As I have been researching and writing these stories I have been deeply moved by how each patriot started as well as how they finished their respective journeys in life. I am of the philosophical camp that it is not how you start, it is how you finish. However, the exercise of researching and writing these stories has led me to remember the primary message of the following song. I guess we are never too old to be reminded of a valuable lesson.

Y’all probably did not know that this old gray hair has enjoyed some of TobyMac’s works through the years, especially when he was in DC Talk. I have never been a fan of secular rap or hip hop, but music dominated, poetic rap of Toby and a few other Christian artists is a different story. I also especially enjoy the works of (David) Crowder with the earthy raw emotion in his words, observations and musical style. I am big fanboy of him, however, I enjoy many styles and genres of music. This song may or may not be familiar to you, so I am happy to provide this official lyrics version.

As we have dug into the lives of these incredible patriots I have been struck by the intention and commitment to doing what they individually believed was right for all colonists no matter the cost. This also was expressed in the behavior and support of their wives and families. They were globally focused on the greater good and not just on themselves and their families. Some seemed to throw all caution to the wind and attack the prospect of independence and freedom from the chains of oppression. Others sought compromise and accommodation until they were boxed into corners and forced to choose. All seemed to relish the opportunity to give their input and insights while serving in the governance of assemblies and congresses. They sensed they were playing a part in something much bigger than themselves and spoke of it in their letters and journals. When it became obvious to most that it was time to change history; all of the signers found consensus and were ready to accept whatever fate awaited them. They walked to the table to sign with solemn minds and hearts.

Fellow Christian – don’t you just love it when the Lord implements His plans and you get to play a part in it? This American Experiment was more than just a bunch of pizzed off rebel colonists. Something that grand developed from people who were of a similar ancestral lineage with linked family bonds who were placed under the thumbs of the leaders of the world’s great superpower of the day. Where have you seen that before, Christian? Oh yeah, in stories of struggle throughout the Holy Word. Fast forward to the past decade here in America. Can you see and feel the parallels, interconnections, etc. with history in America today?

The song speaks to that dash between birth and death that we see on many tombstones. You will read of the personal history, the dash, on one such tombstone below concerning a Declaration signer. It leads us to see that the time we spend in the dash is about the choices we make. It addresses how we spend that time has eternal consequences. We should choose wisely what we do and not waste it. Our time may not be one of a bitter war or strife, but it will always be a time of reaching the lost and hurting. Many God fearing men and women in these stories went about doing just that even when some had much safer options. We are the beneficiaries of their choices. They modeled what we know from John 15:13, which says, “Greater love has no one than this: to lay down one’s life for one’s friends.” (NKJV)

I am eternally grateful for what those great founding fathers and their families did with their dashes. I have peace in doing these stories because I now see how the details of history relate to what God planned for America. To think that approximately 250 years later we are in the same camp as the Sons of Liberty and working out our freedom and liberty as AMERICA FIRST MAGA movement patriots is humbling as well as inspiring. Thanks to our collective commitment and response, our George Washington is in the White House saving and helping America prosper along with his patriot Vice President, who is performing the modern role of John Adams. While Thomas Jefferson, Benjamin Franklin and others were building the rep and security of America in other lands, so is our equivalent Secretary of State and various cabinet members. The revolutionary warfighters stayed on the alert and protected the homeland against all enemies foreign and domestic, just as ours today under the leadership of a man who has been there and done that with honor and distinction on the battlefields as well as with a man who has defended our borders from illegals invading for decades.

We may even have advantages the patriots did not have with a hugely wealthy and successful man in a Darth cap with incredible vision, talent and intelligence who can slice through those who create their own fiefdoms within our central government. This man can deliver a modern, fiscally responsible operational system of government unlike any other on the planet that by its presence will prevent much of the corruption and fraud that we have endured for so long. He is doing what always must be done to starve the evil doers – follow the money and cut off the flow.

We also have men and women with steely resolves leading the work to root out those alien criminals and terrorists who would take us down that were invited in by past incompetent and even demonic administrations to infiltrate our ranks. This restoration that will lead to The Golden Age for America is being accomplished with perhaps the greatest cabinet and patriots backing any POTUS in history since the Declaration was signed. All desire to be a part of something bigger than themselves and we can all feel the success that awaits. They are ready and willing to protect and provide for America with the personal time they have left within their dashes, so that we can make the most of the time left within ours and all future Americans. They have been chosen for this great moment in history.

It is now time to discuss a couple more great founding fathers who accomplished much during their dashes.

George Walton

This signer was supposedly born in 1741 in Prince Edward County, VA, although it is not known with certainty and guesses range from 1740 – 1750. George Walton‘s education was informal and for the most part he taught himself. Both parents died when he was young, so he was adopted by an uncle who did not believe in schooling. As a result he apprenticed as a carpenter under that uncle. In 1769 after realizing he had an interest and the intelligence to do so, he moved to Savannah, GA to study law. He was later admitted to the bar in 1774. It is in this independence infused area that he joined the patriot movement. He spent many years in the state in its development as well as in a political feud with the infamous Button Gwinnett that we previously discussed.

In the lead up to the Revolutionary War he was elected Secretary of the state’s Provincial Congress and President of the Council of Safety. He became a delegate in the second Continental Congress that led to him being a Declaration signer. Somehow in the period he found time to marry Dorothy Camber and they had two sons together.

After the Declaration signing he entered into the Revolutionary War as Colonel of the First Regiment Militia in the state. He was hit in the leg by a musket ball, thrown from his horse and taken prisoner in the Battle of Savannah while serving under Gen. Robert Howe. Unlike some of his fellow colonist prisoners throughout the war, he was allowed to heal before being sent to Sunbury Prison. He was later released in 1779 in a prisoner exchange.

As a political ally and friend of Lachlan McIntosh he was involved in controversy his entire political career. He was even censured by the state legislature in 1783 for his role in the famous duel that resulted in Gwinnett ‘s death, but never formally charged. By this point he was considered to be one of the most competent and successful lawyers in the state. He was used to negotiate a treaty with the Cherokees in TN as well. He was requested to assist at the U. S. Constitutional Convention with its preparation, but declined due to all he was doing for the state.

None of the previous conflicts with Gwinnett prevented him from being named as the Chief Justice for the state that same year. He served in that role until 1789 while becoming a Presidential elector. He was also the acting Governor of the state in 1789 – 1790. He served as Superior Court Judge starting in 1789, which continued until 1798. In 1795 he served as a U. S. Senator on an interim basis.

He retired to the Augusta area and passed away in 1804. Though he owned a plantation, he had no slaves. This was possibly due to his upbringing as well as his understanding that all people were created equal. He was an abolitionist in a period and region where it would least be expected. Only one son survived from the marriage to Dorothy; George, Jr. He became the first Secretary of the Territory of Florida as well as the acting Governor. He was of great comfort to his father during his later years. Dorothy lived in Pensacola after her husband’s death and she passed away in 1832. Walton County, GA is named after him.

From an Augusta Press article of 10/14/21 by Scott Hudson:

In the center of Greene Street and across from the Municipal Building in Downtown Augusta sits an obelisk known as the Signer’s Monument. Underneath it lies the graves of Lyman Hall and George Walton, two of the three signers of the Declaration of Independence from Georgia.

Less than a mile away from the Signer’s Monument is Meadow Gardens, Walton’s home. The modest home is located near the corner of Walton Way and 13th Street. It has been preserved and holds weekday tours.

George Walton lived through very difficult, humble beginnings. He was self taught and driven to both learn and do his best for his country. He was a doer, not a public speaker known for his inspiring quotes. He gave his entire life to the independence movement as well as on the battlefield. After that he threw himself into public service and the law. As a result Georgia and America benefitted greatly. We have much to appreciate about this great American patriot.

John Witherspoon

With the previous discussion in Part 9 about Stockton and son in law, Rush, meeting with John Witherspoon in Scotland pre war, it is probably time to review him as a Declaration signer. John Witherspoon was born in 1722 or 1723 in Gifford, Scotland. His parents were James Witherspoon and Anna Walker. His mother taught him in the early years and he was able to read by age 4. She used the Bible and later in his youth he was able to recite the New Testament. His father was a minister of Yester Parish and very involved in the General Assembly. His mother came from a long line of ministers as well. The couple had six children.

John was so advanced in his education and in the understanding of English, Latin, Greek, French, the classics and mathematics that he was sent to the University of Edinburgh at age 13. By age 16 he had a Masters of Arts with a thesis in Latin. By age 20 he received a Doctor in Theology and was licensed to preach. At age 22 he received his first parish. Three years later he married Elizabeth Montgomery. They had nine children with five surviving that traveled with them later to the colonies.

When Dr. Samuel Finley died as President of the College of New Jersey, Witherspoon was solicited for the role by Stockton and Rush among others as mentioned previously. He had been requested to do so years before and declined. This time he was persuaded and they left for Philadelphia in 1768. He was successful almost immediately. He grew endowments, improved the curriculum, and helped bring peace within the Presbyterian Church. By 1770 the students began advocating for independence and Witherspoon agreed, including stating this belief in a commencement address. He was soon chosen to represent the county in the Provincial Assembly and went on to be chosen as a delegate to the Continental Congress.

When others in the period waffled on independence by suggesting the time was not ripe to do so, he replied to one such complainer, “Not ripe sir, we are not only ripe for the measure but in danger of rotting for the want of it”. Not long after the Declaration signing and the war increasing, the college was taken by the British. They proceeded to occupy the campus, burn down the library, and destroy his documents and personal writings. The next year he lost one son in the Battle of Germantown.

He stayed with the Continental Congress until 1782. He helped reorganize the Board of Treasury along with performing other duties that utilized his expertise. Prior to that in early 1778 he had begun the difficult rebuild of the college and was able to restart classes later in that year. As the war ended Witherspoon became more active than ever. He was in the voting delegation that approved the Constitution for NJ. He was a key contributor to the newly organized, independent Presbyterian Church in America. His contributions as a pastor, educator and patriot brought great recognition to Princeton.

In 1789, his wife passed away. A month later he turned his attention to involvement in the NJ Assembly. He soon had responsibilities that included prisoner treatment, pensions of invalids, public debts, promotion of religion and morality, divorce, paper money, vital statistics and promotion of manufacturing. The seemingly odd thing was he kept two slaves, although as he aged he turned his attention toward abolition and the systematic acclimation of slaves into society as free men. It seems that a number of his descendants were involved in Confederate causes in the years that followed. Witherspoon believe as Charles Carroll did, that the nation was heading toward abolition anyway. He preferred the slave be assisted into freedom and the world that laid ahead rather than cutting them loose to make a go without preparation and acceptance by society.

Apparently, Witherspoon was not done with living at this point, so at age 68 he married 24 year old Ann Marshall Dill. The couple had two children, one of whom died a week or so after birth. It was not long before he lost his eyesight and passed away in 1794.

He left us with many memorable quotes, a handful of which are below:

It is only the fear of God, can deliver us from the fear of man.

Never rise to speak till you have something to say; and when you have said it, cease.

Those who wish well to the State ought to choose places of trust men of inward principle, justified by exemplary conversation.

The people in general ought to have regard to the moral character of those whom they invest with moral authority either in the legislative, executive, or judicial branches.

Never read a book through merely because you have begun it.

Wisdom. Words for all of us to take to heart just like they were in that day. The following is inscribed on his tombstone in Princeton Cemetery, a description of his dash.

Beneath this marble lie interred
the mortal remains of
JOHN WITHERSPOON, D.D. LL.D.
a venerable and beloved President of the College of
New-Jersey.
He was born in the parish of Yester, in Scotland,
on the 5th of February, 1722, O. S.
And was liberally educated in the University of Edinburgh;
invested with holy orders in the year 1743,
he faithfully performed the duties of
his pastoral charge,
during five and twenty years,
first at Beith, and then at Paisley.
Elected president of Nassau Hall,
he assumed the duties of that office on the 13th of August, 1768,
with the elevated expectations of the public.
Excelling in every mental gift,
he was a man of pre-eminent piety and virtue
and deeply versed in the various branches
of literature and the liberal arts.
A grave and solemn preacher,
his sermons abounded in the most excellent doctrines and precepts,
and in lucid expositions of the Holy Scriptures.
Affable, pleasant, and courteous in familiar conversation,
he was eminently distinguished
in concerns and deliberations of the church,
and endowed with the greatest prudence
in the management and instruction of youth.
He exalted
the reputation of the college amongst foreigners,
and greatly promoted the advancement
of its literary character and taste.
He was, for a long time, conspicuous
Among the most brilliant luminaries of learning and of the Church.
At length,
universally venerated, beloved, and lamented,
he departed this life on the fifteenth of November, 1794
aged 73 years.

John Witherspoon made his mark on America that will long be remembered especially as a patriot and leader of what became Princeton University. He laid a foundational building block for education and faith that has stood the test of time. He was a great American patriot.

Conclusion

I will stop here with this part. The lessons learned appear profound. We find the dash on every tombstone represents the results of the breath God gives all of us. We find that with the Declaration of Independence signers that they gave all for freedom and liberty. None were perfect men, they all had feet of clay just like all of us today. Yet, they allowed themselves to be used by the Lord to achieve what we now experience despite all of the hardship and strife.

With Walton and Witherspoon we see two very different men and a study of contrasts. One was raised in hardship, not even permitted to experience the love and care of parents for a time due to life and death getting in the way. He was self taught by his own curiosity and intelligence to achieve. He had the internal fortitude to take on the challenges of his life and overcome while finding meaning for his existence.

The other was raised in plenty and of good repute. He experienced the benefits of societal standing and parental love and care. He learned the value of his Christian upbringing and threw himself into learning all he could as quickly as he could with the religious and educational opportunities that were made available. He achieved at an incredible pace and was placed in positions of trust in his native Scotland as well as later in America.

When it came time to walk to the table to sign, they both did in solemn agreement and despite their very different journeys. They both did so knowing it could result in their deaths and harm to their families and communities. How is it that an orphaned southern colonist boy who grew up hard in GA and a Scottish born boy brought into a world of privilege who immigrated to America to restore a college in New Jersey, could equally share legacies as great American patriots? That is our shared American legacy. Both were needed, both answered the call, and both were honored to serve all of the citizens and as a result, all of us.

The hand of God was on display then and is now. We need to hear him and respond. As Isaiah said in Isaiah 6:8, “Then I heard the voice of the Lord, saying, “Whom shall I send, and who will go for Us?” Then I said, “Here am I. Send me!” (NASB)

Stories about the signing of the Declaration of Independence and the Revolutionary War period would not be complete without a discussion about one of greatest speeches ever made in a public setting by an American colonist. Yet, it was made by a leader who refused to sign the Declaration as he was fearful that signing it or the Constitution would lead to a central government that overrode the rights of the states.

His fears were eventually realized.

Give Me Liberty, or Give Me Death!

Patrick Henry will be forever known as a major influencer and leader for independence. He was born in 1736 and raised in Hanover County, VA. His father was a farmer who was college educated in Scotland. Patrick was educated primarily by his father at home. He tried and failed to be a store keeper and a planter. He finally found employment as a tavern keeper for his father-in-law and began to study law. He progressed to being able to open his own law practice in 1760.

His first major legal case was called Parson’s Cause in 1763. It became a major issue that helped fuel the patriot cause. We might consider it trivial today, but back then it was a big deal. The ministers of the Church of England in VA were paid their annual salaries with tobacco. There had been a drought in the 1750’s that had reduced the crop yields and caused a shortage that drove up prices. So the VA legislature passed a bill that set the salary at two pennies per pound of tobacco rather than at the drought affected current price of six pennies per pound. The clergy appealed to King George III who overturned the law and encouraged the clergy to sue for damages.

Patrick Henry was a somewhat unknown attorney representing Virginia. He delivered a passionate speech and answer to the King’s actions claiming Crown overreach. He left little doubt about his and the state’s position with, “that a King by annulling or disallowing acts of so salutary a nature, from being Father of his people degenerated into a Tyrant, and forfeits all rights to his subjects’ obedience.”

It was clear at this point that Patrick Henry had found his voice and his calling as a patriot. His contemporaries said he spoke with the authority of the Great Awakening pastors from previous decades.

When the Stamp Act was passed on to the colonies that forced them to pay a tax on every piece of paper they used, the colonists reacted bitterly. Henry led the VA legislature into a series of “resolves” that rejected taxation without representation. This led to one of the most famous speeches in American history in March 1775 at St. John’s Church in Richmond in the Second Virginia Convention. The Virginia House was undecided on whether to organize for military action against the encroaching British army. Henry argued in favor of mobilizing for war.

Henry rarely, if ever, utilized notes for his speeches. His first biographer, William Wirt, worked from oral histories to reconstruct a text of Henry’s most memorable and perhaps most influential speech. Below is a link to Wirt’s work and the speech.

https://www.historicstjohnschurch.org/the-speech/

Consider some of the excerpts from the speech below;

“They tell us, sir, that we are weak; unable to cope with so formidable an adversary. But when shall we be stronger? Will it be the next week, or the next year? Will it be when we are totally disarmed, and when a British guard shall be stationed in every house?

“Shall we gather strength by irresolution and inaction? Shall we acquire the means of effectual resistance, by lying supinely on our backs, and hugging the delusive phantom of hope, until our enemies shall have bound us hand and foot?

“Sir, we are not weak if we make a proper use of those means which the God of nature hath placed in our power. Three millions of people, armed in the holy cause of liberty, and in such a country as that which we possess, are invincible by any force which our enemy can send against us.

“Besides, sir, we shall not fight our battles alone. There is a just God who presides over the destinies of nations; and who will raise up friends to fight our battles for us. The battle, sir, is not to the strong alone; it is to the vigilant, the active, the brave.

“It is in vain, sir, to extenuate the matter. Gentlemen may cry, Peace, Peace but there is no peace. The war is actually begun! The next gale that sweeps from the north will bring to our ears the clash of resounding arms!

“Our brethren are already in the field! Why stand we here idle? What is it that gentlemen wish? What would they have? Is life so dear, or peace so sweet, as to be purchased at the price of chains and slavery? Forbid it, Almighty God! I know not what course others may take; but as for me, give me liberty or give me death!”

Score one for truth, again. The liars and deceivers would have Americans today to believe there was no love of the Christian God or of country, that the founders were deists and atheists. They would have you believe our founders and their fellow citizens were the real oppressors, just looking out for their own gain. Your only valid response as a patriot to these lies and attacks are to confront and conquer with truth and facts like those provided here.

Henry was a follower of Christ and a man of faith. A variety of sources confirm the following incidents from his life.

He once said to a neighbor:

“This book [the Bible] is worth all the books that ever were printed, and it has been my misfortune that I never found time to read it with the proper attention and feeling till lately. I trust in the mercy of heaven that it is not too late.”

In a letter to his daughter dated August 20, 1796, he wrote:

“Amongst other strange things said of me, I hear it is said by the deists that I am one of their number; and indeed, that some good people think I am no Christian. This thought gives me much more pain than the appellation of Tory; because I think religion of infinitely higher importance than politics; and I find much cause to reproach myself that I have lived so long, and have given no decided and public proofs of my being a Christian. But, indeed, my dear child, this is a character which I prize far above all this world has, or can boast.”

On his deathbed, Patrick Henry was reported to have said:

“Doctor, I wish you to observe how real and beneficial the religion of Christ is to a man about to die…. I am … much consoled by reflecting that the religion of Christ has, from its first appearance in the world, been attacked in vain by all the wits, philosophers, and wise ones, aided by every power of man, and its triumphs have been complete.”

On November 20, 1798, in his Last Will and Testament, Patrick Henry wrote:

“This is all the inheritance I give to my dear family. The religion of Christ will give them one which will make them rich indeed.”

He died from stomach cancer at the age of 63.

We should always remember that our founders were men who believed that liberty was a precious right that flowed from God. In Patrick Henry’s life God was preeminent, personal and the provider of salvation through His Son, Jesus Christ.

Time to discuss more signers.

Stephen Hopkins

Born in the Providence, RI area in 1707, Hopkins was from a wealthy, prestigious Quaker family. His great grandfather was among the first settlers in the Providence area and his grandfather was an influential politician in the state. His parents were William and Ruth Hopkins with his mother having descended from the famous Whipple family.

He was educated at home into the sciences, mathematics, and literature. He became a surveyor and astronomer. He married Sarah Scott in 1726 and the couple had seven children together, five of whom survived to adulthood. She passed away at age 46 in 1753. He became a justice of the peace at 23 years old and not long after, a justice in the Court of Common Pleas. He was also part owner of a local iron foundry as well as a successful merchant. He was named to the state Supreme Court in 1747 and was Chief Justice for a handful of years before being elected Governor in 1755. He served in that role for 9 of the next 15 years.

He and fellow Declaration signer Samuel Ward were at political odds with one another for years in Rhode Island. Ward was a backer of hard currency while Hopkins supported paper. Hopkins became a major leader of the independence movement in the state when his pamphlet The Rights of Colonies Examined was published and distributed. It addressed taxation and Parliament actions. A link to this is below.

To summarize the essence of its content in one sentence from this publication, Hopkins said, “Liberty is the greatest blessing that men enjoy, and slavery the heaviest curse that human nature is capable of;”. Historian Thomas Bicknell called it “the most remarkable document that was issued during the period preceding the War of the Revolution.” It established Hopkins as one of the leaders of public opinion throughout the colonies.

He and his political adversary, Samuel Ward, were selected to represent RI at the Continental Congress. At age 68 he was the oldest there. Only he and Benjamin Franklin had attended the Albany Congress twenty years before. When it came time to sign the Declaration, he had to hold his right writing hand steady with his left hand as he suffered from palsy. He stated, “My hand trembles, but my heart does not.”

John Adams had this to say about Hopkins,

Governor Hopkins of Rhode Island, above seventy Years of Age kept us all alive. Upon Business his Experience and judgment were very Useful. But when the Business of the Evening was over, he kept Us in Conversation till Eleven and sometimes twelve O Clock. His Custom was to drink nothing all day nor till Eight O Clock, in the Evening, and then his Beveredge was Jamaica Spirit and Water. It gave him Wit, Humour, Anecdotes, Science and Learning. He had read Greek, Roman and British History: and was familiar with English Poetry particularly Pope, Tompson and Milton. And the flow of his Soul made all his reading our own, and seemed to bring to recollection in all of Us all We had ever read. I could neither eat nor drink in those days. The other Gentlemen were very temperate. Hopkins never drank to excess, but all he drank was immediately not only converted into Wit, Sense, Knowledge and good humour, but inspired Us all with similar qualities.

His knowledge and experience in shipping made him invaluable to the naval committee during the war. He was instrumental in drafting naval legislation including rules and regulations for the Continental Navy. His younger brother, Esek, became the commander in chief of the first continental naval squadron in the Revolutionary War. Unfortunately, things did not go well for him in the role due to a series of missteps and misperceptions about his leadership that led to polarization within the Congress and military over his leadership. Despite having the support of John Adams he was forced to resign in January 1778. John Paul Jones who reported to him assumed the role. However, Jones continued to successfully utilize a defensive method Esek Hopkins had used against the overwhelming force of the British Navy.

Poor health led Stephen Hopkins to resign from the Continental Congress later in 1776 to return home where he continued to serve in the state legislature until retiring in 1779. During the years that followed he released a few slaves and provided for others to the point of listing in his will. In some cases he felt it unwise to fully release as he determined they were ill prepared for what would be entailed in doing so.

He passed away at age 78 in 1785. Prior to his death he had helped establish the predecessor school to Brown University having served as the school’s first chancellor from 1764 until the year of his death. He survived his second wife, Anne Smith Hopkins, who had passed away in 1782.

As is the case with many of the Declaration signers, I have only briefly touched on the accomplishments, involvements and personal interconnections of this great Patriot. We all owe him a debt of gratitude even today. The following is inscribed on the west side of the memorial at his burial site,

“Sacred to the memory of the illustrious Stephen Hopkins, of revolutionary fame, attested by his signature to the Declaration of our National Independence, Great in Council from sagacity of mind; Magnanimous in sentiment, firm in purpose, and good, as great, from benevolence of heart; He stood in the front rank of statesmen and patriots. Self-educated, yet among the most learned of men; His vast treasury of useful knowledge, his great retentive and reflective powers, combined with his social nature, made him the most interesting of companions in private life.”

Button Gwinnett

We go from a polished and dignified uniter with great knowledge and wisdom to a man who was a lightning rod for controversy. Button Gwinnett was born in Down Hatherley, England in the 1732-35 range. He was the third of seven children of the Welsh minister, Rev. Samuel Gwinnett and wife, Anne. He was raised and educated there, being baptized at St. Catherine’s Church. He later married Ann Bourne in 1757, the daughter of a greengrocer (seller of vegetables and fruits), an occupation he had apprenticed in previously. They had three daughters together before deciding to leave for America in 1762. They arrived in Newfoundland and soon chose to go to Jamaica. He was not successful as a merchant there so they left for Savannah, GA where he also failed. So he purchased St. Catherine’s Island and a large group of slaves on credit to try to be a planter, an occupation he never really succeeded at as well. However, the associations led him into local politics and the Provincial Assembly.

It was not until 1775 that he became active in the independence movement in the area. St. John’s Parish where his plantation was located threatened to secede from the colony as they valued independence from the Crown versus so many other loyalists in the state. His political rival in the Assembly was Lachlan McIntosh and his biggest supporter was future Declaration signer Lyman Hall. Gwinnett was later appointed to be a delegate to the Continental Congress and subsequently voted to adopt the Declaration of Independence and signed it. He became a candidate to become a brigadier general to lead the First Regiment of the Continental Army, but lost out to his rival Lachlan McIntosh. The decision left him bitter and angry.

He return to the GA Assembly and helped write the state’s Constitution. He soon became Speaker of the Assembly. This led to further tensions between McIntosh as he sought to undermine his rival. When Gwinnett succeeded in having the Assembly approve a measure to attack the British in eastern FL to protect the state’s southern border, it all came to a head. From georgiaencyclopedia.org;

Disappointed in his military ambitions, Gwinnett continued to lead the opposition to the Christ Church Parish coalition, and when his followers gained control of Georgia’s Provincial Congress, they succeeded in electing him Speaker. He played a key role in the passage of the Constitution of 1777 and began to purge the military of officers whom he and his followers deemed less than zealous in their enthusiasm for the Whig cause. This brought him into conflict with Lachlan McIntosh. After the death of Georgia’s president and commander-in-chief, Archibald Bulloch, in February 1777, the Council of Safety appointed Gwinnett to succeed him.

Gwinnett proposed a military foray into British East Florida, a defensive measure that he argued would secure Georgia’s southern border. McIntosh and his brother George (who had opposed Gwinnett’s election as president and subsequently had been arrested for treason) condemned the scheme as politically motivated. The expedition failed, and though he was not elected governor when the new legislature met in the spring of 1777, Gwinnett was exonerated of any misconduct in carrying out the campaign.

McIntosh was furious. He publicly denounced Gwinnett in the harshest terms, and Gwinnett challenged him to a duel. Though each man shot the other, only Gwinnett’s wound proved fatal. He died on May 19, 1777, and was buried in Savannah’s Colonial Park Cemetery, though the exact location of his grave is unknown. Gwinnett County was named for him when it was established in 1818.

Gwinnett left behind a wife and several young children with his death. Gwinnett’s long held hatred of a fellow patriot had led his demise. McIntosh recovered from his wounds from the duel and went on to serve with distinction under George Washington including leading units at Valley Forge. He was later captured in the British siege of Charleston and was a prisoner for two years before an exchange one year before the end of the war. He returned home to his destroyed plantation and lived in relative poverty the rest of his life although he remained active in the affairs of the state until his death in 1806.

Still yet, we remember Gwinnett as a charismatic leader of the Independence movement and his place in history as a backer and signer of our Declaration of Independence. It is notable that both Gwinnett and McIntosh have counties named after them and their families within the state of GA.

Robert Treat Paine

Robert Treat Paine was born in 1731 in Boston, MA. His father was a minister, Rev. Thomas Paine in the Congregational church in Weymouth and mother, Eunice Treat Paine, was daughter of Rev. Samuel Treat. Both fathers of the couple were educated at Harvard College. Robert was the fourth of five children and expected by the family to also become a minister. Both families had storied histories going back to England. In 1730 Robert’s father left full time ministry to also become a merchant. He was educated at Boston Latin School and went on to graduate from Harvard College at the age of 18. For a couple of years he taught school before going to law school in 1755. He briefly served as a chaplain during the French and Indian War.

After completing law school he eventually opened a practice in Taunton, MA in 1761. He went on to be chosen as a delegate to the provincial convention in Boston 1767. He and Samuel Quincy, who was the MA Solicitor General prosecuted the British soldiers involved in the Boston Massacre. John Adams represented the soldiers and was credited with winning the overall cases in their favor. Up to this point Paine believed that the colonists and the British could work out their differences and compromise on the contentious issues. These events removed that consideration from his mind and he became a sold out patriot seeking independence.

Paine was a devout Christian and Congregationalist, although he later followed his church, First Church in Boston, into Unitarianism when they changed. He married Sally Cobb in 1770 and they had eight children together, a number of which went on to graduate from Harvard College.

Paine served two years in the MA General Court, two years in the Provincial Congress and from 1774-76 in the Continental Congress representing the state. He signed the final appeal to the King in the Olive Branch Petition in 1775. He then framed the rules of debate and helped secure gunpowder the following year after signing the Declaration. Leading up to the signing, he was noted for his objections during debates and proceedings. Per revolutionary-war.net, fellow delegate Benjamin Rush called him “The Objection Maker” in reference to his objections to the proposals of others; “He seldom proposed anything, but opposed nearly every measure that was proposed by other people…”

Sounds like he could be a pain in the azz to me. 😂

After the signing and follow up work in the Congress he returned to MA and served in the state legislature before becoming its Attorney General after helping draft the state’s Constitution. At one point he prosecuted participants for treason in Shay’s Rebellion. This subject will be briefly discussed in a future part.

Paine finished his career as a justice on the state’s Supreme Court, serving 14 years. He passed away in 1814 with his wife passing away two years later. We are thankful for the contributions of this devoted Patriot who contributed greatly to the law and fabric of America.

Conclusion

A uniter, a divider and an objector walk into a bar…

And so it was within the congressional hall with three of the signers of the Declaration of Independence. Three very different men with the common purpose of giving freedom and liberty to all Americans.