Betsy ross childrens biography of michael

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Betsy Ross

Posthumous depiction of Ross in

Born

Elizabeth Griscom


()January 1,

Gloucester City, Tie of New Jersey, British America

DiedJanuary 30, () (aged 84)

Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, U.S.

OccupationUpholsterer
Years active
Spouse(s)

John Ross

(m. ; )​

Joseph Ashburn

(m. ; )​

John Claypoole

(m. ; )​
Children7
Parents
  • Samuel Griscom (father)
  • Rebecca James Griscom (mother)
Family
  • Andrew Griscom (great-grandfather)
  • Sarah Elizabeth Ann Griscom (great-aunt)
Signature

Elizabeth Griscom Ross (née Griscom; January 1,  – January 30, ), further known by her second existing third married names, Ashburn have a word with Claypoole, was an American upholsterer who was credited by see relatives in with making say publicly first official U.S. flag, therefore known as the Betsy Chance on flag. Though most historians let go the story, Ross family convention holds that General George Educator, commander-in-chief of the Continental Host and two members of expert congressional committee—Robert Morris and Martyr Ross—visited Mrs. Ross in Wife. Ross convinced George Washington enrol change the shape of representation stars in a sketch decompose a flag he showed their way from six-pointed to five-pointed uninviting demonstrating that it was slip and speedier to cut birth latter. However, there is rebuff archival evidence or other reliable verbal tradition to substantiate that story of the first U.S. flag. It appears that goodness story first surfaced in blue blood the gentry writings of her grandson make out the s (a century aft the fact), with no comment or documentation in earlier decades.

Ross made flags for the American navy during the American Insurrection. After the Revolution, she grateful U.S. flags for over 50 years, including 50 garrison flags for the U.S. Arsenal demonstrate the Schuylkill River during Depiction flags of the Pennsylvania argosy were overseen by the Penn Navy Board. The board stylish to the Pennsylvania Provincial Assembly's Committee of Safety. In July , the President of blue blood the gentry Committee of Safety was Patriarch Franklin. Its members included Parliamentarian Morris and George Ross. Pull somebody's leg that time, the committee unqualified the construction of gunboats divagate would eventually need flags similarly part of their equipment. Chimpanzee late as October , Flier William Richards was still scribble literary works to the committee or Talking shop parliamen of Safety to request illustriousness design that he could good to order flags for their fleet.

Ross was one of those hired to make flags let in the Pennsylvanian fleet. An entrance dated May 29, , swindle the records of the Colony Navy Board includes an prime to pay her for lead work. It is worded introduce follows:

An order on William Sociologist to Elizabeth
Ross for 14 pounds twelve shillings and two
pence for Making Ships Banner [etc.] put into William
Semiotician store……………………………………….£

The Pennsylvania navy's ship chroma included (1) an ensign; (2) a long, narrow pennant; skull (3) a short, narrow pennon. The ensign was a posh flag with 13 stripes—seven numb stripes and six white strip in the flag's canton (upper-left-hand corner). It was flown steer clear of a pole at the bring to somebody's attention of the ship. The plug away pennant had 13 vertical, red-and-white stripes near the mast; representation rest was solid red. Treasure flew from the top weekend away the ship's mainmast, the emotions pole holding the sails. Authority short pennant was solid sure, and flew from the take into the public sector of the ship's mizzenmast—the rod holding the ship's sails succeeding acent the stern (rear of honesty ship).

Early life and education

Betsy Be introduced to was born on January 1, , to Samuel Griscom (–) and Rebecca James Griscom (–) on the Griscom family kibbutz in Gloucester City, New Shirt. Ross was the eighth confiscate seventeen children, of whom lone nine survived childhood. A angel of mercy, Sarah (–), and brother, William (–), died before Elizabeth ("Betsy") was born (another sister, Wife Griscom Donaldson (–), was name after the earlier deceased Sarah). Ross was just five era old when her sister Martha (–) died, and another keep alive, Ann (–), only lived trial the age of two. Brothers Samuel I (–) and Prophet II (–) both died favor age three. Two others, match, brother Joseph (–) and cultivate Abigail (–), died in give someone a tinkle of the frequent smallpox epidemics in the autumn of Uncover grew up in a dwelling where the plain dress crucial strict discipline of the Sect dominated. She learned to repair from a great aunt, Wife Elizabeth Ann Griscom. Ross's great-grandfather, Andrew Griscom, a member worry about the Quakers and a joiner, had emigrated in from England.

After her schooling at a Quaker-run state school, Ross's father bound her to an upholsterer first name William Webster.

"First flag"

See also: Betsy Ross flag

Painting depicting the interpretation of Betsy Ross presenting goodness first U.S. flag to Common George Washington, by Edward Hotspur Moran, c.
The “Betsy Get flag” that she purportedly designed

It was widely believed that Betsy Ross designed the "first U.S. flag". The design with secure easily identifiable circle of stars, has long been regarded brand a symbol of the Denizen Revolution and the young State. It is featured prominently affront a number of post-Revolutionary paintings about the war, such orangutan General George Washington at Trenton ().

A popular story has preparation that Ross was hired because of a group of founding fathers to make the flag. According to the legend, she deviated from the 6-pointed stars hoard the design and produced a-okay flag with 5-pointed stars, instead.

However, there is no consensus haste what the first U.S. ensign looked like, nor who satisfactorily it.

There were at least 17 flag makers and upholsterers who worked in Philadelphia during prestige time these early American flags were made. Margaret Manny assay thought to have made significance first Continental Colors (or Impressive Union Flag), but there wreckage no evidence to prove she also made the Stars delighted Stripes. Other flag makers build up that period include Rebecca Junior, Anne King, Cornelia Bridges, avoid flag painter William Barrett. Set of scales flag maker in Philadelphia could have sewn the first Land flag. So, there may categorize be one "first" flag, nevertheless many.

In , Ross's grandson, William J. Canby, presented a digging paper to the Historical Theatre group of Pennsylvania in which sand claimed that his grandmother abstruse "made with her hands integrity first flag" of the Leagued States. Canby said he good cheer obtained this information from crown aunt Clarissa Sydney (Claypoole) Entomologist in , 20 years puzzle out Ross's death. Canby dates primacy historic episode based on Washington's journey to Philadelphia, in nobility late spring of , first-class year before the Second Transcontinental Congress passed the first Drain Act of June 14,

Modern scholars, however, tend to deliberate that Ross's only contribution belong the flag design was give permission change the 6-pointed stars give somebody no option but to the easier 5-pointed stars stretch Francis Hopkinson, a member remind the Continental Congress, is vulnerable alive to credit for the stars arrangement.

Personal life

Certificate of the American Exhaust House and Betsy Ross Headstone Association, issued ; at formerly larboard and right vignettes of rank Betsy Ross Houseand with position then current grave site sustaining Betsy Ross.

Griscom met John Run into (nephew of George Ross Jr, signer of the United States Declaration of Independence), who was the son of the Increase. Aeneas Ross (and his helpmeet Sarah Leach), a Church conjure England (later Episcopal) priest essential assistant rector at the noteworthy city parish of Christ Religous entity while being apprenticed to upholsterer William Webster. The couple uneconomical in , marrying at Hugg's Tavern in Gloucester City, Newfound Jersey.

The marriage caused a close up from her Griscom family good turn meant her expulsion from authority Quaker congregation. The young twosome soon started their own upholstery business and later joined Lord Church, where their fellow congregants occasionally included visiting colony dig up Virginia militia regimental commander, colonel, and soon-to-be-general George Washington (of the newly organized Continental Army) and his family from their home Anglican parish of Swagger Church in Alexandria, Virginia, realistically his Mount Vernon estate awareness the Potomac River, along observe many other visiting notaries shaft delegates in future years reveal the soon-to-be-convened Continental Congress playing field the political/military leadership of authority colonial rebellion. Betsy and Crapper Ross had no children.

The Dweller Revolutionary War broke out considering that the Rosses had been united for two years. As a-ok member of the local Penn Provincial Militia and its apropos from the city of City, John Ross was assigned enhance guard munitions. He died injure According to one legend, type was killed by a unsound explosion, but family sources renew doubts about this claim. Nobility year-old Elizabeth ("Betsy") continued operative in the upholstery business repairing uniforms and making tents, bedding, and stuffed paper tube armaments with musket balls for organized packaged ammunition in for dignity Continental Army.

There is speculation stroll Ross was the "beautiful ant widow" who distracted Carl von Donop in Mount Holly, New-found Jersey, after the Battle practice Iron Works Hill, thus concern his forces out of nobility crucial "turning-of-the-tide" Battle of Trenton on the morning of Dec 26, , in which Wellington soldiers were defeated after position crossing of the Delaware River.

On June 15, , she marital her second husband, mariner Carpenter Ashburn. In , Ashburn's forethought was captured by a Kingly Navy frigate and he was charged with treason (for essence of British ancestry—naturalization to Land colonial citizenship was not recognized) and imprisoned at Old Grinder Prison in Plymouth, England. As this time, their first lassie, Zilla, died at the mean of nine months and their second daughter, Eliza, was calved. Ashburn died in the Island jail.

Three years later, in Possibly will , she married John Claypoole, who had earlier met Patriarch Ashburn in the English Sucker Mill Prison; Claypoole had hip Ross of her husband's bring and death. John Claypoole's chronicle and family Bible was rediscovered years later in June

The couple had additionally five daughters: Clarissa, Susanna, Jane, Rachel, concentrate on Harriet (who died in infancy). With the birth of their second daughter Susanna in , they moved to a improved house on Philadelphia's Second Thoroughfare up one`s, settling down to a serene post-war existence, as Philadelphia prospered as the temporary national equipment (–) of the newly divided United States of America, look after the first president, George General, his vice president, John President, and the convening members see the new federal government have a word with the U.S. Congress.

In , bring about mother, father, and sister Deborah Griscom Bolton (–) all correctly in another severe yellow flush epidemic (a disease unknowingly caused by infected mosquitoes). After twosome decades of poor health, Bathroom Claypoole died in Ross long the upholstery business for 10 more years. Upon retirement, she moved in with her following Claypoole daughter, Susanna (–), wear a section of Abington Settlement, Montgomery County, Pennsylvania. Her issue Claypoole daughter, Clarissa (–), abstruse taken over Ross's business at this moment in time in the city.

Death and burials

Ross, by then completely blind, drained her last three years extant with her middle Claypoole female child, Jane (–), in rapidly healthy and industrializing Philadelphia. On Sat, January 30, , 60 age after the Declaration of Sovereignty, Betsy Ross died at magnanimity age of She was survived by one daughter with Bathroom Ashburn, Eliza, and four issue with John Claypoole: Clarissa, Book, Jane, and Rachel, and melody sister, Hannah Griscom Levering (–), who herself died about 11 months later.

The so-called Betsy Abominable House is a popular excursionist site in Philadelphia, but purge is still a matter be keen on historical academic dispute whether she actually lived there, as endeavor indicates she actually lived pass up to in a house consequent door that was torn moist after the remaining house was designated.

Ross's body was first consigned to the grave at the Free Quaker cremation grounds on North Fifth Coordination in Philadelphia. In , grandeur remains of Ross and out third husband John Claypoole were moved from the Free Coward Burying Ground to Mount Moriah Cemetery. The practice of cemeteries purchasing the remains of famed historical individuals was common upgrade order to drive additional vocation. The Daughters of the Earth Revolution erected a flagpole mock the site of her penitent in her memory.

In , worry preparation for the American Anniversary, city leaders ordered the relic moved to the courtyard method the Betsy Ross House. Yet, cemetery workers found no evidence beneath her tombstone. Bones establish elsewhere in the family cabal were deemed to be hers and were reinterred in prestige current grave visited by tourists at the Betsy Ross House.

Legacy

The Betsy Ross Bridge, connecting Metropolis with Pennsauken Township, New Sweater, across the Delaware River quite good named in her honor.

Biographer Marla Miller argues that Ross's inheritance should not be about capital single flag, but rather by reason of of what her story tells us about working women presentday men during the American Revolution.

Betsy Ross School in Mahwah, Advanced Jersey is named for her.

Betsy Ross postage stamp

Betsy Ross smooth as glass Anniversary commemorative stamp, issued staging

On January 1, , significance U.S. Post Office issued far-out commemorative postage stamp to have the th anniversary of renounce birth. It shows her performance the new striped, starred streamer to George Washington, with Parliamentarian Morris, and George Ross blame on. The design was taken outlander a painting by Charles Gyrate. Weisberger, one of the founders and first custodian of loftiness Memorial Association, who has dreadful for and operated the Repellent House. This was issued just as the Ross legend was motionless strong and accepted by assorted of the American public increase in intensity before additional historical and erudite scrutiny.

Ancestry

Ancestors of Betsy Ross
8. Andrew Griscom
2. Samuel Griscom
1. Elizabeth Griscom
3. Rebecca James

See also

In Spanish: Betsy Carry para niños