The Betsy Ross House:
One of the highlights of any visit to historic Philadelphia is a stop by The Betsy Ross House.
Betsy Ross is a figure stitched into the mythology of American Independence. Legend says that she sewed the first American flag for the Continental Army in Philadelphia in 1777. While this has never been proven, we do know that Betsy Ross was indeed a patriot and a flagmaker in Philadelphia during The Revolutionary War.
During our visit to The Betsy Ross House, my mother and I were struck by the profound impact the American Revolution had on ordinary citizens. Each individual faced difficult choices, as supporting the patriot cause carried severe financial and safety risks. Women bore particularly heavy burdens during the Revolution, as some were left alone to manage households and families independently while the men in their lives served in the war. “The war effort relied heavily on women, who managed shops and farms, and provided crucial care for the wounded. Their contributions were essential to the eventual victory.
Getting to Know Betsy Ross:
While Betsy Ross is widely remembered as a flagmaker, her true patriotism lies in her resilience and courage in the face of profound personal tragedy.
Born in Philadelphia on January 1, 1752 to Quaker parents Samuel and Rebecca Griscom, she was the eighth of seventeen siblings.
Quakers considered men and women equal and championed education in both girls and boys, believing it nurtures “that of God” in everyone and should be accessible to all. Elizabeth ‘Betsy’ Griscom was able to complete a formal education at a Quaker School, before being apprenticed to a local upholsterer.
Betsy Ross displayed a talent for upholstery, a highly valued skill in the Colonial era and well into the modern age.
As an apprentice she learned how to make upholstered furniture, bed covers, umbrellas, uniforms, tents and flags.
While an apprentice, Betsy fell in love with fellow apprentice John Ross. They eloped in 1773. Betsy converted to her husband’s Anglican faith. As a Quaker marrying an Anglican meant ostracization by the community, but their marriage proved to be a happy one. Two years after marrying they started their own upholstery business.
*Fun fact: Did you know? Betsy Ross, while attending Christ Church with John Ross, would have been in the same congregation as George Washington, who sat in a nearby pew, while he was in Philadelphia.
Sadly, John, who served as a patriot in a local militia was wounded in battle and died shortly thereafter.
Betsy pressed on in spite of her grief, managing her upholstery business making items such as flags, uniforms, and more for the warfront.
In 1777, she entered into a second marriage with sea Captain Joseph Ashburn. She rejoined the Quaker congregation at this time.
The American Flag:
While there is no historical proof that Betsy sewed the the first American Flag she was in Philadelphia when The Continental Congress ordered it on June 14, 1777
“Resolved: that the flag of the United States be made of thirteen stripes, alternate red and white; that the union be thirteen stars, white in a blue field, representing a new constellation.” – The Continental Congress, June 14, 1777
Betsy and Joseph had two daughters (Zillah, who died in her youth, and Elizabeth).
On a trip to the West Indies to procure war supplies for the Revolutionary cause, Captain Ashburn was captured by the British and sent to Old Mill Prison, where he died in 1782. His cellmate, John Claypoole, who also knew Betsy, returned to Philadelphia after the war. Concerned for her well-being, they eventually married in 1783. Following their marriage, they moved from her rented house on Arch Street to 2nd Street.
Betsy continued her work as a seamstress until her mid-70s. She died aged 84 on Jan. 30th 1836.
The legend of Betsy Ross sewing the first American flag, originating from her grandchildren’s accounts decades after her death, rapidly gained popularity. By the late 1800s, The Betsy Ross House became a must-see for visitors to Philadelphia.
While no definitive written proof exists, historians cite several pieces of evidence: Betsy Ross’s familial connections to flag committee members, George Ross and George Read, suggest prior acquaintance and trust. Documents from Mt. Vernon show she made bed hangings for George Washington, indicating he knew her work. Additionally, upholsterers commonly made flags during wartime. Finally, her payment from the Pennsylvania Navy Board for flag-making shortly before Congress adopted the Stars and Stripes raises the possibility of a direct link. Learn more here.
Whether or not Betsy Ross sewed ‘the flag’ doesn’t diminish the bravery and perseverance of this Revolutionary woman who sacrificed so much for service to American Independence.
About The Betsy Ross House:
This charming colonial house, dating back to 1740, is situated on Arch Street in Philadelphia, a short walk from Independence Hall, the site of the 1776 debates and signing of the Declaration of Independence.
Betsy would have lived in this house from 1776 to 1779, when she rented two tiny rooms from the Widow Hannah Lithgow.
The front of the house was built in 1740 with the rear section being added on ten-to-twenty years later. In the 18th century the home had many uses. It was occupied by a shoemaker, shopkeeper and an apothecary. Betsy is believed to have lived in this house from 1776 to 1779, when she rented two tiny rooms from the Widow Hannah Lithgow.
In the 19th century, a German immigrant family named Mund lived in the building where they ran a variety of businesses including a tailor’s shop, a cigar store and a tavern. When the Mund’s heard the story of Betsy’s role in making the first flag, they began to advertise ‘First Flag of the US Made in this House.” An 1876 advertisement for Munds’ tavern read: ‘Original Flag House, Lager, Wine and Liquors. This is the house where the first United States flag was made by Mrs. John Ross.’
By the late 19th century, many Colonial-era buildings risked demolition. A group of citizens fought to preserve the American Flag House. They set up The Betsy Ross Memorial Association to raise funds to buy the house from the Munds.
Charles Weisgerber, a founding member of the Memorial Association, was instrumental in saving the Betsy Ross House. He used his painting, “Birth of Our Nation’s Flag,” to raise funds through membership sales, even moving his family into the house. His dedication solidified its preservation, and he further cemented its legacy by naming his son Vexildomus, Latin for “flag house.”
Today, you can tour the house much as it looked in 1776. The museum house includes a gallery exhibit, “Stitching the Story Together,” that explores the life of Betsy Ross. You can also meet an impersonator of Betsy Ross and ask her questions about her life as she works in her upholstery shop.
Planning Your Visit:
Check tour times and purchase tickets on the official Betsy Ross Historic House website. https://historicphiladelphia.org/betsy-ross-house/visit/
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