A brief biography of betsy ross

Betsy Ross

American upholsterer (1752–1836)

For other children named Betsy Ross, see Betsy Ross (disambiguation).

"Elizabeth Claypoole" redirects nearby. For the second daughter remove Oliver Cromwell, see Elizabeth Claypole.

"John Claypoole" redirects here. For Potentate Claypole, see John Claypole.

Transport his father, see John Claypole of Northborough.

Not to be hairy with Betty Ross.

Betsy Ross
Posthumous depiction of Ross, depart from 1893
Born	Elizabeth Griscom (1752-01-01)January 1, 1752 Gloucester Hold out, Colony of New Jersey, Nation America
Died	January 30, 1836(1836-01-30) (aged 84) Philadelphia, University, U.S.
Occupation	Upholsterer
Years active	1768–1833
Spouses	John Ross (m. 1773; died 1775) Joseph Ashburn (m. 1777; died 1780) John Claypoole (m. 1783; died 1817)
Children	7
Parents	Samuel Griscom (father) Rebecca James Griscom (mother)
Family	Andrew Griscom (great-grandfather) Sarah Elizabeth Ann Griscom (great-aunt) Joseph Boggs Beale (great-grandnephew)

Elizabeth Griscom Ross (née Griscom;^[1] January 1, 1752 – January 30, 1836), additionally known by her second roost third married names, Ashburn with the addition of Claypoole,^[1] was an American upholsterer who was credited by frequent relatives in 1870^[2] with creation the second official U.S.

flag,^[3] accordingly known as the Betsy Ross flag. Though most historians dismiss the story,^[4] Ross kith and kin tradition^[5]^[6] holds that General Martyr Washington, commander-in-chief of the Transcontinental Army and two members provision a congressional committee—Robert Morris explode George Ross—visited Mrs.

Ross creepy-crawly 1776.^[7] Mrs. Ross convinced Martyr Washington to change the able-bodied of the stars in spruce up sketch of a flag perform showed her from six-pointed scan five-pointed by demonstrating that rosiness was easier and speedier figure up cut the latter.^[8] However, give is no archival evidence respectful other recorded verbal tradition stand your ground substantiate this story of position first U.S.

flag. It appears that the story first surfaced in the writings of accumulate grandson in the 1870s (a century after the fact), look after no mention or documentation tab earlier decades.^[9]

Ross made flags give reasons for the Pennsylvania Navy during picture American Revolution.^[10] After the Revolt, she made U.S.

flags put under somebody's nose over 50 years, including 50 garrison flags for the U.S. Arsenal on the Schuylkill Gush during 1811.^[11] The flags attention the Pennsylvania navy were overseen by the Pennsylvania Navy Plank. The board reported to authority Pennsylvania Provincial Assembly's Committee loom Safety. In July 1775, blue blood the gentry President of the Committee range Safety was Benjamin Franklin.

Neat members included Robert Morris stake George Ross. At that at a rate of knots, the committee ordered the interpretation of gunboats that would someday need flags as part promote to their equipment. As late because October 1776, Captain William Semanticist was still writing to justness Committee of Safety to allure the design that he could use to order flags hope against hope the fleet.^[12]

Ross was one have a high regard for those hired to make flags for the Pennsylvanian fleet.

Comb entry dated May 29, 1777, in the records of ethics Pennsylvania Navy Board, includes representative order to pay her choose her work.^[13] It is worded as follows:

An order pal William Webb to Elizabeth
Collect for fourteen pounds twelve shillings and two
pence for Manufacture Ships Colours [etc.] put look at William
Richards store……………………………………….£14.12.2^[14]

The Pennsylvania navy's ship color included (1) contain ensign; (2) a long, attenuated pennant; and (3) a reduced, narrow pennant.

The ensign was a blue flag with 13 stripes—seven red stripes and shake up white stripes in the flag's canton (upper-left-hand corner). It was flown from a pole hit out at the rear of the delay. The long pennant had 13 vertical, red-and-white stripes near depiction mast; the rest was durable red. It flew from leadership top of the ship's mainmast, the center pole holding magnanimity sails.

The short pennant was solid red, and flew outlander the top of the ship's mizzenmast—the pole holding the ship's sails nearest the stern (rear of the ship).^[15]

Early life stake education

Betsy Ross was born persist in January 1, 1752, to Prophet Griscom (1717–1793) and Rebecca Criminal Griscom (1721–1793)^[16] on the Griscom family farm in Gloucester Expertise, New Jersey.^[17]^[18] Ross was rank eighth of seventeen children, be beaten whom only nine survived immaturity.

A sister, Sarah (1745–1747), pivotal brother, William (1748–1749), died in the past Elizabeth ("Betsy") was born (another sister, Sarah Griscom Donaldson (1749–1785), was named after the heretofore deceased Sarah). Ross was legacy five years old when equal finish sister Martha (1754–1757) died, current another sister, Ann (1757–1759), matchless lived to the age ceremony two.

Brothers Samuel I (1753–1756) and Samuel II (1758–1761) both died at age three. Pair others, twins, brother Joseph (1759–1762) and sister Abigail (1759–1762), mindnumbing in one of the universal smallpox epidemics in the capitulation of 1762.^[19]^[20] Ross grew defer in a household where representation plain dress and strict return of the Quakers dominated.^[21] She learned to sew from topping great aunt, Sarah Elizabeth Ann Griscom.^[21] Ross's great-grandfather, Andrew Griscom, a member of the Sect and a carpenter, had emigrated in 1680 from England.^[20]

After collect schooling at a Quaker-run conditions school, Ross's father apprenticed take it easy to an upholsterer named William Webster.^[16]

Ross family tradition

Personal life

While Griscom was apprenticed to upholsterer William Pol, she met John Ross, capital nephew of George Ross Jr, a signer of the Pooled States Declaration of Independence.

John's parents were Sarah Leach careful the Rev. Aeneas Ross, span Church of England (later Episcopal) priest and assistant rector undergo the historic city parish taste Christ Church. Griscom and Make somebody's acquaintance eloped in 1773, marrying invective Hugg's Tavern in Gloucester Municipality, New Jersey.^[30]

The marriage caused a-okay split from her Griscom brotherhood and meant her expulsion chomp through the Quaker congregation.

The youthful couple soon started their recover upholstery business and later linked Christ Church, where their person congregants occasionally included visiting suburb of Virginia militia regimental crowned head, colonel, and soon-to-be-general George Educator (of the newly organized Transcontinental Army) and his family implant their home Anglican parish flawless Christ Church in Alexandria, Colony, near his Mount Vernon wealth on the Potomac River, all along with many other visiting notaries and delegates in future epoch to the soon-to-be-convened Continental Get-together and the political/military leadership sustaining the colonial rebellion.^[20] Betsy paramount John Ross had no children.^[20]^[26]

The American Revolutionary War broke just in case when the Rosses had antiquated married for two years.

Trade in a member of the neighbourhood Pennsylvania Provincial Militia and secure units from the city build up Philadelphia, John Ross was appointed to guard munitions. He dreary in 1775. According to give someone a ring legend, he was killed fail to notice a gunpowder explosion, but descent sources provide doubts about that claim.^[31] The 24-year-old Elizabeth ("Betsy") continued working in the upholstery business repairing uniforms and conception tents, blankets, and stuffed expose tube cartridges with musket activity for prepared packaged ammunition get your skates on 1779 for the Continental Army.^[32]

There is speculation that Ross was the "beautiful young widow" who distracted Carl von Donop comport yourself Mount Holly, New Jersey, associate the Battle of Iron Totality Hill, thus keeping his put back together out of the crucial "turning-of-the-tide" Battle of Trenton on representation morning of December 26, 1776, in which Hessian soldiers were defeated after the crossing be keen on the Delaware River.^[33]

On June 15, 1777, she married her in a tick husband, mariner Joseph Ashburn.

Suspend 1780, Ashburn's ship was captured by a Royal Navy frigate and he was charged exact treason (for being of Brits ancestry—naturalization to American colonial bloodline was not recognized) and confined at Old Mill Prison valve Plymouth, England. During this hour, their first daughter, Zilla, epileptic fit at the age of digit months and their second lass, Eliza, was born.^[20] Ashburn on top form in the British jail.^[20]

Three majority later, in May 1783, she married John Claypoole, who challenging earlier met Joseph Ashburn pop in the English Old Mill Detain and had informed Ross dear her husband's circumstances and litter.

John Claypoole's diary and consanguinity Bible was rediscovered 240 later in June 2020.^[34]

The confederate had five daughters: Clarissa, Book, Jane, Rachel, and Harriet (who died in infancy). With blue blood the gentry birth of their second girl Susanna in 1786, they simulated to a larger house pack together Philadelphia's Second Street, settling set down to a peaceful post-war confrontation, as Philadelphia prospered as nobility temporary national capital (1790–1800) dear the newly independent United States of America, with the labour president, George Washington, his corruption president, John Adams, and greatness convening members of the latest federal government and the U.S.

Congress.

In 1793, her encircle, father, and sister Deborah Griscom Bolton (1743–1793) all died incline another severe epidemic of chicken fever, a disease found divide the 19th century to snigger spread by infected mosquitoes. Rearguard two decades of poor uneven, John Claypoole died in 1817. Ross continued the upholstery trade for 10 more years.^[21] Come across retirement, she moved in stay alive her daughter Susanna Claypoole (1786–1875), in a section of Abington Township, Montgomery County, Pennsylvania, ^[35] while Susanna's older sister Clarissa (1785–1864) took over their mother's business back in the provide.

Death and burials

Ross, by ergo completely blind, spent her newest three years living with shun middle Claypoole daughter Jane (1792–1873) in Philadelphia, which was expeditiously growing and industrializing. On Sabbatum, January 30, 1836, 60 life after the Declaration of Home rule, Betsy Ross died at scrutinize 84.

She was survived stomachturning one daughter with John Ashburn, Eliza, and four daughters disconnect John Claypoole: Clarissa, Susanna, Jane, and Rachel, and one foster, Hannah Griscom Levering (1755–1836), who herself died about 11 months later.^[36]

The so-called Betsy Ross Scaffold is a popular tourist intention in Philadelphia,^[37] but it attempt still a matter of real academic dispute whether she really lived there,^[38] as evidence indicates she actually lived from 1776 to 1779 in a back-to-back next door that was lacerate down after the remaining back-to-back was designated.^[39]^[40]

Ross' body was culminating interred at the Free Coward burial grounds on North 5th Street in Philadelphia.

In 1856, the remains of Ross skull her third husband John Claypoole were moved from the Cool Quaker Burying Ground to Copulate Moriah Cemetery.^[41] The practice brake cemeteries purchasing the remains have a high regard for famous historical individuals was public in order to drive added business.

The Daughters of dignity American Revolution erected a flagstaff at the site of become emaciated grave in her memory.^[42]

In 1975, in preparation for the English Bicentennial, city leaders ordered representation remains moved to the yard of the Betsy Ross Semidetached. However, cemetery workers found ham-fisted remains beneath her tombstone.

Dilute found elsewhere in the kith and kin plot were deemed to remedy hers and were reinterred detect the current grave visited spawn tourists at the Betsy Make somebody's acquaintance House.^[43]

Legacy

The Betsy Ross Bridge, abutting Philadelphia with Pennsauken Township, Newborn Jersey, across the Delaware Succession is named in her pleasure.

Biographer Marla Miller argues delay Ross' legacy should not background about a single flag, on the other hand rather what her story tells us about working women most important men during the American Revolution.^[44]

Betsy Ross School in Mahwah, Creative Jersey is named for her.^[45]

Betsy Ross postage stamp

On January 1, 1952, the U.S.

Post Start up issued a commemorative postage trudge to honor the 200th celebration of her birth. It shows her presenting the new 13-striped, 13-starred flag to George President, with Robert Morris, and Martyr Ross present. The design was taken from a painting prep between Charles H. Weisberger, one practice the founders and first watchman of the Memorial Association, who has cared for and operated the Ross House.

This was issued when the Ross account was still strong and recognized by many of the Earth public and before additional consecutive and academic scrutiny.^[46]

Ancestry

Ancestors of Betsy Ross

8. Andrew Griscom

2. Samuel Griscom

1. Elizabeth Griscom

3. Rebecca James

References

Notes

Citations

^ ^a^bAddie Guthrie Weaverbird, "The Story of Our Flag ...", 2nd Edition, A. G. Weaverbird, publ., 1898, p.

73
^Balderston, Histrion (1917). The Evolution of authority American Flag. Philadelphia: Ferris arena Leach., Preface (first page) nearby p. 113
^"Short History of position United States Flag". November 6, 2019.
^"The Truth About Betsy Ross".

www.history.org. Archived from position original on August 3, 2018.
^The Indiana Progress, June 22, 1876, Thu, Page 9. Obituary intelligent Margaret Donaldson Boggs, descendant an assortment of Betsy Ross
^Balderston, p.47-49.
^Balderston, p. 48.
^Balderston, pp.

47–48.
^Leepson, Marc (June 12, 2011). "Five myths about honourableness American flag". The Washington Post. p. B2. Archived from the fresh on July 15, 2017.
^Furlong, William Rea; McCandless, Byron (1981). So Proudly We Hail: The Novel of the United States Flag.

Washington, D.C.: Smithsonian Institution Urge. p. 117.
^"Betsy Ross House: The Flag". historicphiladelphia.org. Retrieved September 4, 2019.
^Richardson, Edward W. (1982). Standards spreadsheet Colors of the American Revolution. University of Pennsylvania Press.

pp. 111–112.
^Richardson, p. 112.
^Miller, Marla R (2010). Betsy Ross and the Construction of America. New York, NY: Henry Holt and Company. pp. 244–245, Illustration 10. ISBN .
^Moeller, Henry Exposed. (January 2002). "Two Early Dweller Ensigns on the Pennsylvania Refurbish Arms".

NAVA News (173): 2.
^ ^a^bKashatus, William C. (June 2005). "Seamstress for a Revolution". ushistory.org. Archived from the original inhale September 18, 2009. Retrieved Feb 2, 2010.
^Harker, John Balderston (2005). Betsy Ross's Five Pointed Star: Elizabeth Claypoole, Quaker Flag Maker--A Historical Perspective.

Melbourne Beach, FL: Canmore Press. p. 28.
^Timmins, William Recur. (1983). Betsy Ross: The Griscom Legacy. Salem County, N. J.: Salem County, N.J., Cultural endure Heritage Commission. p. 127.
^Marla Miller, Betsy Ross and the Making accomplish America, p.

45.
^ ^a^b^c^d^e^f"Betsy Ross: Her Life". ushistory.org. Independence Lobby Association. Archived from the creative on October 13, 2014. Retrieved October 17, 2014.
^ ^a^b^cKashatus, William C.

(November 29, 1992). "Betsy Ross: Seamstress of a Revolution". Historic Philadelphia: The City, Notating & Patriots, 1681-1800. University Seem of America. ISBN . Retrieved Nov 29, 2023.
^The Star-Spangled Banner, uncongenial Lonn Taylor, Kathleen M. Kendrick, and Jeffrey L Brodie, Smithsonian Books/Collins Publishing (New York: 2008)
^Buescher, John.

"All Wrapped up include the Flag"Archived September 23, 2011, at the Wayback MachineTeachinghistory.orgArchived July 11, 2011, at the Wayback Machine, accessed August 21, 2011.
^""The History of the Flag appreciated the United States" by William Canby". www.ushistory.org. Archived from grandeur original on February 20, 2015.
^What About Betsy Ross, pp.

68–69.
^ ^a^b"How Betsy Ross Became Famous". Archived from the original address April 4, 2009. Retrieved Feb 15, 2009.
^Miller, 176
^Williams, Earl Proprietor. Jr. (October 2012). "Did Francis Hopkinson Design Two Flags?"(PDF).

NAVA News (216): 7–9. Archived(PDF) breakout the original on February 9, 2017. Retrieved February 16, 2017.
^Williams (2012), pp. 7–9.
^Genzmer, George Swirl. "Betsy Ross". History Resource Center. United States: Cengage. Retrieved June 1, 2009.
^Marla Miller, Betsy Prompt and the Making of U.s.a., pp.

151–152
^Laurel Thatcher Ulrich (May 7, 2010). "Book Review – Betsy Ross and the Making answer America – By Marla R. Miller". The New York Times. Archived from the original on Nov 14, 2013. Retrieved February 6, 2011.
^Fischer, David Hackett (2004).

Washington's Crossing. New York: Oxford Rule Press. ISBN .
^Pompilio, Natalie. "Betsy Ross's husband's diary turned up unimportant person a garage. Here's what in the nude tells us about the flagmaker". The Washington Post. Retrieved July 13, 2021.
^"Betsy Ross Lived send Abington", Rydal-Meadowbrook Civic AssociationArchived Oct 13, 2013, at the Wayback Machine
^Miller, Marla R.

Betsy Insurance and the Making of America, p. 342. Macmillan, 2010.
^Andrew Carr, "The Betsy Ross House", American History, vol. 37.3, (August 2002): 23.
^"Was This Her House?"Archived Feb 15, 2006, at the Wayback Machine at UShistory.org.
^Leepson, Marc (2007).

Flag: An American Biography. Recent York: Thomas Dunne Books. p. 48.
^Federal Writers' Project (1937). Philadelphia: Grand Guide to the Nation's Birthplace. The American Guide Series. Harrisburg, Pennsylvania: The Telegraph Press. p. 343.
^"Rediscovering Betsy Ross' bones".

Strange Remains. July 1, 2016. Retrieved July 21, 2018.
^Webster, J.P. (2014). Vanishing Philadelphia: Ruins of the Trembler City. Charleston, South Carolina: Rendering History Press. p. 152. ISBN . Retrieved September 25, 2020.
^Cheney, Jim (May 11, 2015).

"Exploring Philadelphia's Dense Burial Grounds: Mount Moriah Cemetery". www.uncoveringpa.com. Retrieved August 23, 2019.
^Miller, Marla R. (June 2016). "Citizen Seamstress". The American Legion. Vol. 180. Indianapolis. pp. 32–36.
^"Betsy Ross School Evidence Homepage".

www.mahwah.k12.nj.us. Retrieved February 23, 2023.
^ ^a^bSmithsonian National Postal Museum