On June 14, 1777, the Continental Congress made the
stars and stripes as the national flag. Today we have little evidence as to who
designed and created the original flag, but credit has been given to the Philadelphia seamstress
and upholsterer Betsy Ross. So widely accepted is the story of this legendary
flagmaker, the United States
government issued a postage stamp in 1952 in celebration of the 200th
anniversary of her birth.
Early life
Elizabeth Griscom, known as Betsy, was the eighth of seventeen children born to Samuel and Rebecca Griscom in 1752. Her father operated a building business. She went to the Friends' school and at an early age created fine needlework. She was raised and schooled as a Quaker, but she was also very independent-minded. She was disowned by the Quaker church called the Society of Friends, in 1773 when she ran off to Gloucester, New Jersey, to secretly marry John Ross, an Episcopalian.
Opened Upholstery Shop
Betsy and her husband returned to Philadelphia, where they opened an upholstery and sewing shop on Arch Street, which was also their home. John, a member of the state militia, was killed three years later in an explosion of gunpowder while on guard duty. After the death of her husband, Betsy continued running the shop.
On June 15, 1777, Betsy married Captain Joseph Ashburn, at Old Swedes' Church. Together they had two daughters. As with her previous husband, Ashburn's military career once again made her a widow. The first mate of the ship named “Patty,” he was captured at sea by the British Navy. He died on March 3, 1782, in the Old Mill Prison, Plymouth, England.
The news of her husband's death was brought to Betsy by John Claypoole, a lifelong friend of the couple. This friendship quickly grew into more, and the two were married May 8, 1783. Together, they continued to run the upholstery shop. Returning to her Quaker roots, Betsy and her husband joined the Society of Free Quakers. Before he died in 1817, he and Betsy had five daughters.
After her third husband's death, Betsy lived the remainder of her life with one of her daughters and continued to work in the shop until 1827, when she turned it over to her daughter. Upon her death on January 30, 1836, she was buried in Mount Moriah Cemetery, Philadelphia. The house where she is said to have made the first American flag was marked as a historical landmark in 1887.
Birth of a Legend
There is very little evidence to support the story that Betsy Ross was the creator of the original flag. The story of her contribution to the design and creation of the first flag of the United States was first shared by her grandson, William Canby, in March of 1870 at a meeting of the Historical Society of Pennsylvania. He claims that as an 11-year-old boy, his grandmother told him of her involvement with the stars and stripes while on her deathbed. According to Who Was Who in the American Revolution, the legend stated: "(George) Washington, (George) Ross, and Robert Morris came to Mrs. Ross's house in June 1776 and asked her to make a flag for the new country that was on the verge of declaring its independence. She suggested a design to Washington, he made a rough pencil sketch on the basis of it, and she there upon made the famous flag in her back parlor. She is supposed also to have suggested the use of the five- rather than the six-pointed star chosen by Washington."
Although there is no written record to support this story, there is evidence, in the form of receipts, that she made many flags for the Pennsylvania State Navy, and efforts to quiet the legend have failed. Until further evidence is found, we cannot be sure.
Bibliography
"Betsy Ross." Encyclopedia of World Biography, 2nd ed. 17 Vols. Gale Research, 1998. Reproduced in Biography Resource Center. Farmington Hills, Mich.: Gale, 2009. http://galenet.galegroup.com/servlet/BioRC
Early life
Elizabeth Griscom, known as Betsy, was the eighth of seventeen children born to Samuel and Rebecca Griscom in 1752. Her father operated a building business. She went to the Friends' school and at an early age created fine needlework. She was raised and schooled as a Quaker, but she was also very independent-minded. She was disowned by the Quaker church called the Society of Friends, in 1773 when she ran off to Gloucester, New Jersey, to secretly marry John Ross, an Episcopalian.
Opened Upholstery Shop
Betsy and her husband returned to Philadelphia, where they opened an upholstery and sewing shop on Arch Street, which was also their home. John, a member of the state militia, was killed three years later in an explosion of gunpowder while on guard duty. After the death of her husband, Betsy continued running the shop.
On June 15, 1777, Betsy married Captain Joseph Ashburn, at Old Swedes' Church. Together they had two daughters. As with her previous husband, Ashburn's military career once again made her a widow. The first mate of the ship named “Patty,” he was captured at sea by the British Navy. He died on March 3, 1782, in the Old Mill Prison, Plymouth, England.
The news of her husband's death was brought to Betsy by John Claypoole, a lifelong friend of the couple. This friendship quickly grew into more, and the two were married May 8, 1783. Together, they continued to run the upholstery shop. Returning to her Quaker roots, Betsy and her husband joined the Society of Free Quakers. Before he died in 1817, he and Betsy had five daughters.
After her third husband's death, Betsy lived the remainder of her life with one of her daughters and continued to work in the shop until 1827, when she turned it over to her daughter. Upon her death on January 30, 1836, she was buried in Mount Moriah Cemetery, Philadelphia. The house where she is said to have made the first American flag was marked as a historical landmark in 1887.
Birth of a Legend
There is very little evidence to support the story that Betsy Ross was the creator of the original flag. The story of her contribution to the design and creation of the first flag of the United States was first shared by her grandson, William Canby, in March of 1870 at a meeting of the Historical Society of Pennsylvania. He claims that as an 11-year-old boy, his grandmother told him of her involvement with the stars and stripes while on her deathbed. According to Who Was Who in the American Revolution, the legend stated: "(George) Washington, (George) Ross, and Robert Morris came to Mrs. Ross's house in June 1776 and asked her to make a flag for the new country that was on the verge of declaring its independence. She suggested a design to Washington, he made a rough pencil sketch on the basis of it, and she there upon made the famous flag in her back parlor. She is supposed also to have suggested the use of the five- rather than the six-pointed star chosen by Washington."
Although there is no written record to support this story, there is evidence, in the form of receipts, that she made many flags for the Pennsylvania State Navy, and efforts to quiet the legend have failed. Until further evidence is found, we cannot be sure.
Bibliography
"Betsy Ross." Encyclopedia of World Biography, 2nd ed. 17 Vols. Gale Research, 1998. Reproduced in Biography Resource Center. Farmington Hills, Mich.: Gale, 2009. http://galenet.galegroup.com/servlet/BioRC