Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1920-12-23
Daughter of Betsy Ross Lived,
Died, and Is Buried at Fort Madison

burn. was taken prisoner by the
! British and also sent to Mill prison.
During severe illness Ashburn
gave to Claypoole letter saying
John, If you get hack to Phladel-
phia, deliver this TO my wife, Betsy
| | fear l shall never SEQ her again."
and he never did.
John Claypoole had on his person
among other papers, certificate OF
membership in the Masonic lodge.
| This was written in Latin, French
and English and it Is thought due
| to this document he received better
| treatment than the other prisoners
With the first exchange OF prisoners
| Ilaypooie was returned to Philadel-
phia, where he fastened to deliver
to Betsy Ross tho letter .intrusted to
him by her husband many months
before.
! This incident revived an old ac-
quaintance and later led to the mar
riage OF Betsy and John Claypoole.
During this recital Of this interest
Ing bit OF history Mrs. Robson
| brought forth tho Identical Masonic
document, yellow with age. which
fJohn Claypoole had carried on his
eventful trip from France. 1t is dated
March 80. 1880, and is intact with
the exception Of the seal
| Il found 1t among grandmothers
papers" said Mrs. Robson. "but
brought nearer by Mrs. Robisons
she had been careless OF 1t and had
lost the seal"
script certificate hangs. in the Ma
| ont ID Stp
| Rapids. Tho original, after being ex-
hibited at n meeting OF the grand
lodge, was returned to Mrs Robson
neatly mounted under n covering OF
transparent celluoid, in which form
it can be preserved for many years.
| Thru the death of her first hus-
| band Betsy was left n childless
widow. ITO her marriage with Cap
| tain Ashburn two daughters were
| born, one OF whom died In infancy.
There are no descendants Of this
marriage living. or her third mar
riage five daughters were born.
| As the writer sat In Mrs. Robi-
sons living room, looking up at
wonderful old portrait OF one of these
daughters-the grandmother Of Mrs.
| Robison--we seemed almost to feel
the spirit OF those revolutionary days
those events of so many years ago.
/ brought nearer by Mrs. Robison's
"reminiscences OF the days when her
grandmother had told her of her own
childhood, spent among the flags in
| Betsys home, how we'll she remem-
hered General Washington. as he
would come into old Christ church
in Philadelphia. and bow to her and
| her now famous mother, as he en-
tered his pew
| Mrs. Robson concluded with
story indicative OF Betsy's large
heartedness. Besides caring for an
invalid husband, Betsy had for many
years carried on alone the business
of flag maker and ship furnisher
When the daughter. who now lies
in the old city cemetery at Fort
/ Madison, became widow, she waC
but q years of age and with six chill
dren to be cared for. Betsy, with her
| characteristic capacity for meeting
| emergencies. said: "Clarissa, I will
now stay at home and care for the
! children and thy father and thee
can carry on the business"
This arrangement was the means
of keeping together and educating
| Betsy's grandchildren. One OF these
married Jacob w. Albright and their
| fine three-story brick home. built in
1857 still stands in Fort Madison. its
back windows overlooking the ma
| jestic Mississippi.
| Mrs. Kate Robson, a daughter of
Mrs. Albright, is the only remaining
member of family OF five children.