What happened to the Signers of the Declaration of Independence?

Have you ever wondered what happened to the 56 men who signed 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 or 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.

So, take a few minutes while enjoying your 4th of July holiday and silently thank these patriots. It's not much to ask for the price they paid.

Remember: freedom is never free!

It's time we get the word out that patriotism is NOT a sin, Memorial Day and the Fourth of July has more to it than beer, picnics, and baseball games.

http://www.snopes.com/history/american/pricepaid.asp

Mixture of truth and fiction.

http://www.snopes.com/history/american/pricepaid.asp

Mixture of truth and fiction. Originally Posted by Robbie77007

Ain't all history and most 'news'.

Still these men and women and many more since have given all for our freedoms.

Ain't all history and most 'news'.

Still these men and women and many more since have given all for our freedoms. Originally Posted by jjflash

Yea but if it gets started on the internet... it's gospel

CB do you think there are those kind of men in this country now?? In politics??

What percentage actually actively participated in the Revolution <20%?

CB do you think there are those kind of men in this country now?? In politics??

What percentage actually actively participated in the Revolution <20%? Originally Posted by O'Mike

I don't have a clue. But it is clear that the ones who win the war/battles get to write the history.

I suspect if the British won the skirmish, those men would have been labeled "terrorists" or traitors.

There are a number of groups around the country who live in small communes and try to live their own lives without governmental interference; most we don't hear much about.

I don't know if any are legit or David Koresh types - and we probably never will.

But I haven't seen any politician who I believe is interested in much more than insuring his/her next term in office.

As long as there are lobbyists, political action committees and campaign funds accounts things will always continue as they are now.

But what's the alternative? Can you imagine if we went back to Senators being appointed by the state legislatures..

Would you prefer we outlaw campaign contributions altogether set a limit to campaign spending... and time spent campaigning and the tax payer funds all the campaigns?

How do ya'll suggest we fix this problem?

How do ya'll suggest we fix this problem? Originally Posted by ThatManFromTexas

I suggest TMFT be elected the Grand Poobah



We can even get you one of those cool hats.

But I haven't seen any politician who I believe is interested in much more than insuring his/her next term in office. Originally Posted by CivilBarrister

And that is the real problem.