Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1932-06-12
today.

ner. recommending the use of e-pointed stars
instead Of the Six-pointed ones in the sketch.
Gen. Washington hurried away to New York
few days later to rejoin his army, while Betsy
Ross continued to make flags on order by
Col. Ross and Mr.. Morris
1T was not until June IA of the following
year. the day tn, United States celebrated
Flag day. that Congress finally approved the
new design, but there is ample evidence that
it was in use in the meantime In May TIT,
the Pennsylvania State Navy Board accord
ing to Revolutionary archives, ordered that
payment be made to Elizabeth Ross for making
ships colors Elsewhere these old records state:
The first colors for the feet that have any
record of were made BY Elizabeth Ross of
Philadelphia.
The date of this officially recorded payment
is a significant che in flag history. for it
antedates the act of Congress indorsing the
new banner. 1t has sometimes been questioned
by those who decry Betsy Ross connection with
the origin of Old Glory that the flags for which
the State Navy Board compensated her were
the Stars and Stripes They must have been
Pennsylvania flags it is stated. But a
matter of fact, Pennsylvania had no flag as a
colony, and no State banner until 1899, %
years later. The record OF payment so clearly
set down in the archives checks with Mrs.
Ross emphatic statment that she was asked
to fashion the Stars and Stripes prior to its
adoption by Congress. The first specimen
banner, she declared made just before the
Declaration of Independence was signed.
Right through the Revolution she continued
to make the starry banners, even when Gen.
Howe and Lord CORVALLIS held the city
captive and the streets and taverns swarmed
with redcoats, while Washingtons army froze
and starved at Valley Forge"
1t was in the Summer of 1777, according to
Mr.. Parry, while Howe's army and fleet were
descending Philadelphia that Betsy Ross
became the wife of grlhood sutton Capt.
Joseph Ashburn of the sailing sloop Swallow.
plying the West Indian trade The city's fan
quickly separated them, however, and AssD
burn captured on the high seas by an enemy
privateer, disappeared from her life forever.
Not for two years did word come from him,
and then only to tell her of his death in a
prison cell in England. Singularly enough this
word was brought by friend of both of them,
John Claypoole, young patriot who. by the
merest chance, had been a captive in the
same prison. Following the surrender at York
town, Claypoole, who had courted Betsy in
earlier days resumed his suit and became her
third husband.
A S to the various pictures Of Betsy Ross now
in existence Mr.. Parry said none are
authentic. From old woodcuts and sketches
to photographs and paintings, all are imagi-
nary, though none are on the side of too great
beauty, for Elizabeth Griscom's charms were
a source Of concern to her strict Quaker ,
relatives beginning with her schooldays
1.-THE most studied attempt to approximate
her likeness was nearly go years ago." said Mr.
Parry, when composite photograph was
made from photographs of several of her
granddaughter. My mother, who was
20 years old at the time and had just graduated
SWarthnSoro of
asked to pose She and her cousins chosen
were all about the age Betsy was when she
made tile inst nag Of Stars and Stripes.
Copyright. 1922