born february october maker hoisted war daughter noted flag maker learned craft mother commissioned major flag baltimore fort large british difficulty seeing great distance flag installed august year later battle baltimore flag negotiating prisoner exchange aboard british vessel inspired pen words united_states national anthem widowed age successful flag making business able buy house renting baltimore later active addressing social issues housing employment women president founded incorporated helped impoverished families school children employment women leadership organization built home aged women later added built adjacent century later evolved maryland opened died buried park cemetery southwest baltimore daughter erected monument civic minded organizations later erected bronze plaque house lived years northwest corner downtown baltimore known house saved efforts preservation minded citizens motivated centennial celebrations early life born philadelphia pennsylvania february youngest children born mother widowed mary years old flag shop philadelphia garrison flags continental colors continental_army advertisement read kinds colours army navy sold reasonable terms young moved family baltimore maryland mary child mother mary learned craft flag making october age mary married merchant moved philadelphia husband mary children survived childhood daughter named caroline mary husband traveled london work died london june leaving mary widowed age mary moved baltimore daughter caroline year old mother small family rented house queen street later museum took opened flag making business selling silk standards cavalry division colours description customers included united_states_army united_states_navy visiting merchant ships flag united_states war great_britain baltimore preparing eventual attack fleet british_royal_navy complete maritime control chesapeake_bay major commander infantry artillery units defended baltimore felt fort prepared attack lacked flag letter head military commander baltimore major general wrote sir ready fort defend baltimore invading enemy ready suitable ensign display star fort desire flag large british difficulty seeing distance delegation consisting smith brig general brother law visited discussed desired flag commissioned flags american ensign feet quality flag feet task large making flags capability person complete drew members household help contracted labor immediate neighborhood early summer began job assistance daughter caroline free african american apprentice likely elderly mother additional unnamed african american boarded house listed helping sources additional local hired summer working late evening midnight times team able complete job weeks daughter letter daughter later lieutenant colonel wrote flag flag large mother obliged obtain permission sic brewery neighborhood spread house remember seeing mother floor placing stars completion flag topping having secure manner prevent torn away cannon balls wisdom precaution shown engagement shots piercing remained firm staff father col declared maker flag requested merely bound large flag contained yards meters fabric included stripes stars states union stars cotton stripes blue english wool stripe feet wide stars measured inches tip tip women work evening brewery closed working midnight delivered flags august year main flag weighed pounds took men raise foot meter result enormous american flag seen miles fort october given niece young larger flag smaller fort storm flag small flag flying british initially attacked battle baltimore september weather night driving material heavy blow breeze large flag flying fort september british ceased firing fort diary entry british sub board ship recently returned battlefield described sunny morning americans distant fort fired wake morning gun salute raised splendid ensign negotiating prisoner exchange aboard british ship saw flag inspired pen words poem defence fort later battle took possession large flag death widow kept decades ownership allowed displayed occasions removed pieces given gifts common practice day following death flag went daughter later grandson flag moved locations year period loaned loan permanent flag underwent variety beginning december flag began million conservation treatment restoration flag hand crafted important artifacts centerpiece redesigned later life sufficiently successful business purchase house renting lived remainder life business success allowed active addressing social issues housing job placement financial aid women decades issues prominent concerns society female humane society established help baltimore families children help women find employment served president society presidency home aged women finally opened long planning construction process following tenure president home aged men established adjacent women home homes combined moved west baltimore maryland new facility named honor woman instrumental creation died october buried park cemetery southwest baltimore daughter caroline erected monument later heritage organization star banner flag house association organized save preserve placed bronze plaque foot grave legacy making flag inspired compose words united_states national anthem remembered humanitarian contributions society evident decades long presidency female humane society eventually evolved maryland remembered house known later renamed stands corner street eastern downtown baltimore time noted artist created painting depicting house brewery star banner copy painting maintained namesake world war liberty ship launched addition type flower known mary rose concerning famous flag secretary wrote family uncle colonel fought american revolutionary war presented sword general george_washington commander continental_army presentation flower evacuation philadelphia british occupation city american capital late siblings oldest brother flag maker likely daughters assisted making star banner flag sister married captain ship commander war captured british imprisoned havana cuba later escaped surviving child caroline married couple apparently surviving children letter written late life daughter called widowed childless somewhat late life letter requested financial assistance provided history mother making flag
Mary Young Pickersgill