Susannah's Favorite Bedtime Story (Betsy Ross)
by Julianne Pletcher (Grade: 4th grade) links by Karin Shilling
"Susannah, run up to bed now. It is half past your bed time. I will be up shortly to tuck you in and tell you your favorite story." I scurried up stairs as fast as I could, though the thought of going to bed was dreadful. I knew if I obeyed she would tell me about when she fell in love and how she sewed the flag that all of my friends at school talk about.
Burr! My feet hit the crisp, cold sheets as I dived into bed. I held still, seeking warmth as I curled up on the side of my bed awaiting my mother. As I started to doze, I faintly heard my mother's footsteps on the stairway. She gently tucked my covers around me and kissed my forehead. She asked, "what story would you like to hear on this cold evening?" I piped up, will you tell me about when you were young. My mother's eyes lit up and her lips formed a half smile. She knew I never tired of hearing her story, and I think that she loved to relive it as she told me.
"Well, when I was young I was the eighth child among my seventeen brothers and sisters. I attended the town school just like you. Every day, each student would set aside four hours to perform a task. I just loved to sew! So naturally, I sewed each day for four hours. When I finished school, I got a job working for a local upholsterer. I used to make coverings for sofas, chairs, and many other furniture items that people requested.
Each day I looked forward to going to work, because I liked a man who worked there named John Ross. However, he was a son of an Episcopalian, and because my family was Quaker they said they would disown me if I chose to associate with him. One evening John and I ferried across the Delaware River and got married in New Jersey. We started our own upholstery business, and oh were those happy years. We went to John's church, and often talked to George Washington who sat right in front of us, and for whom I sewed occasionally.
War broke out on April 19, 1775 because the Continental Congress did not want to be under the British control. John joined the army because material was hard to get and our business was slowing. He was wounded in the war and I nursed him day and night, praying that the Lord would heal him. God chose to take him to heaven soon after he was wounded. I felt so alone, but I continued to sew flags for Pennsylvania to support myself.
One day George Washington and his close friends, Robert Morris and Colonel George Ross, paid a visit to my shop. They showed me a sketch of the flag they wanted me to sew. It had thirteen alternated red and white stripes, and thirteen six pointed stars. George Washington wanted the new flag to show our independence from England and to unite our colonies. I knew the six pointed star was impractical because it would require more material; so I suggested a five pointed star and cut it out "in a single snip." I also designed the thirteen stars to be white and arranged in a circle on a blue square in the left hand corner. Boy, were George Washington and his friends impressed! I got the job without any further questions. So, I set to work and finished the beautiful royal flag which is a symbol of our colonies today. My business flourished after I finished the flag, and my name spread throughout the countryside.
Later in June of 1777, I married Joseph Ashburn, a sea captain. I had a little girl who died at a young age; then I had your big sister Elizabeth. While Joseph was out at sea during the war he was taken prisoner. When the war was over, John Claypoole, your daddy, told me that Joseph had died in an English prison.
Your daddy and I began to court each other and were married in 1783. Your daddy was such a handsome man and we laughed a lot together just like we do now. I longed to have more children. Soon after your daddy and I had been married, Clarissa was born and became a wonderful playmate to Elizabeth. Then I was so thrilled to have you, Susannah. You have been such a joy and I love you so dearly. Now, now, I have gotten carried away once again with my story and it is an hour past your bed time."
I begged for more, but my mother gently kissed my cheek and turned out the lights.
Oh, I can remember those days like yesterday. I would drift off to sleep and dream of my mother who would one day become famous for being the American woman who sewed the flag of the United States of America. I am proud to be Susannah, the daughter of Betsy Ross.
- What motivated Savannah to hurry up to bed and obey her mothers command?
- Why do you think Betsy decided to marry John Ross even though she knew her family would disown her?
- What do you think George Washington's sketch of the flag looked like in comparison to Susannah's mother's design? (Write a description and then label and draw a sketch of both flag designs.)
- What caused Susannah's mother's business to greatly prosper?
- Why do you think George Washington and his friends asked Betsy Ross to sew the flag?
"Susannah's Favorite Bedtime Story"
Outline
I. Susannah's Bedtime
A. Obeys mother
B. Chooses a Story
II. Susannah's Mothers Story
A. Her Family
B. Growing up
- School
- First Job & Career
III. Susannah's Mothers First Love
A. John Ross
- Worked with Betsy
- Married Betsy
- Joined the army
- Wounded in war
- Died from war wound
B. Life Without John
IV. A Visit from George Washington
A. Reason for new flag
B. Design of new flag
C. Changed Design of Flag
D. Construction of Flag
V. Susannah's Mothers Second Love
A. Joseph Ashburn
B. Birth of a Family
- Death of first daughter
- Birth of Elizabeth
C. Death of Joseph Ashburn
VI. Susannah's Mothers Third Love
A. John Claypoole
B. Additions to the family
- Clarissa
- Susannah
VII. Susannah Is Put To Bed
A. Mother Kisses her
B. Mother turns out the lights
VIII. Relfections on Childhood
A. Falling asleep
B. Dreaming about mom
Answers
- Because if she obeyed, she knew that her mother would tell her favorite story.
- Because she loved him, she thought that the differences in their two religious backgrounds was not significant or big enough to fight over.(Students answers could vary to a degree)
- George Washington's sketch of the flag should have thirteen alternate red and white stripes, with thirteen six-pointed stars placed or randomly placed on the background of stripes.(Descriptions and pictures of Washington's flag will vary) Betsy's flag will have the same alternate red and white stripes, but it will have thirteen white five pointed stars arranged on the left corner in a circle on a blue square.
- After sewing the United States flag, her name spread throughout the country as the seamstress who sewed the flag
- Answers will vary. For example: Because she was a flawless seamstress, she was a close friend to George Washington, George Washington sat near her in church and knew of her sewing talents, because she tailored and sewed for George Washington personally, his friends has sewing done for them by her, or because Betsy was the only tailor in the town.
Sources:
James, T. Edward. Notable American Women: A Biographical Dictionary. Cambridge, Massachusetts, Belknap Press of Harvard University Press: 1971, vol. 3, p.198-99.
Wallner, Alexandra. Betsy Ross. Holiday House, Inc.: 1994.
Http://libertynet.org/iha/betsy/flaglife.html. "Betsy Ross Home Page. Independence Hall Association, 1996.
Props: Pajamas, pillow, stuffed animal, blanket, flag, needle, material, thread, candle, match
Extension Activity: Have students cut thirteen five pointed stars in one snip with white paper. Students will use these stars to make a flag cover for their history journal entries dealing with our unit on The Revolutionary War.