Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1916-11-09
THE GREAT FLAG MYTH
We All Believe That Betsy Made the First Stars Stripes
in Spite of the Evdence-That She Had Three
Husbands Is Undoubted
By JOHN ELFRETH WATKINS

lust prior TO the Revolution there
dwelt in Philadelphia a pretty Quaker
maid. Betsy Griscom, famed for her ex-
quisite skill with the needle. Her beauty
and charm attracted many suitors. among
them John Ross, the son of an Episcopal
clergyman, of Wilmington, Del. John
had come to Philadelphia and opened an
upholstery shop, and his trade being pros
porous, Betsy consented to marry him.
Her genius as a needlewoman proved a
great asset to his business. The young
couple were thrifty. contented and cheer
full. but the Revolutionary War was soon
to separate them.
John Ross was among the first of our
patriots to sacrifice the comforts OF home
for the hardships of a soldiers career,
and one night, while guarding some muni-
tions on one OF the Delaware River
wharves, he received a mortal wound,
dying in January, 1776. The young
widow was then twenty-four years old.
One of those who became her stanch
champions was her husbands uncle,
George Ross, signer Of the Declaration OF
Independence.
When Samuel Adams publicly averred
that his country should have flag OF
its own, that Patriots and Redcoats
need no longer be shouting for the same
emblem, George Ross was member Of
the Continental Congress, and. with
George Washington and Robert Morris.
was placed upon committee constituted
to design a national emblem. Washing
ton drew a rough sketch representing
the flag as finally adopted, save that the
stars were six-pointed. This design being
| approved by the other members OF the
committee, the next question was where
to have the first flag made. Then George
Ross, remembering his nephew's widow
and her skill with the needle, persuaded
Washington and Morris TO accompany
him to her upholstery shop at 239 Arch
street. On the way there the three called
TO sec John Hancock, who was laid up
with the gout. He gave them pieces OF
4 red, white and blue bunting with which
70 have the original national emblem
made.
Arriving at Betsy Ross's shop. Wash
ington and his two colleagues placed a
sketch Of the nag before her.
why not make the stars ive-pointed
instead Of SIX" asked Mrs. Ross. and the
committee agreed TO her suggestion. In
cne of the popular prints Betsy Ross IL
shown displaying the nrst nag TO Wash
ington, Morris and Ross. In this picture
she wears Quaker garb and is repre-
sented as a middle-aged matron, although
she was but twenty-four years old at the
time.
So much for tradition.
Several historians now dispute Betsy
Rosss claims TO credit In the transac
ton and aver that she was haif-legen
dairy figure whose identity with the fias
episode can never be established. In >his
work entitled "our Flag" Robert Aller
Campbell states that the Congressiona
Committee appointed TO design the ias
was composed not OF Washington. Morris
and Ross but OF Franklin. Lynch ant
Harrison. and that Franklin received tn,
suggestion for the adopted nag from al
eccentric professor with whom he wal
obliged TO room while the committee wal
visiting George washington at Cam
bridge.
When Philadelphia was arranging 10
its great Founders Day pageant. william
]. CemphelI. . PhiladslphIa Historian. Il
! report = TIE hiztoric@l alt>s commit