Betsy Ross: An American Figure
How one person can change the course and meaning of history.
Elizabeth Griscom — also called Betsy, was an eighth child out of 17 and a fourth-generation American. She was born on January 1, 1752 to Samuel and Rebecca Griscom, a respected Quaker family in Pennsylvania. Samuel was a carpenter who helped to build the bell tower at what is now known as Independence Hall.
After completing her schooling, 'Betsy' apprenticed under a local upholsterer performing many different types of sewing jobs and fell in love with another apprentice there, John Ross. His father was the son of an Episcopal assistant rector at Christ Church and Quakers did not look kindly at inter-denominational marriages; the result was typically complete family and community disownment. Betsy was resolute in her feeling for John and in November of 1773 at age 21, they eloped crossing the Delaware River by ferry to marry in New Jersey (coincidentally, it was William Franklin -- Benjamin's son and New Jersey Governor, who signed their wedding certificate).
Less than 2 years later they started their own business in upholstery. She had no ties with her former family and friends, so started started going to Christ Church with her husband. George Washington was known to sit in an adjacent pew on days he could attend.
In January 1776, a disaffected British agitator living in Philadelphia for only a short while published a pamphlet that would have a profound impact on the Colonials. Tom Paine ("These are the times that try men's souls") wrote Common Sense which would swell rebellious hearts and sell 120,000 copies in three months; 500,000 copies before war's end.
Revolutionaries heeded a call to arms while other still felt strong ties to Britain. John and his family had a falling out because his father was a Loyalist against the cause of the Revolution. Pressure began to build even more as business was slow and materials to work with became hard to find. He joined the Pennsylvania Militia and shortly after was mortally wounded in an explosion. Betsy tried to nurse him back to health but he passed away and was buried in the cemetery by their church.
As Betsy told it, three members of a secret committee from the Continental Congress came to call upon her. Those representatives, George Washington, Robert Morris, and George Ross, asked her to sew the first flag. This meeting occurred some time late in May 1776. George Washington was then the head of the Continental Army. Robert Morris, an owner of vast amounts of land, was perhaps the wealthiest citizen in the Colonies. Colonel George Ross was a respected Philadelphian and also the uncle of her late husband, John Ross.
Betsy was a widow struggling to run her own upholstery business. Upholsterers in colonial America not only worked on furniture but did all manner of sewing work, which for some included making flags. According to Betsy, General Washington showed her a rough design of the flag that included a six-pointed star. Betsy, a standout with the scissors, demonstrated how to cut a five-pointed star in a single snip. Impressed, the committee entrusted Betsy with making our first flag. She finished the flag either in late May or early June 1776. In July, the Declaration of Independence was read aloud for the first time at Independence Hall. Amid celebration, bells throughout the city tolled, heralding the birth of a new nation.
After completing her schooling, 'Betsy' apprenticed under a local upholsterer performing many different types of sewing jobs and fell in love with another apprentice there, John Ross. His father was the son of an Episcopal assistant rector at Christ Church and Quakers did not look kindly at inter-denominational marriages; the result was typically complete family and community disownment. Betsy was resolute in her feeling for John and in November of 1773 at age 21, they eloped crossing the Delaware River by ferry to marry in New Jersey (coincidentally, it was William Franklin -- Benjamin's son and New Jersey Governor, who signed their wedding certificate).
Less than 2 years later they started their own business in upholstery. She had no ties with her former family and friends, so started started going to Christ Church with her husband. George Washington was known to sit in an adjacent pew on days he could attend.
In January 1776, a disaffected British agitator living in Philadelphia for only a short while published a pamphlet that would have a profound impact on the Colonials. Tom Paine ("These are the times that try men's souls") wrote Common Sense which would swell rebellious hearts and sell 120,000 copies in three months; 500,000 copies before war's end.
Revolutionaries heeded a call to arms while other still felt strong ties to Britain. John and his family had a falling out because his father was a Loyalist against the cause of the Revolution. Pressure began to build even more as business was slow and materials to work with became hard to find. He joined the Pennsylvania Militia and shortly after was mortally wounded in an explosion. Betsy tried to nurse him back to health but he passed away and was buried in the cemetery by their church.
As Betsy told it, three members of a secret committee from the Continental Congress came to call upon her. Those representatives, George Washington, Robert Morris, and George Ross, asked her to sew the first flag. This meeting occurred some time late in May 1776. George Washington was then the head of the Continental Army. Robert Morris, an owner of vast amounts of land, was perhaps the wealthiest citizen in the Colonies. Colonel George Ross was a respected Philadelphian and also the uncle of her late husband, John Ross.
Betsy was a widow struggling to run her own upholstery business. Upholsterers in colonial America not only worked on furniture but did all manner of sewing work, which for some included making flags. According to Betsy, General Washington showed her a rough design of the flag that included a six-pointed star. Betsy, a standout with the scissors, demonstrated how to cut a five-pointed star in a single snip. Impressed, the committee entrusted Betsy with making our first flag. She finished the flag either in late May or early June 1776. In July, the Declaration of Independence was read aloud for the first time at Independence Hall. Amid celebration, bells throughout the city tolled, heralding the birth of a new nation.
Betsy Ross House
Where the first American Flag was sewn.
Since Quakers were forbidden from bearing arms -- when Betsy found out about the Fighting Quakers who supported the war effort, she joined them and married again to a sea captain named Joseph Ashburn in June of 1777. On June 14, 1777, at an already high time in her life, the Continental Congress, seeking to promote national pride and unity, adopted the national flag. "Resolved: that the flag of the United States be thirteen stripes, alternate red and white; that the union be thirteen stars, white in a blue field, representing a new constellation."
During that winter, Betsy's home was forcibly shared with British soldiers whose army occupied Philadelphia. Meanwhile the Continental Army was suffering that most historic winter at Valley Forge.
Betsy and Joseph had two daughters (Zillah, who died in her youth, and Elizabeth). On a trip to the West Indies to procure war supplies for the Revolutionary cause, Captain Ashburn was captured by the British and sent to Old Mill Prison in England where he died in March 1782, several months after the surrender of Cornwallis at Yorktown, Virginia, the last major battle of the Revolutionary War. Betsy learned of her husband's death from her old friend, John Claypoole, another sailor imprisoned at the brutal Old Mill.
The Free Quaker Meeting House, where Betsy banded together with others who supported the Revolution and which still stands a few blocks from the Betsy Ross House, was built in 1783, after the war was over.
In May of 1783, Betsy was married for the third time, the ceremony performed at Christ Church. Her new husband was none other than old friend John Claypoole. Betsy convinced her new husband to abandon the life of the sea and find landlubbing employment. Claypoole initially worked in her upholstery business and then at the U.S. Customs House in Philadelphia.
He died in 1817 and Betsy never remarried. She had one daughter from her second marriage and 4 daughters with her third. (Two other daughters, one from each of these marriages, had died at very young ages.)
In 1834, there were only two Free Quakers still attending the Meeting House. It was agreed by Betsy and Samuel Wetherill's son John Price Wetherill that the usefulness of their beloved Meeting House had come to an end. At that last meeting, Betsy watched as the door was locked, symbolizing the end of an era.
During that winter, Betsy's home was forcibly shared with British soldiers whose army occupied Philadelphia. Meanwhile the Continental Army was suffering that most historic winter at Valley Forge.
Betsy and Joseph had two daughters (Zillah, who died in her youth, and Elizabeth). On a trip to the West Indies to procure war supplies for the Revolutionary cause, Captain Ashburn was captured by the British and sent to Old Mill Prison in England where he died in March 1782, several months after the surrender of Cornwallis at Yorktown, Virginia, the last major battle of the Revolutionary War. Betsy learned of her husband's death from her old friend, John Claypoole, another sailor imprisoned at the brutal Old Mill.
The Free Quaker Meeting House, where Betsy banded together with others who supported the Revolution and which still stands a few blocks from the Betsy Ross House, was built in 1783, after the war was over.
In May of 1783, Betsy was married for the third time, the ceremony performed at Christ Church. Her new husband was none other than old friend John Claypoole. Betsy convinced her new husband to abandon the life of the sea and find landlubbing employment. Claypoole initially worked in her upholstery business and then at the U.S. Customs House in Philadelphia.
He died in 1817 and Betsy never remarried. She had one daughter from her second marriage and 4 daughters with her third. (Two other daughters, one from each of these marriages, had died at very young ages.)
In 1834, there were only two Free Quakers still attending the Meeting House. It was agreed by Betsy and Samuel Wetherill's son John Price Wetherill that the usefulness of their beloved Meeting House had come to an end. At that last meeting, Betsy watched as the door was locked, symbolizing the end of an era.
Betsy died on January 30, 1836, at the age of 84.
She has been buried in three different locations: Free Quaker burial ground at South 5th St. near Locust, Mt. Moriah Cemetery, and now on Arch Street in the courtyard adjacent to the Betsy Ross House.
She has been buried in three different locations: Free Quaker burial ground at South 5th St. near Locust, Mt. Moriah Cemetery, and now on Arch Street in the courtyard adjacent to the Betsy Ross House.