Leadup to July 4, part 1

On 14 May, 1776, Thomas Jefferson returned in Philadelphia to resume his duties as a member of the Continental Congress for Virginia. He did so reluctantly, since it required absenting himself from the Virginia constitutional convention, which he considered much more urgent. Nine days later, he moved to a new residence, the house of Jacob Graff, a bricklayer, on the corner of Market and 7th street, which at this time was several blocks from the center of town, located by itself in the middle of a field. Once settled, he took up what he viewed as his most important task: drafting a constitution for his country--Virginia.