Betsy and John Rose celebrate 250th wedding anniversary

Betsy and John Ross will celebrate 250^th wedding anniversary

By ALBERT J. COUNTRYMAN Jr.

Gloucester City News

Before the start of the Revolutionary War seamstress Elizabeth Griscom, born and raised in Gloucester City, fell in love with John Ross while working together in an upholstery shop in Philadelphia.

However, their families were not happy as she was a Quaker and he was Episcopalian – the son of an assistant rector at the famous Christ Church in Center City.

“On a November night in 1773, 21-year-old Betsy eloped with John Ross. They ferried across the Delaware River to Hugg’s Tavern and were married in New Jersey. Her wedding caused an irrevocable split from her family,” according to “A Brief Biography of Betsy Ross” by the US History organization.

On Nov. 4, 1773, they were married at Hugg’s Tavern, located along the Delaware River in Gloucester City. Of course, she eventually became the most famous flag maker in American history.

And, thanks to the efforts of historian Joe Hargesheimer and his committee, her wedding will be re-created in Proprietors Park this Saturday, Nov. 4.

“We will celebrate the 250th anniversary of the wedding of Elizabeth Griscom and John Ross, and will actually re-create the wedding on the exact spot and date where it took place 250 years ago,” he said.

“I was looking for a big event to close out this year of 2023. I knew that the Ross wedding took place in Gloucester on Nov. 4th 1773, and this year would be the 250th anniversary of that,” Hargesheimer said.

“It was just icing on the cake that this date fell on a Saturday this year. I presented the idea to the Celebrations Committee in 2018, and they thought we should run with it. The people at the Betsy Ross House told be about Betsy being born in Gloucester City. The family moved to Philadelphia when she was a little girl so her father could find work as a carpenter. Betsy is a Gloucester Girl,” he said.

Gloucester City has been celebrating the 400th anniversary of its settlement by Europeans, and th

e re-enactment is the biggest project to help celebrate that milestone.

The actors playing the part of Betsy and John, and the wedding party, will be members of the Gloucester City High School Drama club who will all be dressed in period clothing. The part of the Gloucester Justice of the Peace James Bowman, who performed the ceremony, will be played by Gloucester City Mayor Dayl Baile.

The Durning String Band will begin the day at Proprietors Park about 11:30 a.m. and play until 12:30 p.m. After some announcements a disc jockey will play music until the procession arrives at shortly before 1 p.m.

“When the procession arrives, the Gloucester City High School ROTC and Bill proceed to the front of the Betsy Ross Pavilion and raise the 13 star flag we received from the people at the Betsy Ross House,” he said.

After the National Anthem, the people in the wedding party will be announced and will proceed to the Betsy Ross pavilion for the ceremony.

This Saturday, Gloucester City will celebrate how love won out in the life of Betsy Ross 250 years ago.