“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 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 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.’”
Michael W Smith
@TheJoeySwoll Chelsea spent almost 100 mill on Mudryk, just for his most memorable moment this season to be getting cooked by Joey Swoll
This actually has to be one of the most random crossovers ever! 😂😂
Most amazing video I’ve seen in a long time… snowboarder saved by a skier — seems both were skiing alone in the deep powder. Always ski with a partner or two!
Mental Toughness Exposure camps are back!
Hear what Kings College Commit Connor Griffin had to say about our last camp!
Our next camp will be May 20th 5-9pm at Sarah Lawrence College
Use the link below to sign up! Thank you so much for the support!
🔗: https://t.co/QCQQVb3HsY
The Dutchess County Basketball Coaches Association will play its 2023 Exceptional Senior Game on Thursday March 16th, 6:30pm at Spackenkill HS.
End of the season awards will be distributed at halftime of the game.
@StephenHaynes4@KOT845_@FreemanSports@Varsity845@PJSports
Championship Sunday at the Westchester County Center will be an end of era in local sports. It is the last day of Section 1 championships for Pete Ruf of News 12.
Pete is stepping away after two decades. He’s captured the greatest sports moments of you, your children, your school and your community. And he’s done it with unrivaled class and humility. For a guy everyone knows, he’s never craved attention.
Please, when you see @PeteRuf12 today at the County Center, offer him the gratitude he deserves.
Pete has been too humble to even mention anything about his imminent departure. It’s just another reason why I admire Pete and am proud to call him a friend. His love for sports in this area, his talent and his work ethic will be greatly missed.
The MHAL girls and boys basketball finals scheduled for tonight at SUNY Ulster have been postponed until tomorrow, same time and location. @SectionIXSports