The Other Side

Thanks to the intrepid Auntie M, who usually sends me a website to straighten out all my urban legends.



The Truth:
This is a delicate one and could possibly be affected by which history book you read and how you interpret what is there. The courageous patriots who signed the Declaration of Independence, as well as other of the fathers of our country, deserve all the recognition and honor we can give. They risked everything to bring this country into being. This email, however, makes it sound as though the British won, not the Colonists. We don't want to diminish the sacrifices each of them experienced. There were hardships and losses, but to characterize the signers as not having enjoyed the fruits of their project of liberty is to overlook the quality of their abilities and the success of what they did.

Here are some of our findings:

First, none of the signers of the Declaration of Independence died in captivity. All but two, or possibly three, died natural deaths and the majority of them lived to advanced age and had adequate possessions if not wealth. Of the deaths, Thomas Lynch, Jr. was lost at sea on a recreational voyage, Button Gwinett died from injuries in a duel with a political rival, and George Wythe was thought to have been poisoned by a man who wanted his estate, but the man was acquitted. At least four of the signers were captured by the British, but apparently because they were soldiers, not signers of the Declaration. We consulted seven sources about the signers and none contained accounts of what could be called torture, at least not that was directed toward any of them for being founding fathers. Two who were captured may have experienced some kind of torture because of the severity of their confinement, but that is conjecture. All were released and died natural deaths, although the health of some was affected by their imprisonment.

Freedom

Usually I don't pass these things along. Usually. There've been exceptions every once in a while, if you've followed. Old Block Islanders (not a comment on your ages!) remember that another fun-loving BI-er moved a little further up the map here in Maine. He sent me this and I thought it was a lovely little bit of history. Don't know if it's true at all, except the names are correct. But for those of you who know how patriotic I am - especially my vocal opposition to turn Fourth of July Parades into Other Themed Parades (no matter how good a job the committee does in Holiday Presentations)- I thought I'd pass this along.

FREEDOM IS NEVER FREE!!
Have you ever wondered what happened to the 56 men who signed the
Declaration of Independence?

Five signers were captured by the British as traitors, and tortured before
they died. Twelve had their homes ransacked and burned. Two lost their
sons serving in the Revolutionary Army; another had two sons captured.
Nine of the 56 fought and died from wounds or hardships of the
Revolutionary War. They signed and they pledged their lives, their
fortunes, and their sacred honor.

What kind of men were they? Twenty-four were lawyers and jurists. Eleven
were merchants, nine were farmers and large plantation owners; men of
means, well educated, but they signed the Declaration of Independence
knowing full well that the penalty would be death if they were captured.

Carter Braxton of Virginia, a wealthy planter and trader, saw his Ships
swept from the seas by the British Navy. He sold his home and properties
to pay his debts, and died in rags. Thomas McKeam was so hounded by the
British that he was forced to move his family almost constantly. He served
in the Congress without pay, and his family was kept in hiding. His
possessions were taken from him, and poverty was his reward.

Vandals or soldiers looted the properties of Dillery, Hall, Clymer,
Walton, Gwinnett, Heyward, Ruttledge, and Middleton. At the battle of
Yorktown, Thomas Nelson, Jr., noted that the British General, Cornwallis,
had taken over the Nelson home for his headquarters. He quietly urged
General George Washington to open fire. The home was destroyed, and Nelson
died bankrupt. Francis Lewis had his home and properties destroyed. The
enemy jailed his wife, and she died within a few months.

John Hart was driven from his wife's bedside as she was dying. Their 13
children fled for their lives. His fields and his gristmill were laid to
waste. For more than a year he lived in forests and caves, returning home
to find his wife dead and his children vanished.

Enjoy your 4th and remember the sacrifice of these people who were willing
to give up everything they owned plus the lives of their family for
something people around the world who are still willing 230 years later to
give their lives to obtain or protect. freedom.

Vacation

I feel a little like the "Run, Bambi, Run" sentiments of the 80's. Only, of course, I'm not a murderer. Yet.

Next Friday I leave for one hell of a road trip. I come from a family of drivers. It's not unusual for us to do this kind of trip. But with a 21 month old who never stops moving or talking? Well, it will be a challenge.

I'm going to Minnesota to see my nearest living relatives whom I haven't been with in two years. Maybe on the swing back I'll see that cousin I adore and his beautiful wife in Georgia - and I haven't seen him in person in, like, 22 years. How sad is that. Maybe I'll just get to MN as fast as I can and realize there ain't nothing in the world like driving with a toddler. All I can say is, Thank God for portable DVD technology. Rot their brains? More power to it!

I will be gone for a few weeks. I think. Unless I can't find someplace to walk three or four miles every morning. That walking's the only thing standing between me and a heart attack right now.


I'm sure I'll check in and let you all know how the country's interstate systems fare. Thanks for all the well wishes.

Enough Is Enough

I have never in my life wanted so desperately to pack up as much as I can and run away as fast as humanly possible. Immediately. Unthinkingly. Relieve-edly. And that, my friends, is really saying something.