The 56 Who Signed the Declaration of Independence
By Wayne Kirkbride
The Star Spangled Banner will wave proudly during the 4th of July weekend to remind all of the sacrifices made to create our great nation. Photo by Thomas Atkins.
Thirteen colonies united against the rule of King George of England after attempting to resolve their grievances against him by peaceful means. In the end, England was intent to put down this colonial rebellion by force and before the Declaration of Independence was written, fighting had broken out in various places and blood was shed on both sides.
The delegates sent from the thirteen colonies to sign the declaration were in effect, signing their names to a document that in England’s eye meant they were traitors to their country and subject to punishment according to English law. What was the fate of those who signed this historic document?
Seventeen of the signers served in the military during the Revolution. The British captured five of the signers during the war. One of the representatives from New Jersey had two sons captured, while another representative from that colony lost a son in a battle.
Eleven signers had their homes and property destroyed. One representative from New York had his house destroyed and his wife taken prisoner. Another New Jersey signer had his farm and mills destroyed and he died while avoiding capture.
Fifteen of the signers participated in their state’s constitutional conventions and six of them signed the United States Constitution.
After the Revolution, 13 of the signers became governors, and 18 served in their state legislatures. Sixteen became state and federal judges. Seven became members of the US House of Representatives, six became US Senators and two became Justices of the Supreme Court.
Thomas Jefferson and John Adams became Presidents. They both died on July 4, 1826, the 50th anniversary of the Declaration of Independence.
Benjamin Franklin was the oldest one to sign the Declaration at age 70. His son William remained loyal to England and the rift between father and son never healed. Other members of the original 13 Colony representatives also suffered dissention between family members on loyalty to the King and some never financially recovered their losses suffered during the Revolution. Remember their sacrifices and their contributions to a new nation, a new form of self-government as you celebrate this Fourth of July.
Hello, Wayne. Just a follow-up on your article regarding the 56 signers of the Declaration of Independence…..Of the 56, 5 were captured by the British as traitors and tortured before they died. Twelve had their homes burned. Two lost their sons in the Revolutionary army. Another had two sons captured. Nine of the fifty six fought and died from wounds or hardships.
Also of note, Twenty-four were lawyers (back then they had some honor) and jurists. Eleven were merchants. Nine were farmers and plantation owners. All were men of means and well educated, but they signed the Declaration of Independence, knowing 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 debt, and died in rags.
Thomas McKean was so hounded by the British that he was forced to move his family constantly. He served in the Congress WITHOUT pay, and his family was kept in hiding. His possessions were taken, and poverty was his reward.
Vandals or soldiers looted the properties of Ellery, Hall, Clymer, Walton, Gwinnet, Heyward, Rutledge, and Middleton.
At the Battle of Yorktown, Thomas Nelson Jr. noted that the British Gen. Cornwallis had taken over the Nelson home for his headquarters. He quietly urged Gen. Washington to open fire. The home was destroyed, and Nelson died bankrupt.
The home of Francis Lewis was destroyed. The enemy jailed his wife, and she died within a few months.
John Hart was driven from the bedside of his dying wife. Their thirteen children fled for their lives. His fields and 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 gone. He died shrtly thereafter, heartbroken. Morris and Livingston suffered similar fates.
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. (unfortunately, a turn around from most Americans today) Standing tall, straight and unwavering, they pledged ” for the support of this Declaration, with a firm Reliance on the Protection of the Divine Providence, we mutually pledge to each other our Lives, our Fortunes, and our sacred Honor.”
Freedom is never free. The price of that freedom is eternal vigilance. It is indeed unfortunate that most Americans today prefer the government to take care of us “from the womb to the tomb.” Most Americans prefer security to Liberty. “Those who sacrifice Liberty for security deserve neither” -Benjamin Franklin.
July 9th, 2008 at 9:38 pm
When do you plan to ‘post’ the July 11th column: Tough Questions by Craig Andrus?
That was an excellant explaination of the Iraq situtation.
July 22nd, 2008 at 12:47 am