Wait, How Old Were They?

We have arrived at the final post for the Signers of the Declaration of Independence.  Next week we will celebrate the independence of our nation - and of course, there will be the traditional viewing of 1776, but please take a moment to peruse the list below - noting the ages of the "Founding Fathers" and other prominent personalities of the age on July 4, 1776 [from the Journal of the American Revolution, via kottke].

1. Andrew Jackson, 9
2. (Major) Thomas Young, 12
3. Deborah Sampson, 15 
4. James Armistead, 15 
5. Sybil Ludington, 15 
6. Joseph Plumb Martin, 15 
7. Peter Salem, 16* 
8. Peggy Shippen, 16 
9. Marquis de Lafayette, 18 
10. James Monroe, 18 
11. Charles Pinckney, 18 
12. Henry Lee III, 20 
13. Gilbert Stuart, 20 
14. John Trumbull, 20 
15. Aaron Burr, 20 
16. John Marshall, 20 
17. Nathan Hale, 21
18. Banastre Tarleton, 21 
19. Alexander Hamilton, 21* 
20. John Laurens, 21 
21. Benjamin Tallmadge, 22 
22. Robert Townsend, 22 
23. George Rodgers Clark, 23 
24. David Humphreys, 23 
25. Gouveneur Morris, 24 
26. Betsy Ross, 24 
27. William Washington, 24 
28. James Madison, 25 
29. Henry Knox, 25 
30. John Andre, 26 
31. Thomas Lynch, Jr., 26^ 
32. Edward Rutledge, 26^ 
33. Abraham Woodhull, 26 
34. Isaiah Thomas, 27 
35. George Walton, 27*^ 
36. John Paul Jones, 28 
37. Bernardo de Galvez, 29 
38. Thomas Heyward, Jr., 29^ 
39. Robert R. Livingston, 29 
40. John Jay, 30 
41. Tadeusz Kosciuszko, 30 
42. Benjamin Rush, 30^ 
43. Abigail Adams, 31 
44. John Barry, 31 
45. Elbridge Gerry, 31^ 
46. Casimir Pulaski, 31 
47. Anthony Wayne, 31 
48. Joseph Brant, 33 
49. Nathanael Greene, 33 
50. Thomas Jefferson, 33^ 
51. Thomas Stone, 33*^ 
52. William Hooper, 34^ 
53. Arthur Middleton, 34^ 
54. James Wilson, 34*^ 
55. Benedict Arnold, 35
56. Samuel Chase, 35^ 
57. Thomas Knowlton, 35 
58. William Paca, 35^ 
59. John Penn, 35^ 
60. Hercules Mulligan, 36 
61. Andrew Pickens, 36 
62. Haym Solomon, 36 
63. John Sullivan, 36 
64. George Clymer, 37^ 
65. Charles Cornwallis, 37 
66. Thomas Nelson, Jr., 37^ 
67. Ethan Allen, 38 
68. Charles Carroll, 38^ 
69. King George III, 38 
70. Francis Hopkinson, 38^ 
71. Carter Braxton, 39^ 
72. George Clinton, 39 
73. John Hancock, 39^ 
74. Daniel Morgan, 39 
75. Thomas Paine, 39 
76. Patrick Henry, 40 
77. Enoch Poor, 40 
78. John Adams, 40^ 
79. Daniel Boone, 41 
80. William Floyd, 41^ 
81. Button Gwinnett, 41*^ 
82. John Lamb, 41* 
83. Francis Lightfoot Lee, 41^
84. Paul Revere, 41 
85. Thomas Sumter, 41 
86. Robert Morris, 42^ 
87. Thomas McKean, 42^ 
88. George Read, 42^ 
89. John Dickinson, 43 
90. John Glover, 43 
91. Benjamin Edes, 43 
92. Samuel Huntington, 44^ 
93. Richard Henry Lee, 44^ 
94. Charles Lee, 44 
95. Francis Marion, 44 
96. Lord North, 44 
97. George Washington, 44 
98. Joseph Galloway, 45 
99. Robert Treat Paine, 45^ 
100. Friedrich von Steuben, 45 
101. Richard Stockton, 45^ 
102. Martha Washington, 45 
103. William Williams, 45^ 
104. (Dr.) Thomas Young, 45* 
105. Josiah Bartlett, 46^ 
106. Henry Clinton, 46 
107. Joseph Hewes, 46^ 
108. William Howe, 46 
109. George Ross, 46^ 
110. William Whipple, 46^ 
111. Caesar Rodney, 47^ 
112. John Stark, 47 
113. Mercy Otis Warren, 47 
114. William Ellery, 48^ 
115. Horatio Gates, 48 
116. Artemas Ward, 48 
117. Oliver Wolcott, 49^ 
118. Abraham Clark, 50^ 
119. Benjamin Harrison, 50^ 
120. George Mason, 50 
121. Lewis Morris, 50^ 
122. Lord Stirling, 50 
123. George Wythe, 50*^ 
124. Guy Carleton, 51 
125. John Morton, 51*^ 
126. Comte de Rochambeau, 51
127. Lyman Hall, 52^ 
128. James Rivington, 52* 
129. Samuel Adams, 53^ 
130. Comte de Grasse, 53 
131. John Witherspoon, 53^ 
132. John Burgoyne, 54 
133. Johann de Kalb, 55
134. Roger Sherman, 55^ 
135. Thomas Gage, 56 
136. James Smith, 56^ 
137. Israel Putnam, 58 
138. Comte de Vergennes, 58 
139. Lewis Nicola, 59* 
140. George Germain, 60 
141. Philip Livingston, 60^ 
142. George Taylor, 60*^ 
143. Matthew Thornton, 62^ 
144. Francis Lewis, 63^ 
145. John Hart, 65*^ 
146. Stephen Hopkins, 69^ 
147. Benjamin Franklin, 70^ 
148. Samuel Whittemore, 81

*  Evidence may exist that this age is not precise, or only a birth year is known
^  Signers of the Declaration of Independence (average signer age was 44)

That's Great - But Where are the Archives?

I would be remiss if I didn't post where you could find out more about these brave men who forged the document that guarantees our freedom.

All of the signers are linked to a website from "ushistory.org."  The landing page is here.  I have linked the states to my blog series on the States of the Union.

If you are interested in learning more about the signers, please consult their archives:

1. John Adams (MA) - at the Massachusetts Historical Society.
2. Samuel Adams (MA) - at the New York Public Library.
3. Josiah Bartlett (NH) - there is a Bartlett Museum in Amesbury, MA, and there is an online finding aid for some Bartlett family papers at the Library of Congress.
4. Carter Braxton (VA) - there's a body of papers scattered across several repositories, here's a list.
5. Charles Carroll (MD) - primarily found at the Maryland Historical Society.
6. Samuel Chase (MD) - there is an extensive essay found at the Society of the Descendants of the Signers of the Declaration of Independence.
7. Abraham Clark (NJ) - a small collection of Clark's papers exist in several repositories, here's a list.
8. George Clymer (PA) - there is a small collection of Clymer correspondence at the American Philosophical Society.
9. John Dickinson (PA) - there is a collection of Dickinson papers at the college named for him.
10. William Ellery (RI) - at the Rhode Island Historical Society.
11. William Floyd (NY) - a limited collection, but you can visit the Floyd family home on Long Island.
12. Benjamin Franklin (PA) - Franklin's papers are available online through a collaborative project between the American Philosophical Society and Yale University.
13. Elbridge Gerry (MA) - on microfilm at the Massachusetts Historical Society.
14. Button Gwinnett (GA) - a very small collection of correspondence is scattered across several repositories, here's a list from the Congressional Biographical Directory.
15. Lyman Hall - a very small collection of correspondence is scattered across several repositories, here's a list from the Congressional Biographical Directory.
16. John Hancock (MA) - at Harvard University.
17. John Hart (NJ) - a very small collection - here's a list.
18. Benjamin Harrison (VA) - There's a collection of Harrison's papers at the Library of Virginia.
19. Joseph Hewes (NC) - scattered across several repositories, here's a list from the Congressional Biographical Directory.
20. Thomas Heyward, Jr. (SC) - no major body of papers exists for Heyward.
21. William Hooper (NC) - there is a good biography of Hooper at the North Carolina History Project.
22. Stephen Hopkins (RI) - bits and pieces across several repositories, see this list from the Congressional Biographical Directory.
23. Frances Hopkinson (NJ) - a finding aid is available online from the Historical Society of Pennsylvania for the Hopkinson Family Papers.
24. Samuel Huntington - a scattered, small collection is listed here.
25. Thomas Jefferson (VA) - two extensive bodies of papers exist for Jefferson, at the Library of Congress and the University of Virginia.
26. Richard Henry Lee (VA) - there's a collection at the American Philosophical Society.
27. Francis Lightfoot Lee (VA) - a small scattered collection exists - here's a list.
28. Francis Lewis (NY) - a very limited collection is listed here.
29. Philip Livingston (NY) - there are materials on Philip spread across many repositories, here's a list.
30. Robert Livingston (NY) - at the New York Historical Society.
31. Thomas Lynch, Jr. (SC) - like the man itself, who vanished, no body of papers appears to be extant for Lynch.
32. Thomas McKean (DE) - some materials at the University of Pennsylvania.
33. Arthur Middleton (SC) - there is a collection of Middleton's papers as well as the family's papers at the South Carolina Historical Society.
34. Lewis Morris (NY) - a small scattered collection, here's a list.
35. Robert Morris (PA) - there is a sizable collection at the Library of Congress.
36. John Morton (PA) - you can read this essay on Morton at the Society of the Descendants of the Signers of the Declaration of Independence.
37. Thomas Nelson, Jr. (VA) - there's a collection of gubernatorial papers at the Library of Virginia.
38. William Paca (MD) - a finding aid of Paca's papers at the Maryland State Archives may be found here.
39. Robert Treat Paine (MA) - at the Massachusetts Historical Society.
40. John Penn (NC) - a essay on Penn is at the Society of the Descendants of the Signers of the Declaration of Independence.
41. George Read (DE) - a scattered collection, here's a list.
42. Cesar Rodney (DE) - some correspondence exists at the New York Public Library.
43. Benjamin Rush (PA) - a prolific writer, there are Rush papers at several repositories, including the University of Pennsylvania and the American Philosophical Society.  Here's a complete list.
44. Edward Rutledge (SC) - there is a small collection of materials at Duke University.
45. Roger Sherman (CT) - the majority of Sherman's papers are at Yale University.
46. James Smith (PA) - the majority, if not all of Smith's papers were destroyed in a fire.  Here's an essay on Smith from the Society of the Descendants of the Signers of the Declaration.
47. Richard Stockton (NJ) - there is a collection of the Stockton Family Papers at Princeton University.  Here's a finding aid.
48. Thomas Stone (MD) - no significant body of Stone papers have ever been located, here's a list of Stone material appearing in other collections.
49. George Taylor (PA) - another obscure delegate with little "backstory" - here's an essay from the Society of the Descendants of the Signers of the Declaration.
50. Matthew Thornton (NH) - a very small collection is listed in the Congressional Biographical Dictionary.
51. George Walton (GA) - a manuscript collection is located at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.
52. William Whipple (NH) - another small collection is described in the Congressional Biographical Dictionary.
53. William Williams (CT) - there is a manuscript collection at Yale University.
54. James Wilson (PA) - there's a collection of Wilson papers at the Historical Society of Pennsylvania.
55. John Witherspoon (NJ) - a collection at Princeton and the New Jersey Historical Society.
56. Oliver Wolcott (CT) - there is a collection of Oliver Wolcott papers at the Connecticut Historical Society.
57. George Wythe (VA) - a small collection of Wythe's papers are at the College of William and Mary.

Signers: Virginia

For our last state in our series, we look at the Commonwealth of Virginia, producer of our first President, and several more after that.

Virginia

• Carter Braxton (1736-1797), was a farmer who lost most of his property and fortune in the course of the Revolution.  Braxton arrived in the Congress after the death of Peyton Randolph.  He invested heavily in privateers in the war and wound up in debt following the end of the war.
• Benjamin Harrison (1726-1791), was the patriarch of a political family - his son, William Henry Harrison served as the ninth President.  Benjamin Harrison also served as Speaker of the Virginia Legislature and Governor of Virginia.
• Thomas Jefferson (1743-1826), was the author of the Declaration and served as the Third President of the United States. A true Renaissance man, Jefferson served in the Virginia legislature, the state's Governor, Minister to France, Secretary of State, Vice President, and President.  The Thomas Jefferson Pizza at Declaration features smithfield ham, arugula, lemon, olive oil, oven roasted tomatoes, fresh mozzarella.
• Francis Lightfoot Lee (1734-1797), was Richard Henry Lee's younger brother, the only brothers in the Continental Congress.  He was an avid proponent of independence.
• Richard Henry Lee (1732-1794), is the individual who proposed the resolution on American independence.  He later served as the President of the Congress while also serving in the Virginia House of Burgesses.
• Thomas Nelson, Jr. (1738-1789), was a farmer and military leader in the early days of the American Revolution.  He served in the Congress until 1779 until frail health led him to return to Virginia.
• George Wythe (1726-1806), was a prominent member of the Virginia delegation and made his greatest impact in the field of education.  An early abolitionist, Wythe provided for his slaves to receive a portion of his estate's lands in his will.  Upon learning of this, one of Wythe's relatives poisoned several of the slaves with arsenic, also killing Wythe in the process.

Signers: Massachusetts

In today's post, we look at the state that gave us the President of the Congress and it's most vocal supporter of American Independence.

Massachusetts

• John Adams (1735-1826), already covered in the post on the Declaration Committee, was likely the most influential member of the Continental Congress.  After the Declaration, he was appointed Minister to France and helped to negotiate the Treaty of Paris ending the Revolutionary War.  After serving as Washington's Vice President, Adams was elected as the nation's second president.  He died on July 4, 1826, within hours of his ally and later rival, Thomas Jefferson.  At Declaration, you can order a "John Adams" pizza with lobster roll”, celery, chives, and old bay mornay.
• Samuel Adams (1722-1803), cousin to John Adams, Sam was more of a firebrand, if that were possible.  After leaving the Congress, he returned to Massachusetts and was later elected as the state's governor.
• Elbridge Gerry (1744-1814), was a merchant who turned to politics, serving in the state legislature.  He later attended the Constitutional Convention, but did not sign that document as he did not endorse its ideals.  He later organized a redistricting effort in Massachusetts to benefit his own party, leading to the term, gerrymandering.  He later served as Vice President, dying in that office in 1814.
• John Hancock (1737-1793), was a successful merchant whose ships were stopped outside Boston, leading Hancock to organize the Boston Tea Party.  After leaving Congress, he also served as Governor of Massachusetts.
• Robert Treat Paine (1731-1814), was not as fervent as the other members of the Massachusetts delegation, yet supported the Declaration and signed the document.  He went on to serve as Attorney General of Massachusetts and later served on the State Supreme Court.

Signers: New Hampshire and South Carolina

Next up for the Signers of the Declaration are the Granite State and the Palmetto State.

New Hampshire

• Josiah Bartlett (1729-1795), the ancestor of fictional President Jed Bartlet, was a physician as well as a politician.  He was the second person to sign the Declaration, following John Hancock. Following the Revolution, he was elected President and then Governor of New Hampshire.
• Matthew Thornton (1714-1803), was also a physician, like his colleague Josiah Bartlett.  He arrived late to the Continental Congress, but in time to sign the document on behalf of New Hampshire. At Declaration, Thornton possibly has the most unique pizza concoction on the menu, with turkey confit, idiazabal cheese, cranberries, and maple gravy.
• William Whipple (1730-1785), was born in what would become the state of Maine and served in the Continental Congress as well as the Continental Army. General Whipple led troops against General Burgoyne at the battles of Stillwater and Saratoga.  He died in 1785, having suffered from a heart ailment for several years, falling from his horse while traveling his court circuit.

 South Carolina

• Thomas Heyward, Jr. (1746-1809), after signing the Declaration, he returned to South Carolina to serve as a judge.  Imprisoned by the British during the Revolution, he returned to the bench following the war. The Heyward Pizza at Declaration contains shrimp, sweet peppers, bacon, lemon confit, spinach, and romesco.
• Thomas Lynch, Jr. (1749-1779), fell ill shortly after signing the Declaration and retired from the Congress.  In 1779, he and his wife sailed for the West Indies and the ship vanished.
• Arthur Middleton (1742-1787), was captured by the British when Charleston was overrun in 1781.  Imprisoned for over a year (along with Heyward and Edward Rutledge), his fortune was destroyed during the Revolution, but he remained active in politics until his death in 1787.
• Edward Rutledge (1749-1800), the youngest member of the Continental Congress, Rutledge, along with his brother John, were both very active in South Carolina politics.  He left the Congress after signing the Declaration to help defend South Carolina from the British.  He later returned to the state legislature and was elected Governor, but he died at the conclusion of his term, at age 50.

Signers: New Jersey / Connecticut

For today's Signers post, we look at the Garden State and the Nutmeg State.

New Jersey

• Abraham Clark (1725-1794), was a self-taught lawyer (as many were in that time period).  An active member of the Continental Congress, he was later selected to attend the Constitutional Convention but was unable to serve.  Clark Township in New Jersey is named in his honor.
• John Hart (1711-1779), was a farmer in New Jersey.  Born in Connecticut, his family moved to New Jersey where he inherited the family farm.  He actively supported the American army, allowing the troops to encamp on the farm, which had been looted by British troops earlier in the war.  He died in 1779 at the age of 66.
• Francis Hopkinson (1737-1791), was a lawyer, who was "a man of extraordinary talent and charm."  He was appointed by President Washington to serve as Federal District Judge for New Jersey in 1790.  He died the next year of an epileptic seizure at 53.  There is some controversy surrounding Hopkinson, as he maintained that he was responsible for the design of the American flag.  He also was involved in the design for the Great Seal of the United States.  The pizza dedicated to Francis Hopkinson at Declarations features sliced tomatoes, basil pesto, and reggiano parmesan
• Richard Stockton (1730-1781), another lawyer, had developed one of the largest practices in the colonies.  After being appointed to the Continental Congress, he listened to both sides regarding independence before agreeing to sign the Declaration.  In 1776, he was captured by the British and imprisoned for several weeks and his property and belongings in New Jersey were destroyed.  Stockton later donated land that became Princeton University.
• John Witherspoon (1723-1794), was a Reverend who held a Doctorate degree and was President of the College of New Jersey (Princeton) prior to his appointment to the Continental Congress.  He and the other delegates from New Jersey arrived shortly before Richard Henry Lee made his proposal for American independence to the Congress.

Connecticut

• Samuel Huntington (1731-1796), was a lifelong public servant, serving in the Congress and as Governor of Connecticut.  There are some who maintain that Huntington is actually the first President of the United States, as the Articles of Confederation were ratified while he was President of the Congress.
• Roger Sherman (1721-1793), was previously covered in the Declaration Committee post. The Declarations pizza for the "simple cobbler from Connecticut" has meatball, housemade ricotta, san marzano tomatoes, and roasted peppers on it - and it might be my favorite of all of them.
• William Williams (1731-1811), arrived at the Congress too late to vote for independence, but signed the Declaration.  Williams had replaced Oliver Wolcott, who had fallen ill (but also later signed the document).
• Oliver Wolcott (1726-1797), was the son of the Royal Governor of Connecticut, Roger Wolcott.  Upon graduating from Yale, Wolcott was a Captain in the American forces during the French and Indian War.  As a result of this service, Wolcott was involved in Indian affairs during his time in Congress.  He later served as Governor of Connecticut.

Signers: Pennsylvania

This is the week that I am in Pittsburgh for the Spring 2016 MARAC meeting, so it's only appropriate to look at the state in which the Continental Congress sat (albeit on the other side of the state from
where I am) and the signers from the Keystone State.

Pennsylvania

• George Clymer (1739-1813), a merchant by trade was elected to the Congress in 1776 and served on the War Committee and was instrumental in bolstering George Washington and the Continental Army.
• Benjamin Franklin - for Dr. Franklin see the entry on the Declaration Committee.
• Robert Morris (1734-1806), also a merchant, like Clymer, formulated a plan for a National Bank and was appointed to serve as Financial Agent (the forerunner to the Secretary of the Treasury).  He went on to serve in the Pennsylvania Legislature, attended the Constitutional Convention, was appointed a Senator, and was later tapped by President Washington to serve as Secretary of the Treasury, which he declined, instead suggesting Alexander Hamilton.  Ironically, Morris died in relative poverty.
• John Morton (1724-1777), was a judge immediately prior to being elected to the Continental Congress.  He was responsible for submitting a report on the proposed Articles of Confederation, dying shortly after the report was presented to Congress.
• Benjamin Rush (1745-1813),was already a prominent physician in the Philadelphia area before becoming involved in the cause of American Independence.  One of the few blemishes on Rush's career was his criticism of a fellow doctor for the Continental Army.  The Congress and General Washington supported the other doctor and Rush resigned his commission.  He went on to serve as Treasurer of the US Mint.
• James Smith (1719-1806), a lawyer, has one of the lowest profiles of the members of the Continental Congress, holding few offices after the Declaration and given the circumstances that his collection of papers in his officers were destroyed in a fire shortly before his death.
• George Taylor (1716-1781), was an Ironmaster and was concerned with the production of iron for the majority of his life.
• James Wilson (1742-1798), was a lawyer and judge in Pennsylvania.  He was committed to the cause of independence but represented a colony that was not for independence at the time.  After a delay, Pennsylvania's delegates were swayed and Wilson voted for independence.

And while he didn't sign the Declaration, I would be remiss if I didn't include anything about, "Gentlemen of the Congress, I say ye, John Dickinson."  A lifelong opponent of American Independence, when the time came to sign the Declaration, Dickinson announced "I'm sorry, Mr. President. I cannot, in good conscience, sign such a document. I will never stop hoping for our eventual reconciliation with England, but... because, in my own way, I regard America no less than does Mr. Adams, I will join the army and fight in her defense, even though I believe that fight to be hopeless." (1776).  Dickinson College stands as one of Dickinson's legacies.

Signers: New York and Maryland

This week's post concerns the state of my birth and the state where I live now.

New York

• William Floyd (1734-1821), was a successful Long Island farmer at the beginning and end of his life.  He served in the Continental Congress as well as the New York militia and was later elected to Congress.  In Suffolk County, there is a William Floyd School District as well as a Parkway named for Floyd.
• Francis Lewis (1713-1802), was a merchant, who lost all his property on Long Island when it was destroyed by the British. A resident of Queens, his legacy may be found in Francis Lewis Park, located under the Bronx-Whitestone Bridge; Francis Lewis High School, home of the Patriots; and Francis Lewis Boulevard, known by NYC commuters as the "Franky Lew."
• Philip Livingston (1716-1778), a successful merchant was elected to the Continental Congress and then to the State Senate, but died suddenly in 1778.
• Lewis Morris (1726-1798), was a farmer in Harlem before becoming involved in politics.  After the Revolution, he was appointed to the first Board of Regents for the University of New York.  He also abstains, courteously. The Lewis Morris Pizza at Declaration contains chive crème fraiche, capers, house cured salmon, shaved onion, arugula, tomato confit.

 Maryland

• Charles Carroll (1737-1782), served in the Continental Congress and was an early advocate of independence.  While in Congress, he was also creating a framework for the state government of Maryland.  He holds the distinction of the last signer of the Declaration to die, passing away at the age of 95 in 1832.  Carroll is also depicted in the film National Treasure.
• Samuel Chase (1741-1811), was a prominent judge at the time of his election to the Congress.  In 1796, he was appointed to the United States Supreme Court. The Declaration pizza dedicated to Samuel Chase has winter butternut squash, brown butter ricotta, crispy sage, truffle honey (but no kidney).
• William Paca (1740-1799), was elected to the Congress while serving as a Representative in the Colonial Assembly.  In 1779, he was appointed Chief Justice of Maryland and later served as Governor of the State.
• Thomas Stone (1743-1787), is the mystery delegate to the Congress.  He was known to be there, his name is on the Declaration and he was involved in the drafting of the Articles of Confederation.  He is reputed to have died of a "broken heart" in 1787, following the death of his wife.

Signers: Rhode Island and North Carolina

The third post in our Signers of the Declaration series features the state with the fewest delegates (and the second oldest one!) and North Carolina.

Rhode Island

• Stephen Hopkins (1707-1785), the second oldest delegate at the Continental Congress, is regarded as Rhode Island's greatest statesman.  A mostly self-educated man, he represented Rhode Island at both Continental Congress and returned to the state to serve in the state legislature until his death.
• William Ellery (1727-1820), holds another prominent role in the Brave Astronaut's orbit - he was involved in the drafting of the charter for Brown University, where both of the Brave Astronaut's parents went to school (and met).  Ellery was active in the Rhode Island Sons of Liberty and was named to the Congress after the death of Samuel Ward.  The William Ellery pizza at Declarations has roasted garlic, sauteed calamari, squid ink aioli, chili oil, oven dried tomatoes on it.

North Carolina

• William Hooper (1742-1790), was a Loyalist and was slow to the cause of American Independence.  As a result of commitments in North Carolina, Hooper arrived at the Continental Congress after the vote for independence but was still able to sign the document in August 1776.  Hooper was actively working on getting North Carolina to adopt the United States Constitution at the time of his death in 1790.
• John Penn (1741-1788), was born in Virginia and became a lawyer.  He was offered a judicial post following the adoption of the Declaration, but declined it due to ill health.
• Joseph Hewes (1730-1779), was an active committee member in the Continental Congress.  When Hewes died after a brief illness in 1779 at age 50, the entire Continental Congress attended his funeral.  At Declaration, you can order the Joseph Hewes with braised pork, dijon, smoked mozzarella, smoked pears, north carolina bbq gastrique.

Signers: Delaware and Georgia

There is a new restaurant open now in Washington DC.  It is called Declaration and it is located in the North Shaw neighborhood. (well that's great there, Brave Astronaut, but why do I care?)  If you choose to dine at Declaration, you can order your very own "Signers-created Pizza."  So below, and from here on out, I will tell who what pizza you can have it you are fond of a particular signer.

Today's post concerns the First State and the southernmost colony.

Delaware

• George Read (1733-1798), a lawyer initially voted against the resolution on independence as proposed by Richard Henry Lee, but later joined with the majority in signing the Declaration.  In 1776, Read returned home to Delaware to chair the new state's Constitutional Convention.  In 1777 he became the emergency governor and led the state through the Revolution.  The final office he held before his death was Chief Justice of the State Supreme Court.
• Caesar Rodney (1728-1784), had no formal education, but served as a clerk in Delaware which exposed him to politics.  An ardent patriot, Rodney was a strong voice for independence.  Following the signing of the Declaration, Rodney returned home to serve as President of the State of Delaware and also served as a commander in the Delaware militia.  He suffered a number of physical ailments and was never in good health.  He died while serving as Speaker of the Delaware Assembly.
• Thomas McKean (1734-1817), served multiple states and jurisdictions over the course of a long political career.  Among many roles, McKeon served as Governor of Pennsylvania, President of Delaware, and was a Colonel in the New Jersey militia.  At Declaration, you can order the "Thomas McKeon," a pizza with ricotta, parmesan, fresh mozzarella, sausage, idiazabal cheese, brussels sprouts.

Georgia

• Button Gwinnett (1735-1777), an ardent revolutionary, Gwinnett represented Georgia but had political enemies at home.  Hoping to head Georgia's militia following his signing of the Declaration, the position instead went to his political rival.  Gwinnett challenged the man to a duel and Gwinnett was shot and died three days later at the age of 42.
• Lyman Hall (1724-1790), Dr. Lyman Hall came to the Continental Congress initially undecided on independence.  He was for it, but the residents of Georgia weren't so sure.  He ultimately signed the document and paid for it when the British burned his home in Georgia and he was forced to flee to South Carolina and later Connecticut.  At Declaration, the Lyman Hall pizza features roasted celery, carrot, onions, oven roasted amish chicken, mushrooms.
• George Walton (1741-1804), Walton was also a devout patriot in Georgia, and was closely aligned with Gwinnett.  After signing the Declaration, he returned to Georgia, serving in the Georgia militia.  He later served as Governor and Chief Justice in the Peach State.

Signers: The Declaration Committee

On June 11, 1776, the Second Continental Congress appointed a committee of five individuals to draft and submit to the Congress for its approval.

The five individuals were:

• John Adams - firebrand member of the Congress, chief advocate for independence, representative from the Massachusetts Bay Colony.  Adams had made a name for himself prior to joining the Congress as an attorney in Massachusetts.  He would, of course go on to serve as the 2nd President of the United States.  Upon his death on July 4, 1826, he outlived by a few hours, his successor as President, 
• Thomas Jefferson - The epitome of the American Renaissance man, Jefferson was the primary scribe of the Declaration of Independence, serving as a delegate from Virginia.  After losing to John Adams in 1796, Jefferson won the presidency in 1800, going on to serve two terms as the 3rd President of the United States.
• Benjamin Franklin - the elder statesman of the Congress, representing Pennsylvania, brought gravitas to the Committee of Five.  After the establishment of the United States, Franklin served as the country's first Postmaster.
• Robert Livingston - from New York, served on the Committee of Five, but was recalled by New York before he could sign the Declaration.  Livingston went on to serve as the nation's first Secretary of Foreign Affairs, the forerunner of Secretary of State.  It was Livingston that administered the Oath of Office to George Washington, inaugurating him as the first President.
• Roger Sherman - was one of the most active members of the Continental Congress, serving on many committees, including the Committee of Five.  He was also very active outside his congressional duties and was later very involved in the Constitutional Convention.  At the time of his death in 1793, Sherman was serving as one of Connecticut's first Senators.

Bonus:

Meet the President of the Continental Congress, John Hancock, of Massachusetts.  No signature on the Declaration of Independence is more prominent than Hancock's.  Hancock was the first to sign the document and opted to sign large enough, "so King George can see that without his glasses" though it is more likely that since he was first, he had an entirely blank space in which to sign.

New Thursday Series: Signers of the Declaration of Independence

It's time for a new list series!  2008, I covered Presidents of the United States. In 2012, I did a series on the States of the Union.  In 2014 it was Countries of the World (UN Member States).  Here in 2016, when we will elect a new President in November, and to commemorate the 240th Anniversary of the Republic - I have chosen to look at the 56 signers of the Declaration of Independence.

Now those of you who have been paying attention will note there are only 52 weeks in a year - so 56 signers doesn't work out uniformly.  There was at least one signer from each of the 13 colonies - so one state a month doesn't work out either.  I guess I could do two at a time, which would amount to 28 weeks, which leaves some play in the calendar as well.  Well, I'll figure it out.  We could also abbreviate the run to coincide with Independence Day, some twenty-two weeks away.

Next week, I'll start with the Declaration Committee.  That will get five out of the way right off.  Any guesses before next week?  While you ponder that here's a list of "awesome founding father facts" from BuzzFeed.

1. Two days before the signing of the Declaration of Independence, the delegates of the Constitutional Convention threw a party where they consumed 54 bottles of Madeira, 60 bottles of claret, 8 bottles of whiskey, 22 bottles of porter, 8 bottles of hard cider, 12 bottles of beer and 7 bowls of alcoholic punch.
2. Only two people signed the Declaration of Independence on July 4th, 1776 – John Hancock and Charles Thomson. Pretty much everyone else signed it on August 2nd. 
3. The Founding Fathers thought Independence Day would be celebrated on July 2nd. John Adams wrote a letter to his wife that said “the Second of July, 1776, will be the most memorable in the history of America.” 
4. Benjamin Franklin wrote an essay encouraging scholars to find a method for “improving the odor of human flatulence.”
5. At 16, Benjamin Franklin regularly published editorials under the guise of Ms. Silence Dogood, a middle-aged widow character he created. 
6. Benjamin Franklin was not allowed to write the Declaration of Independence because everyone thought that he’s try to slip a joke into the document. 
7. Benjamin Franklin wasn’t very good at math. Most of his experiments with electricity relied on trial and error.
8. Benjamin Franklin coined a number of electrical terms we still use today. These terms include: battery, brush, charged, condense, conductor, plus, minus, positively and negatively. 
9. Benjamin Franklin was an early supporter of abolishment. He tried to abolish slavery in 1790 with a petition to congress. 
10. Benjamin Franklin enjoyed “air baths” – reading or writing in his house completely naked. 
11. Benjamin Franklin thought the Bald Eagle was a bad national symbol because it was “a bird of bad moral character that does not get his living honestly.” 
12. He felt the Turkey would be better because it was a “Bird of Courage”, and “would not hesitate to attack a Grenadier of the British Guards.” 
13. Benjamin Franklin purposely misspelled “Pennsylvania” on the state’s currency. He did so to deter counterfeiters. 
14. Benjamin Franklin thought America should use simplified English spellings. He said words such as “though,” “through,” and “night” should be spelled “tho,” “thru,” and “nite.”
15. Benjamin Franklin was the first to bring tofu into America. 
16. It’s said that about two-thirds of Philadelphia showed up for Benjamin Franklin’s funeral in 1790. 
17. John Adams had a dog named Satan. Satan lived in the White House with the president. 
18. John Adams was the only president from the first five to not hold any slaves. 
19. Alexander Hamilton wasn’t born in the American colonies. He was born on the island Nevis in the West Indies.
20. When he was orphaned at age 13, Alexander Hamilton lied about his age, claiming he was 11 years old in order to make himself a more desirable candidate for a business apprenticeship. Historians still can’t agree on his true age. 
21. Alexander Hamilton founded the New York Post.
22. Coincidentally, Alexander Hamilton was also the first American politician to have his career ruined by a sex scandal. 
23. Alexander Hamilton famously died in a duel with Aaron Burr in Weehawken, NJ. His eldest son, Philip, also died in a duel just three years earlier, also in Weehawken, NJ. 
24. Thomas Jefferson thought the Constitution should have been rewritten every 19 years. 
25. While in England, Thomas Jefferson and John Adams visited William Shakespeare’s house together. They vandalized a chair by chipping off chucks to keep as souvenirs. 
26. Thomas Jefferson could read and write in six languages: Greek, Latin, French, Italian, Spanish, and English. It’s thought that he might have known Arabic, Gaelic, and Welsh too. 
27. Thomas Jefferson introduced macaroni and cheese to the United States. 
28. Thomas Jefferson told Lewis and Clark to keep an eye out for giant sloths while they were on their expedition.
29. Thomas Jefferson donated his own collection of books to start the Library of Congress. He was paid $23,950 for 6,500 of his own books, which he had been collecting for over 50 years. (That’s about $250,000 in today’s money.) 
30. Despite popular belief, Thomas Jefferson probably didn’t smoke marijuana. 
31. James Madison was the smallest President ever. He was 5’4” and only weighed about 100 lbs.
32. Contrary to a rumor started online, James Madison did not appoint a Secretary Of Beer. 
33. When George Washington died in 1799, Napoleon Bonaparte gave a eulogy and ordered a requiem that would last ten days. 
34. George Washington currently has over $300,000 in overdue library fines.
35. George Washington’s wooden teeth were actually partially made from human teeth, which he got from his own slaves. (He paid the slaves for their teeth.) 
36. When he was elected president, George Washington owned the largest whiskey distillery in the country. 
37. George Washington didn’t know that Chinese people weren’t white. He was surprised when he first encountered a Chinese person. 
38. When George Washington found a lost dog during the battle of Germantown, he returned the dog across enemy lines to the dog’s owner, his opponent from the battle, General Howe. 
39. George Washington was afraid of being buried alive. In his will, he asked not to be buried until three days after his death. 
40. It’s Paul Revere, not Sam Adams, on the label of Samuel Adams beer.
41. The Boston Tea Party wasn’t really a protest against over-taxed tea. In fact, the Tea Act actually made legal tea cheaper. It was actually a protest led by smugglers of Dutch Tea, led by John Hancock, who couldn’t compete with legal tea prices. 
42. John Jay didn’t sign the Declaration of Independence. He is thought of as a Founding Father because of his contributions to the framing of the document. 
43. Jay Street in Brooklyn, NY was named for John Jay.
44. Francis Hopkinson was most likely responsible for designing the first U.S. flag. For his work, he asked the government for “a quarter cask of the public wine” as a “reasonable reward” for the job. They never gave it to him. 
45. Robert Morris, Jr. died shortly after attempting to clear a blockage in his penis caused by a urinary tract infection with a whalebone, likely taken from one of his wife’s corsets.