Wednesday, July 04, 2007
Real Men of 1776
The Price They PaidHave 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 in the Revolutionary Army, another had two sons captured. Nine of the 56 fought and died from wounds or the 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 Congress without pay, and kept his family in hiding. His possessions were taken from him, and poverty was his reward. Vandals or soldiers or both, looted the properties of Ellery, Clymer, Hall, 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. The owner 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 enemies 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 grist mill were laid 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 of 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 Divine Providence, we mutually pledge to each other, our lives, our fortunes, and our sacred honor." They gave us a free and independent America. . .
~Author Unknown
Name:
4 Comments:
Wow! Thanks for my history lesson for the day! Happy 4th we miss you.
Wow, that sure was touching... I don't feel so brave sometimes, but how wonderful that men and women stood up for our freedom, and how much more wonderful those who have given their live for the cause of Christ. May God give us that kind of a backbone. You know, my biological father is a luitenant (sp?) in the Navy. He has given much of his life to serving our country... I don't know that I have ever told him "thank you," but I think I will now.
It makes me ill when I think of men of this type of character compared to the majority that run this country today!
I think I know what you mean, not too many guys have that type of backbone. When things get tough, many run... in military, in family situations, church, whatever the case. I hope I am never known to be flip-floppy, or easily giving up on what I really believe. Do you know that when I was younger, I actually wanted to die a martyr for Christ... not so anxious to get that accomplished these days... but it would be an honor... right now I am feeling kind-of down to Earth... let's just get the baths, meals, hugs, and house cleaned. It's the mom syndrome.
Post a Comment
<< Home