An Atlas Fourth

I've lifted this entire item from the best patriotic/breaking news/political/anti-jihad blog, Atlas Shrugs.

Happy Fourth.

An Atlas Fourth
FROM ATLAS SHRUGS:

Happy Birthday America

Wishing my wonderful readers a wonderful Fourth of July (has Obama apologized to the Brits yet?)

Have you ever wondered what happened to the 56 men who signed the Declaration of Independence?

UPDATED: Thanks to Kenneth Solomon

Adams and Jefferson began to actually like each other. Really. Many of the books I have say so. After all was done and in place with the new Declaration, they were constantly communicating their ideas and thoughts of what took place, why and how. I’d have loved to have met them both.

Five signers were captured by the British and charged as traitors...... Four during military operations (Arthur Middleton, Edward Rutledge, Thomas Heyward and George Walton) and the fifth (Richard Stockton) solely because of signing the document. No evidence exists of any of them being tortured to death.

Richard Stockton also violated his signing for independence by securing his release through signing a new oath of allegiance to King George of England. That's a real definition of a traitor on all sides.

John Witherspoon lost his son serving in the Revolutionary Army, Abraham Clark had two sons taken prisoner.

Button Gwinnett died from a duel..... as in “pistols at 10 paces”. He was a serving officer and another officer fought him - reasons unclear/unverified as to the actual cause of the duel, or which of the two was the challenger.

Carter Braxton of Virginia, inherited his fortune and businesses from family and associates, made it bigger, lost it, made it again, lost it again and so on. He did not die a pauper.

As happened with many homes, farms and businesses throughout the colonies, vandals and/or soldiers looted the properties of Ellery, Hall, Clymer, Walton, Gwinnett, Heyward, Rutledge, and Middleton. As far as any documentation exists, they were not specifically targeted.

Contrary to popular beliefs, Thomas Nelson's house was not destroyed supposedly under his own call for fire…. The place still stands in Yorktown VA..... I know..... I’ve been there (on an “I’ll find stuff myself” history tour).

Shortly after the Declaration was signed, Francis Lewis of New York had his home and properties raided by The British. His wife was arrested after her and many others refused the order to evacuate the area where they lived.

John Hart’s farm was raided and he had to remain incognito for a little over a year. He then served two terms in the Continental Congress.

Lewis Morris’s farm was seized and taken over by The British. After the war, his land was returned.

Phillip Livingston had property seized and he sold off others in order to keep freedom alive for as many people as possible. He died in 1778.

--------------------------------------

Lifted this youtube video from Atlas Shrugs too.

Louis Armstrong Live