03/07/2003

 

THE PRICE THEY PAID: THE SIGNERS OF THE DECLARATION OF INDEPENDENCE.

Spring semester 1999 students in History 2342, the American Revolution, read an internet communication which stated that the signers of the Declaration of Independence paid a very high price for their patriotism. Each student then did research on two of the signers in an effort to assess the truth of that communication. Thus, this was an assignment about both modern technology, and the past.

The following chart contains information compiled from student papers and other sources. This shows some truth and some fiction in the internet statement; not all the information it provided was accurate. However, it is clear that a number of the signers did pay a price during the course of the war. An * is placed next to their names – about a third paid a price!

  1. John Adams, Mass.
 Later political and diplomatic career.
2. Samuel Adams, Mass. Continued political career.
3. Josiah Bartlett, NH Later career as judge, governor, and doctor.
*4. Carter Braxton Va. Lost his fortune when British captured ships he had invested in. Later continued his political career, but from the town of Richmond.
5. Charles Carroll, Md Continued his career in Maryland politics.
6. Samuel Chase, Md Continued political and legal career. Later financial problems were his own fault.
*7. Abraham Clark, NJ Two of his sons were captured during the war and held as POWS. Continued his political career. Died of stroke 1794.
*8. George Clymer, Pa Home destroyed and family terrorized by British
*9. William Ellery, RI British burned his home and destroyed his property. Remained in Cont. Congress for much of the war; later Federalist appointee. Died in 1820.
*10. William Floyd, NY Fled British who looted his property. Later returned and rebuilt.
11. Benjamin Franklin, Pa Successful diplomatic and politician during and after the war.
12. Elbridge Gerry, Mass. Continued his political career.
13. Button Gwinnett, Ga Died in duel 1777.
*14. Lymann Hall, Ga British destroyed his home and plantation. Later rebuilt and elected governor of Georgia.
15, John Hancock, Mass Continued political career; governor of Massachusetts.
16. Benjamin Harrison, Va Continued his political career.
*17. John Hart, NJ Fled British who damaged his estate, but he returned and died of natural causes in 1779. Also was with his wife when she died. Paid price but description wrong.
18. Joseph Hewes, NC Died of natural causes in 1779.
*19. Thomas Heyward, Jr,  SC Captured by British and imprisoned for year during the war. Plantation plundered. Wife died while he was gone. Later remarried, continued his political career, and rebuilt plantation. Died 1809.
*20. William Hooper, NC Fled British; lost his home and fortune
21. Stephen Hopkins, RI Died at home 1785 at 78.
22. Francis Hopkinson, NJ Legal career until death in 1791.
23. Samuel Huntington, Conn Continued political career. Later governor of the state.
24. Thomas Jefferson, Va Nearly captured by British in 1781. Later diplomatic and political career.
25. Francis Lightfoot Lee, Va Political career during Revolution for himself and his brothers.
26. Richard Henry Lee, Va Continued political career. Died 1794 at home
*27. Francis Lewis, NY British destroyed his property and captured his wife. Later released, she never recovered and died next year.
*28. Philip Livingston, NY Property confiscated by British in 1776. Died in 1778.
29. Thomas Lynch, Jr., SC Died 1779 at age 30 when ship disappeared at sea.
*30. Thomas McKean, Del Lawyer and politician. Later said he was "hunted like a fox by the British" while served as governor of Delaware (after British captured previous governor).
*31. Arthur Middleton, SC Plantation destroyed by British; captured and imprisoned for year. Rebuilt after the war.
*32. Lewis Morris, NY Politician and general in state militia. His estate was pillaged by British.
33. Robert Morris,Pa Continued his career as financier and politician. Died bankrupt due to land speculation (his fault).
34. John Morton, Pa Died 1777 of TB
*35. Thomas Nelson, Va Mansion destroyed during battle of Yorktown and Revolution did bankrupt him.
36. William Paca, Md Continued legal and political career. Governor of Maryland. Died 1799.
37. Robert Treat Paine, Mass Continued political and legal career.
  1. John Penn. NC
 Later legal career.
*39. George Read, Del Fled British when they took Philadelphia, but later successful judge and Federalist.
40. Caesar Rodney, Del Died 1784 of cancer
41. George Ross, Del Served as judge. Died of gout.
42. Benjamin Rush, Pa Went on to distinguished medical and political career
*43. Edward Rutledge, SC Soldier in militia was captured by British 1780 and imprisoned; later continued political career.
44. Roger Sherman, Conn Continued political career until died in 1793.
45. James Smith, Pa Later legal and political career.
*46. Richard Stockton, NJ Captured by British and repudiated Declaration. Property was trashed by British. Health problems until he died 1781 before the war ended.
47. Thomas Stone, Md Continued political career. Died 1787.
48. George Taylor, Pa Withdrew from involvement 1777; died 1781.
49. Matthew Thorrnton, NH Later legal and political career.
*50. George Walton, Ga Captured by British 1778 while serving in Georgia militia. Exchanged 1779 and elected governor. Later legal and political career.
51. William Whipple, NH Went on to military and legal career.
52. William Williams, Conn Later political and legal career.
53. James Wilson, Pa Continued political career. Later SC justice.
54. John Witherspoon, NJ Continued political involvement and as president of Princeton
55. Oliver Wolcott, Conn Served in militia during war and later continued political career.
56. George Wythe, Va Continued political career and as law professor.

Research by students: Crystal Ahearn, Jeffrey Alfano, Christy Allen, Adam Bourassa, Lucy Brainard, Adam Budesheim, Nicole DeChiaro, Christine Farco, Joseph Ferlisi, Jennifer Gelles, Clinton Gorga, Sean Gowrie, Marie Kondratowicz, Joseph Lynch, Tracy Mancini, Alan Mascone, Michael Peterson, Jeffrey Pierro, Dennis Raffa, Megan Riordan, Alissa Scavone, Matthew Stoessel, Joseph Vigliotti, Anthony White

And Prof. Maxine N. Lurie
History Department
Seton Hall University