Page 16 EmpoweringSeniors Fall Newsletter

Senior Auctioneer Talks His Way To Success

I Ross did after completing
the two-week course at the Col
lege of Auctioneering at Mason,
Iowa, in March of 1974, was to
keep on talking.
"We (the students) practiced
our new-found auctioneering
skills for two days." Berman now
laughs. "We were anxious to get
off to a good start so we worked
hard to make it happen."
Obviously for Berman, the
practice has paid off. After re
turning from the Iowa school, he
has become one of the best-
known auctioneers in Warren
County. His success follows
another illustrious career, that of
being Warren County Extension
Agent for more than 28 years.
He fondly recalls his first auc
tion, held in April of 1974 on a
farm located off U.S. 42 near
Waynesville. "I auctioned off
three metal farm tanks and one
sold for more than $100, a very
high price," Berman said. "I felt
that I did my job."
Sponsored Into Profession
Berman was sponsored into
his new profession by the late
Don Workman of Waynesville,
an established auctioneer. At
that time new auctioneers had to
work under a sponsor for one
year to receive their license from
the state. Berman had asked
Don ~ a personal friend ~ to be
his sponsor and stayed with him
until he left in the late 1970s to
go on his own.
Berman teamed up with
another friend and auctioneer,
Harold Banta. They formed the
Action Auction Service and reg
istered the trade name with the
state. The two worked together
until Harold died, about 12 years
good auctioneer? "You've got to
like people," Berman declared.
"You must build a reputation of
being honest, fair, and knowl
edgeable because you are deal
ing in money. You are out to get
the highest price for the seller."
Berman noted the auctioneer
can pace the vocal bidding to
suit buyers. He admits he can't
follow tobacco auctioneers who
are the fastest of all. But at real
estate auctions the rapid vocal
bidding slows down.
"Auctioneers must judge
crowds, get them excited but
allow them to follow the action,"
he said. "I average auctioning 80
to 85 items an hour if general
merchandise is sold. But when
large real estate items are
offered to big crowds, I may only
sell five to seven items per hour."
Must Keep Bidding Going
But whatever is up for sale,
the auctioneer must keep the
bidding going. "That's part of his
job," Berman stressed. "When
the bid reaches a certain figure
you must be thinking of the next
highest number. This takes prac
tice but it's like studying, the
more you apply yourself the bet
ter you become."
Berman said he loves auction
eering and will continue as long
as he can. "It has been a very
rewarding job and I fit in with my
audience," he assured. "Auction
eering is in my blood now."
Berman Ross auctions Items
at a recent sheriff's sale at
Lebanon. He built a second
career on the auction circuit
later. During their partnership
they worked the Warren County
Fair livestock sale for five years
and farm sales became a sub
stantial part of their business.
"I went to school to become a
farming auctioneer," Berman
explained. "I was also well
known in the farm community
due to those years as County
Extension Agent. It was natural
to focus efforts in this direction."
Times Forces Changes
But as the times changed so
has Action Auction Service. The
number of farms declined and
Berman and Harold became
more involved in real estate auc
tions, a trend that continues to
this day.
In the early 1990s, Berman
was joined by his son John and
now they do all auctions, keep
ing the name of Action Auction
Service. Berman is a licensed
appraiser which he said is very
helpful in their real estate work.
What does it take to become a
Letters to Editor
Send Opinions And
Comments to Editor,
Empowering Seniors,
Box 125, Lebanon
Ohio 45036
i- "-J
mm
Gently^
Down
'
BETSYROSS, THE LITTLE REBEL
Inthe group of young people Rowing upin Philadelphia
in 1773, clever and attractive Elizabeth Griscom stood out
for having three admirers, rivals for her affections. The
remarkable truth is, that, before the romance and tragedy
of her long life were over, she married them all. John Ross,
an upholsterer's apprentice; Joseph Ashbum, a captain of a
sailing vessel; and John Claypoole, a seaman, each in turn
became her husband.
Elizabeth, born January 1,1752, was the eighth child of
Samuel and Rebecca Griscom, and great-granddaughter of
Andrew Griscom, who was a loyal supporter of William
Penn, and a settler in the 1680's in one of the early Quaker
colonies in Pennsylvania. For four generations the
Griscoms had been carpenters and Quakers. To be a
carpenter required considerable skill in those days of
hand-hewn joists, handsplit lath, and hand-forged nails;
that Elizabeth shared this skill with the hands became
apparent in her youth. She, with her sisters and one
brother, attended the Quaker Public School on Fourth
Street, where the sessions lasted from eight a.m. till six
p.m., with a two hour break at noon. In addition to their
book lessons, the girls learned spinning, weaving and
needlework. Elizabeth distinguished herself early, often
winniing awards for her handwork.
A determined girl with a mind of her own, Elizabeth
defied the wishes of her family and the discipline of the
Friends Meeting to elope with John Ross, the son of an
Episcopalian clergyman. Thus Elizabeth Griscom, called
Betsy by her intimates, became Betsy Ross, a name well
knovm in American history, on November 4, 1773. John
opened an upholstery shop on Arch Street, where Betsy
became his able assistant.
Since the Ross family were members of Christ Church,
where John was at one time assistant rector, the Friends
Meeting was forced to disown her, as the strict Qu^er rule
required. This enforced rift with church and family must
have been an unhappy blow to Betsy.
At this time political conditions were heatingrapidly; in
fact the colonies were seething with excitement and hot
feelings between the rebels and the loyalists, those against
the king or for him. The Quakers took a neutral position in
the struggle. Since the Rosses stood strongly on the
colonial side, John joined the militia when actual war
preparations began. A short two years after the marriage of
Elizabeth and John, when he was guarding a stretch of
waterfront where gunpowder was stored, the powder
exploded and he was killed. The young widow continued
the upholstery business, living in the back of the shop.
General George Washington, commander-in-chief for the
colonies, recognized the need for a national banner
representing the colonial cause, a need which, according to
tradition, led to the famous call at the Betsy Ross shop on
Arch Street. In her late years, Betsy is said to have
recounted the incident to her grandchildren, and to her, it
was much more important that the great and beloved
General Washington came to her shop than it was that she
made a flag for him.
The story of this visit to Betsy's shop was first told to the
public by her grandson, William J. Canby, in a paper which
he read to the Pennsylvania Historical Society in March,
1870. Washington, said Canby, was accompanied by
Robert Morris, who supported the colonial cause with his
personal fortune, and by Colonel George Ross, signer of
the Declaration of Independence, and uncle of John Ross,
all members of a secret flag committee for the Continental
Congress. According to the version repeated in the family,
the committee had no specific design for the flag, only a
rough sketch including some stripes and six-pointed stars,
and Betsy suggested that five-pointed stars would look
better, deftly folding a paper and showing how one could
be cut easily with one snip of the scissors. The committee
agreed, and she made^ flag, arranging the thirteen stars in
a circle on a field of blue.
But a sober look at the facts shows no written evidence of
any such a call on Betsy Ross. There is no mention of her
whatever in Washington's journals, though he kept detailed
records of his activities. Nor is there any record of a flag
committee of the Continental Congress in the official
minutes of that body. Historians therefore discredit the
whole story; especially do they doubt that Betsy had a
part in designing the flag. However no one has ever
produced any legitimate contrary claims or proved either
that she did not make our first flag, or that anyone else
made it. The story has been accepted, after diligent
research, by the Betsy Ross Memorial Association and the
American Flag House, and the city of Philadelphia. At any
rate it is certain that early flags were made in the Ross
. -shop^ for there are written orders for '.'ship's colors" dated
May, 1777. Also it is recorded in the Pennsylvania
archives, May 1777, that Betsy Ross received pay for
making "colours" for the Pennsylvania navy. On June 14
of that year, Congress passed a resolution recognizing the
stars and stripes as the "flag of the United States." Thus
Betsy Ross really is the first flag maker of which our
pvemment has any record. Perhaps more flags were made
in Betsy's shop; at any rate, her loyalty to the colonial
cause is said to have earned for her the nickname "the
Little Rebel."
One of Elizabeth Griscom's girlhood admirers, Joseph
Ashbum, then skipper of a merchant vessel serving the
colonies, again courted Betsy, and they were married in
June 1777. Two daughters were bom to them, one of
whom died in infancy. During these years, Betsy still
carried on her growing upholstery business.
Joe Ashburn became a first mate on a brigantine engaged
in trade for the colonies, and sailed on a mission to a
French port for supplies, on the retum from which, the
ship, cargo, and crew were all captured by the British. The
men were eventually taken to Plymouth, England, to the
infamous "Old Mill Prison." Here Joe found his lifelong
friend, John Claypoole already a prisoner.
There was little mercy or hope in prison life in those
times, only neglect and harsh treatment, and the two
friends supported each other as best they could. John
secured paper and pen somehow and wrote a partial record
which survived. Joe Ashbum's health declined, and when
he saw that his time was short, he wrote or dictated a
farewell message for John to deliver. Hediedin 1782, but
not before he had heard the joyful news of the British
surrender at Yorktown in 1781. A little war news had
trickled into the prison, and tlie men had heard of some
of newspaper hidden malo ^itha load of
for America, arrd reached home two
less he loa^o time^m lost, having heard no
Visit his family, i.v,an fr Flizabeth Ashbum, to carry
news for so long, and the bunal at Old Mill Prison.
prison life. By the end o y g,. ^ married
tom another cruise and he Ehzabetn
the following May, John ^e to sea
tradition, to her one condition that he never
again. Betsy had no wish to be a
3^1 -
reaching maturity. An o to the hardships of
the battle ,^^'""^^iThealth and he died in 1817.
prison life, undermined his
Betsy carried took it over, and
1827, when her daug p business to be
Clarissa kept it going until 1857. ror a
successfuUy c^ed .kUl of its
letv hrsypisfd on infslk at the age of 84.
managers. Betsy nerse y Quakers for "marrymg
Betsy, though disovmed Q their beliefs.
out h^^Claypoole, who was also qf Quaker
smce she and John ui^p cunoorters of a new sect,
background, became lea ^ by others
ealled by them^lves ftee ,ect
"Fighting *'out of meeting" and fighting
only by permitting mamag ,. ted loval Quakers who
^f t^e^e^" Tattherefor
rerow m^tC: and it continued for many years.
With the passing of time the differences faded out, most
members returning to their old meetings or joining other
groups until finally only Betsy and one other Sam
Wetheril, clerk of the meeting, remamed. It is said that
Wetheril turned to Betsy one mommg after their worship,
and said, ^'Widow Claypoole, there are only two of us left,
' and it is not right that thee and me should continue tomeet
here alone." With that he locked the meetmg-hou^ door
with thehuge old-fashioned key, and thatwas theend ot the
Free Quakers. ~ .
Elizabeth Griscom Ross Ashbum Claypoole was f^t
buried in the graveyard of the Free Quakers. When t^e
CitY of Philadelphia purchased that property, her remjms
were removed to Mt. Moriah Cemetery, where ^ey
remained tUl December, 1975. Then, in accordance with a
court order secured by the Betsy Ross Memonal Associ
ation and the American Fl^ House, her rem^s were
again dug up and reinterred in the courtyard of her home
at 239 Arch Street, which has now been made a national
monument. ^ , ,
On January 1,1952,thenameofBetsy Ross washonored
by the issue of a three-cent stamp, commemoratmg the
two hundreth anniversary of her birth. ^
And so one could say without being too flippant, that
Betsy Ross was thrice married and thrice buried, and three
times a war widow. A close look at her long life inspires
' admiration for her talent, energy, and loyalty to family, to
church, and to country.
V
i M
m
"''Wvi- ffrift- ||<|||
SOURCES
1- ^l^y^Ross. Rebel Quaker by E. S. Parry (her grandson).
Thompson!'Btc?nte/nSfteffif'l^^^ Quoters by Ray
' C4XJI
4. Americana Encyclopedia.
' ijoss
Free Qu^kers^''^ ^'nenean Revolution Magazine, Feb. 1976,
<2 / f? /
-y-S': .if.
Dictionary Of American Biography, edited "by Dumas Maloae Volume
Scribner's Sons, New York, 193'^* vt
Ross Ross
tions of the crowd as to his identity with "I am
a Buckeye, from the Buckeye state," sang his
song, the chorus of which was as follows:
For Tippecanoe and Tyler, tooTippecanoe and Tyler
too;
And witli llicm we'll Ijcat little Van, Van, Van,
Van is a used-up man ;
And with them we'll beat little Van.
It was followed by a storm of cheers, encored
over and over again, and almost overnight be
came throughout the country the most popular
song of the campaign.
[C B. Galbreath, in Ohio Archaeological and Hist.
Quart., Jan. 1905 ; J. N. Granger, Lanncelot Grang^stf
Ncwbury, Mass., and S-ufficld, Conn.: A Gencal. tUst.
(1893); Cincinnati Enquirer, Feb. 26, 1883; letters
from the Ross family.] C. B.Gh.
ROSS, ARAMINTA [See Tubman, Harriet,
c. I82I-I9I3]-
ROSS, BETSY (Jan. r, i752-Jan. 30, 1836),
legendary maker of the first stars-and-stripes,
was born in Philadelphia, the eighth of the seven
teen children of Samuel and Rebecca (James)
Griscom, and a great-grand-daughter of Andrew
Griscom, a carpenter, who emigrated fromEng
landto West Jersey in 1680 and later moved to
Philadelphia. The building business that he es
tablished was continued by Betsy's father. She
is supposed to have attended the Friends' school
in South Fourth Street and early evinced an
aptitude for fine needlework. She also evinced
considerable independence of mind, for on Nov.
4,1773 she eloped toGloucester, N. J., with John
Ross, son ofthe Rev. /Eneas Ross of New Castle,
Del., and was there married to him. The n^t
May the Society of Friends disowned her, with
evident reluctance, for marrying out of meeting.
For a number of years she attended Christ
Churchand later, with her third husband, became
a loyal member of the Society of Free Quakers.
Ross opened an upholsterer's shop on Arch
Street, on the site of what is now No. 233, and
the young couple lived onthe premises. OnJan.
21, 1776, Ross, then a soldier Inthe militia, was
killed by an explosion of gunpowder on a wharf
that he was patrolling. Throughout the uncer
tainyears that followed Mrs. Ross continued to
carry on the business. The well-known story of
her making the first stars-and-stripes at the ho
liest of Washington, Robert Morris, and George
Ross, is based on a family tradition that was
first made public by her grandson, William
Canby, in a paper that he was permitted to read
before the Historical Society of Pennsylvania
in March 1870. That making flags was a part
of her business is attested by the minutes of the
Pennsylvania State Navy Board, which, on May
29, i777> ordered the payment toher of 14/12/2
[Autobiog. material in own writingSj esp. letters
edited by Bryce, ante; H. J. Morgan, Bibltolheca Cana-
densis (1867) ; H. H. Bancroft. Hist, of the Northwest
Coast (2 vois., 1884) ; H. M. Chittenden, Thc^- f"/
Trade of the Far IVcst (1902), veils. I, III; H. W.
Scott, Hist, of the Oregon Country (1924), vols. i-ili,
comp, by L. M, Scott; Cattadiun Meg., June 1917;
Qitccft'i Qarfer/y, July 1903.] "W.J.G.
ROSS, ALEXANDER CG-FFMAN (May
31, i8l2-Feb. 26,1883), song writer and jeweler,
was born in Zanesville, Ohio, one of twelve chil
dren ofElijah and Mary (Coffmati^ Ross. Elijah
Ross, who like his wife hadbeen born in Penn
sylvania, settled inZanestown, afterwards Zanes
ville, in 1804. He was a gtinsmith and during
the War of 1812 was ordered to remain at home
to repair guns, swords, and military accoutre
ments. The son became familiar at an early age
with the repair and manufacture of guns in the
little shop kept by his father, soon learned to
handle tools, and at seventeen was apprenticed
to a jeweler of the town. After completing his
knowledge ofhistrade inNew York, hereturned
to Zanesville and on Apr. 2,1838, married Caro
line Granger, by whom he had three children.
He died in Zanesville. As a boy he had supple
mented the elementary education he received at
home by reading as widely as possible, especially
on scientific subjects; and although he was a
jeweler by trade until his retirement in 1863, he
never lost his early interests. An amateur pho
tographer, he took in 1839 what he believed to
be the first daguerreotype taken in the United
States west of New York; he afterwards made
improvements in his process and took good
daguerreotype portraits asearly as 1843. Hewas
a lover of music as well; in New York he had
been a member of an orchestra led by Ureli C.
Hill [q.v."] and later was influential inbringing
many musical troupes to Zanesville. He also had
a fondness for the circus and was quick to pick
up the popular songs that in those days were
sung by the clowns.
It was his interest in both popular songs and
politics that brought him his chief distinction.
In the presidential campaign of 1840, which has
been popularly known as the "Log Cabin and
Hard Cider Campaign" but was preeminently
also the campaign of music and song, he took an
active part. For a Zanesville club, orpnizecl in
enthusiasticsupport of Harrison and Tyler, Ross
wrote to the tune of ^'Little Pigs" the famous
"Tippecanoe and Tyler, Too," contriving the
chorus in church, it is said, while the sermon
was being given. Soon afterward, at a great
Whig meeting in Lafayette Hall, New York, at
which he was present, the chairman called for
some one to sing a song before the speaking be
gan. Ross volunteered and, answering the ques
XVI, Charles
for "making
Archives, 2:
documentar>
stars-and-str
June 14, 177,
Congress (/i
1774-89, vol.
connection vi
been as impoi
supposed. Or
Church, Wic:
bum, by wh
brigantine Pi
captured at
Mar. 3,17B2
England. W
widow by h
who had be
Betsy and h'
had five dau;
and Betsy s
in the home
mains now i
[E. S. Pai
Lloyd Balder
(1909), from
Preble, Hist.
1880) ; Byro;
Flag," Nat.
packer, "Cap
N. Y. Hist.,
an Eagle in tl
Oct. 1933; R
Annals of O
30, 1913: J-
II (I9I1). I-
poole Family
May 28, 193
1933]
Ross
for "making: ships' colours, etc." (Pennsylvania
Archives, 2 ser., vol. II, 1874, p. 164), but other
dncumenfiry evidence has not been found, The
stars-and-stripes was adopted as the national flag-
June 14, 1777, by a resolution of the Continental
Congress (Journals of the Continental Congress,
1774-89, vol. VIII, 1907, p. 464). Whatever her
connection with the flag, it could hardly have
been as important or romantic as her descendants
supposed. On June 15, 1777, at Old Swedes'
Church, Wicaco, she married Capt. Joseph Ash-
burn, by whom she had two daughters. The
brigantine Patty, of whicli hewas first mate, was
captured at sea by tlie British. Ashburn died
Mar. 3, 1782, in the Old Mill Prison, Plymouth,
England. Word of his death was brought to his
widow by his fellow prisoner, John Claypoole,
who had been a life-long friend of them both.
Betsy and he were married May 8, 1783. They
had five daughters. Claypoole died Aug. 3, 1817,
and Betsy spent the last years of her long life
in the home of one of her daughters. Her re
mains now rest in Mount Moriah Cemetery.
[E. S. Parry, Betsy Ross, Quaker Rebel (1930);
Uoyd Balderston, The Evolution of the Am. Flag
(1909), from materials collected by Geo. Canby; G. H.
Preble, Hist, of the Flag of the U. S. (and rev. ed..
1880) ; Byron McCandless, "The Story of the Am.
Flag," Nat. Geographic, Oct. 1917: Morton Penny-
packer, "Capt. John Hulbert and His Flag of 177s,"
N. Y. Hist.. Oct. 1933; A. J. Wall, "The Flag with
an Eagle in the Canton," N. Y. Hist. Soc. Quart. Bull.,
Oct. 1933; Joseph Jackson, "Arch Street's Place in the
Annals of Old Phila,," Public Ledger (Phila.), Nov.
30, 1913; J. W. Jordan, Colonial Families of Phila.,
II (1911), 125051 ; R. I. Graff, Geneal. of the Clay
poole Family of Phila. (1893). pp. 68-76 ; N. Y. Times,
May 28, 1933 ; Evening Star (Washington), June 14,
g.h.g.
a founded the Kansas State Record (Topeka),
r which they sold in 1862. He was a member of
c the Wyandotte Con.stitutional Convention of 1859
f from Wabaunsee. In 1862 he enlisted in the
Iith Kansas Regiment and later recruited a com-
, pany and became ibs oaplain. A brave and da.sh-
mg soldier, lie was promoted to major in 1864,
; and served on the Missouri border until the war
> ^ded. In1865 he became editor of the Lawrence
1 nbune.
J year he was appointed to the
: United States Senate to succeed James H. Lane
Ig.t'.], who, mentally deranged, partly because
of criticism of his support of President Johnson,
had committed suicide. Interestingly enough,
Ross was one of his critics. The appointment was
popular and in 1867 the legislature elected him
to fill out the term. He entered the Senate an
intense Radical and an earnest opponent of John
son. He voted for all the radical measures of
reconstruction, including the tenure-of-office act,
of which, however, he was quite doubtful. When
Johnson removed Stanton in January 1868, Ross
voted for the Senate resolution declaring the act
illegal. After the President's impeachment, how
ever, he was insistent that Johnson should have
afair trial and voted on many questions with the
known opponents of conviction, notably in con
nection with the admission of evidence for the
defense. The rumor spread among the Radicals
that Ross was "shaky," and he was continually
importuned by them, flooded with letters andtele
grams from Kansas. At this time he rather fa
vored conviction, but the character of the pres
sure upon him made him doubtful. In answer
to a telegram ofinstruction from Kansas, he re
plied. I have taken an oath to do impartial jus-
tice . . . and trust I shall have the courage and
the honesty to vote according to the dictates of
my judgment and for the highest good of the
country" (Scribner's, post, p. 521). His final
conclusion to vote against conviction for lack of
evidence, was reached in face of the belief that
he would thereby secure his own political destruc
tion. He said later: "I almost literally looked
down into my own grave. Friends, position,
fortune, everything that makes life desirable to
an ambitious manj-were about tobe swept away
by the breath of my mouth, perhaps forever"
P" 524)- The burst of bitter denunciation
which followed the first v<ite foil most heavily on
Ross. ^He was a "poltroon and traitor," it was
said; "littleness had borne its legitimate fruit";
'Kansas repudiates you as she does all perjurers
and skunks," were the words ofa telegram from
his home state (Dewitt, post. p. 545). Charges
of corruption were made and every species of
ROSS, EDMUND GIBSON (Dec. 7, 1826
May 8, 1907), journalist, United States' senator,
wasborn at Ashland, Ohio, the sonof Sylvester
F.andCynthia (Rice) Ross. Whenhewas about
ten years old he was apprenticed to a printer at
Huron, and, after learning the trade, he traveled
for some years asajourneyman printer. In1848
he married, at Sandusky, Fanny M. Lathrop, the
daughter of Rodney Lathrop of New York. He
lived.for a time at Janesville, Wis., and for four
years at Milwaukee, where he was foreman of
the job printing office of the Sentinel Although
born a Democrat, Ross, in his own words, was
baptized in politics in the old Abolition party
of 1844." Joining the Republican party in 1856,
with the spirit of a crusader he led a colony of
free-state settlers, heavily armed, toKansas, driv
ing an oxteam all tlie way. Here he began a
period of great activity against the pro-slavery
party. In 1857 he and his brother bought the
Topeka Kansas Tribune.'dind two years later
ROSS, SIR JAMES CLARK 223
of the king from the tenth century to i443-
Bluetooth was buried there in a.d. 985, and ,
Kr:<-V rhnrch the largest m Denmark, was ocguu
Tthe nth cm^ry ^ Denmark and Sweden s.gned
, caty a Roskilde under wlrich terrimrial conccsMons were
Jnadim Sweden. The ruwn is served by the
from Copenhagen to the continent of Europe and has
considerable touris, trade. Pop.
Swedish ships carrying foreign commerce were exempt d
SeTV^ea^-ml-tX - Nmth
ROSS BETSY GRISCOM (1752-1836), according to
legend the maker of the first Stars and Stripes.
pfeladelphia on Jan. tySy She is believed to have ^
tended a Friend's school and at an early age showed aptl
mde for fine needlework. She also demonstrated an rnd -
pendent nature for the times by an elopement " GlouccstM
N I in 1773 with John Ross, an act which resulted mto
FEends' baming her for marrying out of meeting. S^ suE
seauendv attended Christ Church before becoming affUiated
; finally with the Society of Free Quakers. Ross, a
: was killed in agunpowder explosion in 1776, and Betsy
, ried on her upholstery business alone.
The story of the making of the first American flag with
^ Stars and Stripes at the behest of George Washington, Rober
- Moms and George Ross is a family tradition which was
= first made public by her grandson, William Canby, ma
^ paper read before the Historical Society of
^ May 29, 1870. In support of this story the Pennsylvania
Navy Board records state that making flags J
Betsy Ross's business, and note the fact ^ay 29,
1777! she was paid some 114 for making ships J
sS and Strips was adopted by the Continental Congms
^ on Tune 14, m?- th^same year Betsy
Joseph Ashburn, who was captured at sea in
in aBritish prison. The bearer of this news, John Claypoole,
a lifelong friend who was aboard the same vessel, married
Betsy in 1783. He died in 1817. Betsy died in Philadelphia
on Jan. 30, 1836. ' Shkrman Day Wakkfifxd
llttDCfc Aspecial feature in the observance of Rosh Hasha- o
iitheblowing of the sho]ar or ram s horn in the syn- B
m>t, an act which has been interpreted as ^summons to D
Sncm or, by some, as acall to all jew-
Kdays, the day is spent in prayer,
NRinpur are generally referred to as the High Holidays, ir
Kim'u. lW.(..<AUii.uT a
&ICRUCIAN ORDER, THE (^NCI^ENT, MYS-
!fca ORDER OF THE ROSY CROSS) [ro ' c.
Han iniernational. educational, fraternal Order which
on aLodge system. The name Rosicrucian is de-
Si from the official emblem of the Order-a gold cross
iii i single red rose in its center. This emblem has no
fcs significance; the Order is nonsectarian. . [
iJnditionally, the Order originated in Egypt mabout .
It was introduced to Western Europe durmg the
&e Ages. In 1694 aRosicrucian group in Pennsylvania 1
Wd the first American Lodge. j ]
Elbe Rosicrucians expound aphilosophy intended to gu^e 1
ipment of man's highest potentialities. Mcrnbership
. both men and women who are drawn from all
life in many countries. . n
;ernational jurisdiction of the Order is in osicru
, San Jose, Cal. The Order also maintains mRosi-
'ark the largest Egyptian Museum west of the
)i River, an Art Gallery, a Science Museum, a
am, and a Research Library.
J or COLOPHONY [ra'zin, ka'bfo'm], the
incus residue left after the volatile oil of turpentine
d from crude turpentine, or oieorcsin, which is ob-
om coniferous trees. Rosin is a brittle solid which
, color from a very pale, translucent am er to an
car-black. It consists mainly of abietic acid, is sol-
ether, chloroform, acetone, alcohol benzene, glaci^
id, and certain oils, and has a specific gravity sig y
than water. Rosin, when dissolved in an aqueous
hydroxide solution, i-s used in the manufacture of
articularly those rccjuiring dense lathering qualitic.s,
shaving soap. Dissolved in various organic -solu-
isin is used in enamels, varnishes, and lacquers. It is
.5 of certain waxes and is also employed ^^
aper. Rosin has avariety of uses. The chief source
crude turpentine from which rosin is derived is the
fpine, Pinus palustris, which grows profusdy mthe
^tcrn United States. H. Cox
ilNWEED, common name for the plant genus
min the daisy family Compositae. It is native m
America and is found throughout the Midwest from
an to Texas. The plants are tall, herbaceous percn-
Uing to about 12 in. Their flowers are sunflower-
tads of yellow ray- and disk-florets and have a resinous
S. laciniatum is known not only as rosmweed but
ps more frequently as compass plant, because its ba a!
>tcnd to align themselves in a north-south direction
growing in wide open prairie country. '
UWa squmrosa. of western North Amenp, has some-
d>een called rosinweed. Compass Plant.
Howard W. bwii r
ROSS, SIR JAMES CLARK (1800-1862), English naval
officer and polar explorer, was born at London on Apr. 15,
1800. He entered the British navy at the age of twelve^and
^
r
'
V
"

l
U
'
1
w
/
'
'

S
>
v '
5
"
%
:
"

.
1
J
"
A
,
4
i
'
f
'
1
}
r
t
4
)
'
\
A
B
v
T
H
E
F
o
m
.
o
w
i
n
q
D
a
v
S
h
e
h
a
d
C
o
m
p
l
e
t
e
d
t
h
e
F
l
a
o
B
E
T
S
Y
R
O
S
S
Q
u
a
k
e
r
'
K
e
b
e
l
B
E
I
N
G
T
H
E
T
R
U
E
S
T
O
R
Y
O
F
T
H
E
R
O
M
A
N
T
I
C
L
I
F
E
O
F
T
H
E
M
A
K
E
R
O
F
T
H
E
F
I
R
S
T
A
M
E
R
I
C
A
N
F
L
A
G
E
d
w
i
n
S
a
t
t
e
r
t
h
w
a
i
t
e
P
a
r
r
y
L
i
f
u
a
l
D
t
s
e
m
d
a
n
t
o
f
B
f
t
s
y
l
^
O
S
T
R
A
T
T
O
N
S
8
T
J
.
L
.
G
.
,
F
E
R
R
I
S
A
N
B
E
D
W
I
N
J
O
H
N
P
R
i
r
n
E
T
H
E
J
O
H
N
C
.
W
I
N
S
T
O
N
C
O
M
P
A
N
Y
C
h
i
c
a
o
o
P
H
I
L
A
D
E
L
P
H
I
A
T
o
b
o
n
t
o
U
n
-
3
o
U
C o p i e d f r o m t h e c o l l e c t i o n s o f t h e
S p r u a n c e L i b r a r y o f T h e B u c k s C o u n t y
H i s t o r i c a l S o c i e t y . D o v l e s t o w n , P A 1 8 9 0 1
_ . . N O T I C E
tinues as a charitable organization. Descendants
of the founders and others who have joined it for
its philanthropic work meet once a year at the old
Meeting House to dispense the income from old
properties owned by the Society to the city's poor.
The declining years of Elizabeth Claypoole were
spent in the peace and happiness of visits at the
homes of her married daughters. After her hus
band's death, she lived for a time with her second
daughter, Susannah, wife of Abel Satterthwaite, a
well-to-do Philadelphia hardware merchant, at
his country home in Abington. This old stone
house on the Jenkintown - Fox Chase road is still
standing. It was her custom to go by stage out
the old familiar Second Street Pike to Fox Chase,
alight at the inn which is still a landmark in that
village, and there wait for a member of her daugh
ter's household to drive in for her. Betsy's bright
ness and charm and her keen interest in current
events, even at this advanced age, were long
remembered by those who knew her.
Seven presidents of the United States held
office between the close of the Revolution and the
end of her long and eventful life. Betsy Ross saw
"The Fighting ^jiakers ^39
the country spread from a narrow strip along the
Atlantic seaboard far beyond the Mississippi. She
saw the thirteen stars of the flag she helped to
create double in^number as succeeding States came
into the Union. These thirteen stars, embodying
the motto "A Star for every State and a State
for every Star," have now grown to forty-eight.
Though Mrs. Claypoole often related the story
of the first flag to her daughters, neither she nor
they realized the great historical significance it
was to assume. To her the most important thing
about it was the visit of the august Washington
to her little home and shop. The act of designing
and arranging the stars for a tentative flag was
but an incidental feature.
Such matters of sentiment received but scant
attention in the early and struggling days of the
republic. Even the old State House, now known
as Independence. Hall, and the Liberty Bell were
but indifferently regarded until near the middle of
the nineteenth century. Moreover, the daughters
and grandchildren of Betsy Ross Claypoole, grow
ing up as strict members of the Society of Friends,
talked but little of the flag episode because of its
military aspects. The whole subject of Revolu-
C o p i e d f r o m t h e c o l l e c t i o n s o f t h e
S p r u a n c e L i b r a r y o f T h e B u c k s C o u n t y
r l i s t o r x c a l S o c i e t y . D o y l e s t o w n , P A 1 8 9 0 1
N O T I C E
T h i s m a t e r i a l " j y b e b y c o p y r i g h t l e w
( T i t l e 1 7 U . S . C o d e )
CtAyC<^dJ^
(777- c^^^;^..t^7Zy
//^5
//^3
Betsy Ross; Fact, Not Fiction
By CMrs.) Hilda Ellis Schulze, Regent
Martha Ibhetson Chapter, D.A.R., Elmhurst, Illinois, and
Bertha Rachel Palmer, Perrin-Wheaton Chapter, D.A.R., Wheaton, Illinois
The research the writers have
done for this article on the his
torical authenticity of Betsy Ross has
two aims: (1) To show that Betsy
is not a myth, but an historic per
son; and (2) that absence of official
records does not prove that the event
did not occur.
We have begun at the beginning
and present, in an orderly manner,
facts that we believe establish the
above aims.
The present interest in the Stars
and Stripes has produced a flood of
stories about, and denials of the
activities and long-acknowledged rec
ognition of Betsy Ross as the maker
of the first flag officially authorized
by the Continental Congress.
In addition to many personal let
ters, we refer particularly to three
articles on Betsy that have appeared
in the Magazine of The National
Society of the Daughters of the
American Revolution in September
1950, January 1952, and June 1953
and to an official report in January
1956 by a special committee of the
Pennsylvania Society of the Sons of
the American Revolution.
The first reference, entitled "She
Knew Betsy Ross," is by Edna Ran
dolph Worrell, great-great-grand-
niece of the maker of the first Amer
ican Flag. This article was prepared
at the urgent request of Mrs. Mary
Thomason, D.A.R. Historian, and on
the invitation of Mrs. L. H. Brosseau,
patriotic and unbiased editor of the
D.A.R. Magazine.
This article said in part: The fam
ily Bible records show that Elizabeth,
daughter of Samuel and Rebecca
James Griscom, was born "first day,
first month, 1752, the eighth of
seventeen children." In 1773 Eliz
abeth Griscom, a Quaker, married
John Ross, the son of an Episcopal
clergyman, an "Upholsterer" at 239
Arch Street, Philadelphia. For this
marriage she was disowned by The
Friends. Mrs. Worrell has a facsim
ile of the marriage bond found, after
160 years, in the State House at
Trenton, New Jersey.
MARCH 1959
Three years later (in January
1776) John Ross died of injuries
received while guarding cannon
balls and artillery stores. He is
buried in Christ Church burying
ground, Philadelphia. Betsy was left
a childless widow, 24 years old.
In June 1776 General (Isaac)
Putnam received a letter from Gen
eral George Washington, dated May
31, 1776, regarding banners to be
completed immediately for their re
spective regiments. From historical
notes found in various archives the
idea of a national flag evolved.
Betsy often told that, in June 1776
(5 months after John's death) Rob
ert Morris, General Washington, and
Colonel George Ross, uncle of John,
called at her home on Arch Street
and asked if she could make a na
tional flag. Robert Morris was chair
man of a "Secret Committee on Mili
tary Supplies." "Secret" is therefore
the key word of this unrecorded visit
of the unrecorded committee.
The Committee brought a rough
sketch of a square flag of 13 stripes
of red and white, with 13 six-pointed
stars in the blue canton. Betsy sug
gested three changes: (1) That the
length of the flag be one-third more
than the width; (2) that the stars be
placed to form a circle, or a large
star; and (3) that a five-pointed
star is more symmetrical than one
with six points. She often told how
she folded a scrap of paper in a
special way and with one snip of her
scissors cut a perfect five-point star.
Betsy borrowed a flag from Morris
to learn how to sew a flag strong
enough to fly over a ship. The flag
she made was carried to the Con
gress, where it was approved, and
an order given for as many flags as
she could make. These flags were put
into use as soon as completed. Thus
they were flying months before
June 14, 1777.
Betsy received a draft on the
Treasury of the Continental Con
gress, dated May 29, 1777, for 14
pounds, 12 shillings, 6 pence, drawn
to "Mrs. Elizabeth Ross, for making
flags for the fleet in the Delaware."
This draft may be seen in Pennsyl
vania Archives, volume I, Second
Series.
The second article in the Maga
zine section, With the Chapters, is
from Flag House Chapter, Philadel
phia, Pennsylvania, announcing a
Congressional Resolution on October
22, 1951, for a Betsy Ross stamp to
be issued for "the 200th Anniversary
^The Birth of Betsy Ross," January
1, 1952. It pictures the "secret"
committee with Betsy and the flag
that the Congress approved. To se
cure the memorial stamp was the
project of the Flag House Chapter,
assisted by patriotic, civic, and inde
pendent societies throughout the
country.
This article states Mrs. Thomas
Henry Lee, then Pennsylvania State
Regent, interested the members of
the Pennsylvania Assembly, which
resulted in "Resolution No. 8,"
signed by Governor Fine, recom
mending the stamp to the Congress.
Copies of the resolution were placed
in the hands of all members from
Pennsylvania, the presiding officers
of both Houses of Congress, and the
President of the United States. Con
gressman W. L. Green, Jr., of the
Philadelphia district, and Ex-Gov
ernors Duff and Martin, then in the
Senate, introduced bills for the
memorial stamp, which, when passed,
resulted in issuance of the Betsy
Ross stamp in January 1952.
The Flag House Chapter prepared
a brochure giving authentic data on
the official draft and the pa)rment to
"Mrs. Elizabeth Ross" for flags be
fore adoption of the Congressional
Flag Resolution a year later, on June
14, 1777, making her a "first" for
all time. It says that these brochures
were sent to every State Regent.
Stamps of that issue (1952) are
still available, but we have been un
able to find even one copy of the bro
chure. Queries have been made
through nine different sources, in
cluding Mrs. Thomas Henry Lee
(1952 State Regent), Mrs. Harry S.
[229]
McKain (then regent of the Flag
House Chapter), and Mrs. George
J. Hoff (present regent), but no copy
has been located.
Mrs. Hoff loaned an article entitled
"Betsy Ross and the United States
Flag; Philadelphia Woman Maker
of the First Standard." This paper
was read before the Bucks County
Historical Society at Doylestown,
Pennsylvania, January 19, 1909, by
Oliver Randolph Parry of Bucks
County and Philadelphia. Mr. Parry
is not related to the Betsy Ross fam-
ity and is interested from an his
torical and patriotic standpoint only.
His paper contains nine affidavits,
also letters and data from relatives
and interested persons; among them
is a letter from Honorable H. S. Sat-
terlee, Assistant Secretary of the
Navy, Washington, D. C., dated Jan
uary 22, 1909, indicating the' view
held by the United States Government
on this flag matter. In answer to the
question, "From the best records and
information you have, who made the
flag adopted by the United States
Congress, June 14, 1776"?; the an
swer is, "Mrs. Betsy Ross of Phila
delphia."
The research for this paper was
done by Charles W. Smith of Phila
delphia, and it is his belief that
Betsy Ross did make the first flag
of the United States. There is no
record that anyone else ever claimed
to have made it. Until recent years
no doubt as to the maker of the first
flag was ever expressed. Mr. Smith
believes that the burden of proof
rests with those who doubt, rather
than on a defense by the general
public which believes that Betsy is
tha Aiaker.
During the Colonial era it was
customary ' to tell and retell family
activities with no attempt to exag
gerate or "to make a good story."
The word of a lady was sufficient to
fix the truth of an event. Such a
lady was Betsy Ross.
On June 15, 1777, the day after
the Congressional Resolution," Betsy
married . Captain Joseph Ashburn.
The marriage is recorded in the book
of marriage re'cords at Old Swedes'
Church on the Delaware River. The
Flag *House Chapter placed a com
memorative tablet there' March 11,
1931. Five years later, ' in 1782,
Captain Ashburn died in a British
prison, leaving Betsy, with two daugh
[23b]
ters; one died in infancy and no
descendants of this family are living
today.
On May 6, 1783, 6 years later,
Betsy married John Claypool, a mar
riage listed in Free Quakers Record.
Five daughters were born to this
marriage.
The third reference is entitled
"Betsy Ross and Her Fort Madison
(Iowa) Descendant," by Sarah
Johnson Casy, in which is stated
"that an own daughter of Betsy Ross
lived, died, and is buried in Old City
Cemetery" there^ She was Clarissa
Claypool Wilson, born in Philadel
phia, April 8, 1785, and died in
Iowa, July 10, 1864, aged 79 years,
6 months.
Statements made in the 1950
(D.A.R.) article are verified in this
1953 (D.A.R.) article.
Betsy Ross died in January 1835,
when 84 years of age. She was
buried in the Free Quakers Burial
Ground on South Fifth Street, Phila
delphia. In 1847 hfer remains were
transferred to the Mount Moriah
Cemetery.
In 1956 the Pennsylvania Society
of the Sons of American Revolution
received the report of a special
"Committee to Determine Whether
Betsy Ross Made the First Stars and
Stripes." This report was officially
read into the Congressional Record,
January 19, 1956, by the courtesy
of compatriot Edward Martin, Sen
ator from Pennsylvania.
This report from authentic sources
cites certain historic events of which
no official record was made (for ex
ample, the Grand Union or Cam
bridge Flag that flew over the colo
nies before the Declaration of Inde
pendence). Proof of Betsy's state
ment about the visit of the "secret"
committee in June 1776 and the
order for flags is also seen in the
historical pictures of artists Peale
and Trumbull, who were also army
commanders, and painted The Bat
tle of Trenton, December 25-26,
1776, and The Battle of Princeton,
January 3, 1777; West's picture of
Penn's Treaty With the Indians; and
LCutze's Washington Crossing the
Delaware. These men were noted
for accuracy in detail, and all show
the flag with stars in a circle, flown
before June 14,1777.
It is not presumed that all these
artists erred in painting the pictures.
nor is there any evidence that Wash
ington or any of his contemporaries
found fault with the flags as pic
tured.
The report concludes, "According
to the legal treatise, by Wigmore, On
Evidence, declaration about Family
History is a recognized exception to
the hearsay rule, if it meets certain
criteria. It is the indisputable law
in the United States and in a court of
law that the affidavits by the family
of Betsy Ross would be admitted as
actual and primary evidence.
"In view of this and the absence
of any proofs to the contrary, until
negatived by substantial proofs it
may be stated that Betsy Ross did
make the first Stars and Stripes."
In Philadelphia it is an undisputed
fact that Betsy, her daughters, grand
children, and grand nieces madeflags
for the Government through more
than 50 years at her home at 239
Arch Street, now called The Betsy
Ross House, a national shrine.
There is no evidence that any
statements of Betsy regarding the
flag were ever denied by the people
of her time, or any question ever
raised regarding her honesty. We
believe we have proved (1) Betsy
Ross and her connection with making
flags for the United States Govern
ment is not a myth; (2) the absence
of an official record of order to make
the first flag does not disprove the
event happened.
The latest evidence in our presen
tation is dated February 1957. It
is a photograph of a plaque on the
Betsy Ross House which reads:
TO JOHN AND BETSY ROSS
UPHOLSTERERS
Elizabeth Griscom and John Ross, having
served simultaneous apprenticeship at Web
ster's shop on Second Street below Chest
nut, later were married and here opened
an upholstering shop in 1774. After the
death of John Ross in line of duty as a
Continental soldier in 1776, Betsy Ross
here made the first American Flag ofli-
cially adopted by The Congress, June 14,
1777, for the Continental Army and Navy.
Erected February 7, 1957 by
Upholsterers' International
Union of North America.
NOTE: A copy of the S.A.R. report may
be secured by a request addressed
to: Ofitce of The Hon. Eugene C.
Bonniwell, Chairman, Independ
ence Hall Flag Committee, 476
City Hall, Philadelphia 7, Penn
sylvania.
DAUGHTERS OF THE AMERICAN REVOLUTION MAGAZINE
Betsy Ross's
John Hancock
Last summer, staff members at the
BetsyRoss House in Philadelphia came
across an auction notice from Sothe
by's in New YorkCity announcing the
sale of a 1776 document signed by the
seamstress of the first American flag
under her first married name, Eliza
beth Ross. The bond in question gave
Mrs. Ross control of her militiaman
husband's estate after he was killed by
an ammunition explosion. Experts are
not aware of another surviving signa
ture under this surname, although sev-
eral signed documents survive bearing
her third husband's family name,
Claypoole. Staff members from the
museum alerted Philadelphia Register
of Wills Ronald Donatucci, who found
that the document was missing from
the city's files, perhaps for thirty years.
To recover the bond, city officials in
itiated litigation against Sotheby's and
the document's owner, Elsie Sang of
Chicago, whose husband had pur
chased it from a now deceased Los An
geles doctor. According to Donatucci,
Sang was "a good-faith purchaser,
three or four times removed." Al
though Isadore A. Schrager, solicitor
for the register of wills, claims that law
yers could have forced the bond's re
turn, Mrs. Sang donated it to the city
last November, along with five sev
enteenth-century documents relating
to the Claypoole family. In return, says
Schrager, she received a tax break.
Donatucci remarked that he was "very
grateful to Mrs. Sang. Going to court
would have been very expensive."
"The register of wills wants to give
the documents to the Betsy Ross
House if they can be properly cared
for," says Museum Director William
Kingsley; to that end, the museum is
being remodeled to accommodate
more visitors. The bond will be dis
played in a protective case in a back
parlor, "because it is a personal room,"
explains Kingsley, who adds that "the
signature will highlight Betsy Ross as
an individual, a Colonial widow, and
not just a myth." Albert Steru
The Flavor
of New Bedford
Fresh seafood and chowder.
Spic^f Unguica and Portuguese
sweet bread.
Outdoor cafes in our historic
district andfresh sea air. f
The resiauranis o1 New Bedford welcome you I j
For Shop and dme/ailractions brochure write I j
Ciluo! /p/f
NewBedfordI\
C/O Bristol County Developineni Council. Inc.
BoxBR-976.Depl.AM .
New Bedford. IvIA02741
The Energy
Efficient
LOG
TVaditional full log or
insulated log kits with up
to R-40 roof system.
Handcrafted Northern
White CEDAR or PINE
logs. Complete kits
priced from $9,900.
Nationwide FREE
DELIVERY. Dealerships
available at no charge.
MasterCard or Visa accepted.
Call TOLLFREE 1-800 S58-5812 in Wisconsin Call 1-8D0-242-1021
Send for the Free
Log Home Lovers
Design Booklet or
order our new color
Plan Book of100
beautiful models.
Greatwpod LogHomss,Inc.. Dept.A56.P.O.Box 707. Elkhart Lake.Wl53020
Pleasesend checkor moneyorder.
G S6.95PlanBook ot 100beajlifulfflodels (Firstclass mall$8.95)
G $9.95 Dealership Kit withPlan Book G Fr LogHomeLoversDesignBooklet
G M/C O Visa Exp.Dale Card*
^LogHomes
Grealwi
Own Lot !_i Building Dale
AMERICANA 11
^of 4
>etsy Ross: Her Life
mm:
: .SUPPOftT;rM5. tMDS:fe>ii:JCE;HAU.ASSCCLaJ2CH'S:
i ;;:: :IO; SRIN&.HISIORY. lOTHE: IMTrRNEI.
07/08/97 14:13:26
hitp://libertynet.org/'iha/betsy/flagIife.hlinl
The Story of Betsy Ross's Life
One year before WiUiam Pennfounded Philadelphia m1681, Betsy Ross's
great-grandfather, Andrew Griscom, a Quaker carpenter, hadalready emigrated from England to New
Jersey.
Andrew was successful at his trade. He was also offirm Quaker belief, and he was inspired to move to
Philadelphia to become an early participant in Penn's "holy experiment." He purchased 495 acres of land
intlie Spiing Garden section northof tiie city of Philadelpliia (tlie section would later beincoiporated as
part of die city), andreceived a plot of landwithin the cityproper.
Griscom's sonand grandson bothbecame respected carpenters aswelL Both have their names inscribed
ona wall at Carpenters' Hall inPhiladelpliia, homeof tlie oldest trade organization indiecountry.
Griscom's grandson Samuel helped build the bell lower al the Pennsylvania Stale House (Indepemhsnce
Hall). Hemarried Rebecca James who was a member of a prominent Quaker merchant tarmly. It was not
uniLsual forpeople inthose d^'s tohave many children, soit isonly somewhat .suiprising tolearn thatdiey
had 17i
Elizabeth Griscom alsocalled Betsy, their eighth child anda fourth-generation American, wasbom
on January 1,1752.
Betsy went toaFriends (Quaker) public school. For eight hours a day she was taught reading, writing,
andreceived instruction in a trade probably sewing. After completirig her schoolhig, Betsy's father
apprenticed her toalocal upholsterer. Today we think ofupholsterers primarily assofa-makers and such,
butin colonial times dieyperformed all rnamier- of sewingjobs, including jOag-making. It was at herjob
that Betsy fell inlove with another apprentice, JohnRoss, who was the sonof anEpiscopal assistant rector
at Cluist Churdi.
Quakers frowned on inler-denominalional mairiages. The penally for such unions was severe ~ the guilty
party being "read out" of theQuaker meeting house. Getting "read out" meant being cutoif emotionally
and economically from botli family and rneetir^ house. One's etitire history and comtuumty would be
instantly dissolved. Ona November trigbt hi 1773, 21-ycai'-old Betsy eloped witii Jolin Ross. Tliey ferried
07/08/97 14:20:54
hitp:/7libeiivTCt.org'iha/bctsy/tlaglifc.html
across ihc Delaware KiveT to Hugg's l avem and were married in New Jersey. Her wedding eaiwed dn
irrewcable spHt Jrom her liamil\''. [It is an interestu^ parallel to note that on their wedding certiticate is the
name ofNew Jersey's Governor, William Franklin, Benjamin Franklin's son. Three years lalCT William
would have an irrevocable split with his father because he was aLoyalist against the cause ofthe
Revolution.]
Less tlian two yeai-s after ilieii* nuptials, tlie couple staited tliek own upholsteiy business. Tlieii* decision
was abold one as eompelidon was lough and ihey could not count on Belsy sQuaker circle for business.
As she was "read out" ofthe Quaker community, on Sundays one could now find Betsy at Christ Church
silting in pew 12 with her husband. Some Sundays would find George Washington, Americas new
commander in chief, sitting in an adjacent pew.
War Comes to Philadelphia
In January 1776, adisaffected British agitator living in Philadelphia for only ashort while published a
pamphlet that would have aprofound impact on the Colonials. Tom Paine (" Ihese are the limes that try
men's souls") wrote Common Sense which would swell rebellious hearts and sell 120,000 copies in three
months; 500,000copies before war's end.
However, the city was fi-actured in its loyalties. Many still felt themselves citizens ofBritain. Others were
ardent revolutionaries heeding a call to arms. Betsy and John Ross keenly felt the impact ofthe war.
Fabrics needed tor business were becoming hard tocome by. Business was slow. Johnjoined the
Pennisylvania militia. While guarding an ammunition cache in mid-.Tanuary 1776, .John Ross was mortally
wounded in an explosion. Though his young wife tried to nurse him back to health he died on the 21st and
was buried in Christ Church cemetery.
After becoming widowed, Betsy returned to the Quaker fold, in away. Quakers are pacifists and
forbidden fiom beaiing arms. Tliis led to ascliismin tlieir i-anks. Wlien Free, or Figliting Quakers - who
.supported the war effort banded together, Betsyjoined them. (The Free Quaker Meeting House, which
still stands afew blocks from the Betsy Ross House, was built in 1783, after the war was over.)
Betsy would be married again in June 1777, this time to sea eaptain Joseph Ashbum in aceremony
peilbmied at Old Swedes Church inPhiladelphia.
During Ihe winter of 1777, Betsy's home was forcibly shared with British soldiers whose aimy occupied
Philadelphia. Meanwhile the Continental Army was .suffering that most historic winter at Valley Forge.
Betsy and Joseph had two daughters (Zillah, who died in her youth, and Elizabeth). On ati^to the West
Indies to piocuie war suppHes for die Revolutionary cause. Captain Ashbmii was captured by die Biitisii
and sent to Old Mill Prison in England where he died in March 1782, several months after the surrender
ofCoinwallis atYorktowii, Vt^jnia, die last major batde ofdie Revolutioiiaiy War.
After dhc War
Betsy learned ofher husband's death firom her old friend, John Claypoole, another sailor imprisoned at the
brutal Old Mill. In May of1783, Betsy was married for the third time, the ceremony prfomied at Christ
Chui'ch. Hernew husband was none odier diaii old fiieiid Jolm Claypoole. Betsy coiiviiiced her new
husband to abandon the life ofthe sea and find landlubbing employment. Claypoole initially worked inher
upholstery business and dieii at die U.S. Customs House in Pliiladelphia. Tlie couple liad five dauglitei-s
(Clarisisa Sidney, Susannah, Rachel, Jane, and Harriet, who died at nine months).
/ 07/08/9714:21:02
.* httpi'/libertynet.org'lha/betsy/flaglife.html
After the birth oftheir second daughter, the family moved tobigger quarters on Second Street in what
was tlien Philadelphia's Mercantile District Claypoole passed on in1817 after years ofill health and Betsy
never remarried. She continued working until 1827bringing many of her immediate family into the
business with her. After retiring, shewent to live with her married daughter Susannah Satterdiwaite inthe
then-remote suburb of Abington, PA, to the northof Philadelphia,
In1834, there were only two free Quakers still attending the Meeting House. It was agreed by Betsy and
Samuel Weiheiill thai the usefulness of Iheir beloved Meeting House had come lo an end. At that lasl
meeting, Betsywatched as the door was locked, symbolizing the endof an era.
Betsy died on January 30, 1836, at tlie age of 84.
Betsy Ross Facts and Footnotes
B At the age of21, she eloped across the Delaware River to Gloucester, New Jersey, and was married at
a tavem.
S She was the 8lh of 17 children.
B She claimed lo have done lailoiing for Geoige VVashinglon.
B She has been buried in three diHerenlloealions.
B Amajor Philadelphia bridge is named inher honor.
Return to the Betsv Ross Home Page
Copyright >1997, 1996by the Independence Hall /\ssocialion
.jmepage
-A^ 5s '^'i
^ ~
:: :J -:; ;
S: ; i i. SUI'}>OM; .TH;lCEP}^biE;KAtLii3S.O.CiATJOH:'S
DRIVE m BRtNG MiSFGRT;TG IHt:lI?irES^T.;; ;.
http://1ibenynet.org^'iha/betsy/index.html
mMm
T .-r.
:SSyESSS; A: EE3Ei;HlXiS;
Welcome to the Betsy Ross Homepage
TmSi=?3 f;|p|3.; :5|:fS;|p-: :;|it:33.rT5ni^; :
^ g5;a^xe!:*K .g^: :
< x'. x: ; iriwaii.ttesiefiiMti:!
!jaJ>:ai^Ml<i.A;- A xls.z^sijxij;' ! I .wxl la.jitl lanj&ika^ jc/
NEW! Take a virtual tour ofBcts>'*s House! CKek here!
NEW! Visit the brand-new Betsy Ross postcards page!
Signour Guest Book. Let us knowthat you havevisited us.
and if you have the lime...
Readandcontribute to ourCvbefIhoughts about Betsv andtheFlag page. What
doesthe American flag meanto you? WhatdoesBetsyRossmeanto other
Internet visitors? Let the world knowhow you feel!
While Americans recognize and celebrate collective achievements such as the writing ofthe Declaration
ofhidependenee, victory in IheRevolutionary War, or the landing of a man on the Moon it is individual
accomplishment tihat is cherished themost. The "stars" of the aforementioned events ~ Thomas Jefferson,
George Washington, and Neil Armstrong outshine the eoUeetive eonslellalion. Oneperson's eonlribuiion
eon detine the course and meaning of history.
BetsyRoss sewed the first American flag. When we view the flag, we think ofliberty, freedom, pride,
and Betsy Ross. Die Ameiican flag flies ontlie moon, sits atop Mount Eveiesl^ ishurtling out inspace.
The flag is how x^merica signs her name.
T .
Betsy Ross; Fact, Not Fiction
By CMrs.) Hilda Ellis Schuize, Regent
Martha Ihbetson Chapter, D.A.R., Elmhurst, Illinois, and
Bertha Rachel Palmer, Perrin-Wheaton Chapter, D.A.R., Wheaton, Illinois
The research the writers have
done for this article on the his
torical authenticity of Betsy Ross has
two aims: (1) To show that Betsy
is not a myth, but an historic per
son; and (2) that absence of official
records does not prove that the event
did not occur.
We have begun at the beginning
and present, in an orderly manner,
facts that we believe establish the
above aims.
The present interest in the Stars
and Stripes has produced a flood of
stories about, and denials of the
activities and long-acknowledged rec
ognition of Betsy Ross as the maker
of the first flag officially authorized
by the Continental Congress.
In addition to many personal let
ters, we refer particularly to three
articles on Betsy that have appeared
in the Magazine of The National
Society of the Daughters of the
American Revolution in September
1950, January 1952, and June 1953
and to an official report in January
1956 by a special committee of the
Pennsylvania Society of the Sons of
the American Revolution.
The first reference, entitled "She
Knew Betsy Ross," is by Edna Ran
dolph Worrell, great-great-grand-
niece of the maker of the first Amer
icanFlag. This articlewas prepared
at the urgent request of Mrs. Mary
Thomason, D.A.R. Historian, and on
the invitation of Mrs. L. H. Brosseau,
patriotic and unbiased editor of the
D.A.R. Magazine.
This article said in part: The fam
ily Bible records showthat Elizabeth,
daughter of Samuel and Rebecca
James Griscom, was born "first day,
first month, 1752, the eighth of
seventeen children." In 1773 Eliz
abeth Griscom, a Quaker, married
John Ross, the son of an Episcopal
clergyman, an "Upholsterer" at 239
Arch Street, Philadelphia. For this
marriage she was disowned by The
Friends. Mrs. Worrell has a facsim
ile of the marriage bond found, after
160 years, in the State House at
Trenton, New Jersey.
MARCH 1959
Three years later (in January
1776) John Ross died of injuries
received while guarding cannon
balls and artillery stores. He is
buried in Christ Church burying
ground, Philadelphia. Betsy was left
a childless widow, 24 years old.
In June 1776 General (Isaac)
Putnam received a letter from Gen
eral George Washington, dated May
31, 1776, regarding banners to be
completed immediately for their re
spective regiments. From historical
notes found in various archives the
idea of a national flag evolved.
Betsy often told that, in June 1776
(5 months after John's death) Rob
ert Morris, General Washington, and
Colonel George Ross, uncle of John,
called at her home on Arch Street
and asked if she could make a na
tional flag. Robert Morris was chair-
man of a "Secret Committee on Mili
tary Supplies." "Secret" is therefore
the key word of this unrecorded visit
of the unrecorded committee.
The Committee brought a rough
sketch of a square flag of 13 stripes
of red and white, with 13 six-pointed
stars in the blue canton. Betsy sug
gested three changes: (1) That the
length of the flag be one-third more
than the width; (2) that the stars be
placed to form a circle, or a large
star; and (3) "that a five-pointed
star is more symmetrical than one
with six points. She often told how
she folded a scrap of paper in a
special way and with one snip of her
scissors cut a perfect five-point star.
Betsy borrowed a flag from Morris
to learn how to sew a flag strong
enough to fly over a ship. The flag
she made was carried to the Con
gress, where it was approved, and
an order given for as many flags as
she could make. Theseflags were put
into use as soon as completed. Thus
they were flying months before
June 14, 1777.
Betsy received a draft on the
Treasury of the Continental Con
gress, dated May 29, 1777, for 14
pounds, 12 shillings, 6 pence, drawn
to "Mrs. Elizabeth Ross, for making
flags for the fleet in the Delaware."
This draft may be seen in Pennsyl
vania Archives, volume I, Second
Series.
The second article in the Maga
zine section. With the Chapters^ is
from Flag House Chapter, Philadel
phia, Pennsylvania, announcing a
Congressional Resolution on October
22, 1951, for a Betsy Ross stamp to
be issued for "the 200th Anniversary
The Birth of Betsy Ross," January
1, 1952. It pictures the "secret"
committee with Betsy and the flag
that the Congress approved. To se
cure the memorial stamp was the
project of the Flag House Chapter,
assisted by patriotic, civic, and inde
pendent societies throughout the
country.
This article states Mrs. Thomas
Henry Lee, then Pennsylvania State
Regent, interested the members of
the Pennsylvania Assembly, which
resulted in "Resolution No. 8,"
signed by Governor Fine, recom
mending the stamp to the Congress.
Copies of the resolution were placed
in the hands of all members from
Pennsylvania, the presiding officers
of both Houses of Congress, and the
President of the United States. Con
gressman W. L. Green, Jr., of the
Philadelphia district, and Ex-Gov
ernors Duff and Martin, then in the
Senate, introduced bills for the
memorial stamp, which, whenpassed,
resulted in issuance of the Betsy
Ross stamp in January 1952.
The Flag House Chapter prepared
a brochure giving authentic data on
the official draft and the payment to
"Mrs. Elizabeth Ross" for flags be
fore adoption of the Congressional
Flag Resolution a year later, on June
14, 1777, making her a "first" for
all time. It says that these brochures
were sent to every Stale Regent.
Stamps of that issue (1952) are
still available, but we have been un
able to find even one copy of the bro
chure. Queries have been made
through nine different sources, in
cluding Mrs. Thomas Henry Lee
(1952 State Regent), Mrs. Harry S.
[229]
McKain (then regent of the Flag
House Chapter), and Mrs. CJeorge
J. Hoff (present regent), but no copy
has been located.
Mrs. Holl loaned an article entitled
"Betsy Ross and the United States
Flag; Philadelphia Woman Maker
of the First Standard." This paper
was read before the Bucks County
Historical Society at Doylestown,
Pennsylvania, January 19, 1909, by
Oliver Randolph Parry of Bucks
County and Philadelphia. Mr. Parry
is not related to the Betsy Ross fam<
ity and is interested from an his
torical and patriotic standpoint only.
His paper contains nine affidavits,
also letters and data from relatives
and interested persons; among them
is a letter from Honorable H. S. Sat-
terlee. Assistant Secretary of the
Navy, Washington, D. C., dated Jan
uary 22, 1909, indicating the' view
held by the United States Government
on this flag matter. In answer to the
question, "From the best records and
information you have, who made the
flag adopted by the United States
Congress, June 14, 1776"?; the an
swer is, "Mrs. Betsy Ross of Phila-
delphia."
The research for this paper was
done by Charles W. Smith of Phila
delphia, and it is his belief that
Betsy Ross did make the first flag
of the United States. There is no
record that anyone else ever claimed
to have made it. Until recent years
no doubt as to the maker of the first
flag was ever expressed. Mr. Smith
believes that "the burden of proof
rests with those who doubt, rather
than on a defense by the general
public which believes that Betsy is
the maker. '
During thk Colonial era it was
customary' to tell and retell family
activities with no attempt to exag
gerate or "to m^e a good story."
The word of a lady was sufficient to
fix the truth of ah event. Such a
lady was Betsy Ross. '
On June 15, 1777, the day after
the Congressional Resolution,' Betsy
married. Captain Joseph Ashburn.
The marriage is recorded in the book
of marriage records at Old Swedes'
Church on the Delaware River. The
Flag"House Chapter placed a com
memorative tablet there'March 11;
1931. Five years later, ' in 1782,
Captain Ashburn died in a British
prison, leaving Betsy, with two daugh
[230]
ters; one died in infancy and no
descendants of this family are living
today.
On May 6, 1783, 6 years later,
Betsy married John Claypool, a mar
riage listed in Free Quakers Record.
Five daughters were born to this
marriage.
The third reference is entitled
"Betsy Ross and Her Fort Madison
(Iowa) Descendant," by Sarah
Johnson Casy, in which is stated
"that an own daughter of Betsy Ross
lived, died, and is buried in Old City
Cemetery" there. She was Clarissa
Claypool Wilson, born in Philadel
phia, April 8, 1785, and died in
Iowa, July 10, 1864, aged 79 years,
6 months.
Statements made in the 1950
(D.A.R.) article are verified in this
1953 (D.A.R.) article.
Betsy Ross died in January 1835,
when 84 years of age. She was
buried in the Free Quakers Burial
Ground on South FifthStreet, Phila
delphia. In 1847 her remains were
transferred to the Mount Moriah
Cemetery.
In 1956 the Pennsylvania Society
of the Sons of American Revolution
received the report of a special
"Committee to Determine Whether
Betsy Ross Made the First Stars and
Stripes." This report was officially
read into the Congressional Record,
January 19, 1956, by the courtesy
of compatriot Edward Martin, Sen
ator from Pennsylvania.
This report from authentic sources
cites certain historic events of which
no official record was made (for ex
ample, the Grand Union or Cam
bridge Flag that flew over the colo
nies before the Declaration of Inde
pendence). Proof of Betsy's state
ment about the visit of the "secret"
committee in June 1776 and the
order for flags is also seen in the
historical pictures of artists Peale
and Trumbull, who were also army
commanders, and painted The Bat
tle of Trenton, December 25-26,
1776, and The Battle of Princeton,
January 3, 1777; West's picture of
Penn's Treaty With the Indians; and
Leutze's Washington Crossing the
Delaware. These men were noted
for accuracy in detail, and all show
the flag with stars in a circle, flown
before June 14,1777.
It is not presumed that all these
artists erred in painting the pictures.
nor is there any evidence that Wash
ington or any of his contemporaries
found fault with the flags as pic
tured.
The report concludes, "According
to the legal treatise, by Wigmore, On
Evidence, declaration about Family
History is a recognized exception to
the hearsay rule, if it meets certain
criteria. It is the indisputable law
in the United States and in a court of
law that the affidavits by the family
of Betsy Ross would be admitted as
actual and primary evidence.
"In view of this and the absence
of any proofs to the contrary, until
negatived by substantial proofs it
may be stated that Betsy Ross did
make the first Stars and Stripes."
Jn Philadelphia it is an undisputed
fact that Betsy, her daughters, grand
children, and grand nieces made flags
for the Government through more
than 50 years at her home at 239
Arch Street, now called The Betsy
Ross House, a national shrine.
There is no evidence that any
statements of Betsy regarding the
flag were ever denied by the people
of her time, or any question ever
raised regarding her honesty. We
believe we have proved (1) Betsy
Ross and her connection with making
flags for the United States Govern
ment is not a mjrth; (2) the absence
of an official record of order to make
the first flag does not disprove the
event happened.
The latest evidence in our presen
tation is dated February 1957. It
is a photograph of a plaque on the
Betsy Ross House which reads:
TO JOHN AND BETSY ROSS
UPHOLSTERERS
Elizabeth Gnscom and John Ross, having
served simultaneous apprenticeship at Web
ster s shop on Second Street below Chest
nut, later were married and here opened
an upholstering shop in 1774. After the
death of John Ross in line of duty as a
Continental soldier in 1776, Betsy Ross
here made the first American Flag offi
cially adopted by The Congress, June 14,
1777, for the Continental Army and Navy.
Erected Febfuary 7, 1957 by
Upholsterers' International
Union of North America.
NOTE: A copy of the S.A.R. report may
be secured by a request addressed
to: Office of The Hon. Eugene C.
Bonniwell, Chairman, Independ
ence Hall Flag Committee, 476
City Hall, Philadelphia 7, Penn
sylvania.
DAUGHTERS OF THE AMERICAN REVOLUTION MAGAZINE
Betsy Ross's
John Hancock
Last summer, staff members at the
Betsy Ross House in Philadelphia came
across an auction notice from Sothe
by's in New York City announcing the
sale of a 1776 document signed by the
seamstress of the first American flag
under her first married name, Eliza
beth Ross. The bond in question gave
Mrs. Ross control of her militiaman
husband's estate after he was killed by
an ammunition explosion. Experts are
not aware of another surviving signa
ture under this surname, although sev
eral signed documents survive bearing
her third husband's family name,
Claypoole. Staff members from the
museum alerted Philadelphia Register
of Wills Ronald Donatucci, who found
that the document was missing from
the city's files, perhaps for thirty years.
To recover the bond, city officials in
itiated litigation against Sotheby's and
the document's owner, Elsie Sang of
Chicago, whose husband had pur
chased it from a now deceased Los An
geles doctor. According to Donatucci,
Sang was "a good-faith purchaser,
three or four times removed." Al
though Isadore A. Schrager, solicitor
forthe register of wills, claims that law
yers could have forced the bond's re
turn, Mrs. Sang donated it to the city
last November, along with five sev
enteenth-century documents relating
tothe Claypoolefamily. In return, says
Schrager, she received a tax bre^.
Donatucci remarked that he was "very
grateful to Mrs. Sang. Going to court
would have been very expensive."
"The register of wills wants to give
the documents to the Betsy Ross
House if they can be properly cared
for," says Museum Director William
Kingsley; to that end, the museum is
being remodeled to accommodate
more visitors. The bond will be dis
played in a protective case in a back
parlor, "because it isa personal room,"
explains Kingsley, who adds that "the
signature will highlight Betsy Ross as
an individual, a Colonial widow, and
not just a myth." Albert Stern
The Flavor
of New Bedford
Fresh seafood and chowder.
Spfcy linguica and Portuguese
sweet bread.
Outdoor cafes in our historic
district andfresh sea air. f
The resiaufantsol New Beatora weicome you //^
Forshoo ano dme/attraclionsbrochure wfiie 1 j
NewBedfordiV
C/O Bristol County Development Council. Inc.I i
Bo* BR-976. Oeoi AM * i O
NewBefllord. MA02741 g l
The Energy
Efficient
LOG
HOME
IVaditional full log or
insulated log kits with up
to R-40 roof system.
Handcrafted Northern
White CEDAR or PINE
logs. Complete kits
priced from $9,900.
Nationwide FREE
DELIVERY. Dealerships
available at no charge.
Send for the Free
Log Home Lovers
Design Booklet or
order our new color
Plan Book of100
beautiful models.
MasterCard or Visa accepted.
Call TOLL FREE 1-S0a-558-581Z In Wisconsin Call 1-800-242-1021
I Greatwood Log Homes, Inc.. Oest. A56. P.O. Box707. Elkhart Lake. Wl 53020
I Please send check em money order.
j GS6.95 Plan Book of lOO beauutul rsodels (first class mail S8.9S)
G S9.9S Dealership Kit with Plan Book G Free Log Home Lovers Design flociklet
I GM/C Visa Exp. Date CaW
^ ^Log Homes-.
Osatwdioa
OwnLoi BuildingDate
1
AMERICA.NA 11
^ /d3
V z;^
^^^^/7Z3 -
u^
/^ 1777-
I7y7-
3c7a^ /7^2- F-
4 of 4
Betsy Ross: Her Life
A
CT..
S UPPOftT :THZ: tMDEJ?EWIOEfctC: HAll. A&SaC)tAlJOiW*S:
RIVE IO SRING MlSIORy lOTHE INTERNET::;
07/08/97 14:13:26
http://libertynet.org/iha/betsy/flaglife.html
The Story of Betsy Ross's Life
Siii-S
sj j ' ~
S5:- ::;:. :4^
: | S.: ;
^ rtrrSSvsjitBa^n.
:'33ii .?il:viui<iiES5.3
H'S 3.mv/ -J-.
: m
Iv+ct.w,'.:.-.V;ii
One year before William Permfounded Philadelphia in 1681, Betsy Ross's
great-grandfather, Andrew Griscom, a Quaker carpenter, had already emigrated from England to New
Jersey.
Andrewwas successful at histrade. He was also of finn Qualcer belief, andhe wasinspired to moveto
Philadelphia to become an early participant in Penn's "holy experiment." He purchased 495 acres of land
in die Spring Garden section nortli ofdie city ofPliiladelpliia(die section would later be incoiporated as
part of the city), and received a plot of land within the city proper.
Griscom's son and grandson both became respected carpenters as well. Both have their names inscribed
on a wall at Caipentei-s' Hall in Pliiladelpliia, home ofdie oldest ti ade organization in die comitiy.
Griscom's giandson Samuel helpedbuildthebell lower at diePennsylvania SlateHouse (Independence
Hall). He married Rebecca .Tames who was a member of a prominent Quaker merchant family. It was not
unusual for people in those days to have many children, so it is onlj' somewhat surprising to leam that they
had 17!
Elizabeth Griscom ~ also called Betsy, their eighthcliildand a fomth-generation American, was bom
on January 1, 1752.
Betsywent to a Friends (Quaker) pubUe sehool. For eight hours a day.she was taughtreading, writing,
and received instmction in a tiade ~ probably sewing. After completing her schooling, Betsy's fadier
apprenticed her to a local upholsterer. Today we think of upholsterers primarilyas sofa-makers and such,
but in colonial times diey peifomied all mamier of sewingjobs, including flag-making. It was at her job
that Betsy fell in love with another apprentice, John Ross, who was the son of an Episcopal assistant rector
at Cluist Church.
Quakersfrowned on inler-denominational marriages. The penally for sueh unions was severe Ihe guilly
party being "read out" of the Quaker meeting house. Getting "read out" meant being cut off emotionally
and economically from both fantily and meeting house. One's entire liistoiy and community would be
instandy dissolved. On a November niglit in 1773, 21-year-old Betsy eloped widi Jolm Ross. Tliey ferried
1of 3 07/08/97 14:20:54
Betsy Ross: Her Life http://libertynet.o^g/iha^etsy/f]aglife.html
across the Delaware Idver toHu^'s Tavem and were married in New Jersey. Herwedding caused an
irrevocable split fromher family. [It is an interesting parallel to notethat on their wedding certificate is the
name of NewJersey's Governor, William Franklin, Benjamin Franklin's son. Three years laterWilliam
would have an irrevocable spUt withhisfather because he was a LoyaEst against the cause of the
Revolution.]
Less tliaii two yeai-s after tiieii* nuptials, tlie couple staited tlieir own upholsteiy business. Tlieii' decision
was a bold one as competitionwas tou^ and they could not count on Betsy's Quaker circlefor business.
As she was "read out" of the Quaker community, on Sundays one could now find Betsy at Christ Church
sitting in pew 12 withher husband. Some Sundays wouldfind George Washington, America's new
commander in chief, sittingin an adjacent pew.
War Comes to Philadelphia
In January 1776, a disaffected British agitator living inPhiladelphia for only a shortwhile published a
pamphlet that wouldhave a profound impact on the Colonials, f om Paine (" lliese are the times that try
men'.s souls") wrote Cnmmon Sense which would swell rebellious hearts and sell 120,000 copies in three
months; 500,000 copies before war's end.
However, tliecity wasfiactured in itsloyalties. Manystill felt themselves citizens of Britain. Others were
ardent revolutionaries heedinga call to arms. Betsy and John Ross keenly felt the impact of the war.
Fabrics needed for business were becoming hard to come by. Business was slow. John joined the
Penn.sylvaniamilitia. While guarding an ammunition cache in mid-.Tanuary 1776, .JohnRoss was mortally
wounded in an explosion. Though his young wife tried to nurse him back to health he died on the 21st and
was buried in Christ Church cemetery.
After becoming widowed, Betsyretumed to the Quakerfold, in a way. Qiiakers are pacifists and
forbidden fiom beating arms. Tliis led to a scliismin tlieir ranks. Wh&n Free, or FiglitingQuakers who
.supported the war effort ~ banded together, Betsyjoined them. (The Free Quaker Meeting House, which
still stands a few blocks from the Betsy Ross House, was built in 1783, after the war was over.)
Betsywouldbe marriedagain in June 1777, this timeto sea captain JosephAshbumin a ccrcmon}'
peilbimed at Old Swedes Church in PMadelpliia.
During ihe winter of 1777, Betsy's home wasforcibly shared withBritish soldiers whose army occupied
Philadelphia. Meanwhile the Continental Army was.suffering that most historic wnter at Vallej' Forge.
Betsy and Josephhad two daughters (Zillah, who diedin her youth, and Elizabeth). On a trip to the West
Indies to procure war supplies for tiie Revolutionaiy cause, Captain Ashbum was captured by llie British
and sent to Old Mill Prison in Englandwhere he diedin March 1782, several months after the surrender
of Comwallis at Yorktown, Virginia, tlie last major battle of tlie Revolutionaiy Wai'.
After the War
Betsy leamed ofher husband's deathfiomher oldfriend, JolmClaypoole, anotlier sailorimprisoned at the
brutal Old Mill. In May of 1783, Betsy was married for the third time, the ceremony performed at Christ
Chui'ch. Her new husband was none otiier tlian old fiiend Jolm Claypoole. Betsy convinced her new
husband to abandon the life of the sea and find landlubbing employment. Claypoole initially worked in her
upholsteiy business andtlien at tlieU.S. Customs Housein PMadelpliia. Hie couple liadfivedaugliteis
(Clari.ssa Sidney, Susannah, Rachel, .Tane, and Harriet, who died at nine months).
2 of 3 *
Betsy Ross: Her life
07/08/97 14:21:02
http://libertynet.org''iha/bctsy/flaglife.html
After the birth of their second daughter, thefamily moved to bigger quarters on Second Street in what
was llien Pliiladelpliia's Mercantile District. Claypoole passedon in 1817 after years of ill health and Betsy
never remarried. She continued worldnguntil 1827 bringingmany of her immediatefamilyinto the
business with her. /\fter retiring, she went to live with her mairied daugliter Susannah Satteilhwaite in the
then-remote suburb of Abington, PA, to the north of Philadelphia.
In 1834, there were only two free Quakers still attending theMeeting House. It was agreed by Betsy and
Samud WcthcTill that the usefulness of their beloved Meeting House had come to an end. At that last
meeting, Betsy watched as the door was locked, symbolizing the end of an era.
Betsy died on Januaiy 30,1836, at the age of 84.
m At tiie age of 21, she eloped across the Delaware River to Gloucester, New Jersey, and was maiiied at
a tavern.
She was the 8 th of 17 children.
She claimed to have done tailoring lor George Washington.
She has been buried in three dinerenl locations.
A major Philadelphia bridge is named in her honor.
Retimi to the Betsy Ross Home Page
Copyright >1997, 1996 by the hidependcnce Hall Assoeiaiion
Betsy Ross Homepage
's:.; I i IHE;JDEl>i>EhlCS iHAiLA55.0CiATiOW:'S
11:;;.;: DiifVE;TQ;aRlNG MISTORY. TO.IHE;lI<irE8NR ;;...
http://libertynet.org/iha/betsy/index.htmi
Welcome to the Betsy Ross Homepage
; ;B;CTSr^;ai}E*.5r^; SJS:aij;ii:.1:;-;
:f|pi
1; Jl: . ?;Sh 11;S; ;ri.?0 ^ :
Mvai y.x.x.
liMI; H; Olsti-aslIf:-;; ;?;L^b; liMMras;;-;
NEW! Take a virtual tour of Bct}''s House! Cliek here!
NEW! Visit the brand-new Betsy Ross postcards page!
Sign our Guest Book. Let us know that you have visited us.
and if you have the time...
Read and contribute to our Cvber t houghts about Betsv and the Flag page. What
does the Americanflag mean to you? What does Betsj^ Ross mean to other
internet visitors? Let tlie world know how you feel!
While Americans recognize and celebrate collective achievements such as the writing of the Declaration
of Independence, victory in iheRevolutionary War, or thelanding of a man on theMoon ~ it is individual
accomplishment that is cherished the most. TTie "stars" of the aforementioned events ~ Thomas Jefferson,
George Washington, and Neil Armstrong ~ outshine the eolleetive constellation. One person's contribution
ctm define the course and meaning of histoiy.
Betsy Ross sewed the first American flag. When we view the flag, we think of liberty, fireedom, pride,
and Betsy Ross. Tlie American flag flies on tlie moon, sits atop Mount Everest, is hiulling out in space.
The flag is how America signs her name.
1 of4
Belsy Ross Homepage
07/08/97 14:13:11
http://!ibertynet.org/iha^etsy/index.html
xr IS no snrpnse mat JiieTsykoss nas oecome one oi me mosr cnenstiea iignres oi /vmencan xusToiy.
Betev Ross sewed the first American flag. Read the full story, with links to /i i;::; ; : ^
affidavits and a more detailed analysis of the historical facts. I. ' ^
h jpBBS ^ ^ ^
The story of Betsy Ross's T.ite is one of triumph through adversity'. She was s ^
disowned by the Quakers. She lost one husband to an explosion at a munitions
depot that he was guarding. Her second husband died in a British prison. She
suivh'-ed her tliiid husband, who was sick for many yeai-s. She had seven a;
daugliters, two of whom died in iidancy. She maintained a business tlu ougli it
all. By the way. her pew was next to Geoige Washington's at Christ Church.
-I" Ii'm" -^TMBiniTlliBK-t
9 The Betsy Ross House: Take a "virtual tour" of the little house on Arch
Street in PliiladelpWa tliat is a sluine to Betsy Ross and tlie Ameiican Flag.
9 Quotes and notes about the American flag by poets, authors, politicians, and others.
9 Flag etiquette contains the rules and regulations regarding proper handling of the American flag.
9 T-inks to other Web sites of interest about the flag and Betsy Ross.
Flag tiivia questions and answers. Wlio cut tlie Ameiican flag into pieces and was honored for it? Is it
ever appropriate to fly the flag upside down? Test your flag knowledge.
9 Picture gatlerv of the American flag at different times in history.
Step-hv-step directions to cut a 5-nointed star in one snip. Six-pointed stars are easier to cut out of cloth
or so George Washington thought. Betsy Ross showed him how to cut a 5-pointed star in a single snip.
Flag Facts and Timeline of the history of the American tl^..
Frequently Asked Questions
At the Betsy Ross House
2 of 4 07/08/97 14:13:21
Betsy Ross Homepage http://libertynet.org/iha/betsy/index.html
^ What do the red, white, and blue of the flag represent?
The Continental Congress left no recordto showwhyit chosethe colors. However, in 1782,
the Congress of the Confederation chose these same colors for the Great Seal ofthe United
States and listed their meaning as follows: white to mean purity and innocence, red tor valor
andliardiness, andbluefor vigilance, perseverance, andjustice. According to legend, George
Wasliington inteipreted die elements ofdie flag diis way: die star's were taken floni die sky,
the red from the British colors, and the white stripes siyiified the secession from the home
country. However, diere is no official designation or meaning for die coloi-s of die flag.
# Who designed the flag?
Betsy Ross sewedit, but who designedit? The answer, aeeordingto the experts at the Betsj^
Ross house, is that it was possibly designed by Francis Hopkinson, a NewJerseydelegate to
the Continental Congressand a signer ofthe Declaration ofIndependence.
@Why are the stars in a circle?
The .stars were in a circle so that no one colony would be viewed above another. It is reported
that George Washington said, "T.et the 1.3 stars in a circle .standas a new constellation in the
heavens."
^ Why would Betsy Ross be chosen to make the flag?
It was usual in (hat day for upholsterers to be llagmakers. As Betsy Ross prayed in the pew
next to George Washington and was a niece of George Ross, it is not hard to believe that
these members of the Flag Committee formed by the Continental Congress would call upon
Betsy Ross to make the flag.
Was this her house?
It is known diat Betsy Ross rented rooms here. At die time of the flag creation, she was either
here at 239 Aich Street or next door at 241 Aieli, where die gar den is now. House number's
on her street between the years 1785 and 1857 were registered using three different
numbering systems, makirig die determination very tricky. Ifyou are interested in liistorical
detective work, you'll erijoy the methodical, historical approach used by expects: check out
die Was diis her house? page.
0 Where is the first flag?
No one knows what happened to the first flag. Very few flags from that time have survK'ed.
# Why is the flag called *'01d Glory"?
In 1831, Captain iStephen Driver, a shipma.sterfrom Salem, Massachusetts, left on one of his
many world voyages. Friends presented him with a flag of 24 stars. As the banner opened to
the ocean breeze, he exclaimed, "Old Glory." He kept his flag for many years, protecting it
during the Civil War, until it was flown over the Tennessee capital. His "Old Glory" became a
nickname for all .American flags.
^ Many people discover among their family relics a certificate from the American Flag House and
07/08/97 14:13:23
http://liberiynet.org/'iha/'bcisy/index.litmi
Betsy Ross Memoria! Association. What is it?
Over two million of these certificates were sold starting in 1898 in order to raise fiinds needed
to preserve the Betsy Ross House. These certificates were receipts or "thank-yous" for
contiibutions of 10 cents. Tlie Association went out of business in 1935. Tlie only "value" to
diese is tlie knowledge tliat tlie recipient participatedin tlie preseivalion of tlie Betsy Ross
House.
Hianks to Toni Collins at tlie Betsy Ross House for inspiringand assisting on tlie creatioii oftliis site.
Thanks also for the careful vetting she gave these pages. She was extremelygenerous with her help. Tf you
have any historic document or picture relating to net<y Ross or early flags, please let us know so we can
pass the information alongto her. You can use this handy form or e-maii us at iha@libertynet.org. Thank
you!
Oiigiiiai research by Jonathati Sclmialzbach and Douglas IleUer, Electronic Publisliing
Dhdsion of tlie Independence Hall Association. Special tlianks to Mar k Biddle,
President of the Independence Hall Association, for his unquestioning trust and
encouragenieiit.
Interested in using a picture or some of tlie text? Click her e!
Internet preparation by Paper Pen and Inc.
SPECIALI23NG IN ELECrTRONIC AND PRINT PUBUSHING OF INFORMATION
Homepage launched on the 244lh anniversary of Betsy Ross's birth: January I, 1996
Copyright 1997, 1996 by the Indq^cndcncc Hall Association
Retui'n to the Top of Tins Page
Go to the Historic Philadelphia Homepage
(This page last modified Tuesday, J3-May-97 18:22:27EDT)
Biis site hosted bv Llbertv^Net Explore otiier sites in tlie Pliiladelpliia region:
T: , FiminPliila. MaikeLplace Coinniuiiilv
Search for sites in the Philadelphia region Education Business Dev.
Guvcnuncnl Hccddi Hospilalily
Genealogy ofBetsy Ross
Elizabeth (Betsy) Griscom Ross Ashburn Claypoole
With an explanation ofher connection with the Satterthwaites of
Waynesville, Ohio
'k'k'k'k'k'k'k'k'k'k'k'kic'k'k'k
GRISCOMFamily
First Generation
1. Andrew' Griscom was bom in Isle of Man abt 1654. Andrew died 18 Sep 1694 in
Philadelphia, Philadelphia, PA, at 40 years of age.
He married Sarah Dole in Philadelphia, Philadelphia, PA, 7 Feb 1684. Sarah was bom in
Bristol, England 1660.
Andrew Griscom and Sarah Dole had the following children:
+ 2 i. Tobias- Griscom was bom 1686.
3 ii. Sarah Griscom.
4 iii. David Griscom.
5 iv. Sarah Griscom was bom abt 1693. Sarah died 1773 at 80 years of age.
6 V. Samuel Griscom.
Second Generation
2. Tobias- Griscom (Andrew'! was bom in Philadelphia, Philadelphia, PA 1686. Tobias
died 30 Dec 1719 in Newton, Glouchester, NJ, at 33 years of age.
He married Deborah Gabitas in Burlington Co., NJ, 1711. Deborah was the daughter of
William Gabitas and Rachel Marshall.
Tobias Griscom and Deborah Gabitas had the following children:
7 i. Andrew^ Griscom was bom in Tuckahoe, Cape May, NJ 25 Nov 1711. He married
Susannah Hancock in Alloways Bridge, NJ, 11 Aug 1737. Susannah was bom 1720.
8 ii. Tobias Griscom.
9 iii. Mary Griscom. She married Tobias Hallowaybef 10 Feb 1735.
10 iv. William Griscom was bom in Haddonfield, Burlington, NJ 30 Mar 1715. He
married Sarah Davis in Pilesgrove, Salem, NJ, 6 Aug 1740. Sarah was bom 26 Mar 1720.
+ 11 V. Samuel Griscom.
Third Generation
11. Samuel' Griscom (Tobias'. AndrewQ birth date unknown.
He married Rebecca James.
Samuel Griscom and Rebecca James had the following children:
(r,n-'rw njT'Lif:
i. "k '- a ff*T '' '
513/S97-4826
<ri
12 i. Deborah' Griscom was bom in Philadelphia, Philadelphia, PA abt 1740. Deborah
died 1793 at 53 years of age. She married Everett Bolton 1764. (See Everett Bolton for
the continuation of this line.)
13 ii. Susan Griscom was bom abt 1742. Susan died 30 Apr 1788 at 45 years of age. She
married Ephraim Doane 25 Jul 1769.
14 iii. Sarah Griscom was bom Oct 1745. Sarah died 25 Mar 1747 at 1 year of age.
15 iv. Rebecca Griscom was bom Jan 1747.
16 V. William Griscom was bom Apr 1748. William died 18 Aug 1749 at 1 year of age.
17 vi. Mary Griscom was bom Oct 1750. She married Thomas Morgan 1770.
18 vii. Elizabeth Griscom was bom in Philadelphia, Philadelphia, PA 1 Jan 1752.
Elizabeth died 30 Jan 1836 in Philadelphia, Philadelphia, PA, at 84 years of age. She
married three times. She married John Ross in Philadelphia, Philadelphia, PA, 1 Jan
1773. John was bom in New Castle, DE 1752. John was the son of Aneas Ross and Sarah
Leech. John died 21 Jan 1776 in Philadelphia, Philadelphia, PA, at 23 years of age. She
married Joseph Ashburn in Philadelphia, Philadelphia, PA, 15 Jun 1777. Joseph was
bom in Philadelphia, Philadelphia, PA abt 1750. Joseph died Mar 1782 in England, at 31
years of age. (See Joseph Ashburn forthecontinuation of this line.) She married John
Claypoole in Pennsylvania, 8 May 1783. Johnwas bominMount Holly, Burlington,
NJ 15 Aug 1752. John was the son of William Claypoole and Elizabeth Hall. John died 3
Aug 1817at 64 years of age. (See John Clavpoolefor the continuationof this line.)
19 viii. Samuel Griscom was bom Apr 1753. Samuel died 9 Sep 1756 at 3 years of age.
20 ix. Martha Griscom was bom Jul 1754. Martha died Jul 1757 at 3 years of age.
21 X. Hannah Griscom was bomNov 1755. Hannah died 21 Dec 1836 at 81 years of
age. She married Griffith Levering 13 Oct 1776.
22 xi. Ann Griscom was bom Mar 1757. Ann died 25 Aug 1759 at 2 years of age.
23 xii. Samuel Griscom was bom Jul 1758. Samuel died 23 Jul 1761 at 3 years of age.
24 xiii. Joseph Griscomwas bomNov 1759. Joseph died 10Oct 1762at 2 years of age.
25 xiv. Abigail Griscom was bomNov 1759. Abigail died 15Nov 1762 at 3 years of
age.
26 XV. George Griscomwas bom Apr 1761. George died 1835 at 74 years of age. He
married Catherine Schreiner28 Jul 1785.
27 xvi. Rachel Griscom was bom Nov 1762. Rachel died 18 Nov 1825 at 63 years of
age.
ROSS Family
First Generation
1. Aneas' Ross birth date unknown.
He married Sarah Leech,
Aneas Ross and Sarah Leech had the following child:
2 i. John^ Ross was bom inNew Castle, DE 1752. John died 21 Jan 1776 in
Philadelphia, Philadelphia, PA, at 23 years of age. He married Elizabeth Griscom
in Philadelphia, Philadelphia, PA, 1Jan 1773. Elizabethwas bom in Philadelphia,
Philadelphia, PA 1 Jan 1752. Elizabethwas the daughterof Samuel Griscom and
J: ripiic
" eiLD STACC
IE>VILLE, OHIO 45Uo8
513/897-4826
Rebecca James. Elizabeth died 30 Jan 1836 in Philadelphia, Philadelphia, PA, at 84
years of age.
ASHBURNFamily
First Generation
1. Joseph' Ashburn was bom in Philadelphia, Philadelphia, PA abt 1750. Joseph died
Mar 1782 inEngland, at 31 years of age. He married Elizabeth Grisconi in
Philadelphia, Philadelphia, PA, 15 Jim 1777. Elizabeth was bominPhiladelphia,
Philadelphia, PA1Jan 1752. Elizabeth was thedaughter of Samuel Griscom and
Rebecca James. Elizabeth died 30 Jan 1836 in Philadelphia, Philadelphia, PA, at 84 years
of age. Joseph Ashbum andElizabeth Griscom hadthe following children:
2 i. Zillah^ Ashbum was bom 1779.
3 ii. Elizabeth Ashbum was bom 1781.
CLAYPOOLE Family
Second Generation
2. John^ Clavpoole tWilliamO wasbominMount Holly, Burlington, NJ 15 Aug
1752. John died 3Aug 1817 at 64 years ofage. He married Elizabeth Griscom in
Pennsylvania, 8May 1783. Elizabeth was bom inPhiladelphia, Philadelphia, PA 1Jan
1752. Elizabeth was the daughter of Samuel Griscom and Rebecca James. Elizabeth died
30Jan 1836 inPhiladelphia, Philadelphia, PA, at 84 years of age. John Claypoole and
Elizabeth Griscom had the following children:
3 i. Clarissa Sidney^ Claypoole was bom inPhiladelphia, Philadelphia, PA 3Apr 1785.
Clarissa died 10 Jul 1864 at 79 years of age.
4 ii. Susanna Griscom Claypoole was bominAbington, Montgomery, PA5Nov
1786. Susanna died 11 Jim 1875 in Abington, Montgomery, PA, at 88years of age. She
married Abel Satterthwaite in Philadelphia, Philadelphia, PA, 15Nov 1812. Abel
was bomin Montgomery Co., PA 10May 1779.
5 iii. Rachel Claypoolewas bom 1 Dec 1789.
6 iv. Jane Claypoole was bom 13Nov 1792.
7 V. Harriet Claypoole was bom 20 Dec 1795. Harriet died 1796 at less than one year of
age.
Encyclopedia ofAmericanQuaker Genealogy: Philadelphia
[p.450] MINUTESAND MARRIAGE RECORDS
page 487
1812,11,12. Susanna, dt John &Elizabeth (Claypoole), Phila., Pa., mAbel
Satterthwaite, s Wm. &Mary, Phila., Pa., at Mulberry St. MH, Phila.
WAWESViLLE, OEIO
513/897-4826
The Abel Satterthwaite, who married Susana Griscom Claypoole (whowas a daughter
of thefamous Betsy Ross), was a brother of ourJohn Satterthwaite who migrated to
Waynesville and married Elizabeth Linton. John was a prominent entrepreneur and
builder in this area. He is notedfor buildingthe WhiteBrickMeetinghouse in
Waynesville andthefirst covered bridge overtheLitdeMiami River. Hewasa co-
founder ofthe Accommodation Stagecoach Line. Abel and John's parents were
William and Mary Knight Satterthwiate:
William SATTERTHWAITE (3"* of William and Pleasant Meade Satterthwaite)
Sex: M
Birth: December22,1740 in Lower Makefield, Bucks, Pennsylvania
Death: December30,1826 in Falls Twp, Bucks, Pennsylvania
Father: William SATTERTHWAITE b: January 25,1708/09 in England
Mother: Pleasant MEAD(E) b: December 22,1717
Marriage MaryKNIGHT b: May 25,1750 inByberry Twp., Philadelphia,
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Married: December 21,1768 in ByberryMeeting, Abington Mm, and
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Children
1. William SATTERTHWAITE b: March 16,1775 in Middletown, Bucks Co.,
Permsylvania whomarried Elizabeth Watson.
2. Michael SATTERTHWAITE b: October 25,1769 in Bucks Co., Pennsylvania
and died unmarried Feb. 7,1822.
3. GilesSATTERTHWAITEb: April 16,1771 in Bucks Co., Pennsylvania who
married Mary Woolston.
4. Elizabeth SATTERTHWAITE b: February 06,1773 in Bucks Co.,
Permsylvania married WilliamHallowell.
5. Joseph SATTERTHWAITE b: December 18,1776 inFalls Twp, Bucks Co.,
Pennsylvania marriedElizabeth Woolston.
6. Abel SATTERTHWAITE b: May 10,1779 in Falls Twp, Bucks Co.,
Pennsylvania who married Susannah Griscom Claypoole (daughter ofBetsy
Ross)
7. Susannah SATTERTHWAITE b: September28,1781 in Falls Twp, Bucks Co.,
Permsylvania who marriedJames Simpson.
8. John SATTERTHWAITE b: June 28,1786 in Bucks Co., Pennsylvania who
married Elizabeth Linton of Waynesville, Ohio.
9. James SATTERTHWAITE b: October 10,1788 in Bucks Co., Pennsylvania
and died 3^** mo. 1793.
10. Samuel SATTERTHWAITE b: April 24,1791 in BucksCo., Pennsylvania who
first married Rachel Buckman and second, Phebe Wharton.
For further informationabout the Satterthwaitefamilyconsult: The Satterthwaite
Genealogy byAmos Satterthwaite, 1910 (OHR 929.2 Satterthwaite) andAHistory of
Satterthwaite Family byMrs. Geraldine Satterthwaite, 1975 (OHR929.2 Satterthwaite).
LIASI L. COOK
301 (ILD