 As two of the few surviving signers of the Declaration of Independence, they were finally able to see that they had far more in common than any differences they'd once perceived. Amazingly, on July 4th, 1826, the 50th anniversary of the Declaration of Independence, these two luminaries died within hours of each other. What's more, Adams' last words as he drifted in and out of consciousness on his final day were, Jefferson survives. Jefferson had passed away hours earlier.