Rebecca Young

Who is Rebecca Young?

Rebecca Young was a flag maker during the American Revolution. Her name appears in the logs of the commissary general for making "Continental Standards" as early as 1781, making her one of the earlier verified makers of the Flag of the United States. In addition to flags, she was also paid for making blankets and drum cases between the years of 1780 and 1785. In 1781, Young ran an ad in the Pennsylvania Packet advertising "all kinds of colours for the Army and Navy." She also sewed the standard for the First American Regiment under Colonel Josiah Harmar.

Rebecca Young is also noted for her many family connections to important figures in United States history. For example, her son Dr. Benjamin Young learned his profession from Dr. Benjamin Rush. Her brother, Colonel Benjamin Flower, was credited with saving the Liberty Bell when British forces captured Philadelphia. Perhaps most notably, Rebecca's daughter Mary sewed the flag flown at Fort McHenry which inspired Francis Scott Key to pen the words to The Star-Spangled Banner.