The following was written by Michael W. Smith:
https://michaelwsmith.com/the-sacrifices-made-by-the-declaration-signers/
"What happened to the signers of the Declaration of Independence?
This is the Price They Paid
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 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 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 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. A few weeks later he died from 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 the divine providence, we mutually pledge to each other, our lives, our fortunes, and our sacred honor.”
Asked chatgpt for more because this was a great topic
John Hancock, who served as the President of the Second Continental Congress, went on to be the first Governor of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts. Despite the hefty price on his head, he led Massachusetts throughout the Revolutionary War and continued to serve in various political capacities until his death in 1793.
Benjamin Franklin, already a renowned scientist, inventor, and writer by the time he signed the Declaration, continued to contribute significantly to the new nation. He served as a diplomat in France during the Revolutionary War, securing critical support for the American cause. He also played a crucial role in drafting the U.S. Constitution. He passed away in 1790, widely celebrated as one of America's most influential Founding Fathers.
Thomas Jefferson, the primary author of the Declaration of Independence, had a lengthy and illustrious political career. He served as the United States Minister to France, the first U.S. Secretary of State under President George Washington, Vice President under John Adams, and was elected the third President of the United States, serving two terms from 1801 to 1809. Jefferson also founded the University of Virginia.
Samuel Adams, a significant figure in the early stages of the American Revolution, went on to serve as the Governor of Massachusetts. He continued to hold public offices and was one of the strongest proponents of republican values.
Robert Morris, a wealthy merchant at the time of the signing, financed a significant portion of the Revolutionary War, earning him the nickname "Financier of the Revolution". However, his subsequent ventures were less successful, leading to bankruptcy and a three-year stint in debtor's prison. After his release, he lived a quiet, private life until his death in 1806.
Roger Sherman, the only person to have signed all four great state papers of the U.S: the Continental Association, the Declaration of Independence, the Articles of Confederation, and the Constitution, continued to serve in the U.S Congress and later as a senator for Connecticut. He is also known for proposing the Great Compromise during the Constitutional Convention, a foundational element in the structure of U.S. government.
Richard Stockton of New Jersey was captured by the British in November 1776. He was released in poor health in 1777 and his estate had been looted and destroyed by the British. Despite this, he continued to serve New Jersey in a legal capacity until his death in 1781. Stockton University in New Jersey is named in his honor.
Charles Carroll of Maryland, the only Catholic signatory and the longest-lived signer of the Declaration, went on to help draft the Maryland Constitution and served as the first United States Senator for Maryland. Despite anti-Catholic sentiment, he was highly respected for his political acumen and integrity.
William Ellery of Rhode Island, whose home was destroyed during the Revolutionary War, continued to serve in the Congress for over a decade after the signing of the Declaration. He later served as the Customs Collector of Newport, a position he held until his death. He was also an active abolitionist.
Dr. Benjamin Rush, one of the signers from Pennsylvania, was a prominent physician and social reformer. Despite being accused of treason by the British, he continued to serve the newly formed United States, including advocating for the abolition of slavery, prison reform, and improvements in public health. He is often referred to as the "Father of American Psychiatry".
George Wythe from Virginia, a mentor to Thomas Jefferson, served as a delegate to the Continental Congress and signed the Declaration. After the Revolution, he became one of the first professors of law in America and continued teaching future presidents such as Jefferson and John Marshall. His commitment to law and justice remained until his death under suspicious circumstances in 1806.
Caesar Rodney of Delaware, despite suffering from asthma and skin cancer, rode 80 miles through a stormy night to cast his vote for independence. Rodney would later serve as President (Governor) of Delaware during the American Revolution. He remained an active politician until his health declined, leading to his death in 1784.
William Whipple of New Hampshire, who was a successful merchant and a sea captain, continued his service in the Revolutionary War where he rose to the rank of Major General. He participated in the successful defeat of General Burgoyne at the Battle of Saratoga in 1777. After the war, Whipple served as a judge for the state of New Hampshire until his death in 1785.
Francis Hopkinson of New Jersey was a versatile man known for his skills as a lawyer, author, artist, and musician. He contributed to the design of the American flag and also served as a judge and church vestryman after signing the Declaration. Despite the British burning his home during the Revolutionary War, he contributed to the creation of the Great Seal of the United States and designed seals for several government departments.
Samuel Huntington of Connecticut, a self-made man who rose from being a cooper's apprentice to a prominent lawyer and politician, served as the President of the Continental Congress when the Articles of Confederation were ratified. He later became the Governor of Connecticut and served in that capacity for over a decade until his death in 1796.
Oliver Wolcott of Connecticut served as a military leader during the Revolutionary War and was not present for the actual signing of the Declaration but affixed his signature later. He went on to serve as the Governor of Connecticut from 1796 until his death in 1797.
James Wilson of Pennsylvania, a prominent legal scholar, participated in the drafting of the United States Constitution and was one of the six original justices appointed by George Washington to the Supreme Court of the United States. His contributions to American jurisprudence continue to be widely respected.
Elbridge Gerry of Massachusetts, a merchant and politician, went on to become the Vice President of the United States under James Madison. He is most known for the term "gerrymandering," a method of redrawing political districts to favor one's party, which occurred during his governorship in Massachusetts.
Matthew Thornton of New Hampshire, a physician and statesman, served in the New Hampshire House of Representatives after signing the Declaration. He later moved to Maine and practiced medicine until his death in 1803.
Philip Livingston of New York, a merchant and statesman, continued to serve in the Congress until his death in 1778. Despite losing his property during the war, he remained a dedicated patriot. His statue stands in the National Statuary Hall Collection in the United States Capitol.
Fantastic use of GPT!
This is one of those topics that should be explored in great depth and detail in our nation's schools.
One day, when President Trump returns to office, we will have our Garden of Heroes with monuments to each and every one of these great men.
I’m related to one of these. I continually wonder what he would say about the current state of affairs.
I’m related to one too. Perhaps they’d be proud of their lineage for still being patriots.
Interesting that Oceangate CEO Stockton Rush was named after two of these men.
thanks for this uplift. I was upset by all who seemed to pay the price and got the shaft.