The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1906-06-09

iul Cilli IoSplldDlC llDlllc Ol MT. FL
wood Balderston, OF Colora, has intro
duced me to some facts and records
which are to me exceedingly interest
ing, and which | know would interest
many OF your readers. Mr.. Balders-
ton is great-grandson OF Betsy Ross,
who made the first American flag, and
has i'll his possession several interest
ing relics from the home OF Betsy
Ross. | asked Mr.. Baderston to
make me record OF her genealogy,
which he has kindly done, and which,
by his permission, | am sending to
your valuable paper
Yours truly
MRS. ALEXANDER WILSON.
GENEALOGI OF BETSY ROSS.
Betsy Ross whose maiden name
was Elizabeth GriScomc, was daugh-
ter of Samuel AMI Rcbecca (JamcS)
Griscome, oi Philadelphia, was born
1885. al the HON, a.: her Sun-in-law.
Caleb II. Candy, II Philadelphia, in
hct :. III year.
She married Jean X, 5, a son OF the
Rev. EncaS Ross. of New Castle. Del,
who died within tive years, leaving her
4 widow without children at the early
age o1 nilei@Cn years. She was there
alter Familiarity known as Betsy Ross"
and livtG i'll small two and a hall
story brick house No. go Arch street,
Philadelphia. (reccntly bought by the
school r',:i!i,r OF the United States,
and set aside by Congress by an APP
proprau II 10, its perpetual prcScrva-
tionD Here she hcroically persisted
i'll continuing the business oi upholstcr-
ing and ship-color making, with which,
with her later husband. she had be
come familiar 1t was here she was
called upon by a committee OF the Con
tinental Congress, accompanied by
General Washington. about the ISt OF
June, VIC, to make the FIRST FLAG
O FTIIE UNITED STATES.
The simple story OF her shrewd tact
and services in connection with this
important historical event, is a very
interesting one 1t happened that her
late husbands uncle, Col George Ross.
one al the SigncSr OF the Declaration
OF Independence, and number oi the
Continental Congress, was appointed
one OF the above mentioned Committee
which. aided by General Washington.
was required to have made for APP
proval a flag. a suitable emblem OF the
infant Republic
Betsy was great iavorite OF her
uncle. and he well acquainted with her
ability in such handiwork escorted
Gen. Washington and the Committee
to her house \ drawing, made by
Gen. Washington and supposed to be
his design, with thirteen stars, repre-
scntng the original thirteen States OF
the CniN, was shown to her with the
query whether she could, through her
peculiar skill in necdle-work. repro
ducc the same in bunting. and secure
the white and the blue She replied
with becoming modcSty that she would
try, then with quick appreciation, no.
tlclng that the stars, as drawn, had
SIX points, told Gen. Washington and
the Committee present that the cor
rect star should have only five points.
They replied that a great number would
be required, and that six points would
be more easily made than five. She
promptly responded in most pract-
cal way by deity folding scrap OF
paper, and then with a single clip OF
her scissors, which hung at her side,
she displayed to the astonishcd eyes OF
the august Committee a perfectly SYM
metrical five pointed star. This at
one, for all time, not only decided that
point i'll her favor, but other sugges-
tons of hers were agreed to. and after
the design was partially rc-drawn on a
table in her little back parlor, she was
lett to make her sample flag, after her
own idea OF arrangement OF the stars.
the proportion OF the stripes and the
general form OF the whole.
Upon its completion, it was present
ed to Congress, and the Committee
very soon thereafter had the pleasure
OF reporting to Betsy Ross, that her
flag was accepted as the Nations Stan
dard, and she was authorized to pro-
coed at once to the manufacture Of
quite large number ior disposal BY
the Continental Congress. When the
Committee had lett her, such a sudden
and unexpected good fortune in her
modest business, for the moment
seemed almost too much for the brave
little woman courage As she was
silently and th' rghtiully considering
her ability to meet this great rcspon-
slblllty, her uncle, Col. George Ross,
returned alone. and laying down a
crisp 800 note on her table, cheerily
told her to secure Immediately all the
bunting she could purchase in Phla-
dclphla. The sight OF SO much money
ard her uncIc's words OF encourage
mcnt dispcllcd her momcntary trepi-
dalton, and from that time on, her busy
hands, and those OF her assistants,
| found no idle moments.
1t will thus be seen that Betsy.
during the time she was the widow OF
| John Ross, made the first United States
Flag, in June, l776 The flag, how
ever, was not publicly adopted by reso-
luton OF Congress Ge-paced on re-
cord), until June "A, VII.
On June IS. VT, the next day after
her flag was put on record, Betsy Ross
married Captain Joseph Ashburn, who
was engaged in the Merchant Marine
Service, his duties Keeping him at sea.
while his vile continued flag making at
her old home, to whom she bore two
children. Captain Ashburn was cap
turcd by the Ennl-h and thrown into
! OId Min Prison, Plymouth England,
I where he ic.i q victim tn the prevail
/ mo ,lutr,rf,., mud 1ia1 NT,-,f, 80,