Betsy Ross, Courtyard and Grave

Title

Betsy Ross, Courtyard and Grave

Creator

Kent, Atwater

Mitchell, Henry

Commemorates

Ross, Betsy

Biographical Text

Bronze sculptural depiction of cats. Sculpted by Henry Mitchell.

Stone rectangular grave with accompanying blue plaque.

In 1937, two lots next to the Betsy Ross House in Philadelphia, PA were purchased by Atwater Kent. He later designed this space into the Atwater Kent Park, a courtyard dedicated to Ross. There you can find the grave of Ross and her final husband, Claypoole. Her grave was moved to this location in 1975, after the United States Bicentennial celebration. The courtyard is also home to a sculpture of cats positioned around a fountain, added in 1974. The courtyard is an accompaniment to the Betsy Ross Historic House Museum, serving as a outdoor space to reflect on her life.

Text

[Text on Grave]
BETSY ROSS
ELIZABETH GRISCOM CLAYPOOLE
JANUARY 1, 1752 - JANUARY 30, 1836
AND HER HUSBAND
JOHN CLAYPOOLE
AUGUST 15, 1752 - AUGUST 3, 1817

Born Elizabeth Griscom of Quaker Parents, January 1, 1752, Betsy Ross attended Friends School until her apprenticeship as an upholster. Marriage on November 4, 1773 to John Ross, an Anglican, caused her to be read out of Meeting. Ross was a member of the militia. He died in January, 1776. There were no children. George Ross, John's uncle, was a member of the Continental Congress and a signer of the Declaration of Independence. He suggested that Betsy sew the Flag, which she did in late May or early June, 1776.
Betsy Ross married Joseph Ashburn, a sea captain, on June 15, 1777 in Old Swede's Church. Ashburn was captured by the British imprisoned in Plymouth England, where he died March 3, 1782 while in prison. There were two daughters.
On May 8, 1783, Betsy Ross was married in Christ Church to John Claypoole who had been a fellow prisoner of Joseph Ashburn's. He and Betsy lived in this house until 1786. They had five daughters. Claypoole died August 3, 1817 and he is buried here with his wife, Betsy, who died in 1836.

[Text on Sculpture]
VIRGINIA
NEW HAMPSHIRE
SOUTH CAROLINA
[Remaining text illegible]

Date Created

1937

Date Modified

1974

1975

Type

English Display

English Grave

Bibliographic Citation

"Betsy Ross House to add colonial upholstery shop," The Philadelphia Inquirer. June 05, 1977.

"When Giants Lived in Philadelphia," Philadelphia Daily News. Oct. 03, 1983.

Cats, Philadelphia Public Art

Betsy Ross, Find a Grave

Project Researcher

O'Neill, Iris