Have you ever wondered about the 56 men who signed the Declaration of Independence?   What kind of men were they?   What became of them?

 

Twenty-four of the 56 men were lawyers and jurists. Eleven were merchants and nine were farmers and large plantation owners.

These were men of means who were well educated.

 

Nevertheless, they signed the Declaration of Independence knowing full well that the penalty would be death if they were captured.

 

In signing the Declaration of Independence, these 56 men pledged their lives, their fortunes and their sacred honor.

 

Five of the 56 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, while another had two sons captured. Nine of the 56 fought and died from wounds or hardships of the Revolutionary War.