Betsy biography ross story of the flag

InRoss's grandson, William J. Canby, presented a paper to the Historical Society of Pennsylvania in which he claimed that his grandmother had "made with her hands the first flag" of the United States. In his account, the original flag was made in Junewhen a small committee — including George WashingtonRobert Morris and relative George Ross — visited Betsy and discussed the need for a new U.

Betsy accepted the job to manufacture the flag, altering the committee's design by replacing the six-pointed stars with five-pointed stars.

Betsy biography ross story of the flag: American seamstress who, according

Canby dates the historic episode based on Washington's journey to Philadelphia, in late springa year before Congress passed the Flag Act. InCol. Franklin Reigart published a somewhat different story in his book, "The history of the first United States flag, and the patriotism of Betsy Ross, the immortal heroine that originated the first flag of the Union.

Betsy Ross, in during the time of General Lafayette's visit to Philadelphia. In this version, Dr. Benjamin Franklin replaces George Washington. Ross design the first flag. The Canby version and the subsequent book with the Ross family affidavits never specify the arrangement of stars. Reigart, however, describes Mrs. Ross's flag with an eagle in the canton with 13 stars surrounding its head.

The cover of Reigart's book shows the 13 stars in a lined pattern in the canton. The earliest connection between Betsy Ross and this flag design with 13 stars in a circle was Charles Weisgerber's painting "Birth of Our Nation's Flag.

Betsy biography ross story of the flag: The story goes that she

The most likely source of his design is the edition of History of the Flag of the United States of America by George Henry Preblea flag scholar in the late s. The book's illustrators, however, did provide a flag design for the flag. The illustrators may have used the flag design from Emanuel Leutze 's painting Washington Crossing the Delaware.

Consequently, the editions of Preble's book in, andall show the flag as having a circle of 13 stars. It is also possible that Weisgerber used a July issue of Harper's Weekly Magazine as his source to find out what a flag looked like. This article published one year after Preble's first edition, showed this flag with the label, "Flag Adopted by Congress, Weisgerber later helped start the foundation that restored Arch Street in Philadelphia as the Betsy Ross House[ 18 ] though Ross may have actually lived in the demolished house next door.

It was reported in that he received donations from 4 million children and adults. Ross's grandson, William Canby, publicly presented a version of her story to the Historical Society of Pennsylvania in Although the account has supporters, there is a lack of historical evidence and documentation to support Canby's story. Canby's account and similar versions of the Betsy Ross tale often refer to this design as the first U.

There were at least 17 flag makers and upholsterers who worked in Philadelphia during the time these early American flags were made. Margaret Manny is thought to have made the first Continental Colors or Grand Union Flagbut there is no evidence to prove she also made the Stars and Stripes. Even according to Canby, there were other variations of the flag being made at the same time Ross was sewing the design that would carry her name.

If true, there may not be one "first" flag, but many. The shape and arrangement of the stars is not mentioned — there were variations — but the legal description legitimized the Ross flag and similar designs. Resolved, That the flag of the thirteen United States be thirteen stripes, alternate red and white; that the union be thirteen stars, white in a blue field, representing a new constellation.

The Board sent a letter to General Washington asking his opinion, and submitting a design that included a serpentas well as a number corresponding to the state that flew the flag. Francis Hopkinson is often given credit for a number of star arrangements, including the Betsy Ross design. In a letter to the Continental Board of Admiralty dealing with the Admiralty seal, [ 39 ] Hopkinson mentioned patriotic designs he created in the past few years, including "the Flag of the United States of America.

Hopkinson was not the only person consulted on designing the Great Seal of the United States. Furthermore, he was a public servant and thus was already on the government's payroll. George Henry Preble states in his text that no one knows who designed the flag, [ 41 ] and that no combined stars and stripes flag was in common use prior to June Grace Rogers Cooper dates the earliest appearance of the "Ross" design asbut with six-pointed stars.

Because the flag evolved during the American Revolutionary War, the meaning of the design is uncertain. Historians and experts discredit the common theory that the stripes and five-pointed stars derived from the Washington family coat of arms. Washington frequently used his family coat of arms with three five-pointed red stars and three red-and-white stripes, on which is based the flag of the District of Columbia.

During the Revolutionary War era and into the 19th century, the "Rebellious Stripes" were considered as the most important element of United States flags, and were almost always mentioned before the stars. A Sons of Liberty flag flown in Boston had nine red and white stripes, and these "rebellious stripes" would influence later designs leading up to the American Revolution.

The canton, featuring the stars, may have gradually replaced the Grand Union betsy biography ross story of the flag as hope for reconciliation faded. Ross died on January 30,at the age of 84, in Philadelphia. Nearly 50 years later, her grandson publicly shared that Ross made the first American flag. Although the Betsy Ross House, where she is reputed to have made the flag, is one of the most visited tourist sites in Philadelphia, the claim that she once lived there is also matter of dispute.

Despite the unlikelihood of the story for which she is known, Ross is a fine example of what many women of her time audaciously endured: widowhood, single motherhood, managing household and property independently, and quickly remarrying for economic reasons. Her story and her life are, nonetheless, stitched into the fabric of American history.

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Bones found elsewhere in the family plot were deemed to be hers and were reinterred in the current grave visited by tourists at the Betsy Ross House. Biographer Marla Miller argues that Ross' legacy should not be about a single flag, but rather what her story tells us about working women and men during the American Revolution. On January 1,the U.

Post Office issued a commemorative postage stamp to honor the th anniversary of her birth. It shows her presenting the new striped, starred flag to George Washingtonwith Robert Morrisand George Ross present. The design was taken from a painting by Charles H. Weisberger, one of the founders and first custodian of the Memorial Association, who has cared for and operated the Ross House.

This was issued when the Ross legend was still strong and accepted by many of the American public and before additional historical and academic scrutiny. Contents move to sidebar hide. Article Talk. Read View source View history. Tools Tools. Download as PDF Printable version. In other projects. Wikimedia Commons Wikidata item. American upholsterer — For other people named Betsy Ross, see Betsy Ross disambiguation.

For the second daughter of Oliver Cromwell, see Elizabeth Claypole. For Lord Claypole, see John Claypole. For his father, see John Claypole of Northborough. Not to be confused with Betty Ross.

Betsy biography ross story of the flag: This book taught us a lot

PhiladelphiaPennsylvania, U. John Ross. Joseph Ashburn. John Claypoole. Samuel Griscom father Rebecca James Griscom mother. See also: Betsy Ross flag. Ancestors of Betsy Ross 8. Andrew Griscom 2. Samuel Griscom 1. Elizabeth Griscom 3. Rebecca James. Weaver, publ.

Betsy biography ross story of the flag: A symbol of patriotism, Ross

The Evolution of the American Flag. Philadelphia: Ferris and Leach. November 6, The first 'official' flag was 'the Continental Colors,' also known as the 'Grand Union Flag,' which consisted of thirteen red and white stripes and the United Kingdom's flag in the upper-left-hand corner, also known as the canton. Archived from the original on August 3, The Washington Post.

Washington and the Continental Congress had come up with the basic layout, but, according to legend, Betsy allegedly finalized the design, arguing for stars with five points Washington had suggested six because the cloth could be folded and cut out with a single snip. Discover the history of the annual holiday and check out 13 facts about the American flag and how to properly display it.

Every time the United States admitted another state, a new star was […]. In JuneBetsy married Joseph Ashburn, a sailor, with whom she had two daughters. In Ashburn was apprehended while working as a privateer in the West Indies and died in a British prison. A few months after their wedding, the Treaty of Paris was signed, ending the Revolutionary War.

They went on to have five daughters. Over the next decades, Betsy Claypoole and her daughters sewed upholstery and made flags, banners and standards for the new nation.