Elizabeth+griscom

Boston, MA    By, Rachel Akers You may now here as Betsy Ross. She made the first American flag.Betsy left her Quaker society to marry John Ross. A Quaker is a member of the Society of Friends, a Christian denomination founded in England in the 17th century that rejects formal sacraments, ministry, and creed, and is committed to pacifism. Her husband died in an explosion while guarding ammunition in January, 1776.  Later that year, she met with George Washington, George Ross, and Robert Morris. This meeting led to the sewing of the first American flag.The meaning of the colors on the American flag: white to mean purity and innocence, red for valor and hardiness, and blue for vigilance, perseverance, and justice. Betsy remarried, this time to a sea captain, who died in an English prison after being captured while obtaining war supplies.  Betsy said “that she would often tell her children, grandchildren, relatives, and friends of the fateful day when three members of a secret committee from the Continental Congress came to call upon her. Those representatives, George Washington, Robert Morris, and George Ross, asked her to sew the first flag. This meeting occurred in her home sometime late in May 1776. George Washington was then the head of the Continental Army. Robert Morris, an owner of vast amounts of land, was perhaps the wealthiest citizen in the Colonies. Colonel George Ross was a respected Philadelphian and also the uncle of her late husband, John Ross.”  In June 1776, brave Betsy was a widow struggling to run her own upholstery business. Upholsterers in colonial America not only worked on furniture but did all manner of sewing work, which for some included making flags. According to Betsy, General Washington showed her a rough design of the flag that included a six-pointed star. Betsy, a standout with the scissors, demonstrated [|__how to cut a five-pointed star in a single snip__]. Impressed, the committee entrusted Betsy with making our first flag. Her company made different flags for about any occasion; such as: "Rattlesnake Flag" used by the Continental Navy, with its venomous challenge, "Don't Tread on Me . Another naval flag had a green pine tree on a white background. The one shown here is the "Liberty Tree" flag. Elizabeth Griscom: born January 1, 1752 and died at the age of 84 on January 30, 1836.
 * Elizabeth Griscom **