The committee of five consisted John Adams of Massachusetts, Roger Sherman of Connecticut, Benjamin Franklin of Pennsylvania, Robert R. Livingston of New York , and Thomas Jefferson of Virginia. On July 1st 1776 congress convened.The resolution of independence was adopted by 12 of the 13 colonies, with the exception of New York. Immediately afterwards congress began to consider the declaration. The process of revision continued through all of July 3 and into the morning of July 4. At last church bells rang out over Philadelphia and the declaration had been adopted. Although congress had adopted the declaration of independence, the committee of five's task is not done. Congress wanted the committee of five to have printed copies of the declaration. on July 5th a copy of the printed version of the approved declaration was inserted into the "rough Journal" of the continental congress for July 4th.