Betsy Ross

:For the lieutenant governor of New York, see Betsy McCaughey Ross.

Legend of sewing the first flag

According to legend, in June, 1776 she received a visit from George Washington, George Ross and Robert Morris of the Continental Congress. She had met George Washington through their mutual worship at Christ Church (and she had sewed buttons for him previously) and George Ross was John's uncle. They announced that they were a "Committee of three" (perhaps self-appointed, under the circumstances) and showed her a suggested design, which was drawn up by Washington in pencil. The design had 6-pointed stars and Betsy suggested 5-pointed stars instead. The flag was sewn by Ross in her parlor. It was this flag that flew when the Declaration of Independence was read aloud at Independence Hall on July 8, 1776.

Related Topics:
1776 - George Washington - George Ross - Robert Morris - Continental Congress - Declaration of Independence - Independence Hall

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

No contemporary record of this meeting was made; the information is based solely on oral affadavits from her daughter and other relatives, and made public in 1870 by her grandson William J. Canby in a paper read before the Historical Society of Pennsylvania. There is no further supporting documentation that Betsy Ross was otherwise involved in federal flag design although the Pennsylvania State Navy Board did commission her for work in making "ships colors & c."

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Some historians believe that it was Francis Hopkinson and not Betsy Ross who designed the official "first flag" of the United States (13 red and white stripes with 13 stars in a circle on a field of blue). Hopkinson was a member of the Continental Congress and a signer of the Declaration. http://www.usflag.org

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~