Mary Pickersgill: "Betsy Ross 2.0"

PROFILE OF OUR UN-DISPUTABLE STAR SPANGLED MOTHER

Lived in Baltimore Maryland: from 1807-1857
Sewed the real Star Spangled Banner
Flag was 30 by 42 feet
Received payment of $405.90
Flag given to Fort McHenry August 19, 1813
Born in Philly 1776

Ms. Pickersgill is responsible for sewing the flag that flew over Ft. McHenry that inspired Francis Scott Key to write the Star Spangled Banner during the war of 1812, when the US was invaded by the UK.

By strange utter providence (that's what they called synchronicity back in the day) she was born in 1776 in Philadelphia, in Betsy Ross' hometown.The great thing about this flag is we know much about it and it had 15 stripes! Two states joined just after the revolution, during Washington's Presidency. The first state born after the original 13 was also the first state born completely free, without slavery, Vermont #14 in 1791. The second state born after the original 13 was also the first state born in bondage: Kentucky (1792). Tennessee (1796), Ohio (1803), and Louisiana (1812) were also official states during the War of 1812, but there states were not included on the "official" flag. Unofficial flags had 16-18 stars and stripes before the War of 1812.

15 stripes instead of 13
The Original Star Spangled Banner

Also the star field rests on a long red stripe rather than a white one. There are seven long stripes coincidentally reflective of the big states: New York, Pennsylvania, Virginia, North Carolina, South Carolina, Georgia and Kentucky. They are balanced with eight short stripes by amazing alignment to the small states: Maryland, New Jersey, Connecticut, Rhode Island, Massachusetts, and Vermont.

Here it is at the Smithsonian in Washington, DC

Flag on Display in early 1900s
(note stars were allowed to float back then as if twinkling like distant suns)