Shadwell: birthplace of Thomas Jefferson

[Foragefarmer]

Not much to look at since the house burnt to the ground in 1770, but this copse is the birthplace of Thomas Jefferson. It is to bad that all the bigger trees in the copse are ash and will likely soon be dead. Shadwell lies behind a locked gate so it isn't normally accessible to the public, but I am working on the farm for the next week or so.



View of Monticello from the Shadwell site. Monticello is marked by the tall trees at the top of the hill in the center of the photo. Mt. Alto with the field running up it is to the left. Carter Mountain Orchard is at the far left.

 

[firecracker_77]

That's neat. Thomas Jefferson may have stood on that ground and looked up at his home. His story is very interesting. With some monetary crises later in his life that caught him off guard, he died heavily in debt. I'm thinking he was wealthy, but also lived as a high roller for the time.

 

[firecracker_77]

And he died on July 4th in the same year as his formerly bitter rival, later turned dear friend.

 

[Ashful]

And he died on July 4th in the same year as his formerly bitter rival, later turned dear friend.

Yes, bizarre coincidence? I believe Adams last words were, "Jefferson survives!" Jefferson had died just a few hours earlier.

They were the last surviving signers of the Declaration of Independence, and both died on July 4, 1826... fifty years after the signing.

HBO did a great job with their "Adams" docu-drama, for which they won many awards. It offered some great insight into the lives of these two men, and many others. Who ever know "pig vomit" was such a talented actor?

 

[firecracker_77]

Yes, bizarre coincidence? I believe Adams last words were, "Jefferson survives!" Jefferson had died just a few hours earlier.

They were the last surviving signers of the Declaration of Independence, and both died on July 4, 1826... fifty years after the signing.

HBO did a great job with their "Adams" docu-drama, for which they won many awards. It offered some great insight into the lives of these two men, and many others. Who ever know "pig vomit" was such a talented actor?

They say George Washington was a true Hollywood level action hero. He survived many encounters that most would not have walked away from. That and he was offered royalty status and he wanted to go back to Mt. Vernon instead. Politicians are a tad different these days...

 

[begreen]

He was an icon and well respected, but kind of a green and poor general when it all started. A great read on the times is 1776 by David McCullough.

http://www.amazon.com/1776-David-McCullough/dp/0743226720

 

[Ashful]

He was an icon and well respected, but kind of a green and poor general when it all started. A great read on the times is 1776 by David McCullough.

http://www.amazon.com/1776-David-McCullough/dp/0743226720

I'll second that book. It's in my library, as well.

 

[firecracker_77]

He was an icon and well respected, but kind of a green and poor general when it all started. A great read on the times is 1776 by David McCullough.

http://www.amazon.com/1776-David-McCullough/dp/0743226720

I don't doubt it, and by the time things were done, he was well respected. Our founders were weak like all of us, but better than today's crew

 

[Ashful]

Basic summary:

With the exception of the Christmas Day victory at Trenton in 1776, Washington fared poorly in most engagements during the first two years of the war. He was also constantly challenged by the other continental generals (see general Charles Lee), and his position as leader very much questioned and in jeopardy thru 1777. After one winter at Valley Forge, with the help Baren von Steuben (of questionable background, but an effective trainer and morale booster, nonetheless), they finally got their act together, and started kicking butt in 1778. Coinciding with that, Ben Franklin finally convinced France to see the USA as a sovereign nation, and to send their navy to assist Washington in the spring of 1778. Coordinating Washington's ground troops with the French navy, Washington was finally able to out-maneuver the British in a few key movements and battles. The rest, as they say, is history...

 

[firecracker_77]

Basic summary:

With the exception of the Christmas Day victory at Trenton in 1776, Washington fared poorly in most engagements during the first two years of the war. He was also constantly challenged by the other continental generals (see general Charles Lee), and his position as leader very much questioned and in jeopardy thru 1777. After one winter at Valley Forge, with the help Baren von Steuben (of questionable background, but an effective trainer and morale booster, nonetheless), they finally got their act together, and started kicking butt in 1778. Coinciding with that, Ben Franklin finally convinced France to see the USA as a sovereign nation, and to send their navy to assist Washington in the spring of 1778. Coordinating Washington's ground troops with the French navy, Washington was finally able to out-maneuver the British in a few key movements and battles. The rest, as they say, is history...

Thank god it played out the way it did. We have a pretty good life because of it.