This unique flag proudly features a circle of stars to represent the original colonies. Seamstress who is credited with sewing the first american flag. Betsy ross was an american seamstress and upholsterer who has been widely credited with making the first american flag. Most historians dismiss the story about betsy ross making the first american flag. Scholars no longer accept the claim that betsy ross or george washington had anything to do with the origin of the stars and stripes. Betsy ross 17521836 became a patriotic icon in the late 19th century when stories surfaced that she had sewn the first stars and stripes u. He married rebecca james who was a member of a prominent quaker merchant family. After her death, she became a model of patriotism and a key figure in the legend of early american history. The story of our flag cant find what youre looking for. Betsy ross the author, with scissors and bunting, busy at her work.
Have you wondered who betsy ross is or are you curios to know. She was disowned by the quakers when she joined the revolutionary war effort. While working at her job as an upholstering apprentice, betsy fell in love with john ross, another apprentice. During the american revolution, ross made flags for the navy. Also in the tree is chief of the cherokee nation john ross. Betsy ross earned responsibility to design and make the american flag because when the best sewers in philadelphia were ranked, as you can guess betsy came in first place. The betsy ross flag is a longlasting piece of americas history. Betsy ross is one of the best known american figures from the revolutionary era. You may know about the betsy ross flag, but you probably didnt know that betsy lost two husbands to the war, was kicked out of her church for marrying the wrong guy and was born into a family. Both young and older students can color this page while reading aloud from this biography from.
Betsy ross was born on january 1, 1752, as elizabeth griscom in philadelphia, pennsylvania. Betsy ross and the making of america and millions of other books are. Betsy ross is an american historical icon who was born on january 1, 1752. On june 14, 1777, the continental congress 1, on a motion from john adams 2, adopted the stars and stripes as the national flag. A richly woven biography of the beloved patriot betsy ross, and an. He was also an apprentice, but he was not a quaker. The fascinating tale of betsy ross, from sewing washingtons bed linens to nike controversy. Her greatgrandfather was a carpenter who had reached new jersey in 1680 from england. It was against quaker religion to marry outside of the religion, so she was expelled from her family and the quakers. Her life story transcends that one great symbol, though. This biography of betsy ross is a window not only into the life of a proud and courageous woman, but also into. Betsy ross january 1, 1752january 30, 1836 was a colonial seamstress who is usually credited with creating the first american flag. Betsy ross was incredibly beautiful like a porcelain doll.
Legend says that betsy ross sewed the first flag of the united states in 1776. The betsy ross story is a ross family story that people did not hear until 100 years after the revolution. Click here for a great selection of books about betsy ross. As the seamstress of the american flag, an enduring symbol of liberty and democracy, betsy ross is an integral part of the fabric of american history. Her first marriage was to john ross in 1772, for whom she went outside of the quaker religion to marry. For my children who would rather watch me read a book on the computer than let me read to them in person. Betsy ross, licsw works with couples, families, and individuals as a divorce transition and relationship coach, and a licensed psychotherapist. Not only is her life interesting because of the flag, but the facts and information below highlight her struggles as a widowed business owner, which are just as impressive. She learned to sew when she was apprenticed to an upholsterer.
See the fact file below for more information on the betsy ross or alternatively, you can download our 22page betsy ross worksheet pack to utilise within the classroom or home environment. Betsy s dad helped hang the liberty bell in the state house. Interesting book from the point of view of marketing. Betsy was born in philadelphia in 1752 to a very large quaker family. The ross claim is based on uncorroborated and inaccurate ross family lore that did not surface until the 1870s a century after the revolution. Since betsy was a quaker, she was not allowed to marry someone outside of her religion. To ask other readers questions about betsy ross, please sign up. Ross worked as a seamstress and was eager to contribute to the cause, making tents and repairing uniforms when the colonies declared war. What was betsy ross family information as an adult answers. Betsy ross was born as elizabeth griscom on january 1, 1752.
But she managed to hold a patriotism icon in the late 18 century. Legend or legacy, here at patriot wood, we wanted to showcase the incredible story behind the betsy ross flag with our own betsy ross wood flag. Betsy ross spoke english because her family was english. Betsy ross was a close friend of general washington. As i have stated before, betsy ross was born in a farm in west jersey, pennsylvania on january 1752. I would like to talk to anyone in the family tree who has researched our ancestry. She was born the eighth of seventeen children of samuel griscom and rebecca james griscom. Betsy meets her first husband, john ross, when she is an upholsterer apprentice.
Betsy ross was the widow of john ross who died from the effects of injuries received while guarding cannon balls and military stores which had been made by his uncle, george ross, a signer of the declaration of independence. In 1870, decades after her death, the legend that became betsy ross began in pennsylvania. Elizabeth griscom was born on january 1, 1752, in the bustling colonial city of philadelphia. Betsy ross although the evidence is not solid, most historians point to upholsterer betsy ross 17521836 as the woman who sewed the first u. However, it is known that ross made flags for the navy. Born the eighth of seventeen children in philadelphia, betsy ross lived in a time when the american colonies were yearning for independence from british rule. She was a mother, a businesswoman, and a contemporary of george washington. Please enter an approximate age of less than 120 and a four digit birth year using whole numbers only e. This action caused her quaker place of worship to expel her and her own family to disown her. Betsy ross biography facts, childhood, family life. Betsy ross was the mastermind behind the design of the american. Betsy ross is thought to have sewn the first american flag. This betsy ross unit study has activities for multiple ages, from preschool to elementary. Indeed, betsy ross is a true rarity in that she has been turned into a mythological heroine.
Comments are turned off autoplay when autoplay is enabled, a suggested video will automatically play next. I think you can guess that her family was very important even though her family was very poor. In 1772, the couple eloped and married, following which she was expelled from both her family and the quaker congregation in philadelphia. There isnt much direct primary source information known about betsy ross. One year before william penn founded philadelphia in 1681, betsy rosss great grandfather, andrew griscom. Legend has it that betsy ross made the first american flag. Throughout the book, miller winks at the improbabilities in the family.
Elizabeth griscom ross, nee griscom, also known by her second and third married names, ashburn and claypoole, was an american upholsterer who was credited by her relatives in 1870 with making the first american flag, accordingly known as the betsy ross flag. To the account are appended sundry patriotic songs and appeals said to have been written and circulated by mrs. This book helps readers of history be more discerning when sifting through facts. Betsy ross was promoted as a patriotic role model for young. Elizabeth betsy griscom 1 january 1752 30 january 1836, popularly known as betsy ross, was the eighth of seventeen children born to samuel griscom 1730 1793 and rebecca james 1730 1793 in philadelphia, pennsylvania. This informative biography supports the teaching of nonfiction text features, such as illustrations, captions, and a glossary. She ran and owned an upholstery business with her husband. Betsy and john were married in huggs tavern in gloucester, new jersey without her family. At the very least, there is not a shred of documented evidence that betsy ross did what.
She and her husband john ross started their own upholstery business. There were 17 children in the family and betsy ross was the eight children in the. Betsy began attending school betsy came from a family of quakers. This admiring biography tells the story of betsy ross, including details of her childhood as a quaker in philadelphia, her apprenticeship to an upholsterer, family life, and the meeting with general washington that led to her making the nations first flag. Betsy ross was born elizabeth griscom to parents samuel griscom and rebecca james in philadelphia, pennsylvania on january 1, 1752, the eighth of 17 children. Read our betsy ross facts to learn all about this inspiring woman of the revolutionary war. The betsy ross flag is an early design of the flag of the united states, named for early american upholsterer and flag maker betsy ross 107 the pattern of the betsy ross flag is alternating redandwhite stripes with stars in a field of blue in the upper left corner canton. Betsy ross is one of the few women in american history whose name is known to every american, but that is not the only reason shes such a unique figure.
Born the 8th of 17 children to a quaker family, betsy learned to read, write, and sew at an early age. For the past 20 years, betsy has helped individuals, couples and family members to talk to each other more, fight less, and improve their ability to address issues and problem solve together. Flag stitched into american lore what we know about betsy for a fact is that she was born january 1, 1752, the eighth of 17 children in the quaker family. Elizabeth griscom according to patriotic legend, betsy ross sewed the first american flag at the request of george washington. Ross during the revolution from her shop in philadelphia.
A bridge that connects pennsylvania and new jersey is named the betsy ross bridge in her honor. A nice biography of elizabeth griscom ross for young children. Her mother was rebecca james griscom, while her father was samuel griscom. If you know the answer to this question, please register to join our limited beta program and start the.
Betsy ross was born elizabeth griscom on january 1, 1752 in philadelphia, pennsylvania. Well this book will tell you a lot of information about her. Betsy ross, seamstress who, according to family stories, fashioned and helped design the first flag of the united states. Although the story is widely popular, there is no firm support for it. Her parents, rebecca james griscom and samuel griscom were both quakers. No one knows if ross spoke english or not, but what we do know is that she was taught in the family. The fascinating tale of betsy ross, from sewing washington. Betsy ross married john ross, an anglican, when she was just 17. Elizabeth griscom ross 17521836 wikitree free family tree. Betsy ross 17521836 is an american icon, famous for having sewn the first american flag and personally presenting it to george washington in philadelphia in 1776. Betsy ross, a fourthgeneration american born in 1752 in philadelphia, pennsylvania, apprenticed with an upholsterer before irrevocably splitting with her family to marry outside the quaker religion.
Betsy ross biography the woman that made the first. Canby said he first obtained this information from his aunt clarissa sydney. One year before william penn founded philadelphia in 1681, betsy rosss greatgrandfather, andrew griscom. What was betsy ross family information as an adult. She turns inferences into facts and then embellishes the facts with. Continental congressman francis hopkinson of new jersey designed two stars and stripes flags. For more information, see the wikipedia article on betsy ross.
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