Nobody has the time to look into everything, so people often have to take some things which we know are common knowledge for granted. But in this case, you've been taught this myth in school. I'm sure that will continue because, so far, there is no way to prove it once and for all.
MYTH: Betsy Ross sewed the first American flag.
MYTH: Betsy Ross sewed the first American flag.
WHO WAS BETSY ROSS?
There is a lot written about Elizabeth Griscom of Gloucester City, New Jersey. Some of the information about her is highly debated. After reading endless articles, I decided that as far as I was concerned, National Geographic was likely to be the most accurate.
There is a lot written about Elizabeth Griscom of Gloucester City, New Jersey. Some of the information about her is highly debated. After reading endless articles, I decided that as far as I was concerned, National Geographic was likely to be the most accurate.
Depiction of Betsy Ross sewing the flag
Image Source: Nicholas L. Vulich's Blog (goodreads.com)
Elizabeth (Betsy) was born in 1752 and raised as a Quaker. After she eloped with John Ross, a member of a prominent Philadelphia family that included one of the signers of the Declaration of Independence, she was expelled from the A Betsy Ross Postage Stamp
Quakers for marrying a Protestant. Image Source: https://flagsusa.com
Her name now shows up as Betsy Ross in history books and school lessons everywhere in the US, along with some of the most prominent names from that era. John and Betsy had their own upholstery business, and lived a lively social life in Philadelphia They attended Christ Church with people like George Washington, and rubbed elbows with some of the young nation's most prominent people.
John was killed in the Revolutionary War in 1775. Betsy Ross later married two more times and bore seven children. She is credited as having sewn (and some say designed) the first American flag. But if she did sew the flag, she died in 1836 (84 years of age) without anyone ever mentioning a connection with it. Apparently, she did make flags for various organizations during her lifetime, but there was never a reference to the first American flag being one of them.
INTO THE BREECH
There is always someone who won't leave well enough alone, and those people always want to write their own version of history (of which there are many, and many of them are correct and have been passed along as family legends). The ones told in my family were not true at all.
In 1870, almost forty years after her death, her grandson William J. Canby, a historian, made a speech on the history of the American flag to the Historic Society of Pennsylvania. In that speech Canby claimed that "a bereaved Betsy Ross had been approached in 1776 by George Washington and members of a congressional committee appointed to create a flag for their new nation. She suggested the flag include five-pointed stars instead of the six-pointed stars the committee had suggested, and she demonstrated how to cut them out with a piece of paper. Canby called on the world to acknowledge Ross as “an example of industry, energy and perseverance, and of humble reliance on providence.”
Image Source: Nicholas L. Vulich's Blog (goodreads.com)
Elizabeth (Betsy) was born in 1752 and raised as a Quaker. After she eloped with John Ross, a member of a prominent Philadelphia family that included one of the signers of the Declaration of Independence, she was expelled from the A Betsy Ross Postage Stamp
Quakers for marrying a Protestant. Image Source: https://flagsusa.com
Her name now shows up as Betsy Ross in history books and school lessons everywhere in the US, along with some of the most prominent names from that era. John and Betsy had their own upholstery business, and lived a lively social life in Philadelphia They attended Christ Church with people like George Washington, and rubbed elbows with some of the young nation's most prominent people.
John was killed in the Revolutionary War in 1775. Betsy Ross later married two more times and bore seven children. She is credited as having sewn (and some say designed) the first American flag. But if she did sew the flag, she died in 1836 (84 years of age) without anyone ever mentioning a connection with it. Apparently, she did make flags for various organizations during her lifetime, but there was never a reference to the first American flag being one of them.
INTO THE BREECH
There is always someone who won't leave well enough alone, and those people always want to write their own version of history (of which there are many, and many of them are correct and have been passed along as family legends). The ones told in my family were not true at all.
In 1870, almost forty years after her death, her grandson William J. Canby, a historian, made a speech on the history of the American flag to the Historic Society of Pennsylvania. In that speech Canby claimed that "a bereaved Betsy Ross had been approached in 1776 by George Washington and members of a congressional committee appointed to create a flag for their new nation. She suggested the flag include five-pointed stars instead of the six-pointed stars the committee had suggested, and she demonstrated how to cut them out with a piece of paper. Canby called on the world to acknowledge Ross as “an example of industry, energy and perseverance, and of humble reliance on providence.”
William J. Canby
Image Source: https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/william-canby
Of course, the press of the day, just as today, is always looking for something to capture the reader's attention. A scoop!
The press picked up on the story and soon it was printed in the newspapers. In 1873 an article in one of America’s most-read magazines, Harper’s Weekly, spread it to the nation, treating Canby’s anecdote as proven fact.
Image Source: https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/william-canby
Of course, the press of the day, just as today, is always looking for something to capture the reader's attention. A scoop!
The press picked up on the story and soon it was printed in the newspapers. In 1873 an article in one of America’s most-read magazines, Harper’s Weekly, spread it to the nation, treating Canby’s anecdote as proven fact.
The article depicts Ross was “carrying on business of her own account in her little shop when Washington, members of Congress, and other influential men paid her a visit."
According to the article, they "showed her a sketch of a proposed design, and asked her to make a flag with 13 six-pointed stars. She intimated her willingness to try,” the author continued, repeating the grandson's story about Image Source: www.timetoast.com/timeline-of-early-american-history
her suggestion to use five-pointed stars.
CONCLUSION
Although her name has found a permanent abode within our history books and may remain there forever, no official documentation has been found yet to confirm that Betsy Ross was responsible for creating the very first flag. There is also nothing to proves that she did not.
But you know how family stories are. Each time it is the tale is told, there is a bit of an exaggeration, so who knows.
THE HISTORIANS CARRY ON
Some historians attribute the design of the first flag to Francis Hopkinson, a New Jersey delegate to the Continental Congress and signer of the Declaration of Independence, who also played a role in designing seals for various departments within the U.S. government.
According to the article, they "showed her a sketch of a proposed design, and asked her to make a flag with 13 six-pointed stars. She intimated her willingness to try,” the author continued, repeating the grandson's story about Image Source: www.timetoast.com/timeline-of-early-american-history
her suggestion to use five-pointed stars.
CONCLUSION
Although her name has found a permanent abode within our history books and may remain there forever, no official documentation has been found yet to confirm that Betsy Ross was responsible for creating the very first flag. There is also nothing to proves that she did not.
But you know how family stories are. Each time it is the tale is told, there is a bit of an exaggeration, so who knows.
THE HISTORIANS CARRY ON
Some historians attribute the design of the first flag to Francis Hopkinson, a New Jersey delegate to the Continental Congress and signer of the Declaration of Independence, who also played a role in designing seals for various departments within the U.S. government.
Francis Hopkinson
Image Source:www.thefamouspeople.com/francis-hopkinson
I am inclined to believe this version, although both could be true.
In 1780, Hopkinson sought payment from the Board of Admiralty for his design of the “flag of the United States of America.” However, his petition for payment was denied on the grounds that “he was not the only one consulted” on the design.
JUST SAYIN'
Sources:
https://www.ushistory.org/betsy/more/canby.htm
https://www.womenshistory.org/education-resources/biographies/betsy-ross
https://www.history.com/news/did-betsy-ross-really-make-the-first-american-flag
https://www.biography.com/history-culture/betsy-ross
https://www.readwritethink.org/sites/default/files/resources/lesson_images/lesson153/july4th-myths.pdf
https://www.britannica.com/biography/William-Canby
https://www.stripes.com/theaters/us/2021-07-02/betsy-ross-descendants-reunite-2030954.html
https://flagsusa.com
https://wethepeopleholsters.com/betsy-ross-flag?tw_source
https://www.washingtonpost.com/history/2021/07/11/betsy-ross-husband-diary/
https://www.nationalgeographic.com/history/article/betsy-ross-likely-didnt-sew-the-first-us-flag#:~:text=Although%20seamstress%20Betsy%20Ross%20is%20often%20credited%20as,nearly%20a%20hundred%20years%20after%20the%20Revolutionary%20War.
https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/other/meet-the-american-who-stitched-the-stars-stripes-betsy-ross-reputed-wartime-seductress/ar-BB1od3sv
Image Source:www.thefamouspeople.com/francis-hopkinson
I am inclined to believe this version, although both could be true.
In 1780, Hopkinson sought payment from the Board of Admiralty for his design of the “flag of the United States of America.” However, his petition for payment was denied on the grounds that “he was not the only one consulted” on the design.
JUST SAYIN'
Sources:
https://www.ushistory.org/betsy/more/canby.htm
https://www.womenshistory.org/education-resources/biographies/betsy-ross
https://www.history.com/news/did-betsy-ross-really-make-the-first-american-flag
https://www.biography.com/history-culture/betsy-ross
https://www.readwritethink.org/sites/default/files/resources/lesson_images/lesson153/july4th-myths.pdf
https://www.britannica.com/biography/William-Canby
https://www.stripes.com/theaters/us/2021-07-02/betsy-ross-descendants-reunite-2030954.html
https://flagsusa.com
https://wethepeopleholsters.com/betsy-ross-flag?tw_source
https://www.washingtonpost.com/history/2021/07/11/betsy-ross-husband-diary/
https://www.nationalgeographic.com/history/article/betsy-ross-likely-didnt-sew-the-first-us-flag#:~:text=Although%20seamstress%20Betsy%20Ross%20is%20often%20credited%20as,nearly%20a%20hundred%20years%20after%20the%20Revolutionary%20War.
https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/other/meet-the-american-who-stitched-the-stars-stripes-betsy-ross-reputed-wartime-seductress/ar-BB1od3sv
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