Generations of American schoolchildren grew up with the tale of Betsy Ross, the woman who sewed America’s first flag. It is a wholesome story, but unfortunately, as seen below, it is highly unlikely to have been true.
The Betsy Ross Stars and Stripes Story
During the American Revolution, Philadelphia upholsterer and seamstress Betsy Ross (1752 – 1836) made tents and sewed uniforms and flags for the Continental Army and Navy. In 1776, she reportedly received a visit from one of her relatives, Colonel George Ross, who was accompanied by General George Washington, Commander in Chief of the Continental Army, and financier Robert Morris. They asked her to make a flag based on a sketch that featured thirteen six-pointed white stars, and thirteen red and white stripes.
Ross accepted the commission, but suggested some changes: that the points of the stars should be reduced from six to five, and that they should be arranged in a circle. Her visitors agreed, and on July 14th, 1777, Congress adopted Ross’ design as the national flag. It is a nice story, but aside from the fact that the Stars and Stripes was not America’s first flag, the account that Ross had sewn it is probably a myth. As seen below, there is no contemporary documentary support to back it up.
Betsy Ross’ Grandson and the Flag Story
The first mention of Betsy Ross and the original Stars and Stripes came out almost a century after the American Revolution. In 1870, William Canby, Betsy Ross’ grandson, claimed that his grandmother had relayed the account of her commission to make America’s first flag to her daughter, niece, and granddaughter. Harper’s New Monthly Magazine published the story in 1873, and it was uncritically accepted and made it into schoolbooks. So, what is the real scoop about the origins of the Stars and Stripes?
Betsy Ross did make flags for the Patriots during the American Revolution. However, she was far from the only one. For example, the Grand Union Flag, which featured the British Union Jack where the stars are today and served as the national flag from 1775 to 1776, was sewn by Rebecca Young. It is conceivable that Betsy Ross’s relative, Colonel George Ross, might have recommended her to sew the Stars and Stripes. And it is possible that she was acquainted with George Washington and Robert Morris, both of whom attended her church. The rest of the story, though, as seen below, is unlikely to have happened.
The Holes in the Betsy Ross Flag Story
There is not enough to support the Betsy Ross account. There is simply no proof – other than her grandson’s assertion a century later – that Ross made the original Stars and Stripes. Furthermore, William Canby’s account that his grandmother sewed the original Stars and Stripes has some serious holes. For example, he claimed that a Continental Congress committee had commissioned a new flag in 1776. However, no records of such a committee exist. His additional claim that the committee was headed by George Washington is also problematic.
Washington had left Congress to head the Continental Army in 1775, so he could not have served on a congressional committee in 1776. The first documented congressional discussion about a national flag did not take place until 1777. The only flag payments made to Betsy Ross in 1777 were from Pennsylvania’s State Naval Board for Pennsylvania naval flags, not for the Stars and Stripes. Put all that together, and the story of Betsy Ross and the first Stars and Stripes is probably just a myth started by her grandson, and uncritically accepted as true for too long.
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Some Sources & Further Reading
Furlong, William Rea – So Proudly We Hail: The History of the United States Flag (1981)
History Halls – Myths and Realities: Just How Real Was Hollywood’s ‘The Alamo’?
