Elizabeth Ross was a Philadelphia seamstress and designer credited with making the first American flag. While historians believe there is insufficient evidence to verify this claim, the legend of Betsy Ross and the flag deeply resonates with Americans, and her memory lives on through this story. Here, we explore her story in greater detail on philadelphianka.
First Marriage and Starting Her Own Business
Elizabeth Griscom was born on January 1, 1752, in Philadelphia, into a Quaker family. Rebecca and Samuel had 17 children, with Elizabeth being their eighth. Quakers held progressive views on gender equality but raised their children strictly. Young Betsy learned embroidery from her cousin Sarah.
All Quaker children received an education, so Betsy graduated from school and then trained in drapery arts at the workshop of William Webster. There, she met and fell in love with John Ross, the son of an assistant pastor at Christ Church.
Since Quaker beliefs forbade interfaith marriages, Betsy, at 21, had to elope with John to New Jersey to marry. When they returned to Philadelphia, Elizabeth’s family did not accept her, and the couple had to start an independent life.
Elizabeth and John established a drapery business but had no children. When the American Revolution began, their finances suffered, with orders decreasing and money running out. John joined the local militia and tragically died in early 1776 from an ammunition depot explosion.
The young widow continued running the tapestry shop on Arch Street. She was a well-known seamstress and gradually began to rebuild the family business.
The Legendary Seamstress and the First American Flag
This is where the legend unfolds. According to the story, in the summer of 1776, Betsy was invited to a secret meeting that included George Washington, her late husband’s uncle Colonel George Ross, and financier Robert Morris.
The men reviewed a design for the future American flag, which needed to be quickly created before the Declaration of Independence. The sketch featured 13 red and white stripes and six-pointed stars, but Betsy suggested they use five-pointed stars instead. She reportedly took scissors and skillfully demonstrated how to cut five-pointed stars quickly and efficiently. Her suggestion was accepted, and she was tasked with sewing the first flag.
Because of this tale, every American knows the name Betsy Ross. Her grandson, William Canby, presented this story to the public in 1870. He wrote an article for the Pennsylvania Historical Society, recounting the story he had heard directly from his grandmother.
No historical records or documents have been found to substantiate this story. However, Canby was convinced of its truth, gathering signatures from other family members who had also heard it from Elizabeth. Historians continue to debate the story. While discussions persist, Canby’s legend has become widely known and cherished.
Betsy Ross became a national legend, and her legacy has been honored in many ways:
- A bridge between Pennsylvania and New Jersey, a ship, and a type of lilac have been named after her.
- For her 200th anniversary, a commemorative stamp was issued in the U.S., based on a painting by Charles Weisberger, the administrator of the Betsy Ross House.
- The iconic image of Betsy sewing the first flag has become famous, even beyond the United States.
Thus, Betsy entered the annals of history. Although it’s uncertain whether she truly sewed the first American flag, her life was long and eventful.
Later Life
In 1777, Betsy remarried, this time to Captain Joseph Ashburn. They had two daughters, though the first passed away in infancy. During the Revolution, Joseph was a merchant sailor. In 1781, his ship was captured by a British warship, and he was imprisoned, dying of illness in 1782.
John Claypoole, a fellow prisoner, brought this sad news to Betsy. They began corresponding and married a year later. Elizabeth gave John five daughters, but she outlived him too, as he died in 1817 after a long illness.
Elizabeth continued her drapery work, including making flags, though the legend of her role in creating the first flag had not yet spread.
She worked in her shop until the age of 76. In 1833, she lost her eyesight and handed her work over to her children and grandchildren. It may have been during this time that she began telling them about making the first American flag herself.
The remarkable seamstress passed away peacefully in her sleep at the age of 84 on January 30, 1836. She never knew that, within a few decades, she would become a legend, with her name known by every American. Whether or not one chooses to believe the story, Elizabeth Ross’s talent and bravery remain undeniable. She lived a long and challenging life, leaving behind much to be proud of.