New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1904-06-12


GrscOm, daughter of respectable Quaker parents,
and born Race-st. not two blocks distant from the
Flag House. AS girl she known the Rebel
Quaker" Though her family people of peace
she openly and avOwedly professed the rebel faith.
Her husband John Ross. was also a patriot of this
stamp and so ardent patriot that he of the
first of the Colonial martyrs. While secretly storing
gunpOwter in house the foot of Archst the powder
exploded and placed him eternally if irregularly
upon the roll of history.
1t was in her early widowhOod that Betsy made the
first flag, and her fame and personal charms her
second husband in Captain Ashburn. The possessor
of letter of marque he harassed the English shipping
with his privateer until he and his over
come after gallant fight, and taken prisoners
England. In Mill Prison. London, he sickened and
died His faithful friend and fellow prisoner one
Caypole watched over him in his last moments and
him AShburn said that his last and dearest thoughts
of his wife Betsy, and that Claypoe, if he
set free go TO her and give this loving message
The present Caretaker of the Flag House who feels>
deeply the human throb of this sad event AYERS that
it is episode which should inspire any writer for
the press TO great lines In this he is undoubtedly
correct that any reader picture the sympathetic
scene for himself ClaypOe dutfuly bore the message
to Betsy, and their tender Consonance OF grief
the death of the gallant Captain resulted in her third
marriage, the bridegroom being Claypoe.
After his marriage he again enlisted, and under
Washington through the trying winter at Valley
Forge Thus also according the fervent caretaker.
Betsy Ross the wife of less than three different
patriots who offered their lives for their country's
nag record OF matrimonial PATRIOTISM which history
may possibly be able 70 equal but cannot surpasS,
History declares that the Stars and Stripes We're in
common if not general nearly year before
resolution of Congress, in une I777, proclaimed them
to be the flag of the United States of America Captain
Hugh Montgomery is averred TO have hoisted the =
brig Nancy flag made from written description
sent TO HIM early as March, I777-
At the first anniversary of the Declaration of indie
pendenCe, July !. III at Philadelphia. "aIl the
armed ships and galleys in the river drawn up
before the city dressed in the gayest with the
ColorS of the United States"
Their first actual use in the war however was due
to Paul Jones' He claimed that it his good for
tune to be the first TO display the Stars and Stripes
naval vessel, and the claim denied.
This vessel his ship the Alfred. The same
day that Congress adopted the flag it appointed him
by resolution TO the command of the Ranger He
promptly hoisted the flag upon that vessel and pro-
ceedcd in Quberon Bay, in obtaining the first salute
to the flag gwen by foreign power.
Il am happy, he says in a letter TO the Naval Com
mttec, to have 1t in power to congratulate on nv
having the American flag for the first time recOe-
nized in the fullest and completest manner bv The flag
of France was off this bay the Sth instant and
sent my boat in the next day know if the Admiral
would return my salute. He answered that he would
return to me the senior Continental officer in
Europe the salute he authorized return
to Admiral of Holland. any other Republic
which four guns less than the salute given. I
hesitated at this for had demanded gun for gum"
He finally after inquiry. accepted this offer
acknowledgment of American independence
The flag first appeared in a land battle August e !
I777, at Fort Schuyler. The garrison being without
flag, made one themselves, cutting up shirts for thu
white stripes joining bits of scarlet cloth for the red
and using Captain SwartOut'S blue cloak for the blu
ground
The first formal of the official flag in battle
however was at the Battle of Brandywine, Septembe
H. I777 eight days after the decree adopting it ha