3 mysteries surround Betsy Ross

Do you know what are the mysteries surrounding Betsy Ross? How many times was she married to her? How many children did she have? How many times was she buried? Whether you answered yes or no, she reads on.

What are the mysteries surrounding Betsy Ross?

Elizabeth Griscom was born on January 1, 1752. She was born the eighth of seventeen children, sixteen girls and one boy. Her name was Betsy. Her family were Quakers. Her parents were Samuel and Rebecca Griscom. Her father was a master carpenter.

Betsy went to school at a Quaker school. She learned to read, write, arithmetic, and sew. After leaving school, her Betsy herself undertook an apprenticeship in upholstery, this is where she met and fell in love with John Ross. She learned to repair chairs, curtains, rugs, umbrellas, and to make flags.

Betsy and John eloped. His parents did not approve of John as he was not a Quaker and Betsy was “read aloud”. This means that she was separated from her parents, her large family, and the Quaker community.

The couple returned to Philadelphia to start their own upholstery business in 1774. Betsy and John attended Christ Church and sat with George Washington’s family. Betsy and John had been married for three years when John died in 1776 guarding a munitions site during the Revolutionary War.

Betsy now a widow and alone inherited land. She continued to work in her upholstery business. Business was tough because of the Revolutionary War, and material was hard to come by.

In the summer of 1776, Betsy met with a committee of three generals, George Washington, George Ross, and Robert Morris. This led to the sewing of the first historical flag. Thirteen stars in a circle and thirteen strips. General, George Washington was very specific. He said, “I want the stars in a circle to represent the thirteen colonies. I don’t want any of the colony names to stand above the others.”

In 1777, Betsy married a sea captain, Joseph Ashborn. They had two daughters, one died in youth. Legend Ashborn was captured and died in prison.

In 1777, the British army seized Betsy’s home during the historic Valley Forge winter. Betsy was a big supporter of the Militia.

Betsy was widowed again and remarried to an old friend, John Claypoole. They had 5 daughters. John died of a stroke in 1800. He had been bedridden for 17 years.

94 years later, the story of the making of the first flag was told by Betsy’s grandson in 1780, William J. Canby, at the Pennsylvania Historical Society meeting. The speech was printed in Harper Weekly.

The only fact that was found after extensive investigation is this The State Navy Board Pennsylvania for May 29, 1777, an order from William Webb to Elizabeth Ross for fourteen pounds twelve shillings, and two pence to make the ship’s colors , etc. stall in Richard’s shop. Betsy did the ship’s colors for the Pennsylvania state ships.

No other documentation available.

Mystery surrounds Betsy not only about the making of the first flag, but also about her death.

Betsy died in Philadelphia at the age of 84 completely blind. Her home, located at 239 Arch street, in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, is a popular tourist attraction.

Betsy was not only married and widowed three times, but was buried three times. Betsy Ross was first buried in the Free Quaker Cemetery on South 5th Street. Twenty years later, her remains were exhumed and reinterred at Mt. Moriah Cemetery in Philadelphia in her family grave. In preparation for the United States Bicentennial, the city ordered that her remains be moved to Betsy Ross’s home in 1975. However, workers found no remains of her under her headstone. Bones found elsewhere and unidentified were declared hers and reburied in her grave at Betsy Ross’s home.

Whose bones are in the grave of Betsy Ross. Her, or another family member?

In 1909 George Canby and his nephew Lloyd Balderson wrote a book. The book is titled The Evolution of the American Flag. He gave positive information about Betsy making the first flag as Betsy told her family.

A painting by Charles H. Weisgerber was printed in the book called Banner of the Birth of Our Nations. It showed Betsy and her granddaughters presenting the flag to General George Washington and others. This book became an instant sensation. The image was printed in all school textbooks in the United States.

The children at the school started a fund to contribute ten cents each up to two million dollars to buy and renovate Betsy Ross’s home in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.

Historians do not believe that the house is the home of Betsy Ross. But once again the records were not available.

Is the house really Betsy Ross’ house?

The question is why did the public believe that Betsy Ross made the first flag?

(1) The speech his grandson gave to the Pennsylvania Historical Society.

(2) The book, The Evolution of the American Flag.

(3) Married 3 times and widowed twice during the Revolutionary War.

(4) He owned and managed his own land.

(5) Single mother.

(6) Business woman.

(7) Using Betsy’s name in advertising was big business to sell flags and other items.

(8) Managed his own household.

(9) Member of “Fighting Quakers”.

(10) He made American flags for 50 years.

(11) The public loved the idea of ​​a woman being a hero.

Does it really matter if Betsy Ross sewed the first flag? She was a brave lady. Long before her time. She demonstrated her patriotism many times and mystery still surrounds her life.

Thanks for reading my article. Please feel free to read any of the many articles I have written on various different topics.

Copyright Linda E. Meckler 2008