Betsy Ross Biography

Betsy Ross was born Elizabeth Griscom on January 1, 1752, in Gloucester City, New Jersey, United States. Her great-grandfather was a carpenter who had reached New Jersey in 1680 from England. Betsy had 16 siblings; she was the eighth of 17 children.

She attended Quaker schools and was taught sewing and other crafts in her early life. Betsy finished her schooling at the age of 17 and later went on to work with a local upholsterer. This is where she met her future husband, John Ross.

Betsy Ross’ then-husband John, with whom she ran an upholstery business, was killed in 1776 at the start of the American Revolution. The gunpowder explosion happened while he was on militia duty at the Philadelphia waterfront. After his death, Betsy took over the business completely and made flags for Pennsylvania.

Around May or early June of 1776, she reportedly had visitors from the Committee of Three: George Washington, George Ross, and Robert Morris. George Washington was a frequent visitor before he received the command of the army.

Betsy Ross had sewn many shirt ruffles and other pieces of clothing for him. Washington is believed to have asked whether she could make a flag out of the rough drawing they carried with them. Washington also redrew the flag design and added stars of five points instead of six.

Betsy and her family sewed upholstery, made flags and banners for the “new” Philadelphia after the Philadelphia Campaign. She created six 18-by-24-foot garrison flags in 1810 which was sent to New Orleans.

In 1811, she made 27 flags for the Indian Department. Just around that time, many other flag makers in Philadelphia came into the scene, including Rebecca Young. Betsy worked until 1827 and she also brought in many of her immediate family members into the business.

Betsy married John Ross, an Anglican, when she was just 17. Since Betsy was a Quaker, she was not allowed to marry someone outside of her religion. In 1772, the couple eloped and married, following which she was expelled from both her family and the Quaker congregation in Philadelphia.

After John's death, Betsy Ross married Joseph Ashburn, a sailor. In 1780, Joseph also passed away after he was captured by the British on a ship and died in prison the next year.

In 1783, Betsy married John Claypoole. He had been in prison with Joseph. He later met Betsy and fell in love with her. John passed away after a long illness in 1817.

Betsy Ross had many children and grandchildren.

On January 30, 1836, Betsy Ross died at the age of 84 in Philadelphia. She was completely blind in her final years and passed away due to natural causes.

Her remains were buried in three different locations, first at the Free Quaker burial ground in North Fifth Street in Philadelphia. Her remains were later buried at Mt. Moriah Cemetery. Her final burial was at Arch Street, which is adjacent to the Betsy Ross House.

The information of Betsy Ross making the first American flag was shared with the public by her grandson 50 years after her death. Many scholars still are not convinced it was Betsy who created the first flag. Following her death, she had a major Philadelphia bridge named after her.