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Betsy Ross, or Elizabeth Griscom, was born in Philadelphia. She the eighth child born out of seventeen.
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Betsy Ross grew up sewing clothes for her many brothers and sisters. Betsy went to a Friends (Quaker) public school. For eight hours a day she was taught reading, writing, and received instruction in a trade — probably sewing. After completing her schooling, Betsy's father apprenticed her to a local upholsterer.
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Betsy Ross was a Quaker, which meant that marrying someone outside of one's religion was prohibited. Betsy ignored that rule and married John Ross. In result of the marriage, she was expelled from the Quaker worship house by her family and friends.
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In 1773, Betsy crossed the river to New Jesery to be with John Ross. The two would later create their own upholstery buisness.
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During the conflict, the British appropriated her house to lodge soldiers. Through it all, she managed to run her own upholstery business. After the soldiers left, she wove cloth pouches which were used to hold gunpowder for the Continentals.
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After John passed away from an illness from figthing in the Revolunaity War , Betsy continued to sew flags for Pennsylvania.
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Betsy had that fateful meeting with George Washington, George Ross, and Robert Morris, which led to the sewing of the first 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.
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Congress adopted the Stars and Stripes as our official national flag.
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After John's death, Betsy married a sailor named Joseph Ashburn. They had two children named Zillahand Elizabeth. Who will be captured by the British and die on March 1782?
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Her new husband was none other than old friend John Claypoole. Claypoole initially worked in her upholstery business and then at the U.S. Customs House in Philadelphia. The couple had five daughters (Clarissa Sidney, Susannah, Rachel, Jane, and Harriet)
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Betsy died at the age of 84 in Phildeplphia.
