56 Men

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 revo- lutionary army, another had two sons captured. Nine of the 56 fought and died from wounds or hardshipsof 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."

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I hope your Independence Day celebration will include thankfulness to God for your freedom to worship Him and to pursue a financial and physically comfortable life here in the United States of America. Thanks to God and to the historic men and women of solid spiritual principles and integrity who fought and many who died to secure that which we enjoy today!

May God keep walking with our leaders today and may our leaders walk with Him.

May we all seek only the guidance of the Awesome God who created the earth and the people of the earth who were created in His image, with free choice.... it's no wonder why we long for freedom in the first place, we were created all.... to be free.

And with that, I am off to enjoy a road trip with my husband! We are heading towards Copper Center and hope to join a bit of the Bible Conference being held there besides enjoying the beauty of God's earth on the way.

Might have a few pictures to share when I get back. I hope it's not smoky up that way!!!!!

Happy July 4th to all!