Guest guest Posted June 28, 2000 Report Share Posted June 28, 2000 When fighting your battles.......... REMEMBERING INDEPENDENCE DAY 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 the document, 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 and > mostly well educated. They signed the Declaration of Independence > knowing full well that the penalty would be death if they were > captured. 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. 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, Jr, noted that the > British General Cornwallis had taken over the home for his > headquarters. He quietly urged General Washington to open fire. > The home was destroyed, and died bankrupt. Francis had > his home and > properties destroyed. The enemy jailed his wife, and she died within a > few months. 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. " They gave you and me a free and > independent America. The history > books never told you a lot about what happened in the Revolutionary > War. We didn't fight just the British. We were British subjects at > that Time, and we fought our own government! 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! I hope you will show your support by > sending this to as many people as you can. It's time we get the word > out that patriotism is NOT a sin, and the Fourth of July has more to > it than fireworks, beer and picnics. --- May the road rise up to meet > you, May the wind be always at your back, May the sun shine warm upon > your face, The > rains fall soft upon your fields, and until we meet again, may God > hold you in the palm of his hand. > > " Faith sees the Invisible, Believes the Incredible, Receives the > Impossible! " Give a gift to you and yours that keeps on giving... > " Drink Clean Water and Breathe Fresh Air " . Cordially, Pureairandh2o@... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted June 29, 2000 Report Share Posted June 29, 2000 When fighting your battles.......... REMEMBERING INDEPENDENCE DAY 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 the document, 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 and > mostly well educated. They signed the Declaration of Independence > knowing full well that the penalty would be death if they were > captured. 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. 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, Jr, noted that the > British General Cornwallis had taken over the home for his > headquarters. He quietly urged General Washington to open fire. > The home was destroyed, and died bankrupt. Francis had > his home and > properties destroyed. The enemy jailed his wife, and she died within a > few months. 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. " They gave you and me a free and > independent America. The history > books never told you a lot about what happened in the Revolutionary > War. We didn't fight just the British. We were British subjects at > that Time, and we fought our own government! 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! I hope you will show your support by > sending this to as many people as you can. It's time we get the word > out that patriotism is NOT a sin, and the Fourth of July has more to > it than fireworks, beer and picnics. --- May the road rise up to meet > you, May the wind be always at your back, May the sun shine warm upon > your face, The > rains fall soft upon your fields, and until we meet again, may God > hold you in the palm of his hand. > > " Faith sees the Invisible, Believes the Incredible, Receives the > Impossible! " Give a gift to you and yours that keeps on giving... > " Drink Clean Water and Breathe Fresh Air " . Cordially, Pureairandh2o@a... --- End forwarded message --- Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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