“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 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 or both, looted the properties of Ellery, Clymer, Hall, 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. The owner 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.’”
Michael W Smith
@AOC Who exactly do you think would benefit from raising the minimum wage ? Because it won’t be the middle class. All they will see will be further increased prices , further crippling people on fixed incomes that won’t benefit from this.
FINAL — Oak Glen 5, Herbert Hoover 4.
A three-run uprising in the sixth proves to be the difference and if the Huskies are to win a fifth in a row, it will have to be the hard way… again.
Weir Softball Boosters received a donation From Ted Arneault today!!Coach Arneault, thank you for your generosity!!
Coach Arneault is running for Hancock County Commissioner in the soon approaching election.
May 10 is ELECTION DAY!
Good Luck @CoachTed_OG!!
OGSoftball received a donation form Ted Arneault today! Coach Arneault, it’s great we can join together to cheer for our Coach. Coach Arneault is running for Hancock County Commissioner in the soon approaching election. May 10 is everyones day to vote! Best of Luck @CoachTed_OG !
💥 Clemson - QB Pocket Presence
Bent knees, no heel click, remain loaded at all times
Coach Streeter talks about the qualities of Clemson QB’s weekly preparation, pre practice meetings, & his QB Drill chart.
➡️ DM
Education is not teacher centered or even student centered, but it is relationship centered. Teachers thrive w/ positive admin relationships & students thrive w/ positive teacher relationships. Relationships drive education.