Betsy Griscom was born on
January 1, 1752 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. She went to
school to learn how to read and write, and was also taught
how to sew. She then worked for a local upholsterer where
she learned how to sew flags. In 1773 she married John Ross
and they opened their own upholstery business. At that time
it was common for upholsterers to sew flags. Betsy Ross
attended the same church as George Washington. Betsy made
clothes for George Washington and they became friends. In
1776, George Washington, George Ross, and Robert Morris
showed Betsy a rough design of the flag and asked her to
make it. This was at the time of the Revolutionary War, when
the United States wanted to sever all ties to England. Betsy
sewed the flag and on June 14,1777 it was adopted as the
national flag. Betsy Ross continued to sew until her death
in 1836. A major bridge in Philadelphia was named in her
honor.
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