Have you ever wondered what happened to the 56 men who signed the Declaration of Independence ?

The following was sent to me this morning in an e-mail and because it holds such valuable information I wanted to reprint it and share it with you on this special day,.. The 4th of July,.. Independance Day !!!!


What happened to the 56 men who signed the Declaration of Independence,...Five signers were caputured by the British as traitors,
and tortured before they died.

Tweleve had their homes ransacked and burned.
Two lost their son serving in the Revolutionary Army,
another had two sons capurtured.

Nine of the 56 fought and died from wounds or
hardships of the Revolutionary War.

They signed and 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 plantaion 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 proverty was his reward.

Vandals or soldiers looted the properties of Dillery, Hall. Clymer,
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. He 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.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 and share this with as many
people as you can, please. It's time we get word out that Patriotism
is NOT a sin, and the Fourth of July has more to it than beer,
picnics, and baseball games !!!!