She Was A Businesswoman

The second interesting fact about Betsy is that she was a businesswoman. Betsy converted her expertise as an upholsterer into a successful company. She and John were a great power couple during the American Revolution, and after they fled, they opened a store in Philadelphia. They were unable to rely on the Quakers for any income, but they became involved with John's Christ Church community and developed a reputation for producing high-caliber work. The fact that George Washington, a fellow member of Christ Church, was a client and hired the couple to make bed hangings for his bedroom is a well-known aspect of the Betsy Ross legend.

Like other upholsterers, Betsy specialized in making flags, and she produced several American flags. I enjoy recalling the numerous homemade flags that graced houses and windows back in the era of screenprints. Through good times and bad, Betsy kept up her upholstery business and even helped out her relatives later in life.