Rep's Corner

Reprinted-Author Unknown

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 and well educated. They signed the Declaration of Independence knowing full well that the penalty would be death if they were captured. The fates of the signers included:
• 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 McKearn was so hounded by the British that he was forced to move his family constantly. He served in the Congress without pay and kept his family 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 his home and turned it into a headquarters. Nelson quietly urged General George Washington to open fire on the home. 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 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 vanquished.

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 us a free and independent America. Some of us take these liberties for granted, but we shouldn't. Take a few minutes while enjoying the 4th of July holiday and silently thank these patriots. It is not too much to ask for the price they paid.

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© Copyright 2008 State Representative Lynn Olman. All rights reserved.