Good morning, Rooters: Some of you were interested in finding some
information regarding the signers of the Declaration of Independence.
Here is something I found. 

                         The Price they Paid

Have you ever wondered what happened to those men who signed the 
Declaration of Independence?

Five signers were captured by the British as traitors, and tortured 
before they died. Twellve 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.

What kind of men were they? Twenty-four were lawyers and jurist.
Eleven were merchants, nine were farmers and large plantation 
wners, 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.

The signed and they pledged their lives, their fortunes, and their
sacred honor. 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 Cogress without
pay, and his family was kept in hiding. His possessions were taken from
him, and poverty was his reward.


Vandals or soldier 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
ato open fire, which was done. 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 bedsied as she was dying. Their
thirteen children fled for their lives. His fields and his gristmill were
laid waste. For more than a year he lived in forests and caves, retuning
home after hte war to find his wife dead, 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. Theres ere
not wildeyed rabble-rousing ruffianssssl 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 a firm reliance on the protection 
of the Divine Province, we mutually pledge to each other, our lives, our
fortunes, and our sacred honor".

Source: Illiana Genealogist (The Illiana Genealogical & Historical
Society, Vermilion Co., IL) Vol. 29:3,  p 57.

Doesn't this bring goosepimples up your arms and make you feel so
proud???? good luck! Kay from FL