irnsrgn Posted July 1, 2005 Share Posted July 1, 2005 THE 4TH OF JULY 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! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Quenchcrack Posted July 1, 2005 Share Posted July 1, 2005 The lesson here is clear. Do not expect your "Government" to make restitution for the losses of war. Today, the life insurance benefit of a soldier in Iraq is $12,000. One year's poverty wages. If you pledge your sacred honor, pledge it to the cause of freedom for "We the People". Of course, the Viet Nam vets will probably take issue with that notion with some justification. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Woody Posted July 4, 2005 Share Posted July 4, 2005 Freedom is never FREE. The check that paid for your freedom is chiseled on stone and signed in blood. For the fact that you are reading this, thank a teacher. For the fact that you are reading this in English, thank a soldier. Woody Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sandpile Posted July 9, 2005 Share Posted July 9, 2005 IRN. Thanks for putting this piece up. I had no idea that it was so complete. I knew some had suffered, but not this completely. Almost every one of them suffered terrible losses. We have so much to be thankful for and some are not even known by us. Nothing is cheap, if it is worthwhile. Some times the price is higher than anticipated. Chuck Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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