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The legend of Betsy Ross is filled with mystery. In fact, her role in the founding of this country has evolved over time turning her into an almost mythical figure. As such, it is difficult to definitively claim certain actions allegedly taken by Ross herself. However, Ross, in fact, contributed greatly to the American war effort during the Revolutionary War and helped to shape the founding of the country in her own way.
The eighth of seventeen children, she was only one of nine siblings that lived to adulthood.
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At the age of three, Elizabeth and her family moved to Philadelphia, Pennsylvania where she attended a traditional Quaker school. As a young girl, she was taught how to sew by her great aunt. This talent naturally allowed Griscom to gain an apprenticeship under an upholsterer in Philadelphia after finishing her primary education from a Quaker school.
During her apprenticeship in Philadelphia, Elizabeth met John Ross at an Anglican church and the two soon fell in love. The couple ran away to get married in As a result of marrying out of the Quaker faith, the now Elizabeth Ross was shunned by her family. However, the Ross's soon opened up their very own upholstery shop in Philadelphia and continued their new Anglican faith together, even meeting soon-to-be prominent Founding Fathers including George Washington who attended the same church as Ross when he was away from Mount Vernon and his home parish.
When war broke out in , the patriotic fervor in Philadelphia washed over the Ross household and John guarded ammunition stores as part of his role in the local militia while Elizabeth manufactured items like tents, clothing, and blankets for the American cause. However, two months after the start of the war John Ross was killed guarding the munitions depot from the British and left the year-old Elizabeth Ross to continue the war effort alone.
Nevertheless, Betsy Ross persevered and continued to make materials for the American war effort.