Elizabeth Betsy "Betsy" Griscom ^715,1142

  General Notes:

He [John Ross] was married to Elizabeth GRISCOM on 4 NOV 1773. Elizabeth was expelled from the Society of Friends (Quakers) for marrying John Ross, an Anglican. On the day of their wedding, Elizabeth and John rowed across the Delaware River and were married by Squire Bowman of Gloucester. Elizabeth GRISCOM was born on 1 JAN 1752 in Philadelphia, PA. She died on 30 JAN 1836 in Philadelphia, PA. Elizabeth died in the home of her son-in-law, C. H. Canby. She was buried in FEB 1836 in Mount Moriah Cemetery. Elizabeth was known as Betsy Ross and tradition holds that she was commissioned by a committee to make the first flag of stars and stripes following a design sketched by George Washington. Historical records lend little credence to the story. The only documentary evidence to support it is found in the minutes of the Pennsylvania State Navy Board, which show an order for payments of "14..12..12" to Elizabeth Ross in May 1777 for making "ship’s colours, &c." Records of the Continental Congress mention no committee concerned with designing a flag.

Betsy’s father was Samuel Griscom, and his father Tobias was a master builder who built the first brick house in Philadelphia. A large framed membership list of the Carpenters’ Company since its founding in 1724 hangs on a wall of the Assembly Room in historic Carpenters Hall in Philadelphia and contains the names of Tobias Griscom and Samuel.

After the death of John, Betsy married two more times. Her second husband, Joseph Ashburn, was a first mate on the brigantine "Patty." He was captured on a mission on the high seas and died March 1782 in Old Mill Prison, Plymouth, England. Betsy and Joseph, who married 15 Jun 1777, had two children: Zillah, born 15 Sep 1779, who died young, and Eliza, born 25 Feb 1781. Eliza married Isaac Silliman 29 May 1799. She died February 1833.

Before he died in prison, Joseph gave John Claypoole, a fellow prisoner, a message to take to Betsy. John was released and sailed from England on 22 Jun 1782, reaching America about two months later at which time he delivered the message to Betsy. On 8 May 1783 they were married. Betsy and John had five children: Clarissa Sidney, born 3 Apr 1785; Susanna, born 15 Nov 1786; Rachel, born 1 Feb 1789; Jane, born 13 Nov 1792, and Harriet, born 20 Dec 1795, who died 8 Oct 1796. John Claypoole died Aug 1817.
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The Story of Betsy Ross's Life
http://www.ushistory.org/betsy/flaglife.html

One year before William Penn founded Philadelphia in 1681, Betsy Ross's
great-grandfather, Andrew Griscom, a Quaker carpenter, had already emigrated from England to New Jersey.

Andrew was successful at his trade. He was also of firm Quaker belief, and he was inspired to move to Philadelphia to become an early participant in Penn's "holy experiment." He purchased 495 acres of land in the Spring Garden section north of the city of Philadelphia (the section would later be incorporated as part of the city), and received a plot of land within the city proper.

Griscom's son and grandson both became respected carpenters as well. Both have their names inscribed on a wall at Carpenters' Hall in Philadelphia, home of the oldest trade organization in the country.

Griscom's grandson Samuel helped build the bell tower at the Pennsylvania State House (Independence Hall). He married Rebecca James who was a member of a prominent Quaker merchant family. It was not unusual for people in those days to have many children, so it is only somewhat surprising to learn that they had 17!

Elizabeth Griscom -- also called Betsy, their eighth child and a fourth-generation American, was born on January 1, 1752.

Betsy went to a Friends (Quaker) public school. For eight hours a day she was taught reading, writing, and received instruction in a trade -- probably sewing. After completing her schooling, Betsy's father apprenticed her to a local upholsterer. Today we think of upholsterers primarily as sofa-makers and such, but in colonial times they performed all manner of sewing jobs, including flag-making. It was at her job that Betsy fell in love with another apprentice, John Ross, who was the son of an Episcopal assistant rector at Christ Church.

Quakers frowned on inter-denominational marriages. The penalty for such unions was severe -- the guilty party being "read out" of the Quaker meeting house. Getting "read out" meant being cut off emotionally and economically from both family and meeting house. One's entire history and community would be instantly dissolved. On a November night in 1773, 21-year-old Betsy eloped with John Ross. They ferried across the Delaware River to Hugg's Tavern and were married in New Jersey. Her wedding caused an irrevocable split from her family. [It is an interesting parallel to note that on their wedding certificate is the name of New Jersey's Governor, William Franklin, Benjamin Franklin's son. Three years later William would have an irrevocable split with his father because he was a Loyalist against the cause of the Revolution.]

Less than two years after their nuptials, the couple started their own upholstery business. Their decision was a bold one as competition was tough and they could not count on Betsy's Quaker circle for business. As she was "read out" of the Quaker community, on Sundays one could now find Betsy at Christ Church sitting in pew 12 with her husband. Some Sundays would find George Washington, America's new commander in chief, sitting in an adjacent pew.

War Comes to Philadelphia

In January 1776, a disaffected British agitator living in Philadelphia for only a short while published a pamphlet that would have a profound impact on the Colonials. Tom Paine ("These are the times that try men's souls") wrote Common Sense which would swell rebellious hearts and sell 120,000 copies in three months; 500,000 copies before war's end.

However, the city was fractured in its loyalties. Many still felt themselves citizens of Britain. Others were ardent revolutionaries heeding a call to arms.

Betsy and John Ross keenly felt the impact of the war. Fabrics needed for business were becoming hard to come by. Business was slow. John joined the Pennsylvania militia. While guarding an ammunition cache in mid-January 1776, John Ross was mortally wounded in an explosion. Though his young wife tried to nurse him back to health he died on the 21st and was buried in Christ Church cemetery.

In June of 1776, Betsy tells us about her fateful meeting with the Committee of Three: George Washington, George Ross, and Robert Morris which led to the sewing of the first flag. See more about this on the Betsy Ross and the American Flag page.

After becoming widowed, Betsy returned to the Quaker fold, in a way. Quakers are pacifists and forbidden from bearing arms. This led to a schism in their ranks. When Free, or Fighting Quakers -- who supported the war effort -- banded together, Betsy joined them. (The Free Quaker Meeting House, which still stands a few blocks from the Betsy Ross House, was built in 1783, after the war was over.)

Betsy would be married again in June 1777, this time to sea captain Joseph Ashburn in a ceremony performed at Old Swedes Church in Philadelphia.

During the winter of 1777, Betsy's home was forcibly shared with British soldiers whose army occupied Philadelphia. Meanwhile the Continental Army was suffering that most historic winter at Valley Forge.

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 in England where he died in March 1782, several months after the surrender of Cornwallis at Yorktown, Virginia, the last major battle of the Revolutionary War.

After the War Betsy learned of her husband's death from her old friend, John Claypoole, another sailor imprisoned at the brutal Old Mill. In May of 1783, Betsy was married for the third time, the ceremony performed at Christ Church. Her new husband was none other than old friend John Claypoole. Betsy convinced her new husband to abandon the life of the sea and find landlubbing employment. Claypoole initially worked in her upholstery business and then at the U.S. Customs House in Philadelphia. The couple had five daughters (Clarissa Sidney, Susannah, Rachel, Jane, and Harriet, who died at nine months).

After the birth of their second daughter, the family moved to bigger quarters on Second Street in what was then Philadelphia's Mercantile District. Claypoole passed on in 1817 after years of ill health and Betsy never remarried. She continued working until 1827 bringing many of her immediate family into the business with her. After retiring, she went to live with her married daughter Susannah Satterthwaite in the then-remote suburb of Abington, PA, to the north of Philadelphia.

In 1834, there were only two free Quakers still attending the Meeting House. It was agreed by Betsy and Samuel Wetherill that the usefulness of their beloved Meeting House had come to an end. At that last meeting, Betsy watched as the door was locked, symbolizing the end of an era.

Betsy died on January 30, 1836, at the age of 84.

Betsy Ross Facts and Footnotes

At the age of 21, she eloped across the Delaware River to Gloucester, New Jersey, and was married at a tavern.

She was the 8th of 17 children.

She claimed to have done tailoring for George Washington.

She has been buried in three different locations: Christ Church Cemetery, Mt. Moriah Cemetery, and now on Arch Street in the courtyard adjacent to the Betsy Ross House.

A major Philadelphia bridge is named in her honor. ¹¹⁴²

  Death Notes:

Elizabeth died in the home of her son-in-law, C. H. Canby.

  Burial Notes:

Mount Moriah Cemetery then moved to Christ Church Cemetery before being moved into the courtyard next to the Betsy Ross House at 239 Arch Street in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. 239 Arch Street--In Courtyard

  Life Events:

1. Education: Friends (Quaker) Public School: Philadelphia, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA. ¹²¹⁷

2. Occupation: Owned Upholstery Business: Philadelphia, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA. ¹³²³

Elizabeth married John Ross, son of Rev. Aeneas Ross Sr. and Sarah Leech, on 4 Nov 1773 in Gloucester City, Camden, New Jersey, USA ⁷¹⁵.^,1142 (John Ross was born in 1752 in New Castle, New Castle, Delaware, USA,^715,1142 died on 21 Jan 1776 in Philadelphia, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA ^715,1142 and was buried in Christ Church Cemetery (Philadelphia, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA) ¹¹⁴².)

  Marriage Notes:

She and John eloped across the Delaware to Gloucester, New Jersey and were married in Hugg's Tavern by Squire Bowman.

Elizabeth next married Joseph Ashburn on 15 Jun 1777 in Philadelphia, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA.¹²¹⁷ (Joseph Ashburn died in Mar 1782 in Plymouth, , Devonshire, England ¹²¹⁸.)

  Marriage Notes:

Old Swedes Church

Elizabeth next married John Claypoole on 8 May 1783 in Christ Church Cemetery (Philadelphia, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA).¹²¹⁷ (John Claypoole was born on 15 Aug 1752 and died on 3 Aug 1817 ¹²¹⁸.)