Betsy Ross came from a family of strict Quakers. She "married out of meeting," and was disowned by the Society of Friends. Her husband was killed while guarding supplies on January 21, 1776. Betsy continued with the family upholstering business. In mid-1776 George Washington, Robert Morris, and an uncle of Betsy's late uncle met secretly with Betsy about making a flag for the new country. According to an unsubstantiated story, Betsy suggested a design, and a sketch was made. She made the first flag, and Congress adopted the design on June 14, 1777.