She continued to make flags for the govern ment while her newly wed half kept up his sea service. His boat was sailing in the inter ests of the continentals and he was captured by the British and taken to English land where he was confined in a prison near Portsmouth. Here he died in March 1782. John Claypoole, a young Philadelphian, also a prisoner, was later released and upon his return to Philadelphia visited Mrs. Betsy Ashburn some time in May. While the colonial dame was busy making the flag, Claypoole was busy making love and Betsy finished her task on 13 June while Claypoole completed his task 15 June and on that day Betsy Griscom-Ross-Ashburn-Claypoole, began a new life of romance. To this marriage was born four daughters. The Ross' who made our first flag and her daughters for many years after were employed to make the govern ment flags. On 30 Jan. 1835, she died at Philadelphia at the age of 84. Her maiden name was Griscom, she was the daughter of Samuel Griscom, a builder. She was a wor shipper at Christ Church, Philadelphia, where her pew is now marked with a brass tablet; she was buried at the south Fifth street God's acre, but in 1857 her remains were transferred to a lot in Mount Moriah Cemetery where a well marked grave is kept in floralized form, by the Daughters of the Revolution. On a tall hickory
flag pole daily from sunrise to sunset, floats the "Star Spangled Banner° over the remains of the woman, who first formed it into a thing of beauty and a joy forever. (See FLAG DAY). The Ross who planted the family in America came from Scotland where he was born 1676, just 100 years before the Declaration of Inde pendence. He was a Presbyterian minister but later left that church and joined the Episco palian creed. Immediately after this religious change he came to America, and landed at Delaware, where he rapidly grew in the favor of the entire New World and he was known as one of the most learned and popular in the colonies at that period. He was chaplain to a number of propnetory governors.