Wednesday, July 2, 2025

Take a Break With Betsy Ross


Do you know who Elizabeth Griscom Ross Ashburn Claypoole was? You would know her as Betsy Ross, the supposed maker of the first American flag. Griscom was her maiden name, and she was twice widowed while young , first by John Ross (died 1775) and then Joseph Ashburn (died 1780). She was ultimately married to John Claypoole with whom she had five daughters. 

 There is little historical evidence of who made the first flag, since it constantly was changing during the Revolutionary War. However, there is good documentation that she knew George Washington, having made bed hanging for the Washingtons in 1774. 

 

Coming from a long line of artisans, Betsy Ross ran an upholstering business for about 50 years, turning it over to her daughter when she retired. At the start of the Revolutionary War, she was a young widow just starting out, and would have jumped at a chance of what we’d call a “government contract.” While her shop made many items, they would have various contracts for flags. 

 

According to the Betsy Ross House in Philadelphia,  “It was Betsy’s grandson, William Canby, who first told the story in a speech he made to the Historical Society of Pennsylvania back in 1870. Canby and other members of Betsy’s family signed sworn affidavits stating that it was Betsy herself who told them the story of the making of the first flag. According to the oral history, in 1776 three men – none other than George Washington, Robert Morris, and George Ross, visited Betsy Ross in her upholstery shop. After she escorted them to her parlor where they could meet in private, Washington showed Betsy a sketch of a flag with thirteen red and white stripes and thirteen six-pointed stars.As the story goes, Betsy suggested changing the stars to five points rather than six and with just one snip of her scissors, showed them how to do it. With that, they all agreed to change the design to five-pointed stars.”

 

Efficiency and saving money were important, so adopting a five pointed star would have made sense. As it is, there is growing evidence, that what may be best attributed to Betsy Ross was the five pointed star that was adopted for the American flag. 

 

For more information, read Betsy Ross and the Making of America by Marla Miller or check out some of the podcasts and videos, like the one below.

 


 

If you want to make the five pointed star in one snip, check out the video below:



 

 

Not interested in today’s activities, try the Take a Break Pinterest Board.