Andrew Griscom Participated in a Colony for Quakers to Live without Persecution

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Andrew Griscom, Betsy Ross’s great-grandfather, was a successful Quaker carpenter whom emigrated from England to New Jersey. {1} He was also of firm Quaker belief, and he was encouraged to move to Philadelphia to become an early participant in William Penn's "Holy Experiment”. {1}The “Holy Experiment” was a colony for the Quakers to practice their beliefs. {2} This colony became a place for Quakers to live without persecution and a center of religious freedom in the colonies.{2} Griscom set up his business in town and taught his son to be a carpenter. {2} Both Griscom's son and grandson became respected carpenters as well. {1}They both have their names inscribed on a wall at Carpenters' Hall in Philadelphia. {1}It seems that Andrew passed his skills on to his grandson as well, Samuel Griscom. {2} Samuel helped build the bell tower at the Pennsylvania State House or Independence Hall. {1}Without radios, televisions, or internet to provide the news, bells like this one was very important. {2}The bells announce births, deaths, and brought people together to hear important news. {2}Samuel married Rebecca James who was a member of a wealthy Quaker merchant family. {1} Rebeca and Samuel Griscom had a big family. Elizabeth Griscom was their eighth child out of seventeen and fourth-generation American. Elizabeth was born on January 1, of 1752 in west Jersey Pennsylvania, right outside of Philadelphia, and went by Betsy. {2}
Growing up in a Quaker faith in colonial times probably made Betsy’s childhood different than other children of that time period and extremely different from childhood today.{2} Of course during the colonial times there were no computer games to play or television to watch to pass time like there is now, however ther...

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...hey could do compared to men. Regardless of all the challenges she did many things that were usually done by men, like going to formal school and running her own business. Betsy was married three times and had seven children, that being said none of them were with John Ross. Only five of the seven children lived to adulthood. Betsy Ross has a major Philadelphia bridge named in her honor. {1}
In conclusion I chose Betsy Ross thinking of an all American woman who made America’s first flag. Little did I realize I was going to be learning so much more beyond a woman who created the first flag for our country. Betsy Ross was a strong independent woman and a great leader and role model for girls today. Betsy faced many different tragedies but still accomplished amazing things. She is known know all across the world for the first flag but her story is much more than that.

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