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!

 

Editors Note:

Some of these statements can be misleading and may have some factual inconsistencies.  Although this may be the case, it does not take away from their sacrifice and that of others at the time to secure the freedom and liberty we celebrate on this great July 4th Holiday!

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

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