President Thomas Jefferson
D. A. Sharpe
United States President Thomas
Jefferson, our third President, is related to our family by being my 29th
cousin, four times removed. Our
ancestor in common is Eystein Glumra
Ivarsson and his wife, Aseda Rognvaldsdatter. They are President Jefferson's 27th
great grandparents, whereas they are my 32nd great grandparents.
Eystein Glumra Ivarson
was Earl or Jarl of the Uplands in Norway about the year 830 AD. Eystein is
the ancestor the Abney's have in common with the line of William the Conqueror. It was Eystein
GlumraIvarsson's grandson, Ganger Rolf, who was in
the expedition that launched from Norway and came to the shores of France to
conquer what became known as Normandy.
President George Washington is a
half 13th cousin, twice removed to President Thomas Jefferson! Their ancestor in common is English
King Edward I. Washington is
descended through King Edward's second wife, Marguerite of France. Edward is
Washington's 12th great grandfather. Jefferson
is descended through King Edward's first wife, Eleanor of Castile. Edward is Jefferson's 14th great
grandfather.
President Zachary Taylor is a 15th
cousin, four times removed to President Jefferson.
Innumerable people of importance in
our nation’s history have recognized the superlative figure of Thomas
Jefferson. One of my favorite quotes
came from U.S. President John F. Kennedy who on April 29, 1962 addressed a
dinner held at the White House honoring the Nobel Prize winners of the Western
Hemisphere. Here’s an excerpt from
Kennedy’s address:
“I want to tell you how welcome you are to the White
House. I think this is the most extraordinary collection of talent, of human
knowledge, that has ever been gathered together at the White House, with the
possible exception of when Thomas Jefferson dined alone. ‘
“Someone once said that Thomas Jefferson was a
gentleman at age 32 who could calculate an eclipse, survey an estate, tie an
artery, plan an edifice, try a cause, break a horse, and dance the minuet.
Whatever he may have lacked, if he could have had his former colleague, Mr.
Franklin, here we all would have been impressed.”
One of the most significant elements in the life of Thomas
Jefferson was his role in the writing of the Declaration of
Independence. When the Continental
Congress met in Philadelphia in June 1776, the delegates appointed a five-man
committee–including Thomas
Jefferson of Virginia, John Adams of Massachusetts, Roger Sherman of Connecticut, Benjamin
Franklin of Pennsylvania and Robert R. Livingston of New York to
draft a formal statement justifying the break with Great Britain. That document
would become known as the Declaration of Independence. Thomas Jefferson became
Chairman of that group, as selected by the group itself. He became the principal composer of that
written document, which the group refined and unanimously approved for
presentation to the Continental Congress.
On July 4, 1776, the Continental Congress
adopted the document, following its review and discussions of several days.
While the body of the document outlined a list of grievances
against the British crown, the preamble includes its most famous passage: “We
hold these truths to be self-evident; that all men are created equal; that they
are endowed by their Creator with certain inalienable rights; that among these
are life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness; that to secure these rights,
governments are instituted among men, deriving their just powers from the
consent of the governed.”
Though approved on July 4, 1776, the
document was not finally signed until August 2.
A fellow delegate from Virginia with Jefferson was a
minister. John Peter Gabriel
Muhlenberg is a lesser-known hero of the War for Independence. He not only was
a pastor, but a member of the Virginia House of Burgesses. In 1775, he preached a sermon on Ecclesiastes
3:1 -- "For everything there is a season and a time for every matter under
heaven." Pastor Muhlenberg closed his sermon with these words:
"In the language of Holy Writ, there is a time for all things. There is a
time to preach and a time to fight. And now is the time to fight."
He then removed his clerical robes and revealed to the congregation that he was
dressed in the uniform of a Continental Army officer. Pastor Muhlenberg's example of a man of God
fighting for our God-given rights of life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness
should give increased fervor and devotion to those who lead us in the fight for
faith, family and freedom.
"In the thick of party conflict
in 1800, Thomas Jefferson wrote in a private letter, 'I have sworn upon the
altar of God eternal hostility against every form of tyranny over the mind of
man.'
"This powerful advocate of liberty was born in
1743 in Albemarle County, Virginia, inheriting from his father, a planter and
surveyor, some 5,000 acres of land, and from his mother, a Randolph, high
social standing. He studied at
the College
of William and Mary, then read law. In 1772 he married Martha Wayles Skelton, a widow, and took her to live in his partly
constructed mountaintop home, Monticello.
"Freckled and sandy-haired, rather
tall and awkward, Jefferson was eloquent as a correspondent, but he was no
public speaker. In the Virginia
House of Burgesses and the Continental Congress, he contributed his pen rather
than his voice to the patriot cause. As
the; silent member' of the Congress, Jefferson, at 33, in effect, drafted the
Declaration of Independence. He
was Chair of the Committee
of Five charged to draft such
document for the Congress, and it was its principal composer, with the other
four contributing editorial refinements here and there. In years following he labored to make
its words a reality in Virginia. Most
notably, he wrote a bill establishing religious freedom, enacted in 1786.
"Jefferson succeeded Benjamin Franklin as minister to
France in 1785. His sympathy for
the French Revolution led him into conflict with Alexander Hamilton when
Jefferson was Secretary
of State in President Washington's Cabinet. He
resigned in 1793.
"Sharp political conflict
developed, and two separate parties, the Federalists and the
Democratic-Republicans, began to form. Jefferson
gradually assumed leadership of the Republicans, who sympathized with the
revolutionary cause in France. Attacking
Federalist policies, he opposed a strong centralized Government and championed
the rights of states.
"As a reluctant candidate for
President in 1796, Jefferson came within three votes of election. Through a
flaw in the Constitution, he became Vice President, although an opponent of
President Adams. In 1800 the
defect caused a more serious problem. Republican electors, attempting to name
both a President and a Vice President from their own party, cast a tie vote
between Jefferson and Aaron Burr. The
House of Representatives settled the tie.
Hamilton, disliking both Jefferson and Burr, nevertheless urged
Jefferson's election.
"When Jefferson assumed the
Presidency, the crisis in France had passed.
He slashed Army and Navy expenditures, cut the budget, eliminated the
tax on whiskey so unpopular in the West, yet reduced the national debt by a
third. He also sent a naval
squadron to fight the Barbary pirates, who were harassing American commerce in
the Mediterranean. [This was our nation's first hostile interface with people
whose religion was Islamic.] Further,
although the Constitution made no provision for the acquisition of new land,
Jefferson suppressed his qualms over constitutionality when he had the
opportunity to acquire the Louisiana Territory from Napoleon in 1803.
"During Jefferson's second
term, he was increasingly preoccupied with keeping the Nation from involvement
in the Napoleonic wars, though both England and France interfered with the
neutral rights of American merchantmen.
Jefferson's attempted solution, an embargo upon American shipping, worked
badly and was unpopular.
"Jefferson retired to
Monticello to ponder such projects as his grand designs for the University of
Virginia. A French nobleman
observed that he had placed his house and his mind 'on an elevated situation,
from which he might contemplate the universe "
Source:http://www.whitehouse.gov/history/presidents/tj3.html
"On the day Thomas Jefferson
died, friends were soliciting money for his relief at a ceremony in the House
of Representatives marking the fiftieth anniversary of the Declaration of
Independence. The former
president's assets had dwindled considerably and he desperately needed cash. Had he lived, however, he would not
have been able to depend on this solicitation. According to John Quincy Adams, only
four or five people at the ceremony contributed to Jefferson's relief."
[Source: Richard Skenkman
& Kurt Reiger, "One-Night Stands with
American History," Perennial - Harper Collins Publishers, 2003, 10 East
53thStreet, New York NY 10022, page 18.]
Thomas Jefferson is immortalized in
our minds for many reasons, but partly because he was selected to be one of the
four former Presidents comprising that group of four Presidents boldly
sculptured on the face of Mount Rushmore. His presence in that group represents
the nation's efforts toward forging out a working government and its structures
that would endure as it has. In
addition, though many may not notice it, President Jefferson is the portrait
displayed upon the face of the two-dollar bill.
Actually, he is one of only three
historic Americans honored on our currency who appear on both sides of the bill
in which he appears. Jefferson's
portrait is on the front side of the $2.00 bill. On its reverse side is the famous
painting depicting John Trumbull's 'The Declaration of Independence,' a painting
that presents every signer of the Declaration of Independence. The Committee of Five is prominently
in front of the Chair of the Congress, John Hancock, with the tallest figure
prominently the center of focus being Thomas Jefferson!
John
Turnbull’s famous painting out of the Convention producing the Declaration of
Independence, of which Thomas Jefferson was a central figure, is what graces the
reverse side of the $2.00 bill. Here is
a key to those names in
the painting.
I told my sixth cousin, once
removed, Joe B. Abney, Jr. of Austin, Texas, that I had discovered that he was
the 28th cousin, four times removed to President Jefferson. I told him he could have bragging
rights for that! He replied, and
I quote him most interestingly,
"Now that I'm aware of our
relationship, I'm going to forgive him for his liberal and populist leanings. Also, given your political interests,
I am certain, you have studied former Presidents more than I have ...........
but, a little tidbit of history that you might find interesting about our dear
Cousin Jefferson, is that he died woefully in debt up to his ears. For all his education, polish and
world class bearing, in addition to a substantial inheritance ....... he
apparently had no acumen for business. He
kept a journal, that he wrote in daily, from the time he was a young man until
his last days. It has been awhile since I studied him, but I recall that the
last entry he made in this journal was a calculation that showed he had only a
few pennies on hand and just enough lamp oil to last for about another week. I have always felt that this last,
stunning, revelation of an entry in his journal, is tantamount to proof that
this great and proud man hung on to witness the 50th anniversary of one of his
greatest accomplishments ...... and then quietly passed away in his bedroom of
a broken heart.
"I am glad we take better care
of our former Presidents now than we did in the beginning of our country (and
apparently until after the Civil War .... look at what a pauper Grant died
as!!). Although, I don't suppose
they need much caring for anymore, given that nowadays you can't get elected
clerk of even the remotest county, much less President of the United States,
unless your pockets are bulging with money....preferably,
old money.
"Anyways .........
.thanks for informing me of my bragging rights. Rest assured they will encounter
frequent usage!!!!!!!!!!!"
Well, Joe is a dear cousin and I
always appreciate his constant keeping up with me. Since this quotation, Joe has spent a
lot of time working as a contractor in Iraq in and around the war settings.
The
utter magnificence of what Thomas Jefferson brought to our country can be embodied
in browsing through a number of his quotations or things others have said of
him.
Thomas Jefferson was a remarkable man who
started learning very early in life and never stopped. At age
5, began studying under his cousin's tutor.
At 9, studied Latin, Greek and French.
At 14, studied classical literature and
additional languages.
At 16, entered the College of William and
Mary. Also
Jefferson could write in Greek with one hand while writing the same in Latin
with the other.
At 19, studied Law for 5 years starting under
George Wythe.
At 23, started his own law practice. At 25, was elected to the Virginia House of
Burgesses.
At 31, wrote the widely circulated
"Summary View of the Rights of British
America,” then retired from his law practice.
At 32, was a Delegate to the Second
Continental Congress.
At 33, wrote the Declaration of
Independence. It was at the request of
John Adams.
At 33, took three years to revise Virginia's
legal code and wrote a Public Education bill and a statute for Religious
Freedom.
At 36, was elected second Governor of Virginia
succeeding Patrick Henry.
At 40, served in Congress for two years.
At 41, was the American minister to France and
negotiated commercial treaties with European nations, along with Ben Franklin
and John Adams.
At 46, served as the first Secretary of State
under George Washington.
At 53, served as Vice President and was
elected president of the American Philosophical Society.
At 55, drafted the Kentucky Resolutions and
became head of Republican Party.
At 57, was elected the third President of the
United States.
At 60, obtained the Louisiana Purchase,
doubling the nation's size.
At 61, was elected to a second term as
President.
At 65, retired to Monticello.
At 80, helped President Monroe shape the
Monroe Doctrine.
At 81, almost single-handedly created the
University of Virginia and served as its first President.
In 1807, explorer Zebulon
Pike sent two grizzly bear cubs to Thomas
Jefferson as a gift. Pike’s Peak in
Colorado is named in honor of Zebulon Zike.
At 83, died on the 50th anniversary of the
Signing of the
Declaration of Independence, along with John
Adams. Thomas Jefferson knew because he
himself studied the previous failed attempts at government. He understood actual history, the nature of
God, His laws and the nature of man. That
happens to be way more than what most understand today. Jefferson really knew his stuff.
Thomas Jefferson is quoted as stating the
following telling facts:
"When we get piled upon one another in
large cities, as in Europe, we shall become as corrupt as Europe."
"The democracy will cease to exist when
you take away from those who are willing to work and give to those who would
not."
"It is incumbent on every generation to
pay its own debts as it goes. A principle which if acted on would save one-half
the wars of the world."
"I predict future happiness for Americans, if they can prevent the
government from wasting the labors of the people under the pretense of taking
care of them."
"My reading of history convinces me that
most bad government results from too much government."
"No free man shall ever be debarred the
use of arms."
"The strongest reason for the people to
retain the right to keep and bear arms is, as a last resort, to protect
themselves against tyranny in government."
“The tree of liberty must be refreshed from time
to time with the blood of patriots and tyrants."
"To compel a man to subsidize with his
taxes the propagation of ideas which he disbelieves and abhors is sinful and
tyrannical."
Thomas Jefferson said in 1802:
"I believe that banking institutions are
more dangerous to our liberties than standing armies. If the American people ever allow private
banks to control the issue of their currency, first by inflation, then by
deflation, the banks and corporations that will grow up around the banks will
deprive the people of all property, until their children wake-up homeless on the
continent their fathers conquered.
John Adams and Thomas Jefferson were
the only two signers of the Declaration of Independence who later became a
President of the United States. They
each died on the same day, July 4, 1826, exactly 50 years after they signed the
Declaration of Independence.
Thomas
Jefferson, truly, was a great founder among all those famous founders by which
our nation has been blessed. It was a
disgrace that his departure from this earth was amidst such poverty. As my cousin, Joe Abney said, at least we
treat our former Presidents much better.
When
he was young, Thomas Jefferson enjoyed playing the violin. Later, as a politician, I suppose he still
fiddled around!
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