Ross, George, 1730-1779

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George Ross Jr (May 10, 1730 – July 14, 1779) was a Founding Father of the United States who signed the Continental Association and the United States Declaration of Independence as a representative of Pennsylvania. He was also the uncle of the man who married Betsy Griscom in 1773, giving her her famous married name: Betsy Ross. In 1952, he, George Washington, and Robert Morris appeared on a three-cent stamp commemorating Betsy Ross.

Born in New Castle, Delaware, Ross was educated at home and later studied law at his brother John's law office, the common practice in those days, before being admitted to the bar in Philadelphia. Initially a Tory, he served as Crown Prosecutor for 12 years and was elected to the provincial legislature in 1768. There, his sympathies began to change, and he became a strong supporter of the colonial assemblies in their disputes with Parliament.

Ross was a member of the Committee of Safety, and was elected to the Continental Congress. He was a colonel in the Pennsylvania militia (1775–1776), and vice-president of the first constitutional convention for Pennsylvania. He resigned from the Continental Congress in 1777 because of poor health. Ross was appointed to the Pennsylvania Court of Admiralty in March 1779, he died in that office four months later. He was buried at Christ Church Burial Ground in Philadelphia.

Archival Resources
Role Title Holding Repository
referencedIn Henry A. Willard II Collection, 1743-1888, (bulk 1770-1840) Library of Congress. Manuscript Division
creatorOf Ross, George, 1730-1779. Autograph document, signed, Term of [17]56 Jul. Pierpont Morgan Library.
creatorOf Will of George Ross, July 10, 1779 American Philosophical Society
referencedIn Colonial-Revolutionary manuscripts, 1738-1808. Historical Society of Pennsylvania
referencedIn Benjamin Franklin Papers Part 1 -- Letters to Franklin, 1730-1776 American Philosophical Society
referencedIn Frederick M. Dearborn collection of military and political Americana, Part I: The Revolution and the Administration, 1669-1958. Houghton Library
creatorOf Ross, George, 1730-1779. ALS, 1746. : Extract from deed. Copley Press, J S Copley Library
creatorOf Ross, George, 1730-1779. Autograph letter signed : to his son George, 1779 Mar. 25. Pierpont Morgan Library.
referencedIn Pennsylvania. Constitutional Convention (1776). Order, 1776 Aug. 12, Philadelphia, to the Council of Safety. Rosenbach Museum & Library
creatorOf Ross, George, 1730-1779. Autograph letter signed : to John, 1768 Jan. 14. Pierpont Morgan Library.
referencedIn Read family. Manuscripts, 1716-1872. Historical Society of Pennsylvania
creatorOf McCasland, William, fl. 1769. Assignment, 1769 June 19, Philadelphia. Rosenbach Museum & Library
creatorOf Clymer-Meredith-Read family papers, 1675-1902, bulk (1760s-1850s). New York State Historical Documents Inventory
referencedIn Thomas Addis Emmet collection, 1483-1876 (bulk:1700-1800) New York Public Library. Manuscripts and Archives Division
creatorOf Butler, Charles, 1750-1832,. Sidney F. Parham autograph collection, ca. 1662-1886. University of Virginia. Library
creatorOf Kountze, De Lancey, d. 1946,. Petition, 1775 Jan. 16. Rosenbach Museum & Library
referencedIn Spring Forge (York County, Pa.). Ledger 1772-1773. Hagley Museum & Library
referencedIn Read, John Meredith, 1837-1896. Letters : Albany, N.Y., Philadelphia, New York, Newport, R.I., and Paris, to Samuel Sartain, 1865-1896. Bryn Mawr College, Mariam Coffin Canaday Library
creatorOf Ross, George, 1730-1779. George Ross receipt fragment, 1760 May 31. Pennsylvania State University Libraries
creatorOf Ross, George, 1730-1779. Autograph testimony signed, 1779 Jan. 6. Pierpont Morgan Library.
referencedIn Letters and documents of signers of the Declaration of Independence, 1750-1933. Houghton Library
creatorOf Ross, George, 1730-1779. Autograph letter signed : Eliz. Town, to John ----, 1768 Jan. 14. Pierpont Morgan Library.
referencedIn Hooper, William, 1742-1790. ALS, 1777 February 1, Baltimore, to Robert Morris. Copley Press, J S Copley Library
referencedIn Hamilton, James, 1752-1819. James Hamilton collection, 1733-1899. Historical Society of Pennsylvania
creatorOf Ross, George, 1730-1779. ALS, 1766 May 10 : to Sir John St. Clair, Deputy Q. Master General, New York. Copley Press, J S Copley Library
creatorOf Forbes, John, 1707-1759. Papers of John Forbes [manuscript], 1755-1759. University of Virginia. Library
creatorOf Rosenbach, A. S. W. (Abraham Simon Wolf), 1876-1952,. Signers of the Declaration of Independence autograph collection, 1756-1818. Rosenbach Museum & Library
creatorOf Ross, George, 1730-1779. Letter to Edward Shippen, 1756 March 12. University of Pennsylvania Libraries, Van Pelt Library
Role Title Holding Repository
Relation Name
associatedWith Dearborn, Frederick M. (Frederick Myers), b. 1876 person
associatedWith Drummond, Joshua person
associatedWith Emmet, Thomas Addis person
associatedWith Forbes, John, 1707-1759. person
associatedWith Franklin, Benjamin, 1706-1790 person
associatedWith Hamilton, James, 1752-1819. person
associatedWith Hooper, William, 1742-1790. person
associatedWith Hubbard, John, collector. person
associatedWith McCasland, William, fl. 1769. person
associatedWith McNichols, Francis person
associatedWith Pennsylvania. Constitutional Convention (1776) corporateBody
associatedWith Read family. family
associatedWith Read, John Meredith, 1837-1896. person
associatedWith Rosenbach, A. S. W. (Abraham Simon Wolf), 1876-1952, person
relativeOf Ross, Betsy, 1752-1836 person
associatedWith Shippen, Edward, 1729-1806, person
associatedWith Spring Forge (York County, Pa.). corporateBody
associatedWith St. Clair, John. person
associatedWith Torquson, James person
associatedWith Willard, Henry A. (Henry Augustus), 1902- person
Place Name Admin Code Country
New Castle DE US
Philadelphia PA US
Subject
Deeds
Money
Pennsylvania History
Receipts (Acknowledgments)
Occupation
Delegates, U.S. Continental Congress
Lawyers
Activity

Person

Birth 1730-05-10

Death 1779-07-14

Male

Americans,

Britons

English

Information

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