John Ross ^851,1330

  General Notes:

John ROSS was born in 1752 in PA. He died on 21 JAN 1776 in Philadelphia, PA. While on militia duty guarding stores on the waterfront in Philadelphia, he was fatally injured in an explosion of gunpowder. He was buried in Christ Church, Philadelphia, PA. John was an upholsterer with businesses at Chestnut St. and then Arch St. in Philadelphia. He was a member of Lodge No. 2 of the Pennsylvania Freemasons.
He was married to Elizabeth GRISCOM on 4 NOV 1773. Elizabeth was expelled from the Society of Friends (Quakers) for marrying John Ross, an Anglican. On the day of their wedding, Elizabeth and John rowed across the Delaware River and were married by Squire Bowman of Gloucester. Elizabeth GRISCOM was born on 1 JAN 1752 in Philadelphia, PA. She died on 30 JAN 1836 in Philadelphia, PA.

Elizabeth died in the home of her son-in-law C. H. Canby. She was buried in FEB 1836 in Mount Moriah Cemetery. Elizabeth was known as Betsy Ross and tradition holds that she was commissioned by a committee to make the first flag of stars and stripes following a design sketched by George Washington. Historical records lend little credence to the story. The only documentary evidence to support it is found in the minutes of the Pennsylvania State Navy Board, which show an order for payments of "14..12..12" to Elizabeth Ross in May 1777 for making "ship's colours, &c." Records of the Continental Congress mention no committee concerned with designing a flag.

Betsy's father was Samuel Griscom, and his father Tobias was a master builder who built the first brick house in Philadelphia. A large framed membership list of the Carpenters' Company since its founding in 1724 hangs on a wall of the Assembly Room in historic Carpenters Hall in Philadelphia and contains the names of Tobias Griscom and Samuel.

After the death of John, Betsy married two more times. Her second husband, Joseph Ashburn, was a first mate on the brigantine "Patty." He was captured on a mission on the high seas and died March 1782 in Old Mill Prison, Plymouth, England. Betsy and Joseph, who married 15 Jun 1777, had two children: Zillah, born 15 Sep 1779, who died young, and Eliza, born 25 Feb 1781. Eliza married Isaac Silliman 29 May 1799. She died February 1833.

Before he died in prison, Joseph gave John Claypoole, a fellow prisoner, a message to take to Betsy. John was released and sailed from England on 22 Jun 1782, reaching America about two months later at which time he delivered the message to Betsy. On 8 May 1783 they were married. Betsy and John had five children: Clarissa Sidney, born 3 Apr 1785; Susanna, born 15 Nov 1786; Rachel, born 1 Feb 1789; Jane, born 13 Nov 1792, and Harriet, born 20 Dec 1795, who died 8 Oct 1796. John Claypoole died Aug 1817. ¹³⁶⁴

  Research Notes:

34. George ROSS III16 was born on 1 JUN 1752 in Lancaster, Lancaster Co., PA. He died on 13 NOV 1832 in Lancaster, Lancaster Co., PA.17 George was the last vice president of Pennsylvania under the constitution of 1776. He was chosen a member of the Supreme Executive Council of Pennsylvania in October 1787, and Vice President of the Council 5 Nov 1788, serving until 21 Dec 1790. For 18 years he held the office of Register of Wills and Recorder of Deeds for Lancaster Co. He was known among the citizens as "de Waisenvater." George III was visited by Lafayette in 1825.

George III resided on the northwest corner of Prince and Orange Streets, Lancaster, PA.

He was married to Mary BIRD on 5 APR 1773 in St. Gabriel's Church, Amity Twp., Berks Co., PA. Mary BIRD was born on 23 DEC 1753 in Birdsboro, Lancaster Co., PA. She died on 24 JAN 1813 in Lancaster Co., PA. He brother Mark married her husband's father's sister. Their father was Col. William Bird and mother Brigitta (or Bridget) Huling (or Hulings).
George ROSS III and Mary BIRD had the following children:
+66 i. Ann ROSS.
67 ii. Patton ROSS was born on 13 MAR 1778 in Lancaster, Lancaster Co.,
PA.18 He was baptized on 21 APR 1778 in Trinity Lutheran Church, Lancaster, Lancaster Co., PA. He died on 10 MAR 1845 in Lancaster, Lancaster Co., PA. He married Eliza (or Elizabeth)) Witmer 21 Jun 1805, in Lancaster Co., PA. She died 26 Oct 1836, age 56, in Lancaster, PA. She was the daughter of Abraham and Mary "Molly" (Herr) Witmer.
In the 1800 census, there is a Paton Ross in Lancaster, Lancaster Co., page 40, with 1 male 16-26, 1 female under 10, and 1 female 16-26. Either his marriage date with Eliza/Elizabeth is incorrect or he was married to another woman before 1805. There is also the possibility that they were living together, unmarried.
At death, he was the oldest member of the Bar in Lancaster. At one time he was Recorder of that city.
68 iii. William Bird ROSS was born on 6 APR 1782 in Lancaster, Lancaster Co., PA. He was baptized on 21 APR 1782 in Trinity Lutheran Church, Lancaster, Lancaster Co., PA. He died on 13 FEB 1828 in Lancaster, Lancaster Co., PA. He perhaps married Martha Klinger, or was unmarried.
William Bird was elected County Commissioner for Lancaster Co. in 1817, and was appointed Clerk of the Quarter Sessions for that county in 1821.
69 iv. Gertrude Read ROSS was born on 20 JAN 1785 in Lancaster, Lancaster Co., PA. She was christened on 16 JUL 1785 in Lancaster Co., PA. She died on 17 MAY 1786.
70 v. George Washington ROSS was born on 24 APR 1788 in Lancaster, Lancaster Co., PA. He was christened on 5 MAR 1790 in St. James Church, Lancaster, Lancaster Co., PA. He married Mary Witmer Dec 1812. Their children were: George, born 4 Apr 1817 and died 1896, who married Elizabeth Binkley and left descendants in Ohio, Indiana and Michigan; and Mary Eliza, born 11 Mar 1814 and died 19 Nov 1906 in Philadelphia, who never married. She was the last descendant of George Ross, the "Signer," of the name Ross.
71 vi. Caroline ROSS19 was born on 15 FEB 1790 in Lancaster, Lancaster Co., PA. She was baptized on 23 NOV 1797 in Trinity Lutheran Church, Lancaster, Lancaster Co., PA. She died on 8 JUL 1848 in Philadelphia, PA. Caroline married Samuel Davenport Orrick 3 May 1821 in Lancaster, PA. He was born in 1795 and died 28 Mar 1850, and was manager of the Conowingo Furnace. They had one son, Newton, who married Elizabeth Lloyd. He died in Point Pleasant, NJ, 5 May 1887.
Caroline was a member of St. James Episcopal Church, Lancaster, Lancaster
Co., PA
72 vii. Thomas Mifflin ROSS was born on 12 NOV 1791 in Lancaster, Lancaster Co., PA. He died on 17 APR 1814 in Lancaster, Lancaster Co., PA. He did not marry.
73 viii. Robert Coleman ROSS was born on 20 DEC 1793 in Lancaster, Lancaster Co., PA. He died on 1 JUN 1818 in Lancaster, Lancaster Co., PA.
74 ix. Eliza Juliana ROSS19 was born on 25 OCT 1797 in Lancaster, Lancaster Co., PA. She was baptized on 23 NOV 1797 in Trinity Lutheran Church, Lancaster, Lancaster Co., PA. She died on 18 APR 1871 in Lancaster, Lancaster Co., PA. Eliza Juliana was called "Eliza" by family and friends. She married Dr. Abraham Carpenter 30 Apr 1823 (or 13 Aug 1820) in Lancaster, PA. Their eldest daughter Mary Ross Carpenter was baptized in St. James Church, Lancaster, 3 Apr 1827. She died 3 Sep 1829. They also had a daughter Caroline Orrick Carpenter, born 6 Nov 1828 and died 11 Apr 1900. Caroline married David G. Eshleman 14 Nov 1848. Their children were Anna Julia, born 24 Oct 1849, died 21 Oct 1879, who married John H. McMurdey 28 May 1872; Eliza Ross, born 13 Aug 1853, who married Frank M. Taylor 28 Nov 1876 and lived in Denver, CO; Harrietta Burrows, born 1 Oct 1856, who married E. G. Stimson 4 Jun 1879 and lived in Denver, CO; and George Ross, born 30 Sep 1864, who married Elizabeth Spencer 1 Jun 1893.
35. James ROSS was born on 28 NOV 1753 in Lancaster, Lancaster Co., PA. He died on 24 AUG 1808 in Natchez, Adams Co., MS. James was appointed 25 Jun 1775 Captain of one of the companies in his uncle William Thompson's Pennsylvania Rifle Battalion Regiment which arrived in camp at Cambridge, MA 18 Aug 1775. These were the first Pennsylvania troops to actively participate in the Revolutionary War. He served as a Lieutenant Colonel in the Eighth Pennsylvania Regiment under General Edward Hunt and was in the battles of Long Island, Trenton, Germantown, Princeton, Brandywine, and Yorktown.

In October 1789 he was elected Sheriff of Lancaster Co., PA, and was re-elected the next year.

James is said to have been a Judge in the Territory of Louisiana. However a letter dated 10 Jun 1897 from the U. S. Attorney General says: "The records of this department do not show James Ross as having been a Federal Judge in any district within the U.S. at any time. The old District of Orleans was only organized in 1804 and was succeeded by the District of Louisiana in 1812."
Indeed, records of Civil Appointments made in Orleans Territory (LA) during 1807 and 1808 shows that James was actually appointed County Judge for Concordia Co., LA, in both years. The appointment was made by Gov. W. C. C. Claiborne, uncle to Richard Claiborne, the husband of James' daughter Catharine T.
He was married to Anna Maria Sabina KUHN (daughter of Dr. Adam Simon KUHN and Anna Maria Sabina SCHRACK) about 1769 in Lancaster Co., PA. The date of marriage of James Ross and Maria Sabina Kuhn is not given in the records of the churches attended by their respective families-St. James P.E. Church and Trinity Lutheran Church. Nor is there a notice in the files of the Lancaster Intelligencer, Journal or Examiner. Anna Maria Sabina KUHN was born on 18 SEP 1752 in Lancaster Co., PA. She was baptized on 5 OCT 1752 in Trinity Lutheran Church, Lancaster, Lancaster Co., PA. She died on 30 DEC 1826 in Columbia, Lancaster Co., PA.20 She was called "Polly" by family and friends. James ROSS and Anna Maria Sabina KUHN had the following children:
+75 i. Rebecca ROSS.
76 ii. William ROSS was born on 14 OCT 1772 in Lancaster, Lancaster Co., PA. He died on 9 FEB 1818. I have found no records proving his connection to this family.
77 iii. George Thompson ROSS19 was born about 1776 in Lancaster, Lancaster Co., PA. He died on 7 JUN 1816 in Lancaster, Lancaster Co., PA. He was buried in St. James Church Cemetery, Lancaster, Lancaster Co., PA. George was appointed Lieutenant of Artillerists and Engineers, U. S. Army, 19 Dec 1796, and resigned 20 May 1801. He became an Ensign and 2nd Lieutenant, 2nd Infantry, 3 May 1803 and resigned 6 Oct 1804. On the first of Aug 1813, he was appointed Colonel in the 44th Regiment, and fought in the War of 1812. He was discharged 15 Jun 1815 under the act reducing the Army to a peace establishment.
George resided in New Orleans and visited Lancaster Co., PA for the benefit of his health which was impaired by severe privations in the army.
He was married about 1796 to Henrietta, last name unknown. Her last name may have been Copperthwaite. She is thought to have been a Catholic and a woman of great wealth.
George's will dated 28 May 1816 was probated 31 Mar 1817 in Lancaster Co., PA. It lists his children Alonzo and George, wife Henrietta Ross, father Col. James Ross, aunt Susanna and husband John Kuhn, nieces Maria and Sarah Kuhn and Polly Bird. Either Alonzo or George (or both) died before 1854.
Among other things, his will recites: "I request my friend John Dick to use every means in his power with the officers and all concerned in the land and naval force under my command and that of Capt. Daniel Patterson, in capturing the vessels and cargo near the Island of Barataria, and which the Honorable Congress have relinquished in favor of the said George T. Ross and Capt. Daniel Patterson and their officers."
It further says: "I order and direct that my friend and physician Dr. Eberly prepare my body to be immersed in a hogshead of strong Rye Brandy and that said hogshead, containing my body, shall be conveyed from Lancaster to New Orleans in care of Messrs. Boyle and Hand, merchants at Baltimore, and it is my request that they receive the same and ship it off in the first vessels sailing for New Orleans." This request was not honored as George is buried in St. James Church Cemetery.
78 iv. Maria Sabina ROSS was born on 12 APR 1779 in Lancaster, Lancaster Co., PA.21 She was baptized on 11 MAY 1779 in Trinity Lutheran Church, Lancaster, Lancaster Co., PA. She died in 1803 in Lancaster Co., PA. Maria was unmarried.
79 v. James ROSS died in 1805 in New York. R. R. Claiborne wrote in a letter to Frank Willing Leach, Ross researcher at the turn of the century, "I remember well of hearing my grandmother speak of her brother who had been lost from a vessel whilst at sea." Mr. Claiborne also possessed a letter written from New York, 24 Mar 1806, by John Sturtevant, to Frederick Kuhn, of Lancaster, PA, brother of Maria Sabina Kuhn Ross, saying: "Your nephew, Captain Ross, supported a very good character and discharged his duties with fidelity and ability...All of Captain Ross' trunks, charts and papers were put on Captain Ransom's vessel."
Mr. Claiborne also had a poem, dated 16 Feb 1805, headed, "To Miss Catharine T. Ross, on the sudden death of her brother who was drowned from an open boat oversetting among the breakers near New York." There was a James Ross appointed Midshipman, U. S. Navy, 2 Mar 1799, and who resigned 8 Oct 1800. In a letter from the Navy Department dates 6 Jan 1898, it is written, "The letter appointing James Ross a midshipman in the U.S.N. was addressed to him at Lancaster. No further information appears on the records." ¹³⁶⁴

  Life Events:

1. Occupation: Owned Upholstery Business: Philadelphia, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA. ¹⁵⁰⁹

2. Military: Revolutionary War. ¹⁵⁰⁹ Pennsylvania Militia

3. Organization: Freemason (PA Lodge 2): Philadelphia, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA. ¹⁵¹⁰

John married Elizabeth Betsy "Betsy" Griscom on 4 Nov 1773 in Gloucester City, Camden, New Jersey, USA ⁸⁵¹.^,1330 (Elizabeth Betsy "Betsy" Griscom was born on 1 Jan 1752 in Philadelphia, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA,^851,1330 died on 30 Jan 1836 in Philadelphia, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA ^851,1330 and was buried in Feb 1836 in Philadelphia, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA ⁸⁵¹.)

  Marriage Notes:

She and John eloped across the Delaware to Gloucester, New Jersey and were married in Hugg's Tavern by Squire Bowman.