What happened to the 56 men in 1776 who signed??

[Dzone]

TweetHave 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.

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!

[daved150]

Tweetwow...that was great!! i didnt know that shyt bro...i mean...some of it i did, but i didnt realize about all of them got fuked!!

[Doink the clown]

TweetWow, i gotta keep this one.

[jamescb77]

Tweetthats a good one right there and so true

[Klash]

Tweet

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.

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!

Great post Dzone!
When you sit and think about what the holiday expresses. You can't help but think the holiday is nothing more than a sham anymore. We are celebrating our independence from an oppressive nation but what have we become? Our independence allowed the framers the opportunity to protect us from an overbearing state and yet we still celebrate but what? That we have our own overbearing state? The words "freedom" and "land of the free" sure seem to be used a lot during our celebrations - does anyone think that is true anymore?
That's what strikes me about the founders, they were men of integrity, they stood for what they believed in even when the risk was death. Makes you wonder what the founders would think about us using their names in a celebration that glorifies freedom while ignoring we have none? I think they would be disgusted at the association of their names being used to endorse a nation of statism.

[daved150]

Tweeti agree...this aint what they sufered and died for

[deepsouth]

TweetDon't worry- Obama's having them replaced with Peloci and Co.

[venom27]

Tweetthey r all rolling in their graves now that obama is president

[Waterboy]

TweetAnd it gets even worse. The courts today said Franken could be seated in the Senate. Thant gives them the 60 seat super majority they need to stop any Republican fillabuster.

[bohunt]

TweetGood post Doc. Those people went through hell.

[Dzone]

Tweet

And it gets even worse. The courts today said Franken could be seated in the Senate. Thant gives them the 60 seat super majority they need to stop any Republican fillabuster.

Shameful what has become of this country. Corruption has made this country a mockery of what it was meant to be.

[firstenrgy]

TweetGood post. They were men so brave I don't think this country will ever see such rugged individualists.

[daved150]

Tweet

Good post. They were men so brave I don't think this country will ever see such rugged individualists.

nooo...your right..i keep it pretty low key

[Doink the clown]

TweetI feel like im living thru animal farm