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Betsy Ross ( January 1, 1752 - January 30, 1836) is reputed to have sewed the first American flag.
She was born Elizabeth ("Betsy") Griscom in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania and was the eighth-born child of Samuel and Rebecca Griscom who were both Quakers (her father was a master builder). Betsy attended Quaker schools where she learnt reading, writing and a trade (probably sewing). This would have helped her in an apprenticeship as an upholsterer which in that period performed all types of sewing jobs, not just finishing furniture.
While working at her job, she fell in love with another apprentice, John Ross who was the son of an Episcopal assistant rector at Christ Church Pennsylvania and was himself a member of the Episcopal clergy. As the Quakers disapproved strongly of interdenominational marriages, the couple eloped across the Delaware River to New Jersey in 1773 where they were married by William Franklin, Benjamin FranklinBenjamin Franklin ( January 17, 1706 — April 17, 1790) was an American journalist, publisher, author, philanthropist, abolitionist, public servant, scientist, librarian, diplomat, and inventor. One of the leaders of the American Revolution, he was well kn's son. The couple were subsequently disowned by the Quaker church.
Less than two years later, they started their own upholstering business. However, their business was badly affected by the American Revolutionary WarThe American Revolutionary War ( 1775 1783), also known as the American War of Independence was a war fought between Great Britain and revolutionaries within thirteen of her North American colonies. The war, which eventually widened far beyond British Nor with fabric being hard to obtain and business slow. John joined the Pennsylvania militia and was mortally wounded in an explosion in 1776This article is about the year 1776. For the musical, see 1776 (musical Events January 10 Thomas Paine publishes Common Sense March 17 American Revolutionary War: British forces evacuate Boston, Massachusetts after George Washington places artillery overl, after which Betsy took full charge of the upholstering business.
According to legend, in June, 1776This article is about the year 1776. For the musical, see 1776 (musical Events January 10 Thomas Paine publishes Common Sense March 17 American Revolutionary War: British forces evacuate Boston, Massachusetts after George Washington places artillery overl she received a visit from George WashingtonGeorge Washington ( February 22, 1732— December 14, 1799), also called Father of his Country 1 was an American general and Commander-in-Chief of the Continental Army in the American Revolutionary War ( 1775 1783) and later the first President of the Unite, George RossGeorge Ross ( May 10, 1730 July 14, 1779), was a signer of the United States Declaration of Independence as a representative of Pennsylvania. He was born in New Castle, Delaware and educated at home. He read law at his brother John's law office and was ad and Robert MorrisRobert Morris, Jr. January 31, 1734 May 8, 1806) was an American merchant and a signatory to the United States Declaration of Independence, the Articles of Confederation, and the United States Constitution. Morris was known as the “Financier of the Revolu of the Continental CongressThe Continental Congress was the federal legislature of the Thirteen Colonies and later of the United States from 1774 to 1789, a period that included the American Revolutionary War and the Articles of Confederation. There were two Continental Congresses.. She had met George Washington through their mutual worship at Christ Church and George Ross was John's uncle. They announced that they were a "Committee of three" (perhaps self-appointed, under the circumstances) and showed her a suggested design, which was drawn up by Washington in pencil. The design had 6-pointed stars and Betsy suggested 5-pointed stars instead. The flag was sewn by Ross in her back parlor. It was this flag that flew when the Declaration of Independence was read aloud at Independence Hall on July 8, 1776.
No contemporary record of this meeting was made; the information is based solely on oral affadavits from her daughter and other relatives, and made public in 1870 by her grandson William J. Canby in a Paper read before the Historical Society of Pennsylvania. It is recognized that given the circumstances the affair would have demanded secrecy at the time, however there is no irrefutable evidence to historically prove or disprove the story.