Betsy Ross

  • Betsy Ross is born

    Betsy Ross is born
    Betsy Ross is the daughter of Rebecca and Samuel Griscom. She is the eighth of seventeen children. She has eleven sisters and five brothers.
  • Betsy goes to school

    Betsy goes to school
    Betsy goes to Quaker school to learn how to sew. She was an apprentice at the school. This is where she met John Ross.
  • Betsy marries John Ross

    Betsy marries John Ross
    When Betsy married John, it was against her Quaker religion's rules. However, they still snuck away to Hugg's Tavern to get married. Betsy was 21 years old.
  • Betsy opens upholstery

    Betsy opens upholstery
    Betsy and her new husband John Ross start an upholstery shop together. They sew things for people who need it fixed. She continues working in the shop even after his death.
  • John Ross dies

    John Ross dies
    After opening a upholstery shop with Betsy, John join the militia. AT this point the Revolutionary War was going on. John was killed in battle.
  • Betsy makes the flags

    Betsy makes the flags
    After working in her upholster shop, Betsy starts to make flags. Eventually, George Washington comes to her wanting a flag for the US Army. Therefore, Betsy begins making all of the official US flags.
  • Betsy meets with George Washington

    Betsy meets with George Washington
    George Washington came to Betsy to make a flag for America and for the Continental Congress. Betsy Ross was a seamstress who decided to have 5 pointed stars instead of 6 pointed stars. The story of Betsy Ross' flag did not become known until 1870.
  • Betsy marries Joseph Ashburn

    Betsy marries Joseph Ashburn
    Betsy marries Joseph Ashburn after John Ross, her first husband, dies. He was a Marine in the army for the US. They has two daughters together during their marriage.
  • Joseph Ashburn dies

    Joseph Ashburn dies
    Joseph dies during the Revolutionary War after being captured by the British. He left Betsy widowed again after John Ross died.
  • Betsy marries John Claypoole

    Betsy marries John Claypoole
    Betsy and John are married after she is widowed by her two late husbands. John and Betsy have 5 daughters together during their marriage. John was the one to tell Betsy that her last husband, Joseph was dead.
  • Betsy retires

    Betsy retires
    Betsy has to retire from her upholstery shop and making flags. This is due to a loss of vision and blindness. She can no longer continue making the flags. She was 76 years old.
  • Betsy Ross' Death

    Betsy Ross' Death
    She was 84 years old when she died. She died of natural causes. She is buried at Mt. Moriah Cemetery.