From a recent reply post of our Gail Combs –

FWIW, my aunt did the research to become a Daughter of the American Revolution. My family is descended from Alexander Hamilton.

Do you think I can get reparations from Senator Burr for the murder of my ancestor at the hands of his?😆

Well, alrighty then, Gail. Since you asked the question, even if it was in somewhat in jest, let’s take a trip back in time with all of our QTree friends and see if reparations may be in order. I will first focus on Hamilton and introduce background on Burr in the links. Be reminded Alexander Hamilton was not a signer of the Declaration, however, he is universally considered a very important founding father.

Alexander Hamilton – Early Life

I will summarize the major points and events that shaped his life in this post. There are many historical accounts, books, documentaries, plays and so on that have covered his extraordinary life for those who want to know more

He was born in Charleston of Nevis in the British West Indies Leeward Islands in 1755 or 1757 – your guess is as good as the historians.

He was born out of wedlock to Rachel Lavien and James A. Hamilton. He had an older brother from the relationship, James Jr. It seems Rachel was still married to her first husband, Johann Lavien, with whom she had a son, Peter. She left her husband and son in 1750 and moved to St. Kitts Island where she met James. Rachel was half British and half Huguenot while James was a Scotsman. Later the two moved back to Rachel’s birthplace of Nevis to a seaside lot she had inherited from her father. While there Alexander and James Jr. were tutored in a private school by a Jewish headmistress and Alexander devoted himself to reading many books from the family library as well.

James Sr. learned Rachel’s first husband was planning to divorce her while charging adultery and desertion under Danish law that would lead to the additional criminal charge of bigamy, so he abandoned the family to spare that from happening. Rachel moved with her two sons to Christiansted on St. Croix and managed a small store there. In 1768 both Rachel and Alexander contracted Yellow Fever. She passed away leaving Alexander and James Jr. orphaned. Her first husband then took everything from her estate, leaving the boys nothing.

The boys were taken in by an uncle. Unfortunately, he committed suicide a year later. At this point they separated with James Jr. becoming an apprentice carpenter and Alexander being taken in by Nevis merchant, Thomas Stevens. He began work in the merchant field of import-export. He soon became a trader with business in New York and New England. He became so proficient even as a teenager that the owner would leave him in charge of the business when he went to sea.

Alexander was a prolific reader and once composed a letter to his father about the terrible effects the island experienced from a hurricane in 1772. His mentor and tutor, Rev. Henry Knox, read the letter and decided to submit it to the newspaper for publication. His highly descriptive writing style strongly impacted the right people in the community, who collected funds and sent him to the U. S. to receive an education. He started at Elizabethtown Academy and a year later was admitted into King’s College (Columbia). While there he developed an interest in patriot causes and used his writing skills to counter loyalist influence, yet, discouraged violence to accomplish change and independence. With the British occupation of New York City at the war’s start, his education at King’s came to an end.

Hamilton’s Military Career Accomplishments

Hamilton was quick to join the patriot war efforts as he and many of his classmates joined the militia and were in the Corsican unit. He was soon made an officer and led a raid with the Sons of Liberty to capture British cannons for their own use. With the captured weaponry the men became an artillery unit for the militia and was named the Hearts of Oak. He soon became Captain of a 60 man rear guard artillery unit for New York and assisted Washington in numerous battles including successful action leading to the British surrender in the Battle of Princeton.

Due to his successful service he was requested to be an aide to two Generals and declined, until George Washington contacted him to be his Aide de Camp at the rank of Lieutenant Colonel. He jumped at the opportunity and served four years in the chief of staff capacity. It gave him great experience corresponding with the Continental Congress, governors and other Generals. He drafted orders, dealt with diplomacy matters, worked with military intelligence and negotiated with other military officers on Washington’s behalf.

He met his future wife, Elizabeth Schuyler, in late 1779 in the winter headquarters of the military in New Jersey. She was the daughter of General Phillip and Catherine Schuyler. They married a year later at her family’s New York mansion and went on to have eight children together.

He left his role with Washington in February 1781 after a misunderstanding between the two, however, it really was a result of Washingtons consistent refusal to give him command of units in the war. The couple returned to her family’s home in New York where Hamilton continued to write letters to Washington seeking a command. Finally, in July he relented and Hamilton was assigned a total of four companies from NY and CT. Upon the Battle of Yorktown, he was given three battalions and an assigned target. He led his men in victory while only using bayonets at night to avoid attracting attention with gunfire.

Hamilton’s Public Service Career Accomplishments

After Yorktown he resigned his commission in 1782 and returned to New York City. After self study he passed the bar there in six months and soon began arguing cases before the state Supreme Court. To state that Alexander Hamilton was obviously a high functioning genius is an understatement. He was noted by his contemporaries as having the highest intellect of anybody within their midst.

He was appointed as a NY representative to the Congress of the Confederation. From his early Anti-federalist days, his mind and politics changed as he had become frustrated with the Continental Congress and the inability to obtain funds from the states to pay war debts. About this time the Newburgh Conspiracy occurred as previously discussed as well as another event with a disgruntled group of former military who marched on Philadelphia to make their points for back pay. Hamilton pushed to relocate the Congress to Princeton, NJ to avoid the confrontation and they were able to continue there without interruption.

Through the years that followed Hamilton had the following roles and involvements.

Left the Confederation Congress to restart his law practice, which primarily represented loyalists and Tories. Jumped back into the public realm with the Newburgh Conspiracy. Became a member of the NY legislature. He served on the King’s College (Columbia) Board of Trustees.

He was chosen as a delegate to the Constitution Convention where he pushed having the POTUS serve life terms as well as the Senators. He wanted electors selecting both, the POTUS having an absolute veto on legislation, SCOTUS having jurisdiction over all lawsuits, and state governors being appointed by the federal government. None of that went anywhere.

He recruited John Jay and James Madison to join him in writing the Federalist Papers in support of the proposed Constitution. He oversaw the influential publications and wrote 51 of the 85 essays in the pen name of Publius. Despite hard selling the need for the Constitution, he was unhappy with numerous negotiated provisions. However, when it came time to ratify and sign, he did so.

With the election of George Washington, the POTUS initially chose Robert Morris for the Treasurer role. Morris declined and recommended Hamilton, who accepted and was confirmed in September 1789. It was in this role that Hamilton’s genius and hard work shined. He immediately began the process of fixing public credit in a manner he had previously described to Morris back during the war in 1781; which was the primary reason Morris had recommended him to Washington. His work and process for establishing financial independence for the young nation was very impressive and successful. Many of the principles and methods are still used today. For better or worse he was successful in gaining approval for a national bank as he felt a central banking system was necessary for America to grow and be successful.

His proposals to establish a mint and coinage were accepted and eventually signed into law with the Coinage Act of 1792. With it the coins were minted in decimals instead of the 8ths that Spain used. Due to smuggling and pirating problems at sea along the coast lines he proposed an armed naval police force called the “revenue cutters” to address. This became the precursor to our current Coast Guard.

For federal tax revenues Hamilton first went after tariffs on whiskey and proposed excise taxes on other products to raise funds. This caused the Whiskey Rebellion, which was put down by Hamilton, George Washington, General Henry Lee and a large contingent of federal troops. Acceptance of tariffs and taxes was slow, but he persisted with the help of other leaders over time.

Hamilton was a tireless supporter of industrialization and promoted manufacturing as a way to diversify and grow federal revenues. He stood in contrast to Jefferson who preferred an agrarian based economy.

He wanted America neutral with Great Britain and France being at war in 1793, so he supported the Jay Treaty of 1795 that he had been instrumental in drafting. He wanted to continue trade relations with Britain to keep revenues growing in the federal treasury. Since his wife had suffered a miscarriage while he was dealing with the Whiskey Rebellion, he resigned from this cabinet position in early 1795 while leaving detailed instructions relating to handling the federal debt through public credit. Some months later he returned to his law practice.

Throughout the early to mid 1790’s Hamilton faced many accusations for his sexual exploits. Well founded or not they caused much damage to his political aspirations. He remained a Federalist throughout his public life and as such opposed the politics of Jefferson. However, as the 1800 Presidential election revealed he was willing to mix it up with anybody. At that point he was crossways with John Adams and worked against his reelection. When Jefferson and Burr tied for POTUS and Adams had lost, he felt Jefferson was the lesser of two evils and cast his lot for him over the northerner Burr, of whom he detested. Jefferson became POTUS and Burr VP. When Burr later ran for governor of NY in 1804, Hamilton openly worked against him and contributed to his loss. That directly led to the unfortunate events that follow.

The Rivalry With Aaron Burr

Rather than summarize what has been done numerous times by others, I have provided some well written biographical summaries that will take you just a few minutes with each to read. Each has a different emphasis.

https://www.biography.com/political-figures/alexander-hamilton-aaron-burr-relationship-rivalry-duel

This one provides a bit more about the duel itself.

https://constitutioncenter.org/blog/burr-vs-hamilton-behind-the-ultimate-political-feud

Family correspondence post duel prior to Hamilton’s death.

https://www.gilderlehrman.org/history-resources/spotlight-primary-source/duel-alexander-hamilton-and-aaron-burr-1804

However, this one is the best description of the events of the day in my opinion. It will take a bit longer to read, but is well sourced and makes sound conclusions in my opinion.

https://founders.archives.gov/documents/Hamilton/01-26-02-0001-0201

Hamilton Reparations Conclusion

It takes two to tango with an illegal duel, even if one (Hamilton) has been set up by the other (Burr) to “defend” his honor. Both obviously knew it was against the law to do what they did. Hamilton had recently lost a son in a duel at nearly the same location as this one a few years before. It is amazing that two highly educated, intelligent, accomplished men of their stature decided to do what they did. They resorted to living out a grudge match to the death over what was best for their families and country. It revealed flaws in character of both men, not unlike all of us.

In reading at least a dozen accounts of this story, it does seem like Hamilton shot into the air. Whether that was because he was not practiced with the “hair trigger” it reportedly had or whether he did it intentionally we will never know. He had been an accomplished military soldier and leader, he knew how and what to do if he did not make a mistake. After experiencing the pain of the loss of his son in that duel a few years before, he had to know how it all could go. My gut says he refused to back away from the challenge of Burr due to pride and public image, but reconciled himself to the potential results of the event and that he would not harm Burr. One account stated that in the 30 hours he lived after being mortally wounded he sent word to his Episcopalian priest to perform his last rites. The priest initially refused due to the nature of the event that caused his injury. He later agreed after hearing Hamilton’s explanations of his thoughts and actions prior to and during the duel. The priest then performed the rites prior to his death.

It also seems that in death as well as in life, Alexander Hamilton was an enigma.

None of this rises to the level of wrongful death by Burr in my opinion without more facts. The truth is both men injured themselves unto death that awful day. One from the confrontation and gunshot wound that could have easily been avoided. The other lost a lifetime of trust and goodwill that led to a downward spiral into oblivion until he passed away. Neither was a fitting end for two patriots who had fought for our freedom and were seemingly committed to the best interests of America. Both had personal flaws that let strong opinions and political opportunism get in the way of common sense and reasonable compromise.

We are thankful for the many good things they did for America, especially Alexander Hamilton. We are sad for the turmoil that occurred prior to the ends of their lives. There is a great lesson in this for those who are placed in authority and that is to turn down the volume on discord, rancor and personal attacks against others. Fight the sin of pride. As I have posted previously, politics is dirty and a big ego can cause great harm to self and others.

The current Democrat Party and their demons of destruction would do well to pay heed. It will not end well for them either.

Please remember Wolf’s rules for our community. In general that means to be respectful to each other and to pull no shenanigans that your mom might find offensive or otherwise cause jail time. That said, free speech is honored here.

Be blessed and go make something good happen!

I really do not have a dog in this hunt that I discuss today. None of us do. There is absolutely nothing that can be done to change something that happened over 235 years ago. I am not even sure I would want to change the final outcome anyway. I just want to go back in time and try to understand the reasoning of WHY the founders chose to do what they did with what information may be available.

Why did the founding fathers decide to completely ditch the Articles of Confederation instead of making needed changes to it? They were highly intelligent, motivated, patriotic people. They had spent a couple years on the Articles drafting what they believed they wanted for the new nation. They had a vision and executed on the vision. Why totally dump it less than a decade later? How could they have gotten it so wrong the first time?

Could it be that the misgivings Patrick Henry had about the Declaration of Independence and Constitution were valid? He refused to sign both documents despite being a very influential leader and founding father. He could not stand the thoughts of states’ rights being restricted by a federal government that could become as the British were.

I smell a major conspiracy, but presently have no concrete evidence it actually existed. It could have been as it actually appears; a bunch of popular, bull headed patriots who had the upper hand politically using their prominence and power to make things go their way.

Again, I am not saying it was the wrong or right thing to do. I just find it curious that they did it, when the stated original intent of the assembly was to amend the Articles as desired and needed. I see historical articles and statements that the Articles were just too hard to amend, that the framework was not right, that delegates of states just could not find common ground, etc. Yet, General Assemblies (and equivalents) of seven states wanted everything left as is when their representatives first walked into the door of that assembly hall. There is one source linked below that gives the writer’s assessment of the primary reasons many founders wanted it changed. There are many such reports you can access, but most give similar reasoning that never get to the meat of “why” they chose to can the Articles instead of amend.

https://constitutioncenter.org/blog/10-reasons-why-americas-first-constitution-failed

Did the Articles of Confederation actually fail? Seems to me that some of what was perceived to be failure was actually working as they originally intended when they approved them. Suspicious Cat wants to know why this governing document was suddenly perceived as so bad and why they could not make the changes that were desired and necessary to the existing governing document.

So do other conspiracy theorists…

Here is a good short summary of the differences in the two documents.

Articles of Confederation Vs. Constitution: All You Need to Know

Did you catch the founders wanted Canada in the fold even back in those days?

It seems one of the major unresolved issues was the same one Shay’s Rebellion represented. The federal and some state governments had lost the trust of the common man who had fought in the war. Not honoring the agreement to provide pensions to these patriot war fighters led to rebellions and much unrest in the new nation, especially when veterans lost homes and farms in the process. The primary problem appears to be that the Articles did not provide for the mandatory funding of the federal government by the states to honor the payments to veterans as well as to put down internal rebellions and other necessary federal functions. As it was it took private funding and sourcing of fighters to even put down Shay’s Rebellion as an example. That method could not be counted on throughout the thirteen states and a group of the founders were fearful that this problem could worsen and seriously endanger the nation.

It was a big deal.

The Newburgh Conspiracy

Just what was the Newburgh Conspiracy anyway? More importantly why did it scare the breeches off many of our founding fathers including the great George Washington?

Rock meet hard place. Just as we previously discussed with Shay’s Rebellion, so we now discuss a serious incident that occurred before Shay’s as the war ended in 1783. As always we will do what has to be done – follow the money. Or as in this case, figure out how to find some money.

The truth is that our new nation’s central government was dead broke and the states were also in bad financial shape from the war debts and mangled economies. The problem was that Robert Morris and others had offered lifetime pensions of half their active military pay for all retired war fighters to entice them to enlist. The bill came due to start paying. The vets needed the cash to help restart their lives and take care of their families since the fighting was done.

Oopsie, the federal treasury had about $125 K in cash versus about $6 million in debt. This was not good. The individual states were tapped out as well and starting to levy new and larger taxes to repay their own debts. The Articles of Confederation gave no taxing powers to the federal government. Its operation depended on requested, voluntarily paid state contributions from the same states that were nearly underwater fiscally.

The military members who were being stiffed were upset. They wanted what they had been promised, it was their blood that was spilled on the battlefields along with destruction of many of their farms and properties. The majority were even willing to cut what was due down to settle. None of the states would agree to compromise and solve the problem. Sorry, we have a bad connection, check back with us later were their attitudes. The Articles gave each the authority to operate their own states independently. They were in a superior position over the federal government.

The overall situation and response influenced a loose group of military discontents to get active discontenting and it was likely that George Washington’s old nemesis, Horatio Gates, was involved. Add in that some major founding fathers were very much in favor of finding ways for the war fighters to receive what was due. Some members of the Confederation Congress supported the funding; such as Alexander Hamilton, James Madison, Gouverneur Morris, and Robert Morris. Robert Morris basically said that if there was no pay for the veterans, then he was out of there. The government withheld from public release that he had resigned because they were afraid of the impact the news would have on the young nation. From that nasty disagreement we see one of the first major cover-ups in American history. Which is something that the feds have perfected over the years.

The link below provides a good summary of the event and conditions on the ground.

https://www.mountvernon.org/library/digitalhistory/digital-encyclopedia/article/newburgh-conspiracy

As we learn from the story, impending disaster was averted. I loved the description of George Washington’s acting chops. His timing and words worked to defuse the situation, such was the respect the military had for this great man. However, it did not resolve the injustice as Shay’s Rebellion demonstrated later. Per the information in the links and many other sources it was agreed that the Articles of Confederation had a serious flaw relating to how the states could refuse to pay the federal government the money it needed to honor the pension agreement and other federal debts and responsibilities.

We still need to know more.

Back To Articles Versus Constitution

So why did the states not just agree to strengthen the Articles to provide financially for the role of the federal government’s responsibilities that are stated in the document’s enumerated powers? An amendment(s) to do so was all that was needed to solve the immediate problems. Why did the states who wanted to remain large and in charge of their fates in accordance with the Articles agree to terminate it and go the route of the new Constitution? Inquiring minds want to know because it is still puzzling.

Oddly enough, I actually found the most logical answers sans conspiracy theories at the following linked government website.

https://www.archives.gov/founding-docs/constitution/how-did-it-happen

This part from the link revealed much…

The founders set the terms for ratifying the Constitution. They bypassed the state legislatures, reasoning that their members would be reluctant to give up power to a national government. Instead, they called for special ratifying conventions in each state. Ratification by 9 of the 13 states enacted the new government. But at the time, only 6 of 13 states reported a pro-Constitution majority.

The Federalists, who believed that a strong central government was necessary to face the nation’s challenges, needed to convert at least three states. The Anti-Federalists fought hard against the Constitution because it created a powerful central government that reminded them of the one they had just overthrown, and it lacked a bill of rights.

I believe we have found our answer as to “why” they abandoned the Articles in favor of a new document. A powerful segment of founders would not accept modification of the Articles because a number of states did not want to lose their authority and power in the process. So the Federalists did a legal end run and called ratifying conventions in each state to elect representatives for the purpose. We can only speculate how they jockeyed to get more of their supporters appointed or elected to be delegates. As we later learned, all of these state delegates locked themselves into a hot assembly room and argued over the situation for three months before coming to a hard fought consensus and agreement to hammer out the details.

In reality the initially stated purpose of their attendance in the assembly was to amend the Articles of Confederation as needed. The delegates met for one purpose and a different purpose was escorted into being. The Federalists used the situation to undercut the current legal status quo to achieve their goals of creating a new governing document that was more suited to accomplishing their vision and goals for the country.

We need to understand what their end goals were and how to rationalize that it was prudent to do an end run around the state governments and the existing governing document. The mental gymnastics would need to include the fact that seven states up to that point were not pro-Constitution. So to get to nine in favor to make the change effective per the ruling Articles, the Federalists needed to flip three states.

I am not passing judgment on how it all worked out. However, it is clear the Federalists were very fearful of a weak federal government that could not respond appropriately to enemies and pressing issues of the nation. They wanted it to have the authority over the states to fund (tax) and enforce. States withholding funds at will was a big problem that needed fixed. The key for compromise was coming to an agreement about what enumerated powers the Constitution would have and addressing the authority for same. The Antifederalists were adamant in their beliefs that the federal government would supplant states’ rights in the process. They wanted no part of a British type government oppression to rear its ugly head again. Both sides eventually came to an agreement that included the Bill of Rights to protect the rights of citizens, but gave the Federalists what they wanted for central authority..

Knowing politics like I do, I wonder what horse trading was done to move people to one side or the other. Politics was as dirty then as it is now. Who received what to drop their opposition and go along? It is something we will probably never fully know, but it would be interesting to hear the gritty details and not the varnished view of lap dog historians.

Over the years that have followed we have seen the Constitution succeed and fail. Many of the failures were tied to omissions, some of which led to additional amendments. Many of the fears of the Antifederalists about civil liberties, oppressive taxation, and potential corruption in the federal government were realized. But so were the fears of the Federalists with the Civil War and other abuses. None probably foresaw a third branch of government, the judiciary that was charged with arbitrating disputes and law interpretations, going rogue to criminal to asset unauthorized power at times. But alas, that is exactly what has happened with politicization of branches and areas within government. We have reached the point that some of the ten listed weaknesses accorded the Articles of Confederation in the linked story now apply to the Constitution. It even seems that a few of those stated weaknesses of the Articles are now or could become strengths.

Or as stated by an Antifederalist on January 31, 1788 in Brutus 11 . “Is it prescience, or has the system always been the same?

“They will give the sense of every article of the constitution, that may from time to time come before them. And in their decisions they will not confine themselves to any fixed or established rules, but will determine, according to what appears to them, the reason and spirit of the constitution. The opinions of the supreme court, whatever they may be, will have the force of law; because there is no power provided in the constitution, that can correct their errors, or controul their adjudications. From this court there is no appeal. And I conceive the legislature themselves, cannot set aside a judgment of this court, because they are authorised by the constitution to decide in the last resort. The legislature must be controuled by the constitution, and not the constitution by them. They have therefore no more right to set aside any judgment pronounced upon the construction of the constitution, than they have to take from the president, the chief command of the army and navy, and commit it to some other person. The reason is plain; the judicial and executive derive their authority from the same source, that the legislature do theirs; and therefore in all cases, where the constitution does not make the one responsible to, or controulable by the other, they are altogether independent of each other.

The judicial power will operate to effect, in the most certain, but yet silent and imperceptible manner, what is evidently the tendency of the constitution: – I mean, an entire subversion of the legislative, executive and judicial powers of the individual states. Every adjudication of the supreme court, on any question that may arise upon the nature and extent of the general government, will affect the limits of the state jurisdiction. In proportion as the former enlarge the exercise of their powers, will that of the latter be restricted.”

“This power in the judicial, will enable them to mould the government, into almost any shape they please.”

Yup. Predicted then, subsequently observed multiple times, and it still continues to this day. As an example we can see the daily totals of fraud and abuse of tax payer funding from DOGE, yet, we are led to believe that We the People do not have standing with federal courts to pursue claims against the criminal elements within our own government and citizenship. The same tactic was used with the 2020 election cheat. The judiciary has insulated themselves within webs of legal trickery and collusion. Take a look at this explanation on “standing” and try to understand it as an average American citizen.

https://www.law.cornell.edu/constitution-conan/article-3/section-2/clause-1/standing-requirement-overview

Not worth your time, was it?

My hope is that readers will see that our nation has always lived in contentious times, much of it by design. What we see today is not unique. The Constitution has its obvious flaws like all documents. Enforcement and the abuse of same is still a huge issue. However, the principles espoused are still the best mankind has ever produced. We just need to be willing to put in the work to not only support its continuance, but to pursue the improvements it needs through amendments to make it even better for the good of the nation today as well as the future, just like our founding fathers were willing to do.

We are not finished with this discussion. It turns out there was a pre-war condition on the ground with this conflict between Federalists and Antifederalists that is still being fought over today. It would be unfair to delay the answer even if it is too soon to discuss it in more detail. So, Spoiler Alert – the reason for much of the conflict between the two was that ugly word – taxes.

Some will probably have a good idea how that part will go since Alexander Hamilton was Washington’s Treasury Secretary charged with funding the new Constitutionally governed America. Seems there are many current references to Hamilton’s methods lately.

On to a couple more signers.

Caesar Rodney

Born on the family plantation known as Byfield in Dover, DE in 1728, Caesar Rodney was the oldest of two children of Caesar and Elizabeth Crawford Rodney. His maternal grandfather had immigrated to America in the early 1680’s and developed the plantation. After his death the Rodney family assumed control. His father had immigrated from England in the early 1680’s with William Penn and he owned a plantation with slaves at the time of Caesar’s birth. The Rodney family ancestry goes back to 1095 in England. His mother was the daughter of an Anglican rector of Christ’s Church in Dover. His father had also served as speaker of the Colonial Assembly in DE in 1704.

Like so many other signers, Caesar was informally homeschooled and had some training through local clergy until he left home to attend a Latin school as well as the College of Philadelphia (Penn) in his teen years. When his father died in 1746, DE Supreme Court Justice Nicholas Ridgely became his guardian.

Just living was not easy for Rodney. The following paragraph from the applicable Descendants site describes and also provides the words of John Adams, who knew him well.

No portrait of Caesar Rodney exists. We know that he was tormented throughout his life by asthma, and that his adult years were plagued by a facial cancer. He experienced expensive, painful, and futile medical treatments on the cancer. The clearest account of his appearance is found in John Adams’s diary of September 1774: “Saturday . . . this forenoon Mr. Caesar Rodney of the lower counties on Delaware River, was introduced to us. Caesar Rodney is the oddest-looking man in the world; he is tall, thin, and slender as a reed, pale; his face is not bigger than a large apple, yet there is sense and fire, spirit, wit and humor in his countenance.”

From this it is easy to see why he never married or had children, so he threw himself into his work. He was appointed sheriff of Kent County at age 27 and from that point on was elected and served in many offices. Eventually he was elected to serve in the First Continental Congress and signed the failed Olive Branch Petition seeking reconciliation with Britain. The next year he was made Speaker of the state’s Assembly when counties began declaring their independence.

The dramatic process of approving the Declaration for DE is well documented. The state had left it up to the decisions of McKean, Read and Rodney. McKean was for independence and Read against. That let Rodney to break the deadlock. He is reported to having rode horseback or via carriage all night in a torrential rain to arrive in Philadelphia to break the tie for the vote for independence in DE. In his words, “I arrived in Congress (tho detained by thunder and rain) time enough to give my voice in the matter of independence . . . We have now got through the whole of the declaration and ordered it to be printed so that you will soon have the pleasure of seeing it.”

The area in DE he represented was loyalist dominated. As a result of his decision they refused to reelect him. However, the effects of war in the state changed that attitude and he was elected to President of Delaware for a three year term in 1778. Throughout the conflict he served as Brigadier General of the DE militia and engaged in battles at his friend, Gen. George Washington’s direction throughout the war. Washington held a high opinion of him and noted that when the state failed to provide for the militia as needed, Rodney did so out of his own financial resources.

He lived long enough to see the end of the war. In 1784 his frail body gave out and he passed away. The Descendant’s site gives this description of the man, “He was reported to be a temperate, forbearing and patient man. He was probably what we would today call a “consensus builder.” He was a pragmatic realist, with a wry and ironic sense of life and human nature. He inspired real affection among those who knew and worked with him.” I found no derogatory comments or accounts of the man in my research, a rarity.

Rodney had come to view slavery as something that should be abolished despite having 200 slaves on the Byfield plantation. With his death he made a proclamation that all should receive gradual emancipation.

There was a statute of this great patriot placed in Statuary Hall in the U. S. Capitol. We have all been blessed by the contributions of this great American patriot.

Samuel Chase

Samuel Chase was born in 1741 to Rev. Thomas Chase and his wife, Matilda Walker Chase in Princess Anne, MD. His father had immigrated to the area to serve a new church for the Church of England. Samuel’s mother passed away the year he was born. He was educated at home. At age 18 he went to Annapolis to study law under attorney John Hall. He was admitted to the bar in the 1761-63 time frame and opened a law practice there. It was during these years he was given the nickname of “Old Bacon Face” for how his complexion looked when he was angered or agitated.

In 1762 he married Anne Baldwin. They had seven children, with four surviving to adulthood. In 1764 he was elected to the MD General Assembly, which continued for twenty years. However, he was known to be foul mouthed and adversarial toward anything loyalist and Tory. He openly called them out and worked against everything they tried to accomplish. He helped start the local Sons of Liberty chapter with friend and fellow signer, William Paca. He was a vocal critic of the 1765 Stamp Act and all oppressive acts of the British through the Revolutionary War. He was an adamant proponent of boycotts to send messages to the British Parliament.

He wrote the following to John Duane, a delegate of NY in early 1775, “When I reflect on the enormous Influence of the Crown, the System of Corruption introduced as the Art of Government, the Venality of the Electors (the radical Source of every other Evil), the open and repeated violations, by Parliament of the Constitution . . I have not the least Dawn of Hope in the Justice, Humanity, Wisdom or Virtue of the British Nation. I consider them as one of the most abandoned and wicked People under the Sun . . . . Our Dependence must be on God and ourselves.”

When the battles of Lexington and Concord happened, he knew his fears were confirmed. Prior to the declaration of war he served on the Annapolis Convention and on the MD Committee of Safety in 1775. He was chosen as a delegate to both the first and second Continental Congress, during which time he approved and signed the Declaration. Not long after that his wife, Anne, died and left him to raise their four children. Years later he remarried a woman that was only four years older than his oldest child.

There is not enough time and attention span left to detail all of the activities and involvements of Chase from that point. It is an amazing story of extreme highs and lows. The link to the Descendants site is below for your review. To expedite I advise picking up his story at the point of signing the Declaration as you have time.

https://www.dsdi1776.com/signer/samuel-chase

There is one major point left I wanted to address that is in the link. Who was the one U. S. Supreme Court Justice that was impeached? Yup, Samuel Chase in 1804 at the direction of President Thomas Jefferson. He was acquitted of all charges. I wonder what Chief Justice Roberts would think of that happening to him after his most recent comments and lack of attention to pressing national defense issues coming through the court system? Impeachment procedures exist for good reasons. That they may be used in error or for abusive reasons is not the issue. That the procedures are available and used when legal and appropriate to do so is the benefit to American citizens. Judges are in public service. We the People are the public they serve, not personally aligned political parties and never those that cross our borders illegally who are not citizens.

It is equally important for We the People to have the ability to fire as it is to hire.

Samuel Chase passed away in 1811. This lightning rod of controversy and opinions will always be remembered for the strength of his convictions and willingness to stand on principle. He was an important American patriot in the cause for liberty and freedom.

Please remember Wolf’s rules for our community. https://wqth.wordpress.com/2019/01/01/dear-maga-open-topic-20190101/

In general that means to be respectful to each other and to pull no shenanigans that your mom might find offensive or otherwise cause jail time. That said, free speech is honored here.

Be blessed and go make something good happen!

April Fools (Day)!

Instead of trying to pull one off, I thought I would just bring examples.

There they are, the dynamic duo of foolish Destructocrats. The poster children for April Fools everywhere.

Before we get started, please remember Wolf’s rules for our community. https://wqth.wordpress.com/2019/01/01/dear-maga-open-topic-20190101/

In general that means to be respectful to each other and to pull no shenanigans that your mom might find offensive or otherwise cause jail time. That said, free speech is honored here.

___________________________________________

For those who are unaware, the American Stories you will read in this series are about the period around the signing of our great Declaration of Independence. It is pure coincidence that POTUS Trump recently unveiled same on the wall in the Oval Office, the series started months before that event. Of course I had no advance notice, just a mutually shared respect for our nation’s history and perhaps its greatest founding document.

My focus is on providing summary information about the signers, founding fathers, major events and observations of conditions on the ground. I do not provide a complete list of sources, this is not a biographical/documentary type work. However, nearly everything I provide in summary form is taken from sources openly accessed from the web. Sometimes the information is conflicted, so I use my judgment based on the reliability of the sources and government information if available. For example, some founder birthdates and number of children in families are frequently different in utilized sources. As a result I may pick the one that is in general consensus or state the discrepancies.

Occasionally I provide links to sources to provide a basis for that part of the story. I also consistently utilize one excellent publication that is from The Sun newspaper of Conway, SC that was published as an Independence Day supplement over 30 years ago. It provides short summary biographical information on each signer.

My goal is to not only inform the readers of these great patriots who risked everything for the good of all Americans past, present and future; it is also to draw comparisons, parallels and interconnections with patriots and the state of America today. I want readers to see the signers were real people with human desires and personal issues like all of us. None had it easy, including the wealthy and privileged. All chose the hard road when it became time. All suffered worldly loss in some form. None expressed regret for having done so.

From these comparisons I hope you will see the hand of God that has protected and led our progress as a nation. Our founders did and expressed it repeatedly in the founding and their personal documents as well as evidenced by their words and lives. It is this writer’s opinion that we should go and do likewise.

Now on to today’s story.

Do we go there right off the bat? Oh. what the heck, why not? It is April Fools Day.

I really do not want to cast dispersions or offend any reader with this discussion. It is just a fact we have not yet addressed the 800 pound gorilla in the room. I promise not to digress and go deep into the beliefs, practices and perceived impacts of this organization worldwide over thousands of years. What was true for its members in the beginning would bear very little resemblance to how it is today. For this series we just need to acknowledge its presence and observe what may have been its effect on America during the Revolutionary War period of this series. Of course, I am talking about freemasonry.

To set the stage, remember that both Britain and the colonies were populated with large segments of members, just more so in Britain. That presented a major problem as Britain was executing their plans to rule the world while losing their shirts financially. To understand the history of the organization better as well as the history around the war period from the freemason (Masons) perspective we will go straight to the gorilla’s mouth. Please read the short summary link below.

Freemasonry & The American Revolution

Did you notice that France’s Marquis de Lafayette, who was a major ally to the colonists was also a Mason? Most have read or heard that George Washington was one from reports (especially Masonic reports), but did you know that according to the organization’s representations, many of his Generals may have been intentionally selected by him because they were Masons? How about John Paul Jones who directed the naval activities? Yes, the same one who replaced his boss, Esek Hopkins, the brother of Declaration signing patriot Stephen Hopkins. The same Jones who used similar defensive naval maneuvers successfully that Esek developed, over which Esek was criticized and had his command taken.

There were about a hundred social lodges and also fifty or so Mason affiliated military lodges in the colonies at the time of the war. We would probably know the latter as party bars and indoctrination centers for current and future Masons, many of whom went on to serve in the Colonial Army. The following is an interesting history of them per a lodge. Take it with a grain of salt as they even state they have no actual record of their “history” in a similar manner as the previously linked article.

MILITARY LODGES OF FREEMASONRY

Let’s take a closer look at the brags of the Masons in that first link above. What about that statement of Washington trusting fellow Masons for his Generals and that nearly all of them were Masons. If true (it isn’t), what were the actual results of those represented in the article? Warren, Wooster, Herkimer, Mercer – dead in the first year of hostilities. Whipple and Hancock – active, but much of their time, especially with Hancock, was spent in Congress and with other activities. We also have Hancock’s dubious, I am too-sick-to-hold-office period that coincided with Shay’s Rebellion. Interesting that he returned to the governor’s role after the worst of the period was over, so that he could claim the reconciler role.

Of them all, Whipple seems to have served with distinction on the battlefield in the northern campaigns. Muhlenberg – served with Washington in major battles, but the Masons really do not know much about him and his connections to them. We know his connections to Lafayette and German factions were beneficial to the colonists. He primarily led VA militia in the southern regions. Girard – have no idea how or why he was even listed. He was a merchant with a dubious personal life who had precious little to do with the war effort and nothing noted in his historical accounts other than shipping into ports that were blockaded at times. If it were not profitable for him to do so I doubt he would based on his personal life. He did not even become a Mason until well after the war in 1788. In my opinion it is a bit of a stretch to include him.

They had a major dilemma to work through. What was a British Mason in the military in America supposed to do in opposition to a Colonist Mason in the military if they were supposed to be “brothers” and not opposed to the government? Good question with no clear answers. Britain had a very large segment of Masons. America had its share and some of them were loyalists to the Crown as you can imagine. Below is a discreet paper discussing the issue from a California Masonic lodge.

https://www.goldenstatechapter.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/03/FREEMASONYANDTHEAMERICANREVOLUTION.pdf

As this text is copy protected – I will just summarize their response to the issue. Since Masons are to be “a peaceable subject to the Civil Powers” and to “never be concern’d in plots and conspiracies against the peace and welfare of the nation”; they are in a bit of a pickle with this one. What happens if Masons who are in power are the non-peaceable oppressors of fellow Masons who are citizens under the same King and Parliament? What happens if Masons in power and in the British military take actions against Colonists and fellow Masons in direct conflict with existing legal documents and treaties between the parties?

In this case and in reality, they killed and injured each other anyway. If you are British Masons you also burn down the homes and imprison your “brothers” in dungeons and prison ships where they starve and die of diseases while terrorizing their families and communities. Quite the brotherhood. Their words seem to want to disassociate their actual activities in the world from what the organization says they do. I can almost hear “It’s nothing personal, just doing my job.”

So lets go back to American icon Gen. George Washington. See the link below.

https://crossexamined.org/george-washington-christian-freemason

As we know you can be a Christian, which the vast majority of our founders were, and be a Mason as well. They are not mutually exclusive unless you choose for them to be. However, to be a Christian you must check your allegiance to freemasonry at the door when in conflict with the teachings of Christ and the Word. One master – not two – is required to be a Christian. If this article’s representation is correct and I found other sources that substantiate many of their claims, Washington attended a grand total of four Mason meetings his entire life per their own organization’s records that have been shared. That meant he was just a social type member during the rare times he was involved, probably a 3rd degree or less. Yet, records of Christ’s Church in Alexandria, VA, his home church, show he was very active there. In fact, there was a Washington family box of seats and his adopted daughter, Nelly, stated he rarely missed a Sunday despite it being 2-3 hours travel time from his home. In fact, his church attendance happened wherever he was even during the war per records and statements of men who were there. His men heard him reference God and Christ to them in encampment and there are quotes from them in the records. The linked article then provides the following,

And if he did not believe in Jesus Christ, how then would skeptics be able to define the following statement from George Washington’s prayer journal, “O eternal and everlasting God…Increase my faith in the gospels…daily frame me more and more into the likeness of thy son Jesus Christ, that living in thy fear, and dying in thy favor, I may in thy appointed time attain the resurrection of the just unto eternal life.”

There were several portraits made of him in Masonic garb, but he actually sat for none and he was reported to having stated that one was “mason propaganda”.

I think we can probably shut down the Masonic exaggerations and misinformation at this stage, but let’s take one more step to refute their self promoted value and that Washington made it nearly a requirement to be a Mason to be a General. Who were the other Generals under Washington’s command that were not freemasons? We have previously addressed the good and bad exploits of one in Gen. Horatio Gates (and will again). How about many of those listed in the following link?

https://www.mountvernon.org/george-washington/the-revolutionary-war/washingtons-officers

The link is direct from a Washington archivist’s information. There were other Generals not listed in either link as well.

To summarize, George Washington was obviously Christian first and foremost from his own words, actions, documents and reports from those in his association. There is the direct derogatory quote from the man himself about the Masonic portrait. He is recorded as having only attended four Masonic meetings in thirty years of reported membership. There were many more prominent military leaders and generals who were not Masons that were selected by him to serve in command of troops beyond what is represented by the Mason organization. Better yet, most of them were not killed in battle like so many of the Masons.

This case is closed.

There is no doubt that members of the Masons contributed greatly to the war effort just like non-Masons. We remain very grateful for their contributions and service. But to claim the high ground and associations they do even today is disingenuous and false. Once again we see that the truth will set us free.

Let’s finish this part with the two remaining Connecticut signers.

Samuel Huntington

I like to refer to Samuel Huntington as the Steady Eddie of the signers and our early government. That description honors him, he served our young nation so well. His story that follows explains why.

Huntington was born in 1731 in the town of Scotland in Windham County, Connecticut to parents, Nathaniel and Mehetable Huntington. He and his family were of the Congregationalist Christian faith. His father was a farmer and clothier, who built his home in the town in 1732 that still stands. The predecessors in his family had immigrated there in the mid-1630’s. Samuel was educated some in local common schools, but for the most part was self educated. He apprenticed as a cooper (barrel, cask, vat, etc. maker) at age 16 while continuing to work on the family farm. He borrowed books to study in history, Latin, and the law, from the library of a local minister as well as attorneys. He was admitted to the bar at age 23 and opened a practice in Norwich, CT. He married Mary Devotion in 1761 at age 29, who was the daughter of his minister, Rev. Ebenezer and Martha Lothrop. She was 21 years old. Her family had fled persecution and immigrated from France and England in the mid 1600’s.

Huntington was first elected as a representative to the Connecticut Assembly in 1764 where he was reelected to serve for ten years. During the period he was also named as the King’s Attorney by the Royal Government until he was named a Justices of the Superior Court. This led to him being Chief Justice in 1778. As the struggles with Britain worsened he became a vocal critic of the Coercive Acts of Parliament. The members of the CT Assembly elected him to be a delegate to the Second Continental Congress. When it came time to vote on the Declaration, he approved and signed the document without hesitation. He continued to serve in the Congress in committees during the war as well as back in the CT Assembly. When John Jay was named as a minister to Spain, Huntington stepped into his role as President of the Congress in 1779. He was instrumental in the passage of the Articles of Confederation as he assuaged the fears of the states who struggled with the decision since he was a Federalist. In his letter to each state he said the following, “By the Act of Congress herewith enclosed your Excellency will be informed that the Articles of Confederation & perpetual Union between the thirteen United States are formally & finally ratified by all the states. We are happy to congratulate our Constituents on this important Event, desired by our Friends but dreaded by our Enemies.”

Oh yeah, the quiet message of strength that remains in America today.

Huntington remained in the President of the Congress position until his health took a turn for the worse and he returned to CT in 1781. A few months later Cornwallis surrendered to American and French forces at Yorktown, which signaled the end of the war. Per the Descendants website, he wrote to Chevalier de la Luzerne, the Minister Plenipotentiary of France, giving full recognition to the French contribution toward the American success: “I cannot deny myself the pleasure of congratulating you Sir on the important & Glorious Success of our Combined Forces on the complete Capture of Lord Cornwallis and all his Army. The conduct of the Comte de Grasse so far as it hath come to my knowledge charms me: his drubbing the British fleet Sufficient to teach them to stay at due distance not again attempt to Interrupt the Siege & main object. May our Successes this Campaign be in proportion to the Generous and unparallel Aids received from his most Christian majesty and prove Eventually productive of the Happiest Consequences to the perpetual advantage of both nations.”

In 1785 he was selected as Lt. Governor of CT. The following year he was elected Governor. He dealt with many issues including selecting the permanent site for the state house in Hartford. He presided over the negotiations for approval of the U. S. Constitution in 1788. He served as Governor of the state to the day he died in 1796, two years after the death of his wife, Dorothy. The couple had no children of their own, but had adopted Samuel’s nephew and niece , Samuel, Jr. and Frances, when his brother had died. As an adult Samuel, Jr. moved to the Ohio territory and was instrumental in the future state’s development. He went on to serve as the third Governor of that state.

Samuel Huntington was a solid Christian human being. The Descendants website described him best in my opinion,  “Huntington was always supportive of encouraging the states to fully comply with levies for men, supplies and money. Not an alarmist, nor a defeatist, Huntington was a steady, faithful, calm patriot, well respected and admired by his colleagues. His steady hand helped keep the Congress together as the infant nation faced military reverses in the field, following the euphoria of the surrender of the British Army under General Burgoyne at Saratoga on October 17, 1777.”

Samuel Huntington was the leadership glue that helped hold the independence movement focused and together. He was a great American Patriot.

Oliver Wolcott

We have another signer who did so much it all cannot be covered in detail in a summary series such as this. Oliver Wolcott was born in 1726 in Windsor, CT. He was the youngest of 10 to 15 children (depending on sources) of Royal Governor Roger Wolcott and mother, Sarah Drake Wolcott. The family was of the Puritan faith. Not much is known or stated about Oliver’s early years. However, he entered Yale and graduated at the top of his class in 1747. He immediately received a Captain’s commission in the NY militia by Governor Clinton. He went on to serve in the Seven Years War. When he returned he chose to move to Litchfield, CT to study medicine under his uncle. However, his career plans changed as he settled on property his father owned. He became a successful merchant and was appointed the county sheriff at age 25. He was popular and developed an interest in politics, which saw him elected to the General Assembly in both houses. This led to him being appointed as a judge.

He married Laura Collins in 1755 who was from Guilford, CT and they had five children together. She was from an established respected family of Captain Daniel and Lois Collins. Their common beliefs and relationship are best represented by letters to her from Oliver. One such letter from Philadelphia in 1776 said, “MY DEAR–I feel much concerned for the Burden which necessarily devolves upon you. I hope you will make it as light as possible…. You may easily believe that the situation of publick Affairs is such that the critical Moment is near which will perhaps decide the Fate of the Country; and that the business of Congress is very interesting. Yet if any excuse can reasonably be allowed for my returning, I shall think myself justified in doing so. The circumstances of my affairs demand it.”

From geni.com, “The patriotism of Laura Wolcott was in keeping with that of her husband. Her home was thrown open at all times to those who were in any way aiding the cause. And while Oliver Wolcott gave freely of his money for patriotic purposes, she furnished blankets, stockings, and supplies from their farm for the army, almost continuously.“

By 1771 Wolcott was named a Major of the Thirteenth Regiment and Colonel of the Sixth Regiment in 1774. He was an enthusiastic supporter of the independence movement. His business suffered with the unrest, yet, he did not let that stop him as he knew what was coming. He was chosen for the First Continental Congress with service following again in the Second. From connecticuthistory. org comes the following, “Wolcott noted in April 1776 that, “a final separation between the countries I consider as unavoidable.” In the summer of that year, a brief illness and Wolcott’s increasing role in military affairs drew him away from his political responsibilities, resulting in his absence from Congress during the adoption of the Declaration of Independence. Despite his absence at that watershed moment, he signed the parchment copy of the Declaration that autumn (and also later signed the Articles of Confederation in the summer of 1778).”

During the time soon after the Declaration was approved and signed he commanded fourteen regiments in the defense of New York City under the direction of Gen. Washington. His forces assisted in the defeat of Gen. Burgoyne and the British troops in the Battles of Saratoga. He was named Major General over all of CT militia afterwards and spent the rest of the war with his men defending the state’s coastal communities.

After the war ended he returned to politics. He was elected Lt. Governor of the state in 1786 and Governor ten years later. He died in office the following year. Unfortunately his beloved Laura did not live long enough to see him as Governor as she passed in 1794. Their son, Oliver Jr., became Secretary of the Treasury under Presidents George Washington and John Adams. He went on to be elected Governor of the state after that.

An incredible servant of the people, Oliver Wolcott was a great American Patriot. So were his wife and oldest son. It was a family tradition.

Conclusion

The nature of this series is to provide summary discussions about each of these patriot founding fathers and their families. I urge readers to research deeper with each and other subjects they have interest in knowing more about from that special time in history. The more we know the history, the better prepared we are for the world in which we live today.

Enjoy your day and be blessed, folks! Go make something good happen.

NOTICE: This will be the last Sunday morning post for American Stories. From Gail’s suggestion and with Wolf’s concurrence I am moving this series to Tuesday for the Daily Thread beginning 4/1/25, yes, April Fool’s Day. Trust me, it is appropriate that I be the one to do this on that day. 😂

Now, on with the show…

Shall we talk about home and private schooling? Wait, TB, you said this series was about Declaration signers. Now you are going off on a tangent about schooling? What gives? 😂

I believe we have spotted a trend with the signers and one that will continue since we have covered about half of them after this part. Take a look at their early, development years as young people. What do the large majority share in common?

Most were educated at home for some or all of their youth. A handful were sent to private academies before entering college as they proved themselves capable and their parents had the means to do so. However, there was a very limited public education system in those days. Only a few received benefit of same in communities in what they called common schools. Many of these men and the other founding fathers desired for there to be a public system for all young people at some point they voiced in their plans for America, however, it did not exist in that manner when they were young. So, parents, local clergy, private academies, or an occasional town school master taught many of them. Many studied books of private libraries of individuals they knew. What was the result of their personal commitment to learn?

They became independent, creative problem solvers who were not programmed into group think. They also became political leaders, inventors, merchants, farmers, physicians, clergy, military leaders, bankers and attorneys who were principled, fearless, confident, intelligent, and persuasive. They were lovers of family, community and country, yet, not afraid to challenge and differ with their peers. Their work ethics were off the charts and it seems they lived and played hard. Much life was lived in the dash.

I think about a Declaration signer like George Walton, who was even discouraged from being schooled by his adoptive uncle. Then as a young adult he decides he wants to learn the law and become an attorney – on his own. He was driven to live his dash in a way that fit him. Of course today, his uncle would be arrested for preventing his attendance in a public school.

Be honest about what you see that is being produced in our public schools today. As a general rule, do the students inspire you and relieve fears about who will lead America in the future?

Our founders did so many things through focused efforts seeking knowledge and wisdom. The founders asked questions, read, learned and observed through apprenticeships so they would be prepared to act. The youth of today trust a computer or mobile phone to tell them the answers and what to do.

Many of our founding fathers were graduates of colleges before the age of 20 and some were even very young teenagers. Others who came from less fortunate backgrounds taught themselves to the point of becoming attorneys, merchants and political leaders as they matured. Many apprenticed into their profession, including physicians, before going on their own. All an inner desire to find their calling and succeed at it. Gaining knowledge and apprenticing where appropriate were not just acceptable ways to progress, they were highly desired.

Could it be that the future leaders of America can be made ready by simply getting out of their ways by removing systems and stuff that captures their attention while instead providing the resources they truly need to excel on their own accord?

We have witnessed a four plus decade era of how best to destroy education in America. All of it going on while technological advances were at their highest level and with a greater number of educational opportunities available. How did that work out? From first to fortieth in the world rankings. Well done, uniparty idgits and crims. There is no refuting our fall from grace over the period. We have resorted to recruiting the best minds that other nations produce at exactly what cost to our independence and the American Way?

This changes now with America First MAGA principles. By dismantling the DOPE, the power to educate the children of our republic returns closer to them at the individual state level. That places the levers of control squarely back with each state’s elected officials, closer to the voters. In the future if your children are not educated well by the public schools in your state, it will be on you to do something about it; not blame sugar daddy Uncle Sam. That puts the accountability where it belongs. President Trump is right – again.

The answers to two questions below will provide the insight you need to find the path the founding fathers probably preferred we follow.

Does your state’s leadership and politicians encourage homeschooling and private school attendance as acceptable alternatives to public schools, or, do they do everything they can to hinder these choices? Is your state consumed with what the teachers unions and associations want and recommend for the public schools, or, has it defanged these groups and taken back control with parental input foremost in their minds and plans?

You know what the answers to these two questions mean for the children, you, your state and America. The answers help determine the future for all of us, not just the students and parents.

It should be obvious that the need is to provide viable choices just as the founders had. Parents and students then choose based on the individual needs and best situations for the individual student. The choices themselves compete against each other for the students. That competition is what makes them all better.

School choice is the correct answer. That the uniparty fights so hard against it should be enough for you to be informed it is the way to fix a big mess.

Notice I did not discuss the vaccination requirements to attend public school when waivers are not provided or approved by each state. We know that to be a very real issue as well. Perhaps Bobby can cut through the intentional fog created by the medical and government idgit Stasi and bring people the truth. The people can then take it to their elected officials and demand changes.

Now on to three more signers. We have not heard from the Granite State of New Hampshire yet, so I will bring you all three.

Josiah Bartlett

Born in Amesbury, Massachusetts, in 1729 Josiah Bartlett was the seventh and last child born of Stephen and Hannah Bartlett. Stephen was a shoemaker. Josiah received some education from a town school master. He learned Latin and Greek from a relative who was clergy. He went on to study medicine from another local relative who was a physician. After a five year apprenticeship he moved to the frontier area of Kingston, NH to open his practice in 1750. He lived with Rev. John Secombe for a year and then purchased a 12 acre farm. He farmed for years as well as dealing in lumber and real estate purchases. In 1754 he married Mary Bartlett, his first cousin. They had 12 children together, 8 of whom survived to adulthood. Three of his sons and seven grandsons went on to become physicians. He actively practiced medicine for 45 years. He and Mary remained a couple until her death in 1789.

Bartlett was one of early practitioners of natural healing and medicine that many people prefer today. Per Wiki,

“During that time, he tested both traditional and new treatments for optimal efficacy. A virulent form a throat distemper or diptheria, with a fever and canker, spread throughout Kingston in 1754. Bartlett experimented with therapy using several available drugs and empirically discovered that Peruvian bark, also known as quinine, relieved symptoms long enough to allow recovery. He also realized the benefits of curing fevers with cool liquids, like apple cider, taken at intervals. He tried this when he was quite ill, against his physician’s orders, with success.”

“Bartlett believed in fostering wellness, including exercise, diet, fresh air, and following cues of one’s body, like drinking when thirsty and covering up when sick with the chills. He also believed “to keep the mind as Easy and Contented as possible” were “of much more Service than a multiplicity of Medicines.”

He decided to enter politics and was elected to the Provincial Assembly in 1765. He helped negotiate peace at the Royal Governor’s request after the enactment of the Stamp Act, but went public in his opposition to the Townshend Act later. He organized the Seventh Regiment of the NH militia and later in 1770 became its colonel. He became a strong backer for independence and joined the Committee of Correspondence as well of the Committee of Safety. The governor then dissolved the Assembly from which the committees came.

Later in 1774 his house was burned down by the Tories. He was undeterred and was appointed to the first Continental Congress, but declined due to the house situation. He moved his family out to their farmhouse and began the rebuild immediately. He was named Accessory After The Fact in the capture of Fort William and Mary. So the Governor dismissed him from service as justice of the peace and Colonel of the militia.

That did not deter him either as he was chosen again to be a delegate to the Second Continental Congress. He went and remained involved for several years. He contributed greatly to the efforts and worked on several committees. He was very influential within despite not participating much in the open debates held in assembly. He solely represented the interest of NH until his letters back to the state finally raised enough awareness for them to choose two more delegates to attend with him, William Whipple and Matthew Thornton. He was the second to sign the Declaration, wanting to sign right after John Hancock.

He took leave from the Congress for a year to recover from fatigue, but was elected back to Congress again in 1778. He served on the Committee that drafted the Articles of Confederation. After its completion he returned to his home as he felt he had been away from his family and responsibilities too long. While he had been away his wife, Mary, had operated the farm, took care of 9 children and given birth to his daughter Hannah. It was time to resume his life at home, so his federal service came to an end.

He became a local judge and a few years later was named a justice on the state’s Supreme Court, becoming the Chief Justice in 1788. He argued strongly for approval of the U. S. Constitution in NH. He was selected to be a U. S. Senator, but declined. He assisted with the development and enactment of the state’s Constitution. He was elected to be the state’s Chief Executive and later, its President in the early 1790s. With the changes, he became the Governor in 1792, serving to 1794 until his health declined. He passed away the next year due to paralysis.

There is one more interesting thing that this great man did not let hinder his professional life. He had no formal medical school training. Yet, he was named the first President of the New Hampshire Medical Society. He gave the commencement address in 1790 at Dartmouth College when his son, Ezra, graduated. His apprenticeship in medicine, intelligence, reading comprehension and understanding of the human body guided his very successful medical career. He used those same methods and principles within his family, legal and political experiences.

We will finish his story with a few of his quotes,

“Called on the people of New Hampshire . . . to confess before God their aggravated transgressions and to implore His pardon and forgiveness through the merits and mediation of Jesus Christ . . . [t]hat the knowledge of the Gospel of Jesus Christ may be made known to all nations, pure and undefiled religion universally prevail, and the earth be fill with the glory of the Lord.”

“Though this world has a way of diminishing and demeaning men and women, the reality is we are all of royal, divine lineage. In that unprecedented appearance of the Father and the Son in the Sacred Grove, the very first word spoken by the Father of us all was the personal name of Joseph. Such is our Father’s personal relationship with each of us. He knows our names and yearns for us to become worthy to return to live with Him.”

“Firstly I commit my Soul into the hands of God, its great and benevolent author.”

And one final quote the uniparty has never seemed to learn or care about.

“Of all the vices incident to man, lying is the most mean, most contemptible; it evinces a very weak, depraved heart, which shrinks at the exposure of motives and of actions.”

Much can be learned from the study of the life of Josiah Bartlett, much more than can be stated here. Totally committed as a patriot, leader, family man, and physician. He was another great American patriot.

Matthew Thornton

This patriot was born in 1714 in Ireland. Matthew Thornton arrived in America at age 3 when his family immigrated to the colonies. He and his parents, James and Elizabeth Thornton, arrived first in Maine, but were burned out of their home a few years later by native Indians in the area. They then moved to Worcester, Massachusetts and operated a farm. Matthew received a classical education there at the Worcester Academy.

He completed medical studies at Leicester and began the practice of medicine soon afterwards in Londonderry, NH. He was later named surgeon for the NH militia in 1745 at the age of 31. He participated in the capture of a French fortress for the British forces in Nova Scotia during the period. His interest in government increased and he was elected a delegate for his town in the Provincial Assembly in 1758. This led him into the independence movement and Colonial affairs.

In 1760 he married 18 year old Hannah Jack and they had five children together. He was an active participant in the anti-Stamp Act group, but still retained his rank as Colonel in the state militia despite his stand. However, things came to a head in 1775 with a response by Thornton relating to the “unconstitutional and tyrannical Acts of the British Parliament.” When Royal Governor Wentworth fled the colony in 1775, Thornton stepped in as President of the Provincial Congress. He was also made Chairman of the Safety Committee and immediately began securing arms and supplies while recruiting troops for the state militia.

Per the website of the Descendants of the Signers of the Declaration of Independence he said the following upon taking office, “Friends and brethren, you must all be sensible that the affairs of America have, at length, come to a very affecting and alarming crisis. The horrors and distresses of a civil war, which, till of late, we only had in contemplation, we now find ourselves obliged to realize. Painful beyond expression, have been those scenes of blood and devastation which the barbarous cruelty of British troops has placed before our eyes. Duty to God, to ourselves, to posterity, ends forced by the cries of slaughtered innocents, have urged us to take up arms in our own defense….we seriously and earnestly recommend the practice of that pure and undefiled religion, which embalmed the memory of our pious ancestors, as that alone upon which we can build a solid hope and confidence in the Divine protection and favour, without whose blessing all the measures of safety we have, or can propose, will end in our shame and disappointment.”

Yup, another who knew the providence of God was not only desired, but necessary for survival.

At the age of 62 he was selected a delegate to join Bartlett at the second Continental Congress. However, he arrived later in the year and missed the actual debates and approval of the Declaration of Independence despite stating his support leading up to the vote. He became one of six signers to do so after the fact.

He had no legal education, but was still chosen to be the Chief Justice of the Court of Common Pleas for six years in the state. He also served as a state senator for a few years. In 1780 he purchased a farm along the Merrimack River as well as a ferry operation that had been seized from a Tory. After he retired from public service he worked both. Although exposed often to whooping cough through the years in his practice he never contracted it until the age of 80, yet, he still recovered. He lived until the age of 89, passing in 1803. His wife, Hannah, had passed away previously in 1786.

Thornton was considered a handsome man and stood over 6 feet in height with dark eyes and skin tone. He had an infectious spirit and great sense of humor that even young people enjoyed. He became a magnet that attracted people to his comments, expressions and stories. Further taken from the Descendants website, “Rev. Dr. Burnap spoke these words at his funeral: “He was venerable for his age, and skilled in his profession, and for the several very important and honorable offices he had sustained; noted for the knowledge he had acquired, and his quick penetration into matters of abstruse speculation; exemplary for his regard for the public institutions of religion, and for his consistency in attending the public worship, where he trod the courts of the house of God, with steps tottering with age and infirmity. Such is a brief outline of one who was honored in his day and generation; whose virtues were a model for imitation, and while memory does her office, will be had in grateful recollection.”

A deep thinking, knowledgeable man who also gave his all in service to his country and fellow citizens; Matthew Thornton exemplified American patriotism.

William Whipple

William Whipple was born in 1730 in Kittery, Maine to parents Captain William Whipple, Sr. and wife, Mary. He was educated at a local common school as well as by a Harvard College graduate family member before going off to sea and becoming a 21 year old ship’s master. He married his cousin, Catherine Moffat in 1767. Their first child, a son, died in infancy and they adopted a daughter later. They moved to Portsmouth, NH in 1769.

Whipple made a fortune in the trade between America, the West Indies and Africa through dealing in wood, rum and slaves. He became a merchant in partnership with his brothers in 1769 in Portsmouth. Like Matthew Thornton he was a freemason. When NH dissolved the Royal government and instituted a Provincial Assembly, Whipple was chosen to represent Portsmouth. He was placed on the Committee of Safety and later selected as a delegate to the Continental Congress, where he signed the Declaration of Independence. It is of note that Whipple was a second cousin to fellow signer, Stephen Hopkins. Per Wiki he wrote the following to fellow NH signer Josiah Bartlett,

“This year, my Friend, is big with mighty events. Nothing less than the fate of America depends on the virtue of her sons, and if they do not have virtue enough to support the most Glorious Cause ever human beings were engaged in, they don’t deserve the blessings of freedom.^“

He went on to free his slave, Prince Whipple, as he believed no man could fight for freedom and hold another man in bondage. This occurred after Prince was willing to fight with the colonists for the freedom of all as long as William agreed to release him. Whipple did so immediately after the war ended. Per the Descendants website, “After freeing his own slaves, Whipple wrote as follows to Josiah Bartlett, “The last accounts from South Carolina were favorable. A recommendation is gone thither for raising some regiments of blacks. This, I suppose, will lay a foundation for the emancipation of those wretches in that country. I hope it will be the means of dispensing the blessings of Freedom to all humanity in America.”

At the Battle of Saratoga, Whipple commanded a battalion of four regiments as its Brigadier General. His service and that of Colonel James Wilkinson under Major General Horatio Gates led to them having the honor of signing on the Convention of Saratoga, which effectively was the surrender of British Gen. Burgoyne and his troops. Afterwards he escorted Burgoyne and troops back to Massachusetts as prisoners. He then joined Gen. Sullivan in the Battle of Rhode Island.

After the war he became a judge in the Superior Court of NH. In 1785 he suffered a heart ailment and died after fainting on a horse he was riding when he fell off. He was 55 years old. He was buried next to his beloved, freed servant, Prince, in the North Cemetery. His wife, Catherine, passed away in 1821

Conclusion

There you have it, three patriot signers of the Declaration from New Hampshire that bring Granite Grins (happy expressions) for which residents are noted. Two were physicians turned politicians turned judges who had no formal legal training; one did not even have a formal education in the medicine he practiced. Then there was a man of the sea who was attracted to the independence movement and found his calling on land. The occupations of their fathers was of the common men as a shoemaker, farmer and ship captain. These signers worked hard and smart to find their ways in the world. They answered the call for all of us as exceptional American patriots.

Well done, New Hampshire, you had three of the good guys. Too bad this famous grin is from Queens, he could fit right in.

Could not resist.

Since I brought up the subject of Shays’ Rebellion in Part 8, we might as well dig into the subject briefly. Most of us were never educated in school about the truth that not all of our citizens got along after defeating the British. Everything did not just become hunky dory within our nation’s boundaries. At times, the independent and contrary nature of some could not be appeased or led into compromise easily. Shays’ Rebellion is one of those situations that was brought on by real injustice. It dealt with the unequal and unfair administration of the law within the citizenry. The law and economic system themselves were still in development. As a result ethical issues that had gone unresolved caused great tension. It was clear that there was still a lot of pent up anger and bitterness that carried over from British oppression due to the presence of the loyalists still living and controlling governments and businesses within the borders. It led to violence and angry confrontations at times.

In other words, people being people.

Shays’ Rebellion

Rather than repeat the words of others, I have provided two good links. I urge you to read them and the third link further down in the body.

https://www.battlefields.org/learn/articles/shays-rebellion

https://www.thoughtco.com/shays-rebellion-causes-effects-4158282

As things generally work, we can now go back and see that without the rebellion, there may never have been the compromise and reconciliation that followed. Lessons learned in central national governance and the states paying back accrued war debts led to the termination of the Articles of Confederation instead of amending same within the same Convention that later produced the U. S. Constitution.

Whether this last point was a wise path to follow or not from my viewpoint will be addressed in a future part. But as a spoiler, quickly throwing the baby out with the bathwater may not have been the best of ideas. However, the Federalists were hellbent on getting it done the way it eventually did.

Many American citizens, primarily farmers, lost their property and assets unfairly in deference to those who had the upper hand – the merchants, bankers and wealthy who had the support of government leaders and many politicians. The truth is that few states had the capacity to pay wages that were past due to members of the Continental military during the war. The new federal government did not have the coin either. Yes, it is factually correct to state that the new federal and state governments of that day welched on their legal responsibilities to pay war participants what they were due. In Massachusetts (Taxachusetts) this led to many losing their farms and assets to debtors who were supported by the government and judiciary. To get a feel for how the fighters were to be compensated read the summary link below.

https://www.battlefields.org/learn/articles/soldier-pay-american-revolution

Note that Washington and Morris paid a lot of the wages during the war out of their own wealth at one critical point. Many of the wealthy founding fathers did likewise.

The situation in Massachusetts was the stuff that the Crown and Parliament would do that the same people in authority on the winning side of the war and this rebellion had fought against. That is the ugly truth that is glossed over frequently by historians and certainly our federal government in its records and archives.

It sucked big time.

Walk in the shoes of the common man for a time. You are a simple farmer in that patriot inspired era and region. You risk your life, family, property, community – everything – to a belief that the colonies should seek independence from their oppressors who taxed everything that moved and treated colonists as their lessers. You endure great hardship, lose friends and family, and have your home destroyed by the vengeful Brits. Adding to the misery you never receive the full wages the state and your colonial government promise to pay for your voluntary service to your country; while newer recruits later in the war receive a larger bounty than you did to sign up.

But you let it all go because you now live in a free country that is not taxed to death. You really have no way to take on the authorities to receive your back pay anyway.

You soon learn that you have been put on the clock to pay merchant debts as well as accrued colony/state taxes from the past war debts are still due. While working hard in your return to private life and trying to make a living on your farm, the politicians are busy passing laws to tax you at high rates to pay back state war related debts as well as other commercial debts to the wealthy merchants. This eventually causes the loss of your property because you have no funds to pay as well as dealing with the ensuing family hardships. Adding more injury to the insult, not only do you lose your farm to foreclosure, but you are sent to a filthy, dungeon like debtors prison for failure to pay.

You might become more than a little angry over it all as we would. Pizzed may be a better word.

The war debts and bills the merchants and governments owed to others were real. But so was the back pay that was owed to the military members who actually fought the war and enabled those merchants to stay alive and in business. Pensions for widows and disabled veterans were given by the new government and it was the right thing to do. Not paying all the other men who actually fought the war what they were due was a huge violation of trust.

You become aware that the state government had the ability all along to forge a compromise to provide relief to you and the people as well as assist the merchants by amending the terms of the debt repayment. All they had to do was print more money, pay you the wages from the war and reduce the onerous taxes. This would have temporarily increased inflation as we know, which the merchants fought against – caring only for themselves and not for the people that saved their bacon. I guess the mafia types the government borrowed the war expenditures from did not agree to this compromise. They created a situation that allowed the wealthy predators to bottom feed on the foreclosed properties of their lessers. Their former British oppressors would be proud (and were) of their exploits since many were Brit loyalists, still owing their allegiance to the Crown that had been defeated.

We would understand it this way today: Who needs a destructive wildfire when you can just use excessive war debt and taxes to accomplish the same evil results? It is a parallel path with what Clinton/Soetoro/Biden had America following before MAGA and America First saved the day. Create a debt quagmire through war and other means that cannot be repaid that causes misery and huge wealth transfers to the already wealthy and dictators. A tale as old as world history.

Never forget that truth, fellow patriots.

Back to the story. In response to the highly volatile conditions and unrest the state government did nothing of substance to assist and permitted the destruction of their own citizens and former war fighters. They revealed who they were. Most Democrats of today would be very proud of them.

However, back in those days it led to Shays’ Rebellion and other conflicts in the new nation. In these days it led to J6 and November 5, 2024. If there is anything we have learned as America First MAGA movement participants it is that things are not as they have been represented by those with nefarious agendas.

As we learn from the linked and other accounts, the vast majority of rebel participants received amnesty or were pardoned to restore order. Which was an obvious acknowledgement by those in authority that the participants had valid reasons to do what they did. The Governor (Bowdoin) and Lt. Governor (Lincoln) who failed the people were tossed out of office. The new legislature cut the taxes and placed a moratorium on debts. This led to better economic conditions and lessening of unrest.

Knowing this, does it help explain why the vote was so close to approve the Constitution after the Massachusetts Compromise was reached?

What should have happened immediately after the war ended, finally happened after the common man rose up once again against their new oppressors. Those actions brought an end to this unfortunate chapter in American history.

However, lemons were turned into lemonade when Shays’ Rebellion and other significant rebellious events happened throughout the former colonies who had become states. People with various interests and beliefs realized they needed to reunite together to help the young republic succeed. Resolving the conflicts and seeing the need to create more unity led to this revered leader coming out of retirement as the new U. S. Constitution was enacted.

Our thanks go to Daniel Shays and others who fought for what was right and good for the common man just as our appreciation does for the America First MAGA patriots of today. Time to discuss more signers.

Richard Stockton

This son of Quaker and wealthy landowner, John Stockton, was born in 1730 in the Princeton, NJ area. Richard Stockton attended Samuel Finley’s Nottingham Academy and went on to graduate from the College of New Jersey (now Princeton U) at the age of 18. He began the study of law under noted attorney, David Ogden, and was admitted to the bar in 1754. He was highly respected in the profession. He married his wife, Annis Boudinot, a noted poet and the sister of Elias Boudinot, a well known statesman of the colony. They had six children together. One of his daughters, Julia, later married Declaration signer Benjamin Rush. Through the years, Stockton became a close friend of George Washington. He was physically tall, considered handsome and very well spoken within society. When touring England, Scotland and Ireland in 1766, he was invited to attend events with the King and Queen, who were impressed with his high character and abilities.

He toured Scotland and was invited to visit with the noblemen and society. During those times he and his future son-in-law Rush, who was a medical student in Scotland at the time, met with Rev. John Witherspoon to try to convince him to become the President of the College of New Jersey, a position he had previously declined. He subsequently agreed and came to the colonies to lead the school. Ten years later, Witherspoon stood with Stockton and Rush as they all signed the Declaration of Independence.

Back in the colonies Stockton had little interest in politics and government for many years.  Per Wiki he once wrote, “The public is generally unthankful, and I never will become a Servant of it, till I am convinced that by neglecting my own affairs I am doing more acceptable Service to God and Man.”

In 1768 he was appointed to the royal executive council of New Jersey and later to the Supreme Court. As the independence movement continued to gain momentum, in 1774 he drafted a plan for self rule of the colonies while still owing allegiance to the Crown. It was rejected and Stockton faced a choice he had to make. He chose the colonies and independence. He was deeply moved by the arguments of John Adams when it came time to approve the document and sign it. Rather than holding offices offered to him back in NJ, he chose to remain active and a member of Congress. He was sent along with fellow signer, George Clymer, to inspect the northern Continental Army for its needs. They reported back to John Hancock of the dire need for nearly everything. He went on to actively solicit basic clothing and shoes that were severely needed for the warfighters, some of whom were barelegged and barefoot.

He learned of the British invasion of NJ and quickly went home to move his family about thirty miles away. However, he was still captured and treated horribly. He stayed locked in leg irons without sufficient clothing and food in the dreaded New York City’s Provost Prison where 12,000 men died as well as on nearby prison ships. After George Washington became aware, he protested his treatment to British Gen. Howe. Stockton was given a parole as long as he did not participate in the war and was released. He was too sick to participate anyway. He was severely malnourished and near death from which he never fully recovered. When he arrived back at his home, he found it had been plundered and nearly destroyed by Gen. Cornwallis and his men who had stayed in the home during the war. He survived only through the personal assistance of family and friends. Over time he became strong enough to return to work some in his law practice and taught a couple of students. However, he died in 1781 before being able to experience the end of the war and our nation’s independence. Even his death was excruciatingly painful as he had developed a lip cancer that grew into his throat before he passed.

Stockton’s wife, Annis, continued in correspondence for the rest of her life with their friend, George Washington, including writing a poem about Cornwallis’ surrender to Washington. An excerpt of Washington’s letter of appreciation stated, “…This address, from a person of your refined taste and elegance of expression, affords a pleasure beyond my powers of utterance, and I have only to lament that the hero of your pastoral is not more deserving of your pen; but the circumstance shall be placed among the happiest events of my life. I have the honor to be, madam you’re most obedient and respectful servant, G. Washington.” 

The respect for the greatness and commitment of Richard Stockton was exhibited by a statue of him being placed in Statuary Hall in the Capitol Building in Washington, DC. He was one of only six signers so honored. His home of Morven became the New Jersey Governor’s Mansion from 1954-1981. His eldest son went on to become a NJ senator and four generations of Stockton’s served in Congress.

Again, a man of wealth and high position in society who could have avoided the personal destruction that he lived through by simply staying uninvolved, gave his all for America and freedom for all of his countrymen and all of us who have followed. He deserved far better than he received. He was the definition of an American Patriot.

James Smith

James Smith was born in Dublin, Ireland in 1719. He and his Presbyterian faith based family immigrated from there when he was ten years old and lived in the Cheshire County, PA. His father became a successful farmer. He was informally educated by local clergy, then educated more at Philadelphia Academy (Penn), and later apprenticed in law under his brother, George. He was admitted to the PA bar at the age of 26. He moved with his brother to the more frontier area of Cumberland County and spent his time surveying. After about five years he moved back to the more populated city of York to practice law full time.

At the age of 41 he married Eleanor Armor and they had five children. With his surveying experience, he was highly recognized in the area for his work with property transfers in his law practice. He invested into a local iron foundry that failed and cost him greatly financially.

As the independence movement expanded, Smith became an advocate. He attended the 1774 provincial assembly and offered a paper on the considerations of the relationship between the Colonies and Great Britain. He recommended boycotting British goods, which he believed would force British merchants to pressure their government to reduce taxes and oppression in the colonies. Later that year he organized a local militia and was chosen its Captain. With the British continuing their oppressive activities, the unit quickly grew to battalion size. The men wanted him to be the Commander, but he declined due to his age (55), preferring a younger man take the role. Even so, most accounts had him serving in action during the war.

He was elected as a delegate to the state convention in 1775 and said the following, “…if the British administration should determine by force to effect a submission to the late arbitrary acts of the British parliament, in such a situation, we hold it our indispensable duty to resist such force, and at every hazard to defend the rights and liberties of America.”

Bold. Very bold.

Smith was considered to have similar beliefs concerning independence as both Adams, Sherman, both Morris, Rush, Floyd, Lee and Patrick Henry. After agreeing to the Declaration’s contents and signing, he returned to York with a copy to read to citizens in the town square. He continued to serve in the Congress and state until 1778. He was elected Brigadier General of the state militia in 1781 and resumed his law practice as the war ended. He worked in the practice until retiring at age 81. He passed away in 1806 at the age of 86. His wife passed away in 1818.

James Smith was another in a long list of devoted American patriot Declaration signers that gave his full commitment, voice and actions to the cause of liberty and freedom.

Thomas Nelson, Jr.

Born in Yorktown, VA in 1738, Thomas Nelson, Jr. was born into Virginia aristocracy and privately educated in England. He graduated from Christ’s College at Cambridge. His parents were William Nelson, a former governor of the state and Elizabeth Carter Burwell, daughter of former acting governor of the state, Robert “King” Carter and the widow of Nathaniel Burwell. He was the grandson of Thomas “Scotch Tom” Nelson who immigrated from England and became a successful businessman and politician.

He returned from England and assisted his father in operating their plantations, which utilized slave labor. He married Lucy Grymes Burwell and helped manage the estates left to her sons with the death of her first husband.

It was soon after his return that he was elected as a representative to the House of Burgesses in 1761 at age 23. He served 6 terms, learning the political ropes. As the state moved more toward independence he was elected to a number of their state conventions preceding the war. He played a role in the development of the state’s Constitution as well as serving in the Continental Congress and signing the Declaration of Independence. He was later forced to take time away to recover from an illness in 1778-1779, only to be elected to return there and in state roles in the years that followed. He was one of the thirteen committee members who drafted the Articles of Confederation. He was known to spend large sums of money as well as make loans for the military to have sufficient ammunition and supplies. He gave so much he had very little when he passed away a decade later.

Nelson was a brigadier general of the lower VA militia and later followed Thomas Jefferson as governor of the state. He was in action in the final siege ofYorktown led by General Washington and his troops in combination with General Lafayette and the French army combatants. It is in this battle that Nelson’s legend was solidified.

Neither the American or French army would fire upon Nelson’s home, the Nelson House, where General Cornwallis had his headquarters. This angered Nelson. He publicly offered five guineas (each had a quarter ounce of gold) to the first war fighter to fire a cannon and hit his home. That was enough to get it done. The NPS has placed two cannonballs in the walls where the home was hit. I assume Nelson paid as he stated he would.

That story is all sorts of patriot awesome! He was a real American badazz!

Unfortunately, in 1781 Nelson’s health took a negative turn that forced him to resign as Governor and was succeeded by fellow signer Benjamin Harrison. His health continued to deteriorate over the next four years. He never recovered from the effects of being in the field and fighting the war. He passed away at age 50 in 1789. Nelson County in VA and in KY were named in his honor. His wife, Lucy, passed away at age 87 in 1830. The couple had eleven children together in addition to the son from Lucy’s first marriage.

Thomas Nelson, Jr. died too soon to receive the full benefits of his work in helping to deliver America its independence. However, he will never be forgotten for his leadership and commitment as a great American patriot.

Conclusion

This has been a story of three extraordinary Declaration signers with three very different experiences and conclusions to their lives. They did it for God, country and family. That was the reward. Their wealth and standing in society were cast aside.

Yet, for every Declaration signer there were thousands of common citizens doing their parts against all odds as well. You will not find their busts, statutes, paintings or honors in places of prominence in American institutions and museums. They just did what they needed to do and returned to their lives and families as unsung American patriot heroes.

There is also the truth that not everything went well or fairly for the participants and early citizens of America.

As they say, freedom isn’t free. However, it is well worth the cost to pursue.