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Affidavits Attesting to the Veracity of the Claim That Betsy Ross is "Mother of the Flag."...
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Description
Affidavits Attesting to the Veracity of the Claim That Betsy Ross is "Mother of the Flag." An intriguing lot of seven items relative to the Betsy Ross (Claypoole) family's struggle to provide proof that she was the indisputable creator of the first American flag. Dated circa 1909, the documents appear to have been drawn up upon the publication of a new book, published also in 1909, by Ross' grandson George Canby titled The Evolution of the American Flag, in which he readily claimed that "as might have been expected, as to the finding of any matter throwing light on the origin of the design, and the making of the flag...no such history there exists."The lot includes two copies of an affidavit signed by Susan Satterthwaite Newport and Mary Satterthwaite, granddaughters of Betsy Ross, stating that they heard their mother, Susannah Satterthwaite, recount numerous times that her mother Betsy Ross created the flag. Two pages each ( 8 x 10 inches) with grommets at top affixing them to a longer blue backing, January 12, 1909, with second page bearing red seal of the State of Pennsylvania. According to the affidavit, Ross "made the first United States flag with the Stars and Stripes, after a design submitted to her by General Geo. Washington, Colonel George Ross, and some other gentlemen...that Betsy Ross suggested some changes be made in the design of the flag, one being the changing of the stars from a six-pointed to five-pointed star as being more symmetrical..."
With a similar signed statement made by the daughters of a niece of Betsy Ross, Sarah Donaldson McCord and Margaret McCord Smith. Both women also assert that they knew Ross as their mother remained close to her aunt and heard Ross herself tell the same story. The statement is one page on Daughters of the American Revolution letterhead (8 x 10 inches); Pennsylvania, January 12, 1909, with blind-embossed state seal of the State of Pennsylvania at lower right.
Also with the lot are first and second handwritten drafts of a statement of Margaret McCord Smith, then 91 years old, recounting the story and giving in-depth genealogical information. Each statement is one page, 8 x 10 ½ inches, in which Smith recounts her remembrance of Ross "I recollect my great-aunt Betsy Claypoole, very distinctly...I recollect hearing my mother say many times, that her aunt Betsy Ross made the first American flag, in the house on Arch St. below Third, present number 239. After Betsy Ross made the first flag, she had orders from Colonel Ross to buy up all of the bunting she could and make flags."
In addition, there is a typescript address by an unnamed individual directed to the President of the Frankford Historical Society. Four pages, 8 ½ x 12 inches, no place, no date: "While veiled in the haze of mist, yet it has become a generally accepted fact...It can be stated that Betsy Ross not only related the making of this flag to her family and relatives, but she told how she made the flag time and time again to a large circle of her friends, through whom it gained publicity..." and provides further provenance giving an account of how the Ross flag was "borrowed" from the State Library of Pennsylvania by Capt. Edward C. Williams, Co. G of the 2nd Pennsylvania ("Cameron Guards") to carry into battle in the Mexican War: "As a member of the Cameron Guards he carried the Flag with him to Mexico...It was wrapped about his body when with his gallant command he entered the Citadel of Chapultepec. Upon capturing Gen. Bravo he compelled him to lead the way to the top of the castle and there this gallant son of Pennsylvania's flung to the breeze the 'Old Trenton Flag'..." Grommets at top margin and set into a legal file. Finally, there appears a manuscript draft of the address, with several pages of penciled notes.
The controversy, which rages still now, largely repudiates the reliability of the family's story, as there are still no extant documents supplying ironclad evidence that Ross co-designed and then executed the first legendary American flag bearing thirteen stars. Still, these seven legal documents which seek to establish Ross' claim to fame is an interesting postscript to the story and, perhaps more than anything, begs the question of whether an apocryphal narrative, if repeated enough, is sufficient to support the truth.
Condition: The two copies of the affidavits exhibit creasing, even toning, and moderate fading, edge toning, and scattered stains to the blue backing. Minor edge wear with some chipping, with a small soil spot under signatures of one copy. Statement signed by Newport and Satterthwaite has even toning, with scattered soiling to the top margin, light offsetting at top edge from the grommets on the affidavits, and minor edge wear. Both handwritten drafts by Smith have flattened folds, even light toning, with a couple of small chips at the top right edge to the second draft, ink corrections on the first draft resulting in ink burn that affects text, as well as offsetting at top edge of first draft from the grommets on the affidavits. The typescript address has folds, light even toning, pencil notations on all pages, and edge wear with chips and tears; majority on the top margin where set into the legal file and along the bottom edges. The manuscript version of the address has creasing, uneven toning, some scattered soiling, and edge wear, with separations at folds. Mounting remnants along the left edge on a few pages. The last page has been cut down to 3 ½ inches. Staining from previous paper clip at top left edge.
Auction Info
2024 April 5 Historical Manuscripts Signature® Auction #6285 (go to Auction Home page)
Auction Dates
April, 2024
5th
Friday
Bids + Registered Phone Bidders: 11
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