Betsy Ross was a recent widow, and she was a poor, struggling seamstress when the story goes, she was approach by a team, including General George Washington to create a new flag for the hope of a new nation. It was apparently a secret meeting. General Washington asked her for help in the preparation of a brand new flag, and a new concept for a struggling nation.

Some historians doubt the story at least a little. Why? Because a man named Francis Hopkinson asked to be credited and paid for the production of the new flag. Who was Hopkinson? He was an author and a delegate to the Continental Congress from New Jersey. He asked to be paid for ‘his creation’. He actually wrote a letter to the Continental Board of Admiralty for a reward of two casks of wine for several patriotic designs he had created during the previous three years.

His request was sent to the Treasury Board, which in a report to Congress, turned it down. The board wrote that it could not be determined that Hopkinson was not the only person who was consulted on the design of the new flag, and therefore he could not claim the reward.

Francis Hopkinson was a signer of the Declaration of Independence. His request for payment was denied on those grounds. It is most interesting to me that a direct descendent of Francis Hopkinson is an artist, who paints a lot of patriotic creations. He’s quite good. His name is Glen Hopkinson.

I have a good opinion of him and of his work. I know him. He is the artist that I asked to paint an image of George Washington, Thomas Jefferson, and Benjamin Franklin for my book “Founding Fathers—Uncommon Heroes.” Yes, that’s it at the beginning of this Post.