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The Signers of the Declaration of Independence
dheffley
Member Posts: 25,000 ✭
The Signers of the Declaration of Independence
Have you ever wondered what happened to the 56 men who singed the Declaration of Independence? Five signers were captured by the British as traitors, and tortured before they died. Twelve had their homes ransacked and burned. Two lost their sons serving in the Revolutionary Army; another had two sons captured. Nine of the 56 fought and died from wounds of hardships of the Revolutionary War. They signed and they pledged their lives, their fortunes, and their sacred honor. What kind of men were they?
Twenty-four were lawyers and jurists. Eleven were merchants, nine were farmers and large plantation owners; men of means, well educated. But they signed the Declaration of Independence knowing full well that the penalty would be death if they were captured.
Carter Braxton of Virginia, a wealthy planter and trader, saw his ships swept from the seas by the British Navy. He sold his home and properties to pay his debts, and died in rags.
Thomas McKeam was so hounded by the British that he was forced to move his family almost constantly. He served in the Congress without pay, and his family was kept in hiding. His possessions were taken from him, and poverty was his reward.
Vandals or soldiers looted the properties of Dillery, Hall, Clymer, Walton, Gwinnett, Heyward, Ruttledge, and Middleton.
At the Battle of Yorktown, Thomas Nelson, Jr., noted that the British General Cornwallis had taken over the Nelson home for his headquarters. He quietly urged General George Washington to open fire. The home was destroyed and Nelson died bankrupt.
Francis Lewis had his home and properties destroyed. The enemy jailed his wife, and she died within a few months.
John Hart was driven from his wife's bedside as she was dying. Their 13 children fled for their lives. His fields and his gristmill were laid to waste. For more than a year he lived in forests and caves, returning home to find his wife dead and his children vanished. A few weeks later he died from exhaustion and a broken heart.
Norris and Livingston suffered similar fates. Such were the stories and sacrifices of the American Revolution. These were not wild eyed, rabble-rousing ruffians. They were soft-spoken men of means and education. They had security, but they valued liberty more. Standing tall, straight, and unwavering, they pledged: "For the support of this declaration, with firm reliance on the protection of the divine providence, we mutually pledge to each other, our lives, our fortunes, and our sacred honor."
They gave you and me a free and independent America. The history books never tell you a lot of what happened in the Revolutionary War.
We did not just fight the British. We were British subjects at that time and we fought our own government! Some of us take these liberties so much for granted...we shouldn't.
So, take a couple of minutes while enjoying your 4th of July holiday and silently thank these patriots. It's not too much to ask for the price they paid...
Save, research, then buy the best.Join the NRA, NOW!Teach them young, teach them safe, teach them forever, but most of all, teach them to VOTE!
Have you ever wondered what happened to the 56 men who singed the Declaration of Independence? Five signers were captured by the British as traitors, and tortured before they died. Twelve had their homes ransacked and burned. Two lost their sons serving in the Revolutionary Army; another had two sons captured. Nine of the 56 fought and died from wounds of hardships of the Revolutionary War. They signed and they pledged their lives, their fortunes, and their sacred honor. What kind of men were they?
Twenty-four were lawyers and jurists. Eleven were merchants, nine were farmers and large plantation owners; men of means, well educated. But they signed the Declaration of Independence knowing full well that the penalty would be death if they were captured.
Carter Braxton of Virginia, a wealthy planter and trader, saw his ships swept from the seas by the British Navy. He sold his home and properties to pay his debts, and died in rags.
Thomas McKeam was so hounded by the British that he was forced to move his family almost constantly. He served in the Congress without pay, and his family was kept in hiding. His possessions were taken from him, and poverty was his reward.
Vandals or soldiers looted the properties of Dillery, Hall, Clymer, Walton, Gwinnett, Heyward, Ruttledge, and Middleton.
At the Battle of Yorktown, Thomas Nelson, Jr., noted that the British General Cornwallis had taken over the Nelson home for his headquarters. He quietly urged General George Washington to open fire. The home was destroyed and Nelson died bankrupt.
Francis Lewis had his home and properties destroyed. The enemy jailed his wife, and she died within a few months.
John Hart was driven from his wife's bedside as she was dying. Their 13 children fled for their lives. His fields and his gristmill were laid to waste. For more than a year he lived in forests and caves, returning home to find his wife dead and his children vanished. A few weeks later he died from exhaustion and a broken heart.
Norris and Livingston suffered similar fates. Such were the stories and sacrifices of the American Revolution. These were not wild eyed, rabble-rousing ruffians. They were soft-spoken men of means and education. They had security, but they valued liberty more. Standing tall, straight, and unwavering, they pledged: "For the support of this declaration, with firm reliance on the protection of the divine providence, we mutually pledge to each other, our lives, our fortunes, and our sacred honor."
They gave you and me a free and independent America. The history books never tell you a lot of what happened in the Revolutionary War.
We did not just fight the British. We were British subjects at that time and we fought our own government! Some of us take these liberties so much for granted...we shouldn't.
So, take a couple of minutes while enjoying your 4th of July holiday and silently thank these patriots. It's not too much to ask for the price they paid...
Save, research, then buy the best.Join the NRA, NOW!Teach them young, teach them safe, teach them forever, but most of all, teach them to VOTE!
Comments
Just saw the poll on the Draft and 56% I believe said they would avoid it,
Kinda sad for the future of this country,
God Bless all that served , and those that gave all
"A wise man is a man that realizes just how little he knows"
rodney colson
rodney colson
Rome was destroyed by corruption and inner turmoil(pick any
scandal-gate in Washington).To pacify and minimize scrutiny from the people
of Rome,Cesar(the government),provided citizens with lots of easily accessable entertainment at the collosium(Hollywood,T.V. the NFL et al).Rome spent to no end on unneccessary foreign conquest,(Viet Nam,
Panama,The Gulf War,etc.)
Rome was finally brought down by a series of assaults(9/11,and what is yet to come) by a less
developed,technologically "inferior" conqeror (Muslim extremists).
I see some disturbing parallels.Does anyone else?
P.S. very good post dheffley.I will save it on my 'puter.
www.waveformwear.com
fighting censorship...with an attitude
Well Mr. Freehold, I am not sure who you mean by "we", but you can count me out of your little "we" scenario, as well as both my brothers, all my friends and all my family members that I know. Personally, I dont appreciate your inclusion and I am sure that others in the GB community feel the same way. I have served my country, as did my father and grandfather and many of my uncles and friends. They're are patriots left in this country, and we despise and scourn the types of people who would destroy the principles that this great nation was founded upon. We are outraged by the ones that desicrate our flag in the name of free speech and would like to treat them as they do our symbol of freedom. We are not draft dodgers and cowards who would let others go and secure our freedom. We are the ones who understand the cost of freedom and are willing to die to secure that freedom for our families and those who would go into battle at our sides.
When Clinton left office they gave him a 21 gun salute. Its a damn shame they all missed....
rodney colson
When Clinton left office they gave him a 21 gun salute. Its a damn shame they all missed....