42 Betsy Ross Facts: This Will Blow Your Mind, Read This!

On June 14 every year since 1777, the United States celebrates the adoption of its flag.

The first Flag, which was actually adopted on this day, was agreed upon by a resolution that stated the exact description of the flag. The description stated that there will be 13 stripes representing the 13 colonies, alternating between red and white stripes, and 13 stars on a field of blue, representing a new constellation.

Today, the flag has been changed to represent the original 13 colonies through the same red and white alternating stripes and 50 stars, representing the 50 states of the United States of America. The US flag has been modified 27 times and the most current version is the 27th iteration.

Betsy Ross is known as the woman who sewed the first United States flag which was adopted in 1777. However, there is no solid documented proof that she had actually sewn it. Much after her death, her relatives went on to credit and claim her as the seamstress who created this flag. As per the Ross family, Betsy was visited by three key figures, Robert Morris, George Ross, and Commander George Washington, who played an important role in the flag’s adoption; in 1776 Betsy Ross suggested a change in the image of a flag she was shown, which later became the first American flag.

After reading about her marriages to John Ross, Joseph Ashburn, and John Claypoole also check out Bertolt Brecht facts and Betsy Ross flag facts.

Betsy Ross Facts About Abolition

Elizabeth Griscom also known as Betsy whose life was full of ups and downs. She was even abolished by her own communion for acting out of religiously acceptable ways. To understand the exact reasons for her abolition, we need to look at some Betsy Ross facts, particularly her history, and personal life.

Born Elizabeth Griscom on January 1, 1952, Betsy was the eighth of the 17 children of Samuel Griscom and Rebecca James Griscom.

She grew up in a Quaker family which followed the Religious Society of Friends, better known as Quakers Religion. The Quakers were a Protestant Christian group largely of Evangelical beliefs.

She was even educated in Quaker schools that were part of the Quaker school system. After she completed her education, her father introduced her to William Webster, an upholsterer with whom Betsy worked as an apprentice.

It was during her apprenticeship that she met John Ross, who was the nephew of George Ross Jr. She fell in love with and later married John Ross. John’s father was a priest with the Church of England, which was later named the Episcopal Church, which was a mainline Protestant Church of Anglican Communion.

Betsy and John Ross eloped in 1773 and married at Hugs Tavern in Gloucester City, New Jersey. Coming from different religious backgrounds, the couple was not accepted, leading to Betsy being 'Readout' or abolished from her Church and Family.

Thereafter the couple established their own upholstery business in Philadelphia and joined the Christ Church (John’s father was a priest of the Christ Church).

Three years into the marriage, in 1775 John had joined a local militia to fight in the American Revolution War and was killed in the same. One year later, Ross married another man, named Joseph Ashburn in 1777.

Betsy’s second husband, Joseph was on a ship in 1780, when he was captured, charged with treason, and thrown in the Old Mill Prison, where he died in 1782. While her husband was in prison, Betsy and Joseph’s first daughter, Zilla passed away at the young age of nine months and Betsy gave birth to their second daughter Eliza.

The news of her husband’s death was given to Betsy by John Claypole, who had met Joseph while in prison. One year later, in 1783, Betsy married John Claypole, and the couple continued with their upholstery business.

In 1793, Betsy’s Parents Samuel Griscom and Rebecca James, along with her sister Deborah, died in a yellow fever epidemic.

With Claypole, Betsy had five more daughters Clarissa, Susanna, Jane, Rachel, and Harriet. Harriet died in infancy while the other four survived. Betsy’s family moved to a bigger house post-American independence, with George Washington as the President. In 1817, Claypole died, after which Ross moved to Pennsylvania to live with Clarissa.

She subsequently went blind during her last years, which she spent with Jane, and passed away in 1836.

Betsy’s grave, originally buried in Free Quakers Burial Ground in Philadelphia, was subsequently moved to Mount Moriah Cemetery, and thereafter ordered to be moved to the Betsy Ross House Courtyard on the arch street.

Betsy Ross Facts About White Supremacy

The first claims of Betsy sewing the first American flag came in 1876 through her grandsons William Canby and George Canby. William Canby is said to have produced documents to the Historical Society of Pennsylvania proving Betsy’s involvement with the first flag.

However, since then, several speculations have been made. Betsy’s flag has also been criticized for being racist. William Canby contested that the stripes and stars pattern of the first flag was suggested by Betsy, who had also ideated sewing the stars of the first American flag in a circle.

While there is nothing inherently racist about this flag, controversies arise because it is being seen by some people today as an attempt by extremist white people to represent a time of white supremacy.

Betsy Ross allegedly sew the first American flag at a time when people of color were used as slaves, repressed, and not considered Americans. As such, if and when that flag is used somewhere, it is considered as an action against people of color, to show white supremacy.

Betsy Ross Facts About Nursing Home

The Betsy Ross Nursing Facility, located in Rome, New York is an establishment for Continuing care for the elderly. It was made for assisted living facilities for the elderly community.

The establishment has been named after Betsy Ross to honor her contribution to sewing the first American flag. This nursing home offers a wide range of treatments and healthcare services for patients requiring long-term care.

Did you know that Betsy Ross' father assisted with building the bell tower for the Independence Hall?

Political Facts About Betsy Ross

Betsy Ross’s husband John Ross was the nephew of George Ross Junior who played a major role in the American Revolutionary War and the subsequent committee that signed the resolution adopting the Betsy Ross Flag.

Betsy was also a close acquaintance of Martha, wife of George Washington, who was the commander of the Continental Army and later became the president of independent America.

The bridge connecting Philadelphia to a township in New Jersey, across the Delaware River is named in her honor as the Betsy Ross Bridge.

In the year 1810, Betsy Ross prepared six garrison flags for New Orleans, and thereafter she was further commissioned to prepare 27 flags for the Indian Department and 46 flags for the military garrisons of America.

Here at Kidadl, we have carefully created lots of interesting family-friendly facts for everyone to enjoy! If you liked our suggestions for Betsy Ross facts then why not take a look at Benjamin Rush facts, or Benjamin Zephaniah facts.