UNITED-EMPIRE-LOYALIST-L Archives

From: Don Diminie <>
Subject: [UEL] Independence Day Things to Remember
Date: Thu, 29 Jun 2000 14:21:26 -0400

One of my American Cousins, who recently moved to Ontario & lives not
far from me, sent me the following this morning! A few nights ago, we
had sat, chatting about the Rev., families split, Loyalist, Patriot,
Tory & Rebel. Neither he nor I, are still fighting the Revolution.

My response to the following note from him was..."Fascinating &
interesting to note, that BOTH sides did the same things, each to the
other." Read, enjoy & ponnder it.

Don in ONtario

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

Five signers were captured by the British, tried 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 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 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 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. 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!

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• [UEL] Independence Day Things to Remember by Don Diminie <>