Who was Betsy Ross?

by World History Edu · March 17, 2025

Betsy Ross was an American upholsterer credited by family tradition with making the first U.S. flag, though historians dispute this claim.

A painting depicting Betsy Ross.

Early Life and Education

Elizabeth Griscom Ross, widely known as Betsy Ross, was born on January 1, 1752, in Gloucester City, New Jersey, to Samuel and Rebecca Griscom. She was the eighth of seventeen children, though only nine of her siblings survived childhood. Raised in a strict Quaker household, Betsy was taught the values of discipline, simplicity, and industry. She learned to sew from her great-aunt, Sarah Elizabeth Ann Griscom, which would later become the foundation of her lifelong trade.

Her education took place in a Quaker-run school, where she was taught reading, writing, and sewing. After completing her schooling, Betsy was apprenticed to an upholsterer named William Webster. This apprenticeship provided her with the necessary skills in sewing, upholstery, and fabric work, which she later applied in flag-making.

Betsy Ross is traditionally credited with making the second official U.S. flag, though historians doubt this claim, as it originated from her grandson’s account in 1870 without supporting archival evidence.

Marriage and Personal Life

During her apprenticeship, Betsy met John Ross, a fellow upholsterer and nephew of George Ross Jr., a signer of the Declaration of Independence. The couple eloped in 1773, marrying at Hugg’s Tavern in Gloucester City, New Jersey, as their union was not approved by Betsy’s Quaker family. This led to her expulsion from the Quaker congregation, and she subsequently joined her husband’s Episcopal faith.

Betsy and John Ross started an upholstery business in Philadelphia, working on furniture, repairing uniforms, and creating various textiles. However, their marriage was cut short when John Ross died in 1775, leaving Betsy a widow at just 24 years old. Though some accounts claim he died from a gunpowder explosion, the exact cause remains uncertain.

In 1777, Betsy married Joseph Ashburn, a mariner who was later captured by the British during the American Revolution. He was imprisoned in England, where he died in 1780. A year later, Betsy married John Claypoole, a fellow patriot who had met Ashburn in prison and delivered the news of his death to Betsy. The couple had five daughters and lived a relatively stable life after the war.

Role in the American Revolution

Betsy Ross contributed to the American Revolution through her upholstery business, making tents, repairing uniforms, and sewing flags for the Pennsylvania Navy. A documented record dated May 29, 1777, from the Pennsylvania Navy Board, shows that she was paid for making “ships’ colors.” These flags were crucial for the Pennsylvania fleet and were an essential part of the revolutionary efforts.

As the war progressed, Ross continued to work for the military, sewing uniforms and providing supplies. She was among many Philadelphia women who supported the war effort through domestic contributions.

The flag attributed to Betsy Ross as its supposed creator.

The Betsy Ross Flag Legend

The popular story of Betsy Ross sewing the first American flag originates from a family tradition that gained widespread attention in 1870 when her grandson, William J. Canby, presented the claim to the Historical Society of Pennsylvania. According to this account, General George Washington, accompanied by Robert Morris and George Ross, visited Betsy Ross in 1776, presenting her with a design for the American flag. Ross allegedly suggested a change from six-pointed to five-pointed stars, demonstrating how easily they could be cut with a single fold and snip.

Despite its enduring popularity, there is no contemporary archival evidence to support this story. Historians largely dismiss it as a family legend that gained traction during the patriotic fervor of the 1876 Centennial Exposition. However, there is no doubt that Betsy Ross was one of several flag makers in Philadelphia, and she played a significant role in crafting flags for the early United States.

Other Notable Flag Makers

While Betsy Ross is often credited with making the first American flag, other flag makers contributed significantly to early American history. Rebecca Young, another Philadelphia seamstress, is documented as having made the Grand Union Flag in 1775. Young’s daughter, Mary Young Pickersgill, later sewed the famous Star-Spangled Banner that inspired the national anthem.

Additionally, Francis Hopkinson, a delegate to the Continental Congress, claimed to have designed the original American flag. He submitted letters to Congress in 1780 requesting payment for his contributions. Historians widely accept that Hopkinson played a major role in the flag’s design, though Betsy Ross’s contribution remains a point of debate.

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Later Years and Legacy

After the Revolution, Betsy Ross continued her upholstery business, sewing flags for the U.S. government, including the U.S. Arsenal on the Schuylkill River. She worked for over 50 years as a skilled artisan, providing flags and other textiles for military and civilian use.

Following the death of her third husband, John Claypoole, in 1817, Ross continued her work for another decade before retiring. She spent her later years with her daughters, particularly living with Susanna Claypoole in Abington Township, Pennsylvania. By the 1830s, Ross had become completely blind, and she passed away on January 30, 1836, at the age of 84.

Her remains were initially buried in the Free Quaker Burial Ground but were later moved to Mount Moriah Cemetery. In 1975, as part of the American Bicentennial celebrations, her remains were reinterred at the courtyard of the Betsy Ross House in Philadelphia. However, uncertainty remains as to whether the correct remains were moved.

A painting portraying Betsy Ross presenting the U.S. flag to George Washington.

Ross’ remains were moved multiple times, with her final resting place at the Betsy Ross House in Philadelphia, though its authenticity is debated.

Commemoration and Impact

Betsy Ross has been immortalized in American culture, symbolizing patriotism, craftsmanship, and women’s contributions to the nation’s founding. The Betsy Ross House in Philadelphia is a major tourist attraction, drawing visitors who wish to learn about her life and the origins of the American flag.

In 1952, the U.S. Postal Service issued a commemorative stamp featuring Ross presenting the flag to George Washington. Additionally, the Betsy Ross Bridge, which spans the Delaware River between Pennsylvania and New Jersey, is named in her honor.

While the legend of Betsy Ross creating the first American flag may be more folklore than fact, her impact as a skilled flag maker and upholsterer remains undeniable. Historian Marla Miller argues that Ross’s legacy should not focus solely on a single flag but should highlight her contributions as a working woman during the Revolutionary era. Her story represents the broader role of women in supporting the American Revolution and shaping the nation’s early history.

Betsy Ross’s life and work continue to be celebrated, and she remains an enduring figure in American history, symbolizing both the myths and realities of the nation’s founding.