My Connection to the Declaration of Independence

As the English of that time would wished us, "Happy Treason Day to you all!". ;-)

We had a trivia question at the bar and grill last night that got me thinking, which led me to look at my humongous, compiled family tree.

The question at trivia was how many signers of the Declaration of Independence became US Presidents.

Hubs and I got the answer correct(2-Thomas Jefferson and John Adams)but I went and looked online at a list of the signatory's as I didn't remember some of their names.

There were 25 Lawyers, 17 Merchants,  15 Plantation Owners or Farmers, 3 Physicians, 3 Ministers, 3 Scientists, 2 Land Speculators, 1 Printer, 1 Military Officer, 1 Land Owner, 1 Surveyor, and 1 Musician.  Of course, some of these men had more than 1 occupation. 

The largest colony contingency was from Virginia, my home state, with 7 members-Carter Braxton, Benjamin Harrison, Thomas Jefferson, Francis Lightfoot Lee, Richard Henry Lee, Thomas Nelson Jr., and George Wythe.

Just out of curiosity I went to my Ancestry Tree to look and wouldn't you know?....I am related in some capacity to all 7 OF THEM!! lol  Some are more closely related cousins and some are distant relations by marriage.

Carter Braxton is the nephew of the wife of my 7th Great Grand Uncle.

Benjamin Harrison V is my 1st Cousin 8 x removed.

Thomas Jefferson is my 5th Cousin 9 x removed(as well as the nephew of my 7th Great Grandmother).

Both Francis Lightfoot and Richard Henry Lee are nephews of the husband of my 4th cousin 10 x removed.

Thomas Nelson Jr. is my 2nd cousin 8 x removed.

George Wythe is the husband of my 3rd cousin 7 x removed.

So I've got a lot of traitors/patriots' blood coursing through my veins it seems.

Sluggy

We Hold These Truths to be Self-Evident

 Here we are again...........

Or as my 5th cousin wrote,,,,,,,,,,,

Sluggy

Happy Independence Day Trivia!

Rerunning this post from 2013 instead of just throwing up a jpeg of a 4th of July image. 

I could have alternately ranted about how we are a nation of pussies, who don't care about freedom and have no backbones upon which to take back our country from the politicians(who are suppose to be working FOR US, not against us.

If George, Tom, John, the James and such were alive today they would surely wish to "apply their collective foots to the seat of our collective learnings".
But I am just too lazy and it's too hot out for all that.

Trivia is a bit more interesting, don't you think? lolz


Sluggy

Independence Day Trivia Quiz...Happy 4th of July!

In honor of our country's liberation from the tyranny of King George III of England in 1776, here is a little Trivia Quiz about our National celebration and assorted things having to do with this holiday.
See how much you actually know about these little known facts about our history.

1.  What is the correct date of our declaring independence from England?  Hint-it's not July 4th.

2.  Philadelphia is where the Declaration of Independence was voted upon and signed in 1776.  What was the most widely spoken language by residents of Philadelphia in 1776?

3.  Which 3 American Presidents have died on July 4th?  

4.  Who were the "Committee of Five"....the group of Continental Congress members selected by that body to come up with a document of independence?

5.  Who designed the current version of the US Flag?

6.  What bird did Benjamin Franklin propose be the emblem for our country?

7.  It is well known that Francis Scott Key wrote the words to the Star Spangled Banner, our nation's anthem.  And that he wrote in his journal, what was to become the lyrics for the song, while onboard a ship in Baltimore Harbor, while British forces bombarded Fort McHenry in 1812.  But do you know why he was onboard a ship in Baltimore Harbor?

8.  How many versions of the American flag have there been since 1776?

9.  The original Declaration of Independence was printed on parchment, but the original copies, to be distributed among the citizens in the 13 colonies were printed on paper. Who printed the original copies of the Declaration of Independence and where?

10.  How many copies of the original Declaration of Independence printed in 1776 are known to exist today?

11.  How many members of the Continental Congress signed the Declaration of Independence in 1776?

12.  Of the signers of the Declaration of Independence how many also signed the U.S. Constitution?

 Answers will follow tomorrow, if anyone is sober enough by then to read them(and didn't shoot off their hands). ;-)

 

Sluggy

Independence Day Trivia Quiz...Happy 4th of July!

In honor of our country's liberation from the tyranny of King George III of England in 1776, here is a little Trivia Quiz about our National celebration and assorted things having to do with this holiday.
See how much you actually know about these little known facts about our history.

1.  What is the correct date of our declaring independence from England?  Hint-it's not July 4th.

2.  Philadelphia is where the Declaration of Independence was voted upon and signed in 1776.  What was the most widely spoken language by residents of Philadelphia in 1776?

3.  Which 3 American Presidents have died on July 4th? 

4.  Who were the "Committee of Five"....the group of Continental Congress members selected by that body to come up with a document of independence?

5.  Who designed the current version of the US Flag?

6.  What bird did Benjamin Franklin propose be the emblem for our country?

7.  It is well known that Francis Scott Key wrote the words to the Star Spangled Banner, our nation's anthem.  And that he wrote in his journal, what was to become the lyrics for the song, while onboard a ship in Baltimore Harbor, while British forces bombarded Fort McHenry in 1812.  But do you know why he was onboard a ship in Baltimore Harbor?

8.  How many versions of the American flag have there been since 1776?

9.  The original Declaration of Independence was printed on parchment, but the original copies, to be distributed among the citizens in the 13 colonies were printed on paper. Who printed the original copies of the Declaration of Independence and where?

10.  How many copies of the original Declaration of Independence printed in 1776 are known to exist today?

11.  How many members of the Continental Congress signed the Declaration of Independence in 1776?

12.  Of the signers of the Declaration of Independence how many also signed the U.S. Constitution?

 Answers will follow tomorrow, if anyone is sober enough by then to read them(and didn't shoot off their hands). ;-)



Sluggy

The Birth of a New Republic

While you indulge in grilled foods and summer fruits among good company, remember what this day is really about.

Courageous people....some ordinary men, some who risked everything to come to a new land to make a life for themselves that was better than anything they could hope for in their old world.   People who stood up to a tyrannt despite the real threat of being arrested and hanged for their disobedience.  People who put their lives on the line to fight for their new nation.

Here's one who did just that....

Robert Foster.
A 4th Generation born American. His Great Grandfather came here in 1635, at the age of 16.
He is my 6 x Great Grandfather.
One of my own Revolutionary War Ancestors.
The VA 15th Regiment he was part of saw action at the Battle of Brandywine, the Battle of Germantown, the Battle of Monmouth and the Siege of Charleston. After the Germantown engagement in October 1777, they spent the winter with Commander Geo. Washington in Valley Forge.
Robert Foster died in Spartanburg County SC, at the age of 64, and is buried in Robebuck SC.
I hope to visit his resting place some day.

Go back in your mind and try to see and feel what it might have been like to be alive in 1776 and to be standing on your town square hearing what many call one of the Greatest Documents ever written, being read aloud.....




Happy 4th!

Sluggy