“Blessed is the nation whose God is the Lord, the people He chose for His inheritance.” Psalm 33:12
Have you ever stopped to think about what happened to the 56 men who signed the Declaration of Independence?
This powerful account—popularized by radio broadcaster Paul Harvey—has been retold many times, especially around the Fourth of July. While some details are difficult to verify, the heart of the story is true: these were not reckless men stirred by emotion. They were educated, established, and comfortable. Twenty-four were lawyers. Eleven were merchants. Nine were farmers and plantation owners. These men had much to lose—and they knew the risks. Still, they boldly signed their names, pledging their lives, their fortunes, and their sacred honor.
And they paid the price.
- Five were captured by the British and tortured before their deaths.
- Twelve had their homes burned or destroyed.
- Two lost sons in the war. Another had two sons captured.
- Nine died from wounds or hardships related to the war.
Carter Braxton, a wealthy Virginia planter, lost his entire shipping fleet to the British. He sold everything he had to pay his debts and died with nothing.
Thomas McKean was constantly on the run, moving his family from place to place for safety. He served in Congress without pay, and his family lived in hiding. In the end, he too was left with nothing.
Others—like Ellery, Clymer, Hall, Walton, Gwinnett, Heyward, Rutledge, and Middleton—had their homes looted or destroyed.
Thomas Nelson Jr. urged General Washington to fire on his own home in Yorktown, which had been seized by British General Cornwallis. The house was destroyed, and Nelson later died bankrupt.
Francis Lewis had everything taken—his property, his home—and his wife died in prison shortly after being captured by the British.
John Hart was hunted down while his wife lay dying. Their 13 children scattered to escape. Hart fled into the woods and lived in caves and forests for over a year. When he finally returned home, his wife was gone, his children missing, and his land destroyed. He died shortly after—heartbroken and exhausted.
These were men who believed in something bigger than themselves. They believed in liberty. They believed in a future they might never see. And they placed their trust in what the Declaration itself called “Divine Providence.”
Their stories remind us that freedom is never free. It always comes at great cost.
This Independence Day, as we celebrate with fireworks and flags, let’s not forget the courage it took to found this nation—and the ultimate price many of these men paid. They counted the cost and signed anyway.
“With firm reliance on the protection of Divine Providence, we mutually pledge to each other our Lives, our Fortunes, and our sacred Honor.”
U.S. Historical & Honoring
- The Price of Freedom: The True Cost of Signing the Declaration
- What Happened to the 56 Signers? A Story of Courage and Sacrifice
- Freedom Wasn’t Free: The Sacrifices Behind the Declaration of Independence
Reflective & Spiritual
- They Counted the Cost: Honoring the Faith and Sacrifice of the Founders
- With Firm Reliance on Divine Providence
- Sacred Honor and the Hand of God in America’s Founding
Simple & Compelling
- The Cost They Were Willing to Pay
- The Courage to Sign
- Why Their Signatures Still Matter
Walk Confidently – The World Needs Who You Were Called to Be!
SPEAKER: Melissa Bell
11:30am – 1:00pm
MAIN DINING ROOM
MacGregor Downs Country Club
430 St Andrews Ln, Cary, NC 27511
Led by: ELLEN STEVENS
KNOWING GOD: ESTABLISHING A DAILY WALK WITH HIM
DATE(S): Tuesdays beginning June 24, 2025
TIME: 10:00 AM – 11:30 AM EST
LOCATION: Cary, NC 27511
Led by: TARA FURMAN
JUMP START YOUR MARRIAGE IN A WEEK: THE 7 DAY CHALLENGE
DATE(S): Thursdays starting July 31 – September 4, 2025
TIME: 11:30AM – 1:00PM EST
LOCATION: Cary, NC 27511
0 Comments