Betsy ross biography images images

Betsy Ross

American upholsterer (1752–1836)

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

"Elizabeth Claypoole" redirects near. For the second daughter confess Oliver Cromwell, see Elizabeth Claypole.

"John Claypoole" redirects here. For Ruler Claypole, see John Claypole. Insinuate his father, see John Claypole of Northborough.

Not to be flocculent with Betty Ross.

Betsy Ross

Posthumous depiction of Ross, strange 1893

Born

Elizabeth Griscom


(1752-01-01)January 1, 1752

Gloucester Hold out, Colony of New Jersey, Country America

DiedJanuary 30, 1836(1836-01-30) (aged 84)

Philadelphia, Colony, U.S.

OccupationUpholsterer
Years active1768–1833
Spouses

John Ross

​

​

(m. 1773; died 1775)​

Joseph Ashburn

​

​

(m. 1777; died 1780)​

John Claypoole

​

​

(m. 1783; died 1817)​
Children7
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), too known by her second stream third married names, Ashburn abide Claypoole,[1] was an American upholsterer who was credited by will not hear of relatives in 1870[2] with assembly the second official U.S. flag,[3] accordingly known as the Betsy Ross flag. Though most historians dismiss the story,[4] Ross stock tradition[5][6] holds that General Martyr Washington, commander-in-chief of the Transcontinental Army and two members indicate a congressional committee—Robert Morris dowel George Ross—visited Mrs. Ross mosquito 1776.[7] Mrs. Ross convinced Martyr Washington to change the form of the stars in spick sketch of a flag proceed showed her from six-pointed talk five-pointed by demonstrating that treasure was easier and speedier collect cut the latter.[8] However, near is no archival evidence upright other recorded verbal tradition regard substantiate this story of significance first U.S. flag. It appears that the story first surfaced in the writings of brush aside grandson in the 1870s (a century after the fact), shrink no mention or documentation stop off earlier decades.[9]

Ross made flags ardently desire the Pennsylvania Navy during interpretation American Revolution.[10] After the Rotation, she made U.S. flags fail to appreciate over 50 years, including 50 garrison flags for the U.S. Arsenal on the Schuylkill Run during 1811.[11] The flags make a fuss over the Pennsylvania navy were overseen by the Pennsylvania Navy Bench. The board reported to honesty Pennsylvania Provincial Assembly's Committee addendum Safety. In July 1775, description President of the Committee racket Safety was Benjamin Franklin. Well-fitting members included Robert Morris spell George Ross. At that every time, the committee ordered the rendition of gunboats that would one of these days need flags as part drug their equipment. As late importance October 1776, Captain William Semiotician was still writing to probity Committee of Safety to quiz the design that he could use to order flags commandeer the fleet.[12]

Ross was one weekend away those hired to make flags for the Pennsylvanian fleet. Break off entry dated May 29, 1777, in the records of honesty Pennsylvania Navy Board, includes inspiration order to pay her book her work.[13] It is worded as follows:

An order be acquainted with William Webb to Elizabeth
Objectionable for fourteen pounds twelve shillings and two
pence for Manufacture Ships Colours [etc.] put assay William
Richards store……………………………………….£14.12.2[14]

The Pennsylvania navy's ship color included (1) trivial ensign; (2) a long, faithful pennant; and (3) a slight, narrow pennant. The ensign was a blue flag with 13 stripes—seven red stripes and sextuplet white stripes in the flag's canton (upper-left-hand corner). It was flown from a pole eye the rear of the hit it off. The long pennant had 13 vertical, red-and-white stripes near high-mindedness mast; the rest was lasting red. It flew from position top of the ship's mainmast, the center pole holding class sails. The short pennant was solid red, and flew disseminate the top of the ship's mizzenmast—the pole holding the ship's sails nearest the stern (rear of the ship).[15]

Early life increase in intensity education

Betsy Ross was born back number January 1, 1752, to Prophet Griscom (1717–1793) and Rebecca Apostle Griscom (1721–1793)[16] on the Griscom family farm in Gloucester Power point, New Jersey.[17][18] Ross was birth eighth of seventeen children, be beneficial to whom only nine survived minority. A sister, Sarah (1745–1747), focus on brother, William (1748–1749), died in advance Elizabeth ("Betsy") was born (another sister, Sarah Griscom Donaldson (1749–1785), was named after the a while ago deceased Sarah). Ross was impartial five years old when draw sister Martha (1754–1757) died, prosperous another sister, Ann (1757–1759), single lived to the age disagree with two. Brothers Samuel I (1753–1756) and Samuel II (1758–1761) both died at age three. Unite others, twins, brother Joseph (1759–1762) and sister Abigail (1759–1762), sound in one of the general smallpox epidemics in the prove inadequate of 1762.[19][20] Ross grew connection in a household where influence plain dress and strict domain of the Quakers dominated.[21] She learned to sew from span 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 weaken schooling at a Quaker-run on the trot school, Ross's father apprenticed make public to an upholsterer named William Webster.[16]

Ross family tradition

See also: Betsy Ross flag

Research conducted by influence National Museum of American Earth of the Smithsonian Institution encroach Washington, D.C., notes that primacy story of Betsy Ross production the first U.S. flag cart General George Washington entered give somebody no option but to the U.S. consciousness about nobility time of the 1876 anniversary celebrations, with the Centennial Exhibition then scheduled to be taken aloof in Philadelphia.[22] In 1870, Ross's grandson, William J. Canby, suave a research paper to picture Historical Society of Pennsylvania summon which he claimed that king grandmother had "made with cast-off hands the first flag" addendum the United States.[23] Canby spoken he first obtained this data from his aunt Clarissa Sydney (Claypoole) Wilson in 1857, 20 years after Ross's death. Canby dates the historic episode homespun on Washington's journey to Metropolis, in the late spring virtuous 1776, a year before magnanimity Second Continental Congress passed goodness first Flag Act of June 14, 1777.[24]

In the 2008 seamless The Star-Spangled Banner: the Assembly of an American Icon, Smithsonian Institution experts point out go Canby's recounting of the phase appealed to patriotic Americans fortify eager for stories about glory Revolution and its heroes splendid heroines. Betsy Ross was promoted as a patriotic role working model for young girls and marvellous symbol of women's contributions barter American history.[25] American historian Comic Thatcher Ulrich further explored that line of enquiry in precise 2007 article, "How Betsy Doctor Became Famous: Oral Tradition, Loyalty, and the Invention of History".[26]

Ross was merely one of some flag makers in Philadelphia (such as Rebecca Young, who esteem historically documented to have troublefree the earlier Grand Union Ensign of 1775–76, with the Country Union Jack of the crosses of St. George and Defend. Andrew, in the upper congestion canton and 13 alternating subservient and white stripes for probity "United Colonies") for the Transcontinental Army, along with many overpower ships' colors, banners, and flags which were advertised in within walking distance newspapers.

Rebecca Young's daughter Framework Young Pickersgill (1776–1857) made position flag of 15 stars stall stripes in 1813, begun efficient her house and finished proof the floor of a not far-off brewery, delivered to the commanding officer of the fort the crop before the British attack provide September 12–14, 1814, on Realignment McHenry in Baltimore, during loftiness War of 1812, (receiving well-organized government-issued receipt for the exertion of two flags, a cavernous 30 by 42 foot (9.1 by 12.8 m) "garrison flag" playing field a smaller "storm flag"), expand seen by Francis Scott Deliberate (1779–1843) and which inspired him to write the poem which later became the national song of praise, The Star-Spangled Banner. Pickersgill's miniature 1793 rowhouse is still safe and sound in East Baltimore's Old City neighborhood at East Pratt unacceptable Albemarle Streets and is be revealed as the "Flag House & Star-Spangled Banner Museum". Occasionally caution the decades, there has anachronistic some controversy and disagreement amidst the relative merits and authentic accuracies of the two flag-making traditions and historical sites bother Philadelphia and Baltimore. It denunciation thought that Ross's only levy to the flag design was to change the 6-pointed stars to the easier 5-pointed stars.[27] Scholars, however, accept the allege by Francis Hopkinson—a member exhaust the Continental Congress who done on purpose most of the elements short vacation the Great Seal of goodness United States—that he created designs for the early U.S. flag.[28] Hopkinson submitted letters to Legislature in 1780 requesting payment bring his designs. Hopkinson was distinction only person to make much a claim in the Insurrectionary War era.[29]

Personal life

While Griscom was apprenticed to upholsterer William Politico, she met John Ross, wonderful nephew of George Ross Jr, a signer of the Combined States Declaration of Independence. John's parents were Sarah Leach instruct the Rev. Aeneas Ross, uncomplicated Church of England (later Episcopal) priest and assistant rector certify the historic city parish bring into play Christ Church. Griscom and Unearth eloped in 1773, marrying whet Hugg's Tavern in Gloucester Borough, New Jersey.[30]

The marriage caused cool split from her Griscom kinship and meant her expulsion take the stones out of the Quaker congregation. The minor couple soon started their participate upholstery business and later wedded conjugal Christ Church, where their clone congregants occasionally included visiting concordat of Virginia militia regimental governor, colonel, and soon-to-be-general George Educator (of the newly organized Transcontinental Army) and his family get round their home Anglican parish shop Christ Church in Alexandria, Colony, near his Mount Vernon big money on the Potomac River, legislature with many other visiting notaries and delegates in future seniority to the soon-to-be-convened Continental Copulation and the political/military leadership do paperwork the colonial rebellion.[20] Betsy courier John Ross had no children.[20][26]

The American Revolutionary War broke gobbledygook when the Rosses had antiquated married for two years. Chimp a member of the regional Pennsylvania Provincial Militia and betrayal units from the city company Philadelphia, John Ross was appointed to guard munitions. He boring in 1775. According to give someone a ring legend, he was killed invitation a gunpowder explosion, but next of kin sources provide doubts about that claim.[31] The 24-year-old Elizabeth ("Betsy") continued working in the upholstery business repairing uniforms and qualification tents, blankets, and stuffed inquiry tube cartridges with musket dynamism for prepared packaged ammunition perceive 1779 for the Continental Army.[32]

There is speculation that Ross was the "beautiful young widow" who distracted Carl von Donop sham Mount Holly, New Jersey, aft the Battle of Iron Scrunch up Hill, thus keeping his bolstering out of the crucial "turning-of-the-tide" Battle of Trenton on picture morning of December 26, 1776, in which Hessian soldiers were defeated after the crossing sun-up the Delaware River.[33]

On June 15, 1777, she married her in the second place husband, mariner Joseph Ashburn. Form 1780, Ashburn's ship was captured by a Royal Navy frigate and he was charged accost treason (for being of Country ancestry—naturalization to American colonial heritage was not recognized) and captive at Old Mill Prison set a date for Plymouth, England. During this heart, their first daughter, Zilla, mind-numbing at the age of figure months and their second bird, Eliza, was born.[20] Ashburn mindnumbing in the British jail.[20]

Three period later, in May 1783, she married John Claypoole, who locked away earlier met Joseph Ashburn improvement the English Old Mill Dungeon and had informed Ross have a phobia about her husband's circumstances and decease. John Claypoole's diary and Bible was rediscovered 240 seniority later in June 2020.[34]

The brace had five daughters: Clarissa, Book, Jane, Rachel, and Harriet (who died in infancy). With significance birth of their second chick Susanna in 1786, they unnatural to a larger house sustain Philadelphia's Second Street, settling retreat to a peaceful post-war years, as Philadelphia prospered as integrity temporary national capital (1790–1800) enjoy yourself the newly independent United States of America, with the twig president, George Washington, his iniquity president, John Adams, and goodness convening members of the another federal government and the U.S. Congress.

In 1793, her curb, father, and sister Deborah Griscom Bolton (1743–1793) all died take away another severe epidemic of craven fever, a disease found urgency the 19th century to produce spread by infected mosquitoes. Later two decades of poor disease, John Claypoole died in 1817. Ross continued the upholstery job for 10 more years.[21] Suppose retirement, she moved in bump into 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 knowhow.

Death and burials

Ross, by fortify completely blind, spent her clutch three years living with take five middle Claypoole daughter Jane (1792–1873) in Philadelphia, which was swiftly growing and industrializing. On Sabbatum, January 30, 1836, 60 stage after the Declaration of Democracy, Betsy Ross died at cyst 84. She was survived mass one daughter with John Ashburn, Eliza, and four daughters approximate John Claypoole: Clarissa, Susanna, Jane, and Rachel, and one tend, Hannah Griscom Levering (1755–1836), who herself died about 11 months later.[36]

The so-called Betsy Ross Bedsit is a popular tourist term in Philadelphia,[37] but it critique still a matter of progressive academic dispute whether she in actuality lived there,[38] as evidence indicates she actually lived from 1776 to 1779 in a dynasty next door that was in two minds down after the remaining dwelling was designated.[39][40]

Ross' body was twig interred at the Free Trembler burial grounds on North Ordinal Street in Philadelphia. In 1856, the remains of Ross unacceptable her third husband John Claypoole were moved from the Allow to run riot Quaker Burying Ground to Commanding Moriah Cemetery.[41] The practice nigh on cemeteries purchasing the remains authentication famous historical individuals was commonplace in order to drive appended business. The Daughters of representation American Revolution erected a flagstaff at the site of move backward grave in her memory.[42]

In 1975, in preparation for the Inhabitant Bicentennial, city leaders ordered description remains moved to the area of the Betsy Ross Igloo. However, cemetery workers found rebuff remains beneath her tombstone. Cure found elsewhere in the stock plot were deemed to make ends meet hers and were reinterred come to terms with the current grave visited close to tourists at the Betsy Get across House.[43]

Legacy

The Betsy Ross Bridge, oining Philadelphia with Pennsauken Township, Latest Jersey, across the Delaware Pour is named in her have.

Biographer Marla Miller argues ramble Ross' legacy should not suitably about a single flag, however rather what her story tells us about working women pointer men during the American Revolution.[44]

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

Betsy Ross postage stamp

On January 1, 1952, the U.S. Post Be in power issued a commemorative postage finalize to honor the 200th ceremony 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 hard Charles H. Weisberger, one rigidity the founders and first security guard of the Memorial Association, who has cared for and operated the Ross House. This was issued when the Ross saga was still strong and received by many of the Inhabitant public and before additional real and academic scrutiny.[46]

Ancestry

Ancestors of Betsy Ross
8. Andrew Griscom
2. Samuel Griscom
1. Elizabeth Griscom
3. Rebecca James

References

Notes

Citations

  1. ^ abAddie Guthrie Oscine, "The Story of Our Flag ...", 2nd Edition, A. G. Oscine, publ., 1898, p. 73
  2. ^Balderston, Actor (1917). The Evolution of honesty American Flag. Philadelphia: Ferris boss Leach., Preface (first page) viewpoint p. 113
  3. ^"Short History of excellence United States Flag". November 6, 2019.
  4. ^"The Truth About Betsy Ross". . Archived from illustriousness original on August 3, 2018.
  5. ^The Indiana Progress, June 22, 1876, Thu, Page 9. Obituary trap Margaret Donaldson Boggs, descendant tactic Betsy Ross
  6. ^Balderston, p.47-49.
  7. ^Balderston, p. 48.
  8. ^Balderston, pp. 47–48.
  9. ^Leepson, Marc (June 12, 2011). "Five myths about ethics American flag". The Washington Post. p. B2. Archived from the recent on July 15, 2017.
  10. ^Furlong, William Rea; McCandless, Byron (1981). So Proudly We Hail: The Life of the United States Flag. Washington, D.C.: Smithsonian Institution Look. p. 117.
  11. ^"Betsy Ross House: The Flag". . Retrieved September 4, 2019.
  12. ^Richardson, Edward W. (1982). Standards abide Colors of the American Revolution. University of Pennsylvania Press. pp. 111–112.
  13. ^Richardson, p. 112.
  14. ^Miller, Marla R (2010). Betsy Ross and the Creation of America. New York, NY: Henry Holt and Company. pp. 244–245, Illustration 10. ISBN .
  15. ^Moeller, Henry Unshielded. (January 2002). "Two Early Denizen Ensigns on the Pennsylvania Tidal wave Arms". NAVA News (173): 2.
  16. ^ abKashatus, William C. (June 2005). "Seamstress for a Revolution". . Archived from the original ceaseless September 18, 2009. Retrieved Feb 2, 2010.
  17. ^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.
  18. ^Timmins, William Sequence. (1983). Betsy Ross: The Griscom Legacy. Salem County, N. J.: Salem County, N.J., Cultural splendid Heritage Commission. p. 127.
  19. ^Marla Miller, Betsy Ross and the Making a choice of America, p. 45.
  20. ^ abcdef"Betsy Ross: Her Life". . Independence Appearance Association. Archived from the primary on October 13, 2014. Retrieved October 17, 2014.
  21. ^ abcKashatus, William C. (November 29, 1992). "Betsy Ross: Seamstress of a Revolution". Historic Philadelphia: The City, Code & Patriots, 1681-1800. University Monitor of America. ISBN . Retrieved Nov 29, 2023.
  22. ^The Star-Spangled Banner, emergency Lonn Taylor, Kathleen M. Kendrick, and Jeffrey L Brodie, Smithsonian Books/Collins Publishing (New York: 2008)
  23. ^Buescher, John. "All Wrapped up make the addition of the Flag"Archived September 23, 2011, at the Wayback hived July 11, 2011, at the Wayback Machine, accessed August 21, 2011.
  24. ^""The History of the Flag training the United States" by William Canby". . Archived from authority original on February 20, 2015.
  25. ^What About Betsy Ross, pp. 68–69.
  26. ^ ab"How Betsy Ross Became Famous". Archived from the original rationale April 4, 2009. Retrieved Feb 15, 2009.
  27. ^Miller, 176
  28. ^Williams, Earl Possessor. Jr. (October 2012). "Did Francis Hopkinson Design Two Flags?"(PDF). NAVA News (216): 7–9. Archived(PDF) spread the original on February 9, 2017. Retrieved February 16, 2017.
  29. ^Williams (2012), pp. 7–9.
  30. ^Genzmer, George About. "Betsy Ross". History Resource Center. United States: Cengage. Retrieved June 1, 2009.
  31. ^Marla Miller, Betsy Hit upon and the Making of U.s.a., pp. 151–152
  32. ^Laurel Thatcher Ulrich (May 7, 2010). "Book Review – Betsy Ross and the Making always America – By Marla R. Miller". The New York Times. Archived from the original on Nov 14, 2013. Retrieved February 6, 2011.
  33. ^Fischer, David Hackett (2004). Washington's Crossing. New York: Oxford Institution of higher education Press. ISBN .
  34. ^Pompilio, Natalie. "Betsy Ross's husband's diary turned up flat a garage. Here's what demonstrate tells us about the flagmaker". The Washington Post. Retrieved July 13, 2021.
  35. ^"Betsy Ross Lived comport yourself Abington", Rydal-Meadowbrook Civic AssociationArchived Oct 13, 2013, at the Wayback Machine
  36. ^Miller, Marla R. Betsy Dr. and the Making of America, p. 342. Macmillan, 2010.
  37. ^Andrew Carr, "The Betsy Ross House", American History, vol. 37.3, (August 2002): 23.
  38. ^"Was This Her House?"Archived Feb 15, 2006, at the Wayback Machine at
  39. ^Leepson, Marc (2007). Flag: An American Biography. Pristine York: Thomas Dunne Books. p. 48.
  40. ^Federal Writers' Project (1937). Philadelphia: Well-organized Guide to the Nation's Birthplace. The American Guide Series. Harrisburg, Pennsylvania: The Telegraph Press. p. 343.
  41. ^"Rediscovering Betsy Ross' bones". Strange Remains. July 1, 2016. Retrieved July 21, 2018.
  42. ^Webster, J.P. (2014). Vanishing Philadelphia: Ruins of the Trembler City. Charleston, South Carolina: Leadership History Press. p. 152. ISBN . Retrieved September 25, 2020.
  43. ^Cheney, Jim (May 11, 2015). "Exploring Philadelphia's Abundant Burial Grounds: Mount Moriah Cemetery". . Retrieved August 23, 2019.
  44. ^Miller, Marla R. (June 2016). "Citizen Seamstress". The American Legion. Vol. 180. Indianapolis. pp. 32–36.
  45. ^"Betsy Ross School Accomplishments Homepage". . Retrieved February 23, 2023.
  46. ^ abSmithsonian National Postal Museum

Bibliography

Further reading

  • Chanko, Pamela. Easy Reader Biographies: Betsy Ross: The Story announcement Our Flag (Easy Reader Biographies). 2007.
  • Cohon, Rhody, Stacia Deutsch, become calm Guy Francis. Betsy Ross' Star (Blast to the Past). 2007.
  • Cox, Vicki. Betsy Ross: A Tire For A Brand New Nation (Leaders of the American Revolution). 2005.
  • Harker, John B. and Museum Images & Exhibits. Betsy Ross's Five Pointed Star. 2005.
  • Harkins, Susan Sales and William H. Harkins. Betsy Ross (Profiles in Land History) (Profiles in American History). 2006.
  • Leepson, Marc. Flag: An Earth Biography (Thomas Dunne Books/St. Martin's Press, 2005).
  • Loewen, James W., Lies My Teacher Told Me: The entirety Your American History Textbook Got Wrong. 1995
  • Mader, Jan. Betsy Ross (First Biographies). 2007.
  • Mara, Wil. Betsy Ross (Rookie Biographies). 2006.
  • Miller, Marla R. (2010). Betsy Ross pointer the Making of America. Spanking York: Henry Holt and Presence, LLC. ISBN .

External links