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Archiver > Scotch-Irish > 1998-06 > 0899263212


From: Conrad K. Bullard< >
Subject: Re: The 4th, American Independence Day
Date: Tue, 30 Jun 1998 23:20:12 EDT


Hi Everyone,

Having seen the message relative to the contributions of the Scots &
Irish, I thought that I might share the following which I received back
on Memorial Day. I hope you will read it.

Conrad

Conrad K. Bullard, Benbrook, Texas
e-mail address:

This seems more than appropriate for this, Memorial Day. These
men were among the first to pay the price for the freedom we
currently enjoy. Are we willing to pay the price to keep it???

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. Twelve had their homes ransacked and
burned. Two lost their sons in the Revolutionary Army, another
had two sons captured. Nine of the fifty-six fought and died
from wounds or the hardship of the Revolutionary War.

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

They signed and they pledged their lives, their fortunes, and
their sacred honor.

Carter Braxton of Virginia, wealthy planter and trader, saw his
ships swept from the sea 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 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, 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 soon after she died.

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 waste. For more than a year he lived in forests
and caves, returning home after the war to find his wife dead,
his children vanished. A few weeks later he died from exhaustion
and a broken heart.

Morris and Livingston suffered similar fates.

Such were the stories and sacrifices of the American Revolution.
These were not wild-eyed, rabble-rousing ruffians. There 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 Providence, we mutually pledge to
each other, our lives, our fortune and our sacred honor."

They gave us an Independent America. Can we keep it?

Author Unknown

On Mon, 29 Jun 1998 13:49:28 -0500 "David L. White" <>
writes:
>As we Americans approach the 4th of July, it is perhaps appropriate
>that we
>remember the contributions made by the Scots and Scots-Irish in
>establishing our liberties and independence.
>Nine Scottish and Scots-Irish immigrants were signers of the
>Declaration of
>Independence. John Hancock, William Hooper, George Robs, James Wilson
>and
>John Witherspoon were all born in Scotland. George Tailor, Thomas
>McKeon,
>Matthew Thornton, and James Smith were all Scots-Irish. These brave
>men
>pledged their lives, their fortunes, and their sacred honor in support
>of
>this Declaration.
>Nine of the thirteen original state's governors were Scots or of
>Scottish
>descent.
>We Americans owe so much to so few. Let us never forget.
>
>
>

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