A bedding project for Mount Vernon is based on documents that tie George Washington to Betsy Ross. From Philly and the Pa. suburbs to South Jersey and Delaware, what would you like WHYY News to cover? Let us know! At the Betsy Ross House in Philadelphia, actors portraying Ross are busily sewing bedclothes for a doll-sized version of George Washington’s canopy bed.
They are bringing to life evidence that suggests Ross may have, indeed, sewn the first Stars and Stripes national flag. Historians have backed away from the claim that Ross sewed the first American flag in 1776 at her upholstery shop on Arch Street, for lack of concrete documentation. The story was put forth in the 19th century by her descendants with little supporting evidence.
But recently discovered documents show Ross had previous business dealings with George Washington, setting up their future relationship. In 1774, she outfitted one of his bedrooms at Mount Vernon with bedding and curtains. “This finding was really exciting for us because some of the people who are doubtful about whether or not Betsy Ross stitched the first American flag, one of the things they cite is: Why would George Washington go to Betsy Ross of all people?’” said Lisa Acker Moulder, director of the Betsy Ross House.
Lisa Acker Moulder, director of the Betsy Ross House, stands outside the bedroom that would likely have been used by the seamstress. (Emma Lee/WHYY) “Now we have some evidence that she’d done work for him in the .