Betsy Ross

Who Was Betsy Ross?

Betsy Ross was a Philadelphia upholsterer and a patriot of the American Revolution, best known in American folklore as the woman who sewed the first American flag. Though the story remains a blend of fact and legend, she has become a cherished symbol of American independence and craftsmanship.

According to popular lore, in 1776, Betsy was approached by General George Washington and other members of the Continental Congress, who asked her to create a flag for the newly-formed nation. While the historical evidence is limited, her legacy endures in the national imagination.

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Early Life

Betsy Ross was born Elizabeth Griscom in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, in 1752, into a devout Quaker family. She received a basic education before being apprenticed to an upholsterer, where she learned essential skills such as sewing and fabric work.

During her apprenticeship, she met John Ross, a fellow apprentice. Despite her family’s objections to the relationship—largely because he was not a Quaker—Betsy eloped with John in 1773. As a result, she was disowned by her Quaker community. The couple opened their own upholstery business, and it’s believed they attended the same church as George Washington, possibly laying the foundation for their future connection.

Life During the American Revolutionary War

When the American Revolutionary War began, John Ross joined the local militia. He died in 1776 from injuries sustained while on duty, leaving Betsy widowed at just 24 years old.

Despite her loss, Betsy continued her upholstery work and began making items for the Continental Army, such as uniforms, tents, and flags. In 1777, she remarried—to Joseph Ashburn, a mariner. Tragically, Ashburn was captured by the British and died in a prison in England in 1782.

Betsy married for the third time in 1783, to John Claypoole, a fellow prisoner of war who had known Ashburn. This marriage lasted until Claypoole’s death in 1817, and together they had five daughters.

The Legend of Betsy Ross

The story of Betsy Ross sewing the first American flag did not become widely known until nearly 100 years after the Revolutionary War. In 1870, her grandson, William Canby, presented a paper to the Historical Society of Pennsylvania, claiming that she had made the first flag based on oral family history.

According to this story, George Washington, Robert Morris and George Ross visited Betsy in 1776 and asked her to sew a flag featuring 13 stars and 13 stripes. Washington originally proposed a design with six-pointed stars, but Betsy reportedly demonstrated how a five-pointed star could be cut in a single fold and snip—convincing them to use it instead.

While historians debate the accuracy of this account—there’s no direct documentation—what is known is that Betsy Ross did make flags, including those for the Pennsylvania Navy, during the war.

Life After the War

Following the war, Betsy and her husband John Claypoole continued their upholstery business, creating flags and military-related items. After his death in 1817, Betsy ran the business on her own for another decade before retiring.

She passed away in 1836, at the age of 84. Over time, her legend grew, and today she remains an enduring figure in American history, often celebrated as a symbol of early American patriotism and female contribution to the nation’s founding.

Who was Betsy Ross?

Betsy Ross was a Philadelphia seamstress and upholsterer who is widely credited with making the first American flag, though the claim is based more on legend than documented history.

Did Betsy Ross really design the first American flag?

There is no historical proof that Betsy Ross designed the first American flag, but the story became popular after her grandson shared the tale in 1870.

What did Betsy Ross do during the American Revolutionary War?

During the war, Betsy sewed uniforms and other military supplies for the Continental Army while also maintaining her upholstery business.

How many times was Betsy Ross married?

Betsy Ross was married three times. Her first two husbands died during the Revolutionary War period, and her third husband, John Claypoole, died in 1817.

When and where was Betsy Ross born?

She was born in 1752 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.

What is Betsy Ross best remembered for today?

Betsy Ross is best remembered as the woman who supposedly sewed the first American flag, a powerful symbol of early American patriotism.

Birth of the USA