Date: Fri, 16 Apr 1999 10:03:17 From: David Subject: TC2K the price they paid To: tc2k@tcrf.com --------------------------------------------------------------------------- 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 the hardships of the Revolutionary War. They signed and pledged their lives, their fortunes, and their sacred honor. What kind of men where 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 his 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 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 grist mill 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 are 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 the firm reliance on the protection of the Divine Providence, we mutually pledge to each other, our lives, our fortunes, and our sacred honor." Is it no wonder then, that Samuel Adams said: "If you love wealth more than liberty, the tranquility of servitude better than the animating contest of freedom, go home from us in peace. We ask not your counsels or arms. Crouch down and lick the hands which feed you. May your chain be set lightly upon you and may posterity forget ye were our countrymen." ......what then, is freedom worth to you? And....what will you do to pay back the debt we owe to those who sacrificed their lives, their fortunes, and their sacred honor? Did they die in vain, or in Honor? That decision rests in our actions, as to what we do with this precious gift known as the Constitution, and the Bill of Rights. TIME IS NOT ON OUR SIDE. PROCRASTINATION WILL BE OUR DESTRUCTION, IF WE DO NOT AWAKE FROM OUR SLEEP, AND WORK TO RESTORE AMERICA TO ITS FORMER GLORY....WHEN THE PEOPLE RULED, AND GOVERNMENT WAS OUR SERVANT. --------------------------------------------------------------------------- Comment by gene karl of The Anti-Federalist Society http://www.no-debts.com/anti-federalist/index.html Oh really now. Could the above information on THE PRICE THEY PAID be true? Let's assume it is true. How is it then that Thomas Jefferson, one of the major framers of the Declaration of Independence, not only made it out alive, but became the fourth President of the united States of America after George Washington? The following 6 signers of the Declaration of Independence that created states, instead of true Republics, were Masons who seemed to have survived alright. The chronological dates of their deaths are 1781, 1785, 1790, 1793, 1794, 1814. The first one listed here died a full 5 years after the Declaration. What I'm saying then is, could it be that the Masons and lawyers that truly were infiltrators and loyal to the English crown all along were spared a fateful death to reestablish crown law on American soil? Just a thought mind you, but one that does seem to have a taste of truth to it, doesn't it? gene karl anti-federalist http://www.no-debts.com/anti-federalist/index.html ------------------------------------------------------------------------- Stockton, Richard (1730-1781) Associate justice of New Jersey state supreme court, 1774; Delegate to Continental Congress from New Jersey, 1776; signer, Declaration of Independence, 1776. Died February 28, 1781. Hancock, John (1737-1793) signer, Declaration of Independence, 1776; Governor of Massachusetts, 1787-93. Died in Quincy, Mass., October 8, 1793. Hooper, William (1742-1790) Born in Boston, Mass., June 17, 1742. Delegate to Continental Congress from North Carolina, 1774-77; signer, Declaration of Independence, 1776; Died in Hillsboro, N.C., October 14, 1790. Paine, Robert Treat (1731-1814) Born in Boston, Mass., March 11, 1731. Delegate to Continental Congress from Massachusetts, 1774; signer, Declaration of Independence, 1776; member of Massachusetts state house of representatives, 1777; Massachusetts state attorney general, 1777; justice of Massachusetts state supreme court, 1790. Died May 12, 1814. Whipple, William (1730-1785) of Portsmouth, N.H. Born in Kittery, Maine, January 14, 1730. Delegate to Continental Congress from New Hampshire, 1775; signer, Declaration of Independence, 1776; member of New Hampshire Governor's Council, 1776-77; member of New Hampshire state legislature, 1780; justice of New Hampshire state supreme court, 1783-85. Died November 28, 1785. Lee, Richard Henry (1732-1794) Born in Westmoreland County, Va., January 20, 1732. Delegate to Continental Congress from Virginia, 1774; signer, Declaration of Independence, 1776; member of Virginia state legislature, 1777; U.S. Senator from Virginia, 1789-92. Died June 19, 1794. http://www.potifos.com/tpg/group/masons/1770s.html Freemason Politicians of the 1770s Very incomplete list! Washington, George (1732-1799) -- also known as "Father of His Country" -- Uncle of Bushrod Washington; granduncle of George Corbin Washington; granduncle-in-law of Charles Magill Conrad. Born in Westmoreland County, Va., February 22, 1732. Delegate to Continental Congress from Virginia, 1774; general in the Continental Army during the Revolutionary War; member, U.S. Constitutional Convention, 1787; President of the United States, 1789-97. Died in Mt. Vernon, Va., December 14, 1799. Interment at Mt. Vernon, Mt. Vernon, Va. Washington counties in Ala., Ark., Colo., Fla., Ga., Idaho, Ill., Ind., Iowa, Kan., Ky., La., Maine, Md., Minn., Miss., Mo., Neb., N.Y., N.C., Ohio, Okla., Ore., Pa., R.I., Tenn., Tex., Utah, Vt., Va. and Wis. are named for him. (See also his congressional biography.) Randolph, Edmund Jenings (1753-1813) Nephew of Peyton Randolph. Born in Williamsburg, Va., August 10, 1753. Served in the Continental Army during the Revolutionary War; delegate to Virginia state constitutional convention, 1776; Virginia state attorney general, 1776-82; Delegate to Continental Congress from Virginia, 1779-82; Governor of Virginia, 1786-88; member, U.S. Constitutional Convention, 1787; member of Virginia state house of delegates, 1788; U.S. Attorney General, 1789-94; U.S. Secretary of State, 1794-95. Died in Millwood, Va., September 12, 1813. Interment at Old Chapel Cemetery, Millwood, Va. (See also his congressional biography.) Ellsworth, Oliver (1745-1807) Father of William Wolcott Ellsworth. Born in Windsor, Conn., April 29, 1745. Delegate to Continental Congress from Connecticut, 1777-84; state court judge, 1785-89; member, U.S. Constitutional Convention, 1787; U.S. Senator from Connecticut, 1789-96; Chief Justice of U.S. Supreme Court, 1796-1800. Died in Windsor, Conn., November 26, 1807. Interment at Palisado Cemetery, Windsor, Conn. (See also his congressional biography.) Stockton, Richard (1730-1781) Brother-in-law of Elias Boudinot; father of Richard Stockton (1764-1828); grandfather of Richard Stockton Field. Born near Princeton, N.J., October 1, 1730. Associate justice of New Jersey state supreme court, 1774; Delegate to Continental Congress from New Jersey, 1776; signer, Declaration of Independence, 1776. Died February 28, 1781. Interment at Stony Brook Quaker Meeting House Cemetery, Princeton, N.J. (See also his congressional biography.) Hancock, John (1737-1793) Ancestor of Florence Elizabeth Smith Knapp. Born in Quincy, Mass., January 12, 1737. Delegate to Continental Congress from Massachusetts, 1775-78; signer, Declaration of Independence, 1776; Governor of Massachusetts, 1787-93. Died in Quincy, Mass., October 8, 1793. Interment at Old Granary Burying Ground, Boston, Mass. Hancock counties in Ga., Ill., Ind., Iowa, Ky., Maine, Miss., Ohio, Tenn. and W.Va. are named for him. (See also his congressional biography.) Hooper, William (1742-1790) Great-great-grandfather of Warren Green Hooper. Born in Boston, Mass., June 17, 1742. Delegate to Continental Congress from North Carolina, 1774-77; signer, Declaration of Independence, 1776; member of North Carolina state legislature, 1777-78. Died in Hillsboro, N.C., October 14, 1790. Interment at Guilford Battle Grounds, Greensboro, N.C. (See also his congressional biography.) Paine, Robert Treat (1731-1814) Born in Boston, Mass., March 11, 1731. Delegate to Continental Congress from Massachusetts, 1774; signer, Declaration of Independence, 1776; member of Massachusetts state house of representatives, 1777; Massachusetts state attorney general, 1777; justice of Massachusetts state supreme court, 1790. Died May 12, 1814. Interment at Old Granary Burying Ground, Boston, Mass. (See also his congressional biography.) Whipple, William (1730-1785) of Portsmouth, N.H. Born in Kittery, Maine, January 14, 1730. Delegate to Continental Congress from New Hampshire, 1775; signer, Declaration of Independence, 1776; member of New Hampshire Governor's Council, 1776-77; member of New Hampshire state legislature, 1780; justice of New Hampshire state supreme court, 1783-85. Died November 28, 1785. Interment at North Cemetery, Portsmouth, N.H. (See also his congressional biography.) Cushing, William (1732-1810) Born in Scituate, Mass., March 1, 1732. State court judge, 1777; delegate to Massachusetts state constitutional convention, 1779; justice of Massachusetts state supreme court, 1780; Justice of U.S. Supreme Court, 1789-1810. Died September 13, 1810. Interment a private or family graveyard, Plymouth County, Mass. Paterson, William (1745-1806) Father-in-law of Stephen Van Rensselaer. Born in Ireland, December 24, 1745. Delegate to New Jersey state constitutional convention, 1776; New Jersey state attorney general, 1776-83; Delegate to Continental Congress from New Jersey, 1780, 1787; member, U.S. Constitutional Convention, 1787; U.S. Senator from New Jersey, 1789-90; Governor of New Jersey, 1790-93; Justice of U.S. Supreme Court, 1793-1806. Died September 9, 1806. Original interment a private or family graveyard, Albany County, N.Y.; reinterment at Albany Rural Cemetery, Menands, N.Y. (See also his congressional biography.) Jenifer, Daniel of St. Thomas (1723-1790) Uncle of Daniel Jenifer. Born in Charles County, Md. Member of Maryland state senate, 1777-81; Delegate to Continental Congress from Maryland, 1778-82; candidate for Governor of Maryland, 1782, 1785; member, U.S. Constitutional Convention, 1787. Died in Annapolis, Md., November 16, 1790. Burial location unknown. (See also his congressional biography.) Bedford, Gunning, Jr. (1747-1812) Cousin of Gunning Bedford. Born in Philadelphia, Pa. Delaware state attorney general, 1778-90; Delegate to Continental Congress from Delaware, 1783-85; member, U.S. Constitutional Convention, 1787; member of Delaware state senate, 1788; Judge of U.S. District Court for Delaware, 1789-1812. Died March 30, 1812. Original interment at First Presbyterian Churchyard, Wilmington, Del.; reinterment at Masonic Home Cemetery, Christiana, Del. (See also his congressional biography.) Brearly, David (1745-1790) Born in Spring Grove, N.J., June 11, 1745. Colonel in the Continental Army during the Revolutionary War; delegate to New Jersey state constitutional convention, 1776; associate justice of New Jersey state supreme court, 1779-89; member, U.S. Constitutional Convention, 1787-88; Judge of U.S. District Court for New Jersey, 1789-90. Died August 16, 1790. Interment at St. Michael's Episcopal Churchyard, Trenton, N.J. Randolph, Peyton (1721-1775) Uncle of Edmund Jenings Randolph. Born in Williamsburg, Va. Delegate to Continental Congress from Virginia, 1774-75. Died in Philadelphia, Pa., October 22, 1775. Interment at College of William and Mary Chapel, Williamsburg, Va. (See also his congressional biography.) Go to The Political Graveyard main page. The Political Graveyard is a web site about U.S. political history and cemeteries. The listings on this web site are incomplete; development of the database is a continually ongoing project. Information on this page -- and on all other pages of this site -- is believed to be accurate, but is not guaranteed. The user is advised to check with other sources before relying on any information here. The Political Graveyard is created and maintained by Lawrence Kestenbaum, of Ann Arbor, Michigan (see main page for contact information). Web hosting is provided by Paul Haas, of Ypsilanti, Michigan. The site opened on July 1, 1996; the last full revision was done on December 27, 1999. http://politicalgraveyard.com/bio/lee.html Lee, Richard Henry (1732-1794) Brother of Francis Lightfoot Lee and Arthur Lee; first cousin once removed of Henry Lee and Richard Bland Lee; first cousin once removed and father-in-law of Charles Lee; second cousin once removed of Zachary Taylor; great-grandfather of Blair Lee. Born in Westmoreland County, Va., January 20, 1732. Delegate to Continental Congress from Virginia, 1774; signer, Declaration of Independence, 1776; member of Virginia state legislature, 1777; U.S. Senator from Virginia, 1789-92. Died June 19, 1794. Interment at Burnt House Field Cemetery, Hague, Va. Lee counties in Ga. and Ill. are named for him. (See also his congressional biography.)