Independence Day...things To Remember

[82Rigger]

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. 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 told you a lot about what
happened in the Revolutionary War. We didn't fight just
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, but we shouldn't. 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.

*****

A Happy 4th to All....and long may ye wave!!!

Steve / 82Rigger

[Arrow]

A good reminder...thanks Steve...