Betsy Ross (January 1, 1752 – January 30, 1836), of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, has been widely credited with making the first American flag. Betsy Ross was born Elizabeth Griscom to parents Samuel and Rebecca in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania on January 1, 1752, the eighth of 17 children She "grew up in a household where the plain dress and strict discipline of the Society of Friends dominated her life."She learned to sew from her great-aunt Sarah Griscom.[4]