4. PHYLLIS WHEATLEY, whose first name came from the slave ship that brought her over from Africa as a child was too frail for housework, but brilliant at poetry, After writing patriotic verse honoring George Washington, she was welcomed at his headquarters (considering that she was a slave and he was a slave owner). Four of the first five presidents owned slaves, the exception being John Adams.
5. Hold on to your letter signed by BUTTON GWINNETT. The Georgia politician signed the Declaration of Independence and died violently during the Revolutionary War fighting a duel. Because of this early death, his John Hancock is quite rare. A letter of his got $722,500 at auction last year.
6. Another Declaration signer, FRANCIS HOPKINSON, most likely designed the Stars and Stripes flag, but was never paid for it. In 1780, he asked the government for "a quarter cask of the public wine" as a reward. He never got it.
7. There is little reason to believe that BETSY ROSS sewed the first US flag. This legend gained popularity after her grandson addressed a Philadelphia historical group in 1870 about it and presented sworn statements of relatives who said they had heard Betsy tell the story.
Sounds a Bit Flaggy to Me. --Cooter
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