Remembering On This 4th Of July
From: M.M.LOTT~CHAPMAN
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.
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. Remember: freedom is never free!
I hope you will show your support by sending this to as many people as
you can, please. It's time we get the word out that patriotism is NOT a
sin and the Fourth of July has more to it than beer, picnics, and
baseball games..
- Forums
- General
- remembering on this 4th july
remembering on this 4th july
-
- There are more pages in this discussion • 47 more messages in this thread...
You’re viewing a single post only. To view the entire thread just sign in or Join Now (FREE)