779-1820), one of the most memorable figures in American Naval history because of his successes in the Quasi War with France, the Barbary Wars and the War of 1812.
ZFC3558—Stephen Decatur Original Lieutenant's Appointment Letter - USS Warren. This is the letter of appointment to Stephen Decatur, nephew of his famous namesake (Commodore Stephen Decatur, Jr.), to the grade of Lieutenant in the United States Navy. It is dated February 25th, 1841, and was addressed to him aboard the USS Warren, a sloop of war, stationed at the Navy Yard at Pensacola, Florida. This letter marks the beginning of Stephen Decatur's commissioned US naval career.
ZFC3535—13 Star U.S. Navy 4-5-4, 6 foot Boat Flag, from Commodore Stephen Decatur. This flag was preserved by Commodore Stephen Decatur’s wife, Anna Rowell Philbrick Decatur, and is marked, "AR Decatur." The US Navy Boat flag dates from the 1850s or early 1860s.
ZFC3536—13 Star U.S. 3-2-3-2-3, #11 Navy Boat Flag, Commodore Stephen Decatur. This is a Civil War era maritime flag from the early 1860s, which was preserved by Mrs. The Commodore's wife, Anna Rowel Philbrick Decatur, and is marked, "ARP DECATUR."
ZFC3542—ZFC3542 This is an extremely rare Distinctive Mark of the US Navy, used by the commander of the Third Division of a squadron from 1865 - 1872. These pennants were not to be regarded as emblems of rank, but rather as indicative of command. It is not known which member of the Decatur family may have displayed this pennant; but it is likely that it was either Stephen Decatur or George Washington Storer prior to their promotion to the grade of Commodore, a flag bearing rank.
ZFC3543—U.S. Navy Commodore’s Broad Pennant 1869-1870. This was Commodore Stephen Decatur’s Broad Pennant and made of dyed wool. This type of Commodore's Broad Pennant was in
service by the US Navy for a brief period from January 1st, 1870 to January 6th, 1876. It was made by the US Bunting Company. Between 1869 and 1876, for reasons that still are unclear, the United States Navy abandoned its system of blue flags bearing the appropriate number of stars for an admiral's grade and replacing it with a series of 13-stripe flags, some defaced with red stars.
ZFC3545—13 Star U.S. Yacht Club Ensign, from the Commodore Stephen Decatur Family Collection. This wool, hand-sewn US Yacht ensign is a flag of national character, used since 1848 to identify American pleasure craft in US waters. It was used by members of the extended Lear-Storer-Decatur families; likely accompanied by burgee of the Williamsburg Yacht Club (ZFC3540).
ZFC3540—Williamsburgh Yacht Club Pennant, Brooklyn, NY. The club was founded on April 12th, 1865, near the close of the American Civil War. The Williamsburg Yacht Club is one of the nation’s oldest yachting clubs in continuous existence. Started by a number of seasoned yachtsmen who assembled at the Penny Bridge on Newtown Creek in Brooklyn near the New York Navy Yard, the club has always been very patriotic. Various members of the Decatur and Storer families were among its earliest members. Because the club’s early records were destroyed by fire, corroboration of which club member used this burgee is impossible.
ZFC3539—Williamsburg Yacht Club Pennant – reverse variant, Commodore Stephen Decatur family. This pennant or burgee’s exact use unknown; it has not been identified to a known US Yacht club. It is a reverse color configuration to that of the venerable Williamsburg Yacht Club of Brooklyn, NY, leading to speculation that it is somehow associated with that yacht club, perhaps as an auxiliary or sister organization. Its large size suggests clubhouse, rather than shipboard, usage.
ZFC3541—Williamsburg Yacht Club Pennant – reverse variant, Commodore Stephen Decatur family. This is a smaller version of ZFC3539 and thus suitable for shipboard use. Its acquisition with a 19th century Williamsburg Yacht Club Burgee (ZFC3540) has led to the speculation that this is a 19th century civilian maritime pennant, likely used by pleasure boaters from the Decatur family since Commodore Decatur was closely connected for many years to the nearby Brooklyn Navy Yard.
ZFC3537—45 Star U.S. Flag or Ensign marked Charles H. Fish. This was the official flag in the Spanish-American war, its design corresponding to that of the state of Utah, which entered the Union in 1896. This flag design was official until 1908. It is not known how Charles H. Fish is related to the family or what this designation implies. This flag descended through the Decatur family and was associated with Admiral Dewey. Admiral Dewey was related to the Decatur-Lyre-Goodwin family by marriage. His illustrious naval career began during the Civil War and commenced through the Spanish-American War up until just prior to WWI.
ZFC3538—45-star U.S. Flag - Spanish-American war era flag. This 45 star wool flag, which was current from 1896 to 1908, was formerly part of the Decatur-Armsden Collection; a family collection that included artifacts and flags from the Lear-Storer-Decatur family which included many significant individuals from the naval history of the United States. The exact history of this flag is unknown but its preservation in such an esteemed nautical collection would give credence to the supposition of naval by some members of the family.
ZFC3546—13 Star U.S. Navy Boat Flag - #11, N.Y. This is a wool, machine sewn, US Navy Boat Ensign from the Commodore Stephen Decatur Family Collection. Stenciled on the hoist is the designation, "US Boat Flag, Navy Yard New York No. 11, April 1913." This particular design was replaced in 1916. The flag is well worn and reveals numerous period repairs along the fly edge where a portion of all of the stripes was replaced with patching; a common method for extending the life of such flags.
ZFC3547—U.S. Service Flag, Two Blue Stars, WWI, Commodore Stephen Decatur Family Collection. These red and white wool colors is a service flag used to honor family members who are serving in the US Armed Forces. This example is from the Lear-Storer-Decatur Families, indicating that two members were
serving in the U.S. Navy during WWI.
ZFC3548—U.S. Service Flags, Two Blue Stars, WWII, Commodore Stephen Decatur Family Collection. This flag is almost identical to ZFC3547, but dates from WWII, when two more members of the Lear-Storer-Decatur Families were serving in the United States armed forces.
ZFC3544—Ensign of the USS Decatur (DD-936) launched December 15th, 1955, during the first decade of the Cold War. The Decatur patrolled in the Mediterranean with the US Navy's 6th Fleet, and also participated in spacecraft recovery but her major Cold War role was participating in Cuban Quarantine operations in 1962. She was decommissioned in 1965 and was then reclassified and recommissioned as a guided missile destroyer (DDG-31) in 1966, serving in Vietnam and the Persian Gulf until 2004.
ZFC3549—U.S. Navy Christening Bottle, U.S.S. Decatur (DD-936), 1955. A cased christening bottle decorated with red, white and blue ribbons. The fourth U.S.S. Decatur (DD-936) was a Forrest-Sherman Class destroyer of the United States Navy, named for Commodore Stephen Decatur, U.S.N. The USS Decatur was laid down by the Bethlehem Steel Corporation at Quincy, Massachusetts on September 13th, 1954, and launched on December 15th, 1955, by Mrs. W.A. Pierce and Mrs. D J Armsden, both descendants of Commodore Decatur.
ZFC3535—13 Star U.S. Navy 4-5-4, 6 foot Boat Flag, from Commodore Stephen Decatur. This flag was preserved by Commodore Stephen Decatur’s wife, Anna Rowell Philbrick Decatur, and is marked, "AR Decatur." The US Navy Boat flag dates from the 1850s or early 1860s.
ZFC3536—13 Star U.S. 3-2-3-2-3, #11 Navy Boat Flag, Commodore Stephen Decatur. This is a Civil War era maritime flag from the early 1860s, which was preserved by Mrs. The Commodore's wife, Anna Rowel Philbrick Decatur, and is marked, "ARP DECATUR."
ZFC3542—ZFC3542 This is an extremely rare Distinctive Mark of the US Navy, used by the commander of the Third Division of a squadron from 1865 - 1872. These pennants were not to be regarded as emblems of rank, but rather as indicative of command. It is not known which member of the Decatur family may have displayed this pennant; but it is likely that it was either Stephen Decatur or George Washington Storer prior to their promotion to the grade of Commodore, a flag bearing rank.
ZFC3543—U.S. Navy Commodore’s Broad Pennant 1869-1870. This was Commodore Stephen Decatur’s Broad Pennant and made of dyed wool. This type of Commodore's Broad Pennant was in
service by the US Navy for a brief period from January 1st, 1870 to January 6th, 1876. It was made by the US Bunting Company. Between 1869 and 1876, for reasons that still are unclear, the United States Navy abandoned its system of blue flags bearing the appropriate number of stars for an admiral's grade and replacing it with a series of 13-stripe flags, some defaced with red stars.
ZFC3545—13 Star U.S. Yacht Club Ensign, from the Commodore Stephen Decatur Family Collection. This wool, hand-sewn US Yacht ensign is a flag of national character, used since 1848 to identify American pleasure craft in US waters. It was used by members of the extended Lear-Storer-Decatur families; likely accompanied by burgee of the Williamsburg Yacht Club (ZFC3540).
ZFC3540—Williamsburgh Yacht Club Pennant, Brooklyn, NY. The club was founded on April 12th, 1865, near the close of the American Civil War. The Williamsburg Yacht Club is one of the nation’s oldest yachting clubs in continuous existence. Started by a number of seasoned yachtsmen who assembled at the Penny Bridge on Newtown Creek in Brooklyn near the New York Navy Yard, the club has always been very patriotic. Various members of the Decatur and Storer families were among its earliest members. Because the club’s early records were destroyed by fire, corroboration of which club member used this burgee is impossible.
ZFC3539—Williamsburg Yacht Club Pennant – reverse variant, Commodore Stephen Decatur family. This pennant or burgee’s exact use unknown; it has not been identified to a known US Yacht club. It is a reverse color configuration to that of the venerable Williamsburg Yacht Club of Brooklyn, NY, leading to speculation that it is somehow associated with that yacht club, perhaps as an auxiliary or sister organization. Its large size suggests clubhouse, rather than shipboard, usage.
ZFC3541—Williamsburg Yacht Club Pennant – reverse variant, Commodore Stephen Decatur family. This is a smaller version of ZFC3539 and thus suitable for shipboard use. Its acquisition with a 19th century Williamsburg Yacht Club Burgee (ZFC3540) has led to the speculation that this is a 19th century civilian maritime pennant, likely used by pleasure boaters from the Decatur family since Commodore Decatur was closely connected for many years to the nearby Brooklyn Navy Yard.
ZFC3537—45 Star U.S. Flag or Ensign marked Charles H. Fish. This was the official flag in the Spanish-American war, its design corresponding to that of the state of Utah, which entered the Union in 1896. This flag design was official until 1908. It is not known how Charles H. Fish is related to the family or what this designation implies. This flag descended through the Decatur family and was associated with Admiral Dewey. Admiral Dewey was related to the Decatur-Lyre-Goodwin family by marriage. His illustrious naval career began during the Civil War and commenced through the Spanish-American War up until just prior to WWI.
ZFC3538—45-star U.S. Flag - Spanish-American war era flag. This 45 star wool flag, which was current from 1896 to 1908, was formerly part of the Decatur-Armsden Collection; a family collection that included artifacts and flags from the Lear-Storer-Decatur family which included many significant individuals from the naval history of the United States. The exact history of this flag is unknown but its preservation in such an esteemed nautical collection would give credence to the supposition of naval by some members of the family.
ZFC3546—13 Star U.S. Navy Boat Flag - #11, N.Y. This is a wool, machine sewn, US Navy Boat Ensign from the Commodore Stephen Decatur Family Collection. Stenciled on the hoist is the designation, "US Boat Flag, Navy Yard New York No. 11, April 1913." This particular design was replaced in 1916. The flag is well worn and reveals numerous period repairs along the fly edge where a portion of all of the stripes was replaced with patching; a common method for extending the life of such flags.
ZFC3547—U.S. Service Flag, Two Blue Stars, WWI, Commodore Stephen Decatur Family Collection. These red and white wool colors is a service flag used to honor family members who are serving in the US Armed Forces. This example is from the Lear-Storer-Decatur Families, indicating that two members were
serving in the U.S. Navy during WWI.
ZFC3548—U.S. Service Flags, Two Blue Stars, WWII, Commodore Stephen Decatur Family Collection. This flag is almost identical to ZFC3547, but dates from WWII, when two more members of the Lear-Storer-Decatur Families were serving in the United States armed forces.
ZFC3544—Ensign of the USS Decatur (DD-936) launched December 15th, 1955, during the first decade of the Cold War. The Decatur patrolled in the Mediterranean with the US Navy's 6th Fleet, and also participated in spacecraft recovery but her major Cold War role was participating in Cuban Quarantine operations in 1962. She was decommissioned in 1965 and was then reclassified and recommissioned as a guided missile destroyer (DDG-31) in 1966, serving in Vietnam and the Persian Gulf until 2004.
ZFC3549—U.S. Navy Christening Bottle, U.S.S. Decatur (DD-936), 1955. A cased christening bottle decorated with red, white and blue ribbons. The fourth U.S.S. Decatur (DD-936) was a Forrest-Sherman Class destroyer of the United States Navy, named for Commodore Stephen Decatur, U.S.N. The USS Decatur was laid down by the Bethlehem Steel Corporation at Quincy, Massachusetts on September 13th, 1954, and launched on December 15th, 1955, by Mrs. W.A. Pierce and Mrs. D J Armsden, both descendants of Commodore Decatur.
ZFC3542—ZFC3542 This is an extremely rare Distinctive Mark of the US Navy, used by the commander of the Third Division of a squadron from 1865 - 1872. These pennants were not to be regarded as emblems of rank, but rather as indicative of command. It is not known which member of the Decatur family may have displayed this pennant; but it is likely that it was either Stephen Decatur or George Washington Storer prior to their promotion to the grade of Commodore, a flag bearing rank.
ZFC3543—U.S. Navy Commodore’s Broad Pennant 1869-1870. This was Commodore Stephen Decatur’s Broad Pennant and made of dyed wool. This type of Commodore's Broad Pennant was in
service by the US Navy for a brief period from January 1st, 1870 to January 6th, 1876. It was made by the US Bunting Company. Between 1869 and 1876, for reasons that still are unclear, the United States Navy abandoned its system of blue flags bearing the appropriate number of stars for an admiral's grade and replacing it with a series of 13-stripe flags, some defaced with red stars.
ZFC3545—13 Star U.S. Yacht Club Ensign, from the Commodore Stephen Decatur Family Collection. This wool, hand-sewn US Yacht ensign is a flag of national character, used since 1848 to identify American pleasure craft in US waters. It was used by members of the extended Lear-Storer-Decatur families; likely accompanied by burgee of the Williamsburg Yacht Club (ZFC3540).
ZFC3540—Williamsburgh Yacht Club Pennant, Brooklyn, NY. The club was founded on April 12th, 1865, near the close of the American Civil War. The Williamsburg Yacht Club is one of the nation’s oldest yachting clubs in continuous existence. Started by a number of seasoned yachtsmen who assembled at the Penny Bridge on Newtown Creek in Brooklyn near the New York Navy Yard, the club has always been very patriotic. Various members of the Decatur and Storer families were among its earliest members. Because the club’s early records were destroyed by fire, corroboration of which club member used this burgee is impossible.
ZFC3539—Williamsburg Yacht Club Pennant – reverse variant, Commodore Stephen Decatur family. This pennant or burgee’s exact use unknown; it has not been identified to a known US Yacht club. It is a reverse color configuration to that of the venerable Williamsburg Yacht Club of Brooklyn, NY, leading to speculation that it is somehow associated with that yacht club, perhaps as an auxiliary or sister organization. Its large size suggests clubhouse, rather than shipboard, usage.
ZFC3541—Williamsburg Yacht Club Pennant – reverse variant, Commodore Stephen Decatur family. This is a smaller version of ZFC3539 and thus suitable for shipboard use. Its acquisition with a 19th century Williamsburg Yacht Club Burgee (ZFC3540) has led to the speculation that this is a 19th century civilian maritime pennant, likely used by pleasure boaters from the Decatur family since Commodore Decatur was closely connected for many years to the nearby Brooklyn Navy Yard.
ZFC3537—45 Star U.S. Flag or Ensign marked Charles H. Fish. This was the official flag in the Spanish-American war, its design corresponding to that of the state of Utah, which entered the Union in 1896. This flag design was official until 1908. It is not known how Charles H. Fish is related to the family or what this designation implies. This flag descended through the Decatur family and was associated with Admiral Dewey. Admiral Dewey was related to the Decatur-Lyre-Goodwin family by marriage. His illustrious naval career began during the Civil War and commenced through the Spanish-American War up until just prior to WWI.
ZFC3538—45-star U.S. Flag - Spanish-American war era flag. This 45 star wool flag, which was current from 1896 to 1908, was formerly part of the Decatur-Armsden Collection; a family collection that included artifacts and flags from the Lear-Storer-Decatur family which included many significant individuals from the naval history of the United States. The exact history of this flag is unknown but its preservation in such an esteemed nautical collection would give credence to the supposition of naval by some members of the family.
ZFC3546—13 Star U.S. Navy Boat Flag - #11, N.Y. This is a wool, machine sewn, US Navy Boat Ensign from the Commodore Stephen Decatur Family Collection. Stenciled on the hoist is the designation, "US Boat Flag, Navy Yard New York No. 11, April 1913." This particular design was replaced in 1916. The flag is well worn and reveals numerous period repairs along the fly edge where a portion of all of the stripes was replaced with patching; a common method for extending the life of such flags.
ZFC3547—U.S. Service Flag, Two Blue Stars, WWI, Commodore Stephen Decatur Family Collection. These red and white wool colors is a service flag used to honor family members who are serving in the US Armed Forces. This example is from the Lear-Storer-Decatur Families, indicating that two members were
serving in the U.S. Navy during WWI.
ZFC3548—U.S. Service Flags, Two Blue Stars, WWII, Commodore Stephen Decatur Family Collection. This flag is almost identical to ZFC3547, but dates from WWII, when two more members of the Lear-Storer-Decatur Families were serving in the United States armed forces.
ZFC3544—Ensign of the USS Decatur (DD-936) launched December 15th, 1955, during the first decade of the Cold War. The Decatur patrolled in the Mediterranean with the US Navy's 6th Fleet, and also participated in spacecraft recovery but her major Cold War role was participating in Cuban Quarantine operations in 1962. She was decommissioned in 1965 and was then reclassified and recommissioned as a guided missile destroyer (DDG-31) in 1966, serving in Vietnam and the Persian Gulf until 2004.
ZFC3549—U.S. Navy Christening Bottle, U.S.S. Decatur (DD-936), 1955. A cased christening bottle decorated with red, white and blue ribbons. The fourth U.S.S. Decatur (DD-936) was a Forrest-Sherman Class destroyer of the United States Navy, named for Commodore Stephen Decatur, U.S.N. The USS Decatur was laid down by the Bethlehem Steel Corporation at Quincy, Massachusetts on September 13th, 1954, and launched on December 15th, 1955, by Mrs. W.A. Pierce and Mrs. D J Armsden, both descendants of Commodore Decatur.
ZFC3545—13 Star U.S. Yacht Club Ensign, from the Commodore Stephen Decatur Family Collection. This wool, hand-sewn US Yacht ensign is a flag of national character, used since 1848 to identify American pleasure craft in US waters. It was used by members of the extended Lear-Storer-Decatur families; likely accompanied by burgee of the Williamsburg Yacht Club (ZFC3540).
ZFC3540—Williamsburgh Yacht Club Pennant, Brooklyn, NY. The club was founded on April 12th, 1865, near the close of the American Civil War. The Williamsburg Yacht Club is one of the nation’s oldest yachting clubs in continuous existence. Started by a number of seasoned yachtsmen who assembled at the Penny Bridge on Newtown Creek in Brooklyn near the New York Navy Yard, the club has always been very patriotic. Various members of the Decatur and Storer families were among its earliest members. Because the club’s early records were destroyed by fire, corroboration of which club member used this burgee is impossible.
ZFC3539—Williamsburg Yacht Club Pennant – reverse variant, Commodore Stephen Decatur family. This pennant or burgee’s exact use unknown; it has not been identified to a known US Yacht club. It is a reverse color configuration to that of the venerable Williamsburg Yacht Club of Brooklyn, NY, leading to speculation that it is somehow associated with that yacht club, perhaps as an auxiliary or sister organization. Its large size suggests clubhouse, rather than shipboard, usage.
ZFC3541—Williamsburg Yacht Club Pennant – reverse variant, Commodore Stephen Decatur family. This is a smaller version of ZFC3539 and thus suitable for shipboard use. Its acquisition with a 19th century Williamsburg Yacht Club Burgee (ZFC3540) has led to the speculation that this is a 19th century civilian maritime pennant, likely used by pleasure boaters from the Decatur family since Commodore Decatur was closely connected for many years to the nearby Brooklyn Navy Yard.
ZFC3537—45 Star U.S. Flag or Ensign marked Charles H. Fish. This was the official flag in the Spanish-American war, its design corresponding to that of the state of Utah, which entered the Union in 1896. This flag design was official until 1908. It is not known how Charles H. Fish is related to the family or what this designation implies. This flag descended through the Decatur family and was associated with Admiral Dewey. Admiral Dewey was related to the Decatur-Lyre-Goodwin family by marriage. His illustrious naval career began during the Civil War and commenced through the Spanish-American War up until just prior to WWI.
ZFC3538—45-star U.S. Flag - Spanish-American war era flag. This 45 star wool flag, which was current from 1896 to 1908, was formerly part of the Decatur-Armsden Collection; a family collection that included artifacts and flags from the Lear-Storer-Decatur family which included many significant individuals from the naval history of the United States. The exact history of this flag is unknown but its preservation in such an esteemed nautical collection would give credence to the supposition of naval by some members of the family.
ZFC3546—13 Star U.S. Navy Boat Flag - #11, N.Y. This is a wool, machine sewn, US Navy Boat Ensign from the Commodore Stephen Decatur Family Collection. Stenciled on the hoist is the designation, "US Boat Flag, Navy Yard New York No. 11, April 1913." This particular design was replaced in 1916. The flag is well worn and reveals numerous period repairs along the fly edge where a portion of all of the stripes was replaced with patching; a common method for extending the life of such flags.
ZFC3547—U.S. Service Flag, Two Blue Stars, WWI, Commodore Stephen Decatur Family Collection. These red and white wool colors is a service flag used to honor family members who are serving in the US Armed Forces. This example is from the Lear-Storer-Decatur Families, indicating that two members were
serving in the U.S. Navy during WWI.
ZFC3548—U.S. Service Flags, Two Blue Stars, WWII, Commodore Stephen Decatur Family Collection. This flag is almost identical to ZFC3547, but dates from WWII, when two more members of the Lear-Storer-Decatur Families were serving in the United States armed forces.
ZFC3544—Ensign of the USS Decatur (DD-936) launched December 15th, 1955, during the first decade of the Cold War. The Decatur patrolled in the Mediterranean with the US Navy's 6th Fleet, and also participated in spacecraft recovery but her major Cold War role was participating in Cuban Quarantine operations in 1962. She was decommissioned in 1965 and was then reclassified and recommissioned as a guided missile destroyer (DDG-31) in 1966, serving in Vietnam and the Persian Gulf until 2004.
ZFC3549—U.S. Navy Christening Bottle, U.S.S. Decatur (DD-936), 1955. A cased christening bottle decorated with red, white and blue ribbons. The fourth U.S.S. Decatur (DD-936) was a Forrest-Sherman Class destroyer of the United States Navy, named for Commodore Stephen Decatur, U.S.N. The USS Decatur was laid down by the Bethlehem Steel Corporation at Quincy, Massachusetts on September 13th, 1954, and launched on December 15th, 1955, by Mrs. W.A. Pierce and Mrs. D J Armsden, both descendants of Commodore Decatur.
ZFC3539—Williamsburg Yacht Club Pennant – reverse variant, Commodore Stephen Decatur family. This pennant or burgee’s exact use unknown; it has not been identified to a known US Yacht club. It is a reverse color configuration to that of the venerable Williamsburg Yacht Club of Brooklyn, NY, leading to speculation that it is somehow associated with that yacht club, perhaps as an auxiliary or sister organization. Its large size suggests clubhouse, rather than shipboard, usage.
ZFC3541—Williamsburg Yacht Club Pennant – reverse variant, Commodore Stephen Decatur family. This is a smaller version of ZFC3539 and thus suitable for shipboard use. Its acquisition with a 19th century Williamsburg Yacht Club Burgee (ZFC3540) has led to the speculation that this is a 19th century civilian maritime pennant, likely used by pleasure boaters from the Decatur family since Commodore Decatur was closely connected for many years to the nearby Brooklyn Navy Yard.
ZFC3537—45 Star U.S. Flag or Ensign marked Charles H. Fish. This was the official flag in the Spanish-American war, its design corresponding to that of the state of Utah, which entered the Union in 1896. This flag design was official until 1908. It is not known how Charles H. Fish is related to the family or what this designation implies. This flag descended through the Decatur family and was associated with Admiral Dewey. Admiral Dewey was related to the Decatur-Lyre-Goodwin family by marriage. His illustrious naval career began during the Civil War and commenced through the Spanish-American War up until just prior to WWI.
ZFC3538—45-star U.S. Flag - Spanish-American war era flag. This 45 star wool flag, which was current from 1896 to 1908, was formerly part of the Decatur-Armsden Collection; a family collection that included artifacts and flags from the Lear-Storer-Decatur family which included many significant individuals from the naval history of the United States. The exact history of this flag is unknown but its preservation in such an esteemed nautical collection would give credence to the supposition of naval by some members of the family.
ZFC3546—13 Star U.S. Navy Boat Flag - #11, N.Y. This is a wool, machine sewn, US Navy Boat Ensign from the Commodore Stephen Decatur Family Collection. Stenciled on the hoist is the designation, "US Boat Flag, Navy Yard New York No. 11, April 1913." This particular design was replaced in 1916. The flag is well worn and reveals numerous period repairs along the fly edge where a portion of all of the stripes was replaced with patching; a common method for extending the life of such flags.
ZFC3547—U.S. Service Flag, Two Blue Stars, WWI, Commodore Stephen Decatur Family Collection. These red and white wool colors is a service flag used to honor family members who are serving in the US Armed Forces. This example is from the Lear-Storer-Decatur Families, indicating that two members were
serving in the U.S. Navy during WWI.
ZFC3548—U.S. Service Flags, Two Blue Stars, WWII, Commodore Stephen Decatur Family Collection. This flag is almost identical to ZFC3547, but dates from WWII, when two more members of the Lear-Storer-Decatur Families were serving in the United States armed forces.
ZFC3544—Ensign of the USS Decatur (DD-936) launched December 15th, 1955, during the first decade of the Cold War. The Decatur patrolled in the Mediterranean with the US Navy's 6th Fleet, and also participated in spacecraft recovery but her major Cold War role was participating in Cuban Quarantine operations in 1962. She was decommissioned in 1965 and was then reclassified and recommissioned as a guided missile destroyer (DDG-31) in 1966, serving in Vietnam and the Persian Gulf until 2004.
ZFC3549—U.S. Navy Christening Bottle, U.S.S. Decatur (DD-936), 1955. A cased christening bottle decorated with red, white and blue ribbons. The fourth U.S.S. Decatur (DD-936) was a Forrest-Sherman Class destroyer of the United States Navy, named for Commodore Stephen Decatur, U.S.N. The USS Decatur was laid down by the Bethlehem Steel Corporation at Quincy, Massachusetts on September 13th, 1954, and launched on December 15th, 1955, by Mrs. W.A. Pierce and Mrs. D J Armsden, both descendants of Commodore Decatur.
ZFC3537—45 Star U.S. Flag or Ensign marked Charles H. Fish. This was the official flag in the Spanish-American war, its design corresponding to that of the state of Utah, which entered the Union in 1896. This flag design was official until 1908. It is not known how Charles H. Fish is related to the family or what this designation implies. This flag descended through the Decatur family and was associated with Admiral Dewey. Admiral Dewey was related to the Decatur-Lyre-Goodwin family by marriage. His illustrious naval career began during the Civil War and commenced through the Spanish-American War up until just prior to WWI.
ZFC3538—45-star U.S. Flag - Spanish-American war era flag. This 45 star wool flag, which was current from 1896 to 1908, was formerly part of the Decatur-Armsden Collection; a family collection that included artifacts and flags from the Lear-Storer-Decatur family which included many significant individuals from the naval history of the United States. The exact history of this flag is unknown but its preservation in such an esteemed nautical collection would give credence to the supposition of naval by some members of the family.
ZFC3546—13 Star U.S. Navy Boat Flag - #11, N.Y. This is a wool, machine sewn, US Navy Boat Ensign from the Commodore Stephen Decatur Family Collection. Stenciled on the hoist is the designation, "US Boat Flag, Navy Yard New York No. 11, April 1913." This particular design was replaced in 1916. The flag is well worn and reveals numerous period repairs along the fly edge where a portion of all of the stripes was replaced with patching; a common method for extending the life of such flags.
ZFC3547—U.S. Service Flag, Two Blue Stars, WWI, Commodore Stephen Decatur Family Collection. These red and white wool colors is a service flag used to honor family members who are serving in the US Armed Forces. This example is from the Lear-Storer-Decatur Families, indicating that two members were
serving in the U.S. Navy during WWI.
ZFC3548—U.S. Service Flags, Two Blue Stars, WWII, Commodore Stephen Decatur Family Collection. This flag is almost identical to ZFC3547, but dates from WWII, when two more members of the Lear-Storer-Decatur Families were serving in the United States armed forces.
ZFC3544—Ensign of the USS Decatur (DD-936) launched December 15th, 1955, during the first decade of the Cold War. The Decatur patrolled in the Mediterranean with the US Navy's 6th Fleet, and also participated in spacecraft recovery but her major Cold War role was participating in Cuban Quarantine operations in 1962. She was decommissioned in 1965 and was then reclassified and recommissioned as a guided missile destroyer (DDG-31) in 1966, serving in Vietnam and the Persian Gulf until 2004.
ZFC3549—U.S. Navy Christening Bottle, U.S.S. Decatur (DD-936), 1955. A cased christening bottle decorated with red, white and blue ribbons. The fourth U.S.S. Decatur (DD-936) was a Forrest-Sherman Class destroyer of the United States Navy, named for Commodore Stephen Decatur, U.S.N. The USS Decatur was laid down by the Bethlehem Steel Corporation at Quincy, Massachusetts on September 13th, 1954, and launched on December 15th, 1955, by Mrs. W.A. Pierce and Mrs. D J Armsden, both descendants of Commodore Decatur.
ZFC3546—13 Star U.S. Navy Boat Flag - #11, N.Y. This is a wool, machine sewn, US Navy Boat Ensign from the Commodore Stephen Decatur Family Collection. Stenciled on the hoist is the designation, "US Boat Flag, Navy Yard New York No. 11, April 1913." This particular design was replaced in 1916. The flag is well worn and reveals numerous period repairs along the fly edge where a portion of all of the stripes was replaced with patching; a common method for extending the life of such flags.
ZFC3547—U.S. Service Flag, Two Blue Stars, WWI, Commodore Stephen Decatur Family Collection. These red and white wool colors is a service flag used to honor family members who are serving in the US Armed Forces. This example is from the Lear-Storer-Decatur Families, indicating that two members were
serving in the U.S. Navy during WWI.
ZFC3548—U.S. Service Flags, Two Blue Stars, WWII, Commodore Stephen Decatur Family Collection. This flag is almost identical to ZFC3547, but dates from WWII, when two more members of the Lear-Storer-Decatur Families were serving in the United States armed forces.
ZFC3544—Ensign of the USS Decatur (DD-936) launched December 15th, 1955, during the first decade of the Cold War. The Decatur patrolled in the Mediterranean with the US Navy's 6th Fleet, and also participated in spacecraft recovery but her major Cold War role was participating in Cuban Quarantine operations in 1962. She was decommissioned in 1965 and was then reclassified and recommissioned as a guided missile destroyer (DDG-31) in 1966, serving in Vietnam and the Persian Gulf until 2004.
ZFC3549—U.S. Navy Christening Bottle, U.S.S. Decatur (DD-936), 1955. A cased christening bottle decorated with red, white and blue ribbons. The fourth U.S.S. Decatur (DD-936) was a Forrest-Sherman Class destroyer of the United States Navy, named for Commodore Stephen Decatur, U.S.N. The USS Decatur was laid down by the Bethlehem Steel Corporation at Quincy, Massachusetts on September 13th, 1954, and launched on December 15th, 1955, by Mrs. W.A. Pierce and Mrs. D J Armsden, both descendants of Commodore Decatur.
ZFC3548—U.S. Service Flags, Two Blue Stars, WWII, Commodore Stephen Decatur Family Collection. This flag is almost identical to ZFC3547, but dates from WWII, when two more members of the Lear-Storer-Decatur Families were serving in the United States armed forces.
ZFC3544—Ensign of the USS Decatur (DD-936) launched December 15th, 1955, during the first decade of the Cold War. The Decatur patrolled in the Mediterranean with the US Navy's 6th Fleet, and also participated in spacecraft recovery but her major Cold War role was participating in Cuban Quarantine operations in 1962. She was decommissioned in 1965 and was then reclassified and recommissioned as a guided missile destroyer (DDG-31) in 1966, serving in Vietnam and the Persian Gulf until 2004.
ZFC3549—U.S. Navy Christening Bottle, U.S.S. Decatur (DD-936), 1955. A cased christening bottle decorated with red, white and blue ribbons. The fourth U.S.S. Decatur (DD-936) was a Forrest-Sherman Class destroyer of the United States Navy, named for Commodore Stephen Decatur, U.S.N. The USS Decatur was laid down by the Bethlehem Steel Corporation at Quincy, Massachusetts on September 13th, 1954, and launched on December 15th, 1955, by Mrs. W.A. Pierce and Mrs. D J Armsden, both descendants of Commodore Decatur.