"While Americans recognize and celebrate collective achievements such as the writing of the Declaration of Independence, victory in the Revolutionary War, or the landing of a man on the Moon -- it is individual accomplishment that is cherished the most. The "stars" of the aforementioned events -- Thomas Jefferson, George Washington, and Neil Armstrong -- outshine the collective constellation. One person's contribution can define the course and meaning of history."
Betsy Ross is one of the of those persons.
Today we shine the Finest Spotlight on one of the most cherished women in our country's history ~ the woman behind the name that we have come to associate with America's first flag.
Congressional Committee of George Washington, George Ross, and Robert Morris
conferring with Betsy Ross as to the design of the new flag of the United States.
~ Painting by Charles Weisgerber ~
The story of Betsy Ross's life is
one of triumph through adversity....
Elizabeth Griscom -- also called Betsy, was born on January 1, 1752 in Philadelphia. The eighth child of seventeen, she was raised in the strict discipline common to the Quakers of that time period. After completing her schooling, Betsy's father apprenticed her to a local upholsterer. It was then that she met and fell in love with another apprentice, John Ross, who was the son of an Episcopal assistant rector at Christ Church.
Quakers frowned on inter-denominational marriages. The penalty for such unions was severe -- the guilty party being "read out" of the Quaker meeting house. Getting "read out" meant being cut off emotionally and economically from both family and meeting house. On a November night in 1773, 21-year-old Betsy eloped with John Ross. They ferried across the Delaware River to Hugg's Tavern and were married in New Jersey. Her wedding caused an irrevocable split from her family.
As upholsterers, John and Betsy were familiar with all types of needlework and eventually opened their own upholstery business. Their decision was a bold one as competition was tough and they could not count on Betsy's Quaker circle for business. At the same time, the Revolutionary War was severely impacting their business. Fabrics needed for business were becoming hard to come by. Business was slow. It was during this time that John joined the Pennsylvania militia. While guarding an ammunition cache in mid-January 1776, John Ross was mortally wounded in an explosion. Though his young wife tried to nurse him back to health he died on the 21st and was buried in Christ Church cemetery.
The Meeting....
In late May of 1776 Betsy was visited in her home by three members of a committee from the Continental Congress. Those representatives, George Washington, Robert Morris, and George Ross, asked her to sew the first flag. 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 Ross already knew George Ross as she had married his nephew. Furthermore, Betsy was also acquainted with General Washington. Not only did they both worship at Christ Church in Philadelphia, but Betsy's pew was next to George and Martha Washington's pew. Washington had often been in her house for friendly visits, as well as on business. She had been commissioned to embroider ruffles for his shirt bosoms and cuffs, and it was because of her fine needlework as well as his friendship for her that she was chosen to make the flag.
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.
The Wages of War....
Betsy was to eventually lose two husbands to the war. She would be married again in June 1777, this time to sea captain Joseph Ashburn in a ceremony performed at Old Swedes Church in Philadelphia. Captain Ashburn, on a trip to the West Indies to procure war supplies for the Revolutionary cause, 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.
John Claypoole, who had also been imprisoned at the Old Mill Prison, returned to Philadelphia bringing the news to Betsy of her husband's death. In May of 1783, Betsy was married for the third time, the ceremony performed at Christ Church, to her old friend, John Claypoole. Claypoole passed on in 1817 after years of ill health and Betsy never remarried. Betsy worked for many years in her upholstery business, employing many in her immediate family, before retiring and going to live with her daughter and son-in-law in the then-remote suburb of Abington, PA, to the north of Philadelphia.
Betsy died on January 30, 1836, at the age of 84.
Many historians disagree with much of the legend surrounding the Betsy Ross story. This account of the creation of our first flag was first brought to light in 1870 by one of her grandsons, William J. Canby, at a meeting of the Historical Society of Pennsylvania. This took place 94 years after the event supposedly took place. Mr. Canby was a boy of eleven years when Mrs. Ross died in his home.
There is no record of the flag being discussed or of a committee being appointed for the design of the flag in either the Journals of the Continental Congress or the diaries and writings of Washington around this time. In the days of Betsy Ross we did not have the benefit of a press corps to witness, probe, and record the events of the day. However, this is the legend as it is recorded in the history books and Betsy Ross remains a national treasure. Today, in Philadelphia, only the Liberty Bell and Independence Hall draw more visitors than the home of the adored flagmaker. Annually, over a quarter of a million guests visit the Betsy Ross House.
Take a virtual tour of
THE BETSY ROSS HOUSE
Story, information and images courtesy of
ushistory.org
and
The Story of Betsy Ross
Betsy Ross, a 'Finest' woman
in American history.
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