When the New England colonies were started, England was a kingdom, ruled by a king. Before the English Civil War (1649-1660) the King effectively “owned” the country. His flag, the flag England, was a white field with the red cross of St. George.

The flag of New England has two prominent symbols: a pine tree and red color. Other features, like the St. George's Cross , are not always displayed on the flag, but the pine almost always is. There is a blue ensign and a red ensign variant.

The New England Colonies of British America included Connecticut Colony, the Colony of Rhode Island and Providence Plantations, Massachusetts Bay Colony, Plymouth Colony, and the Province of New Hampshire, as well as a few smaller short-lived colonies.

What is the symbol of the New England colonies? The symbol of the New England colonies is the eastern white pine (Pinus strobus). This tree represents the region’s historical importance in shipbuilding and New England’s maritime culture.

The eight components of the snake signify New England (encompassing modern-day New Hampshire, Massachusetts, Rhode Island, and Connecticut) and seven other colonies, denoted by the initials printed alongside each section.