Betsy Ran Away From Home

One of the interesting facts about Betsy Ross's tale is how she fell in love with John Ross, who was also an apprentice upholsterer, at that time. There was just one minor issue. Ross wasn't a Quaker; he attended the Episcopal Christ Church. As it was against the Quaker creed for a Quaker to marry outside the faith, Betsy would have to make a decision between her family, community, and the man she loved. Similar to the "shunning" we hear about in certain religious organizations today, the punishment was to be "read aloud."

It was a huge decision for Betsy, who was just 21 when she fell in love with John Ross, to choose love and to be shunned by her whole society. What she did was really daring. The pair fled to New Jersey and were married in the Huggs Tavern on November 4, 1773. Sadly, after only three years of marriage, John passed away. He enlisted in the Pennsylvania militia as the Revolutionary War began, and he died while serving his country. Unknown is his actual cause of death.