Betsy Ross

by Mrs. Rhonda Rudd

Betsy Ross

Mrs. Rhonda Rudd

Text and graphics created by author Copyright © 2011 Mrs. Rhonda Rudd. All

rights reserved.

Layout design, book template and other graphic elements Copyright © Tikatok

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This book is dedicatedto my friends and

family

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Elizabeth Griscom was born on January 1,1752. She was the eighth child, of seventeen, born to Samuel and Rebecca Griscom. Her familynicknamed her "Betsy." Samuel Griscom was a builder. He builthouses, churches, and shops in Philadelphia,Pennsylvania where the family lived. Some of hisbuildings are still standing today. Betsy went to a Quaker school where shelearned to read, write, and sew. She thenworked as an apprentice for a local upholsterybusiness, learning to sew things like mattresses,sofas, and flags. In 1773, at the age of 21, she ran away tomarry John Ross. Her name became Betsy Ross.John and Betsy opened their own upholsterybusiness.

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During the Revolutionary War, in January of1776, John Ross was killed while guardingweapons. A few months later, legend says, Betsy metwith George Washington, George Ross, andRobert Morris about sewing the American flag.Even though there is no evidence that thismeeting actually took place, it is possible. Betsywent to church with George Washington, andGeorge Ross was related to her first husband. In 1777, Betsy married Joseph Ashburn, a seacaptain. They had two daughters. CaptainAshburn became a prisoner of war in England,and died in 1782. Betsy remarried John Claypoole in 1783. Thiswas her third marriage. Together they had fivemore daughters.

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The first American flag had 13 stripes-seven red and six white. It had a field ofblue with thirteen stars sewn in a circularpattern. It was probably sewn by Betsy Ross. Butmost people believe that the design was byFrancis Hopkinson, a member of theContinental Congress. It is likely that Betsychanged the six-pointed star to afive-pointed star. Congress adopted the new flag on June14,1777. Now, each year, we celebrateFlag Day on this day.

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Betsy's third husband died in 1817. Theirmarriage had lasted for 34 years. In those years, Betsy gave many of herfamily members a job in her upholsterybusiness. She retired in 1827. In 1836, at the age of 84, Elizabeth "Betsy"Griscom Ross Ashburn Claypoole died. Many people speculate that she wasresponsible for creating the first Americanflag, even though there is no proof.

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About the AuthorMrs. Rudd is the Media Specialist at Clinton Central Elementary School in

Michigantown, Indiana.

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