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Silverfoxesclub-digest In this issue:
-What happened to the 56 men who signed 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. 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." John O'Riley was a member of an Irish Toast Masters Club and one evening at the local Irish Toast Masters meeting, a contest was held to see who could deliver the best toast. Well, John O'Riley won the contest for the best toast of the evening, "Here's To The Best Years o' Me Life, Spent Between The Legs o' Me Wife." When John O'Riley arrived home his beautiful wife asked him how the Toast Masters meeting went and he said, "I won the contest for the best toast of the evening." His wife then asked him what his toast was, and he said, "Here's To The Best Years o' me Life, Spent in Church wi' me Wife." His wife then said, "Why John, that's so nice of you to include me in your Toast." The next morning, Mrs. O'Riley was downtown shopping and ran into the local policeman on the beat who was also at the Toast Masters meeting with John O'Riley. He said, "Hello Mrs. O'Riley, that was some great toast that your husband John gave at the Toast Masters meeting last evening. He won first prize".
"Yes, that's right," said Mrs. O'Riley, "but he wasn't quite honest with the
facts: he's only been there twice, the first time he fell asleep and the
second time I had to pull him out by the ears."
My dear friends, I have come away from this experience with a far greater knowledge and emotional impact of the bravery and audacity that these 56 men who framed this monumental document of history put forth. Yes it was a stormy battle and yet, the dignity and strength of purpose that shines forth in the words that came out of the debate and compromise still act as a beacon of the ideals upon which, my home and native land was founded. I would encourage all of us to take a minute on this 225th anniversary of the birth of this document and nation to contemplate what these men did in the face of what must have seemed impossible odds to do that which had never been done before. Take some time to re read this declaration. It is one of the guide stars of this republic and we should reinstill this sense of commitment in the face of adversity in our own hearts to keep this torch of liberty burning brightly. The musical 1776 ends with the calling of the roll and each delegate coming up to the desk to sign the Declaration accompanied by the progressively louder and louder tolling of the Liberty Bell, until such time as the swelling of the bell is almost deafening. Let freedom ring. I can only say that as I stood on stage and watched each actor come up to add his signature it was with great pride and emotion that I observed that not one actor, throughout the run of the show, came away from the desk without tears in his eyes.
dave aka luvhog
Best wishes for a great fourth to all our American friends. End of silverfoxesclub-digest V1 #292
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