It has been a long time since I posted this information. I am hoping that some of the new subscribers will see it and make a connection. Descendants of John Wesley Bruce 1 John Wesley Bruce 1821 - 1904 b: July 05, 1821 in Georgia d: May 18, 1904 in Richland,Stewart,Georgia .. +Susan M. Peak 1832 - 1912 m: June 27, 1853 in Stewart County, GA b: March 18, 1832 in Georgia d: May 1912 in Richland,Stewart,Georgia ..... 2 Charles Finley Bruce Abt. 1854 - b: Abt. 1854 in Richland, Stewart, GA ......... +Becky Shackleford m: December 31, 1882 in Franklin Co. GA ............ 3 C. B. Bruce ............ 3 W. T. Bruce ................ +Gamble ..... 2 John Daniel Bruce 1856 - 1926 b: April 25, 1856 in Richland,Stewart,Georgia d: December 15, 1926 in Denison, Grayson,Texas ......... +Josephine James 1859 - 1931 m: January 23, 1883 in Stewart Co. GA b: March 21, 1859 in Richland,Stewart,Georgia d: March 07, 1931 in Denison, Grayson,Texas ............ 3 T. U. Bruce ............ 3 John Allen Bruce 1884 - 1931 b: 1884 in Georgia d: 1931 ................ +Irabella 1889 - b: 1889 in Georgia ............ 3 Leon Wilman Bruce 1887 - 1943 b: January 02, 1887 in Richland, Stewart Co., GA d: June 24, 1943 in Plainview, Hale, Texas ................ +Willie Rebecca Blackwell 1891 - 1982 m: October 25, 1908 in Hobart, Kiowa Co. OK b: October 02, 1891 in Beehe, White, AR d: December 01, 1982 in Amarillo, Potter, Texas ............ 3 Robert Lee Bruce 1887 - 1887 b: January 02, 1887 in Richland, Stewart Co., GA d: 1887 in Richland,Stewart,Georgia ............ 3 Gordon Nathan Bruce 1888 - 1964 b: September 28, 1888 in Richland, Stewart Co., GA d: November 15, 1964 in Texas ................ +Lonie Mae Odom 1888 - m: March 02, 1910 b: 1888 ............ 3 Arthur Bruce 1889 - b: 1889 in Georgia ................ +Ola 1889 - b: 1889 ............ 3 Calvin Elmo Bruce 1890 - 1941 b: 1890 in Morgan, Bosque, Texas d: 1941 in Grand Prairie, Texas ................ +Myrtle Bruce 1890 - 1945 b: 1890 in Morgan Texas d: 1945 in Grand Prairie, Texas ............ 3 William James Bruce 1891 - b: 1891 in Georgia ................ +Besse 1891 - b: 1891 ............ 3 Calvin Ellie Bruce 1896 - b: 1896 ............ 3 Fitzhugh Lee Bruce 1898 - 1966 b: April 03, 1898 in Morgan Texas d: February 13, 1966 in Denison, Texas ................ +Zelma Quinten 1906 - 1979 m: April 17, 1925 in Sherman, Texas b: February 03, 1906 in Minelamotte, Missouri d: September 10, 1979 in Grapevine, Texas ............ 3 Lester Bruce 1900 - 1900 b: 1900 d: 1900 ............ 3 Luther Bruce 1902 - 1902 b: 1902 d: 1902 ..... 2 Liza Bruce Abt. 1857 - b: Abt. 1857 in Georgia ......... +Foley ............ 3 Jessie Foley 1878 - b: 1878 in Georgia ..... 2 Sam Anthony Bruce 1858 - 1913 b: July 06, 1858 in Stewart County, GA d: June 08, 1913 ............ 3 Myra Bruce ................ +Brown ............ 3 Nathan Clinton Bruce ..... 2 Lizzie Bruce 1860 - b: 1860 in Stewart County, GA ......... +Passmore ..... 2 Francis Bruce 1862 - b: 1862 in Stewart County, GA ......... +Will Odd ..... 2 Nathan Bruce 1864 - b: 1864 in Stewart County, GA ..... 2 Anna B. Bruce 1866 - b: 1866 in Stewart County, GA ......... +Thomas Warren Bruce m: December 31, 1897 in Franklin Co. GA ..... 2 Stephen Bruce 1868 - b: 1868 in Stewart County, GA

Has anyone out there seen my SILAS BRUCE relative? He was born abt 1790 in S.C. married MARY (POLLY) FERGUSON. She was born 1795 in N. C. looking for parents and children of this couple. i have some info on one son named SPARTAN H. BRUCE who married MARY ADELINE LOONEY. Any information on this family would sure be appreciated. Thank you in advance. Please contact me at PMARYBOND@AOL.COM

Here, here!!!! I have quit reading most of the posts because they've sunk to such a level. Back to Bruces!! Ginny Oswald -----Original Message----- From: SCORE36@aol.com [mailto:SCORE36@aol.com] Sent: Monday, July 03, 2000 8:57 PM To: BRUCE-L@rootsweb.com Subject: BRUCE-D Digest V00 #38 I'm sorry, but am I the only one who thinks the line of discussion related to the revolutionary war and whatever wars we are debating abit out of context for a genealogy list? I'm sure for those who want to debate the British versus American contributions to wars can be debated elsewhere. Sheri

HAPPY 4TH OF JULY TO ALL THE BRUCE,ETC. SHIRLEY SCORE36@aol.com wrote: > I'm sorry, but am I the only one who thinks the line of discussion related to > the revolutionary war and whatever wars we are debating abit out of context > for a genealogy list? I'm sure for those who want to debate the British > versus American contributions to wars can be debated elsewhere. > Sheri > > ==== BRUCE Mailing List ====

I'm sorry, but am I the only one who thinks the line of discussion related to the revolutionary war and whatever wars we are debating abit out of context for a genealogy list? I'm sure for those who want to debate the British versus American contributions to wars can be debated elsewhere. Sheri

Can anyone help me find some descendants of Ambrose Bruce and Marie Cost .... or their son: George Washinton BRUCE and wife Mary Agnes Colvin ?? would love it if anyone could check a Fayette county or Knox county census for them between 1840 and 1920 !! - Thanks - Hope to hear from someone ~ !! Thanks and have a great 4th!! Beth- blindmansi@aol.com

OK.....we get the point....IMHO if you wish to discuss these topics any further, please take them to the history discussion boards.

Yes, Patton was in North Africa. The American troops landed in North Africa in 1942. They had some set backs at first like anyone else. They did give a good account of them selfs there and in Italy. No one can say a bad word about anyone in that war. We were blessed to have the right men for the right time when we did. Patton, Ike, Montgomry, Churchill, and many many others. It took them all working together to win that war and if anyone would have been a slacker we would be speaking German or Japaness, that is if we were not shot or gassed. It was a bad time at black rock for all. As for a movie on North Africa I think the movie Patton was one. I don't see how any one can say "they did it all". Tom

> > wasn't so. Why do we not see films about the North African > campaign for > > example? Good old Uncle Sam wasn't there! I don't want to start a flame war, but I beg to differ on that: my Dad, George R. Clark, 1910 -1993, U. S. Army, served in North Africa. And didn't General George Patton serve there as well?????? Come on, all you American Bruces: help me out on this one! Anne Bowden: Researching Clark, Pittard, Sheppard, Tanner, Cole, Thigpen, Bruce http://www.geocities.com/Pittard3/ ________________________________________________________________ YOU'RE PAYING TOO MUCH FOR THE INTERNET! Juno now offers FREE Internet Access! Try it today - there's no risk! For your FREE software, visit: http://dl.www.juno.com/get/tagj.

The following message is long but worthwhile. If you choose to forward this essay to other lists as I have done, please give Mr. E. Brooke Harlow full credit. Joyce -------------------- X-Message: #1 Date: Tue, 10 Aug 1999 11:55:49 -0500 From: "Horatio Paul McAfee" <horsepower@pdq.net> To: AMERICAN-REVOLUTION-L@rootsweb.com Message-ID: <000a01bee351$7ff56f80$cff6fea9@pdq.net> Subject: [AM-REV] Whatever Happened to Signers of the Declaration of Independence Content-Type: text/plain; charset="iso-8859-1" The following post is from the Town Crier and the author's name is at the very end. The whole thing makes sense to me: Here is what I have been able to find based on a few hours in my university's limited library and the book, "The Signers of the Declaration of Independence", by Robert G. Ferris and Richard E. Morris of the U.S. National Park Service (Arlington, VA: Interpretive Publications, Inc., 1982). NO SIGNER WAS KILLED OUTRIGHT BY THE BRITISH. Lets examine some of the statements more closely. >"Five signers were captured by the British as traitors and tortured before they died." This passage, to me at least, implies that the signer were captured under charges of treason and died under torture. Five signers were indeed captured by the British, but not necessarily as traitors. Richard Stockton (NJ) was the only one who was probably captured and imprisoned just for having signed the Declaration of Independence. Ferris and Morris also note that he was not well treated in captivity and was in ill health when released. He never completely recovered. He did not die in prison, however. George Walton (GA) commanded militia at the Battle of Savannah in December, 1778. He was wounded and captured at that time. Thus he would have been considered a prisoner of war, not a traitor. He was released within a year, which implies that his signature on the Declaration was not as important a factor in his captivity as his active military role in defending Savannah (prisoners of war were exchanged on a regular basis, a traitor would have been hanged). Walton lived to serve as Governor of Georgia and U.S. Senator, dying in 1804. Thomas Heyward, Jr., Arthur Middleton, and Edward Rutledge (SC) were all captured at the Siege of Charleston in 1780. They were held at St. Augustine (then under British control) until September 1781 with other Continentals. Two months after his release, Arthur Middleton returned to Philadelphia to resume his seat in the Continental Congress. Despite the destruction of his estate, he was able to rebuild it and live there until his death in 1787. Edward Rutledge sat in the State Legislature from 1782 to 1798. He was elected Governor of South Carolina but died before completing his term...in 1800. Ferris and Morris report that he died a very wealthy man. Thomas Heyward, Jr. served as a circuit court judge from 1782 to 1787. He served as a state legislator at the same time. Heyward lived well into the 19th century, dying in 1809. I checked about 8 general histories of the American War for Independence and one or two specialized works on the southern campaigns. None of them even mentioned that signers had been captured at Charleston or Savannah, let alone mention that any were singled out or harsh treatment. This seems to indicate that their capture was part of the "normal" course of war, not a special effort. After the British took Charleston, Gen. Sir Henry Clinton had men of military age left in the city rounded up. Most were released soon after, including most of the militia troops. He had originally allowed the officers to keep their swords, but changed his mind when they began to shout rebel slogans. Only the Contintental troops were held for any length of time (Middlekauff, The Glorious Revolution) I found only one reference to the treatment of prisoners from the southern campaigns, in Lynn Montross, "Rag, Tag, and Bobtail". This work states that the continental troops from the siege of Charleston were held on prison ships. Conditions were poor and about a third of the prisoners died. If one takes the word "torture" to mean pain and suffering, then I suppose these men were tortured. To my mind, however, torture implies an intentional infliction on pain, usually either to extract information or to punish. I have found no evidence of the latter. Here is an interesting passage from Larry G. Bowman, North Texas St. Univ., on Prisoners of war: "Prisoners of war did suffer during the American Revolution. No other conclusion can be reached regarding the welfare of captives on both sides. Men were beaten, deprived of food by corrupt officials, denied bedding and clothing, and harassed in other ways but, fortunately, such incidents of outright cruelty were not routine events. Actually, most of the suffering of the men came from the more subtle torment usually brought on by neglect on the part of their captors. Neither the American nor the British authorities sought to induce suffering among the men in their prisons, yet men did want for basic services. The shortcomings on both sides of the conflict in providing for the captives was evident, but the motivations behind the failures were not evil or vindictive in their origination. Neither party entered a program of deliberately tormenting prisoners." Encyclopedia of the American Revolution, v. II, p. 1334 (New York: Garland Publishing, 1993). >So, when Hildreth writes, "But they signed the Declaration of Independence, knowing full well that the penalty would be death if they were captured." The British undoubtedly put a price on the heads of rebel political officials (not just signers) and the signers no doubt feared that the British would make good on the threat. The reality is, however, that none were executed for their treason. Let's look at another assertion.... >Nine of the fifty-six fought and died from wounds or the hardship of the Revolutionary War. On my list two were wounded in action, but NONE DIED OF WOUNDS. My count shows 17--not 9--men who held commissions (or did medical duty) during the war. With the possible exception of Thomas Lynch, Jr. and Gwinnett, I would not say that any death here was attributable to the war with the British. Gwinnett's death, though, is hardly glorious: 1. Josiah Bartlett (NH) as surgeon with Gen. John Stark's troops at Bennington. Bartlett declined national offices (citing fatigue or ill health) but remained active in state affairs and died in 1794. 2. Button Gwinnett (GA) in a failed campaign to take St. Augustine. Killed in a duel precipitated partly by an argument over military strategy in 1777. 2a. George Clymer served with the Pennsylvania militia. Died in 1813. 3. Thomas Heyward, Jr. (SC). Wounded in 1779 near Port Royal Island, SC. Recovered and served in the siege of Charleston. Died 1809. 4. Thomas Lynch, Jr. (SC) Military career cut short by illness in 1775. He then was elected to the Continental Congress. In an attempt to restore his health, he left for the West Indies, but was shipwrecked and killed in 1779. 5. Arthur Middleton (SC) Captured at the siege of Charleston. See above. 6. Lewis Morris (NY) Brigadier General of Westchester Co. troops during the NY invasion. After the war, he served in state government and was active in public affairs. Died 1798. 7. Thomas Nelson, Jr. (VA) commanded the Virginia militia. Served in several campaigns in Virginia, including Yorktown. Nelson's retirement from public life was financially motivated. He died in 1789. 8. William Paca (MD) Served in the Maryland militia. After the war, he was active in MD. affairs and served as a Federal district judge after the Constitution was ratified. Died in 1799. 9. Caesar Rodney (DE). Brigadier General of militia. Active in campaigns against Loyalists in Delaware. Despite having advanced skin cancer, Rodney served as president of Delaware, and speaker of the state senate until his death in 1783. 10. Benjamin Rush (PA). Appointed surgeon general of the Middle Department of the Continental Army. Resigned after 8 months in a dispute over charges he made that the medical corps was not run properly. Extremely active in public affairs, both medical and governmental, Rush died in 1813. 11. Edward Rutledge (SC) Served at the battle of Port Royal Island (1779). Captured at the siege of Charleston. See above. 12. James Smith (PA) Brigadier General of militia. Practiced law until he retired at age 82 in 1801. He died in 1806. 13. George Walton (GA) Colonel of militia. Wounded at the Battle of Savannah, 1778. Died in 1804. 14. William Whipple (NH). Brigadier General of militia. Saw quite a bit of active service, including the Saratoga and Newport campaigns. Died, aged 55, in 1785. 15. William Williams (CT). Colonel of militia to 1776. Mostly active in state affairs, he died in 1811. 16. Oliver Wolcott (CT). Rose to Major General of militia. Wolcott served in the Saratoga campaign and the defense of Ct. against loyalist raids from NY. Lived to attend the Constitutional Convention and to serve as Governor of Ct. Died 1797. Some, like John Hart or Thomas Nelson, died of fatigue or exhaustion brought on by travel and active service. In that sense, the war may indeed have shortened their lives. Then again, how can we know in an age where illness was so commonplace. By the way, would we accept "fatigue" as a cause of death today? Or would we find some more precise explanation. In any case, I don't know if I would list this cause of death in the same sentence as a reference to battle service. Now....Let's look at some of the personal stories told.... >Carter Braxton of Virginia, wealthy planter and trader, saw his ships swept from the sea by the British navy. He sold his home and properties to pay his debts, and died in rags. Ferris and Morris tell a similar story, but watch the twist: "The War for Independence brought financial hardships to Braxton. At its beginning, he had invested heavily in shipping, but the British captured most of his vessels and ravaged some of his plantations and extensive landholdings. COMMERCIAL SETBACKS IN LATER YEARS RUINED HIM." (p. 42). If Braxton sold his home, he did not sell all of them. This entry also notes that Braxton was able to retain his family seat at Chericoke, and died in his Richmond townhouse. No doubt Braxton's fortunes were changed by the war, but can we say, truthfully, that his death in poverty was entirely due to the sacrifices of war??? >Thomas McKeam was so hounded by the British that he was forced to move his family almost constantly. He served in Congress without pay, and his family was kept in hiding. His possessions were taken from him, and poverty was his reward. So far, this is correct. But Ferris and Morris state that McKean was able to rebuild his fortune" "McKean lived out his live quietly in Philadelphia. He died in 1817 at the age of 83, survived by his second wife and four of the 11 children from his marriages. He was buried in Laurel Hill Cemetery. HIS SUBSTANTIAL ESTATE CONSISTED OF STOCKS, BONDS, AND HUGE LAND TRACTS IN PENNSYLVANIA (p. 102). > British soldiers looted the properties of Ellery, Clymer, Hall, Walton, Gwinnett, Heyward, Ruttledge and Middleton. Also William Floyd (NY), John Hart (NC), William Hooper (NC), Philip Livingston (NY), Lewis Morris (NY). Oddly, enough, however, the British had the opportunity to loot the homes of several very prominent signers and did not do so. Although the British evacuated Boston before the signing, why didn't the British vandalize the homes of well-known rebels such as Sam Adams and John Hancock during their occupation of Boston? The British occupied Philadelphia through the winter of 1777, yet the homes of Benjamin Franklin (who surely must have been public enemy #1), James Wilson, Benjamin Rush, Robert Morris. James Wilson's home was attacked by Americans, including militiamen, during food shortages in 1779 (does it count if the suffering was caused by your own side?). Thomas Jefferson was almost captured at Monticello. Why didn't the British burn the estate? >At the battle of Yorktown, Thomas Nelson, Jr. noted that the British General Cornwallis had taken over the Nelson home for his headquarters. The owner quietly urged General George Washington to open fire, which was done. The home was destroyed, and Nelson died bankrupt. Ferris and Morris also repeat this story, although they qualify it as "family legend". Nelson was unable to rebuild his fortunes after the war and did indeed die in poverty. > Francis Lewis had his home and properties destroyed. The British jailed his wife, and soon after she died. This is true. Although Lewis lived until 1802 (and was 89 when he died), he essentially retired from public life after his wife's death. >John Hart was driven from his wife's bedside as she was dying. Their 13 children fled for their lives. His fields and his grist mill were laid waste. For more than a year he lived in forests and caves, returning home after the war to find his wife dead, his children vanished. A few weeks later he died from exhaustion and a broken heart. The story is essentially true, but Hart survived two years after his return from exhile, not a few weeks. Morris and Livingston suffered similar fates Philip Livingston, a member of the extremely influential NY Livingston family, had several properties in New York and Brooklyn that were occupied by the British. He sold other properties to support the war effort before fleeing the British occupation of NY. He died, at the age of 62, in 1778. There were two signers of the Declaration surnamed Morris. LEWIS Morris of New York, had to flee his home, Morrisania, which was damaged in the British occupation. Ferris and Morris note that he was able to rebuild Morrisania. ROBERT Morris, of Pennsylvania may be even more intriguing. Generally recognized for his fundraising efforts during the war, he was later accused (though vindicated) by Thomas Paine of profiteering. As Superintendent of Finance (1781-1784) he was responsible for keeping the young country afloat financially. In 1789, he declined to serve as Secretary of the Treasury (Alexander Hamilton got the job), but served instead as a Senator from PA. Morris' own financial dealings were not as successful. He speculated on western lands on credit, lived extremely well, and embarked on an ambitious home building project. All of this led to personal bankruptcy and time in debtor's prison in 1798. His wife was granted a pension that sustained the family. Robert Morris died in 1806. So there you have it. A grain of truth in everything, but some broad wording that makes for a good story but an inaccurate portrayal of our founders. Brooke - ---------------------------------------- E. Brooke Harlowe Asst. Prof. and Coordinator, Intl Studies major/minor Dept. of Political Science Susquehanna University Selinsgrove PA 17870 harlow@susqu.edu

A fascinating insight into American history, which for this British reader, a least, was educational and insightful. Thank you, whoever posted this originally. I can't wait to see the new Mel Gibson film "The Patriot" released over here in two week's time, which will definitely give an American, rather than the traditional (over here) English perspective on the War of Independence (albeit given the "Hollywood" treatment). I have a feeling that although I'm subscribed to the BRUCE list, I'm only getting some of the postings through (attn listowner!) Bruce PORTEOUS son of Hazel Audrey BRUCE Norwich, Norfolk, England ----------------------------------------- bruceporteous@mail.com > From: Rowland & Pam Bruce <brucerp@senet.com.au> > Reply-To: brucerp@senet.com.au > Date: Sat, 24 Jun 2000 23:10:15 +0930 > To: BRUCE-L@rootsweb.com > Subject: Re: WHAT HAPPENED TO THEM? > Resent-From: BRUCE-L@rootsweb.com > Resent-Date: Sat, 24 Jun 2000 06:41:46 -0700 > > Oh come on now! It's as much exagerated as Holywood's ideas of America > winning the two world wars after standing by whilst the Brits and their > colonies, the French, the Belgians, the Poles, the Dutch and Russia all > took the early brunt of things. In WWII the US lost 292,000 combatants, > UK 397,762 and the colonies 146,534. Add in the civilians who died > through bombing and you can understand why the Brits feel so annoyed at > American claims of being the savior of the world.(And don't pretend that > wasn't so. Why do we not see films about the North African campaign for > example? Good old Uncle Sam wasn't there! Britain and France declared > war on Germany on September 3rd 1939 because of Hiler's acts. When did > USA have the guts to do the same? If it hadn't been for Pearl Harbor, > would they ever have exhibited any moral rectitude?) > Do you seriously believe that with the victors always writing the > history of war, that what you unquestioningly accepted as "history" > would not have been taught if it had occured that way? I'd heard this > scuttlebuck before, and had understood that scholars in America, as > opposed to ill informed bigots, had rejected these claims. > > Rowland BRUCE, Australia. > > BRUCE-L@rootsweb.com > > "IMPERIAL Designs" <web-czar@rcn.com> >> ----- Original Message ----- >> From: "J. E. Leonard" <lenardo@bellsouth.net> >> To: <BRUCE-L@rootsweb.com> >> Sent: Tuesday, June 20, 2000 4:36 PM >> Subject: WHAT HAPPENED TO THEM? >> >>> I got this from one of the other lists I belong to. I thought it might >>> fit in with our research of our families and their history and because >>> of the Fourth of July rapidly approaching. I know that this isn't >>> exactly specific to genealogy, but thought all might find it >>> interesting. >>> >>> >>> WHAT HAPPENED TO THEM? >>> >>> 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. A few >>> weeks later, he died from exhaustion and a broken heart. >>> >>> Norris and Livingston suffered similar fates. >>> >>> Such were the stories and sacrifices of the American Revolution. These >>> were not wild-eyed, rabble-rousing ruffians. They were soft-spoken men >>> of means and education. They had security, but they valued liberty >>> more. >>> >>> Standing talk straight, and unwavering, they pledged: "For the support >>> of this declaration, with firm reliance on the protection of the divine >>> providence, we mutually pledge to each other, our lives, our fortunes, >>> and our sacred honor." >>> >>> They gave you and me a free and independent America. The history books >>> never told you a lot about what happened in the Revolutionary War. We >>> didn't fight just the British. We were British subjects at that time >>> and we fought our own government! >>> >>> Some of us take these liberties so much for granted, but we shouldn't. >>> >>> So, take a few minutes while enjoying your 4th of July Holiday and >>> silently thank these patriots. It's not much to ask for the price they >>> paid. Remember: Freedom is never free! >>> >>> I hope you will show your support by please sending this to as many >>> people as you can. It's time we get the word out that patriotism is NOT >>> a sin, and the Fourth of July has more to it than beer, picnics, and >>> baseball games.> I got this from one of the other lists I belong to. I >>> thought it might >> fit in with our research of our families and their history and because >> of the Fourth of July rapidly approaching. I know that this isn't >> exactly specific to genealogy, but thought all might find it >> interesting. >> >> WHAT HAPPENED TO THEM? >> >> 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. A few >> weeks later, he died from exhaustion and a broken heart. >> >> Norris and Livingston suffered similar fates. >> >> Such were the stories and sacrifices of the American Revolution. These >> were not wild-eyed, rabble-rousing ruffians. They were soft-spoken men >> of means and education. They had security, but they valued liberty >> more. >> >> Standing talk straight, and unwavering, they pledged: "For the support >> of this declaration, with firm reliance on the protection of the divine >> providence, we mutually pledge to each other, our lives, our fortunes, >> and our sacred honor." >> >> They gave you and me a free and independent America. The history books >> never told you a lot about what happened in the Revolutionary War. We >> didn't fight just the British. We were British subjects at that time >> and we fought our own government! >> >> Some of us take these liberties so much for granted, but we shouldn't. >> >> So, take a few minutes while enjoying your 4th of July Holiday and >> silently thank these patriots. It's not much to ask for the price they >> paid. Remember: Freedom is never free! >> >> I hope you will show your support by please sending this to as many >> people as you can. It's time we get the word out that patriotism is NOT >> a sin, and the Fourth of July has more to it than beer, picnics, and >> baseball games. >> >> ==== BRUCE Mailing List ==== > > > ==== BRUCE Mailing List ==== > > > >

What a wonderful reply.....full of historical insight & respect for the many difficult choices that ALL of our ancestors made to survive. We, (anyone living today) are ALL survivors, thanks to our ancestors who somehow survived the onslaught of wars, struggles, disease, famine and humanity's inhumanity. I'm proud to be a descendant from the Bruce family of Kennet, Clackmannan. My Bruce ancestor was named Chief Justice of Barbados in the 17th Century, where apparently, they owned a plantation for a few generations. This meant they owned slaves, which thoroughly appalls me today, but is historical truth. Many of my male Bruce ancestors became doctors and ministers, and most assuredly some were scoundrals. And, typically, the women ancestors were forgotten as people.....only remembered as to their relationship to a man or the mother of some male child. My husband & I visited Kennet, Clackmannan, Scotland in April & thoroughly enjoyed the charms of Scotland & the warmth AND friendly humor of the Scots people. I'm very proud of this heritage as well as my English ancestry of the Eaton & Wentworth families. Yet, that pride does not deny that brutality was common in history....and some of it inflicted against my ancestors & some of inflicted by my ancestors. If any of you have further information about the Clackmannan or Barbados Bruce family, please contact me. Good luck to all of you with your research and your search for historical truths. Rose Anne Jones > I was hoping that some one would talk to these issues, but since no one > has, I will. If you're not up for a brief history of the American > Revolution part 1, please delete!!! First, please know that much of that > essay on the signers is exageration, based in fact, perhaps, but as my > Dad would say, "Exaggeration for Effect!" For example, Nelson really > did tell Washington to target his house...you can see where it stood in > Yorktown today, and we've a college named for him here on the Virginia > peninsula. The signers of this document put themselves and all they had > at risk...by signing, they declared themselves traitors to the King, and > immediately guilty of sediton! A hundred years or so before, this had > cost our Bruce ancestor his freedom, home, and country, as he was put in > chains, and sent to the Colonies. We're grateful that he didn't just > give up when he arrived, but like so many of the people who came here, > either voluntarily or otherwise, began to make a whole new nation. At > first they prized their status as British citizens, but after the French > and Indian War, things began to fall apart. Then, as now, wars were > fought over economic factors perhaps even more than lofty ideals. The > British Navy was shutting down the smuggling trade, which had brought > cheap English goods into the Colonies...they were taxing the colonists > for things you and I wouldn't stand still for...paper, thread, and other > wool products, glass for their windows, tea, and finally the infamous > "stamps"...not just postage but the stamps that went on deeds, wills, > and the like. Add to that that the government had placed high import > tax on all Colonial goods going into England...not a good thing for the > Colonial tobacco growers. The war actually began in 1775, with the > famous Bunker-Breed Hill incident. So the men who were at the second > Continental Congress had been at war for a year with Britian...not to > separate, but to force the King to give them the rights due to them as > British citizens...not slaves (That's what all that Freedom stuff was > all about). In 1776, the face of the war changed and a new nation was > proposed. The cost for everyone would be enormous. It would be a > country at war until 1781, and then the Constitution wouldn't be > completely ratified for 7 years after that...can you imagine the > chaos...soldiers, paid in usless continental script...one of my > husband's ancestors is still owed for 400 pounds of beef. If you were a > Loyalist, chances are that you would lose everything. And good people > were loyalists...they'd made a committment to the King, and would abide > by it, even if it cost them terribly. Most fled to England or Canada > during or after the war. Families were split...in my family, half > stayed in NY, and half fled to Canada (we're friends now...but this was > a terrible split that would affect families though the War of 1812, [now > that's another story!!]) > Maybe it's this hard birth that made us who we are. Maybe it's > because everyone who came here did so knowing that it would be a new > start...for everyone, man and woman. Must create a strain of that > patriot in us all. And I think that the outcome, a Nation with the same > government for over 200 years...a model many have used in creating their > own governments, is pretty amazing. It's had some spectacular successes > and enormous failures...but we do it in public, with all the people of > the nation and now the world looking on. As for WWII, I think that many > people in the US, and Canada (the other Americans!!) and I'd bet, > Australia, thought that the oceans that surrounded us would protect us. > And it was hard at first to separate this war from the thousand years of > war that Europeans engaged in. We didn't want a repeat of WWI...all > that loss and the result is the same...more European war. We sent money > and supplies. A movement of isolationism isn't hard to understand. And > neither is our response to someone having the "Gall" to take us on. (We > saw that again in Vietnam...one of those enormous failures I spoke to > earlier.) And as to Africa...does 1942 Operation Torch and that > uniquely American general, General George Patton, mean anything? Sorry, > Rowland, that you don't much care for us...you're not required to. But, > we are all connected by our Bruce lineage, and should try to be patient > with each other, as "cousins" of an evershrinking world. I'm real proud > to be an American, will fly our flag on the Fourth, as I do on most > days, and I will use that day to think about the cost that others have > paid, so that I can fly that flag...the signers of that Declartation, > the men and women who fought that war, the War of 1812, and every other > war-including Great Britian and her allies who defeated Hitler and his. > And, British cousin, Bruce, I, too, will go to see "The > Patriot"...because it's my favorite time of US History. It may be > Hollywood, but I can deal with "exaggeration for effect" to get a sense > of what it must have been like to make those choices and to live that > time. In the spirit of the Fourth, that men and women are created to > make their own choices, I wish all a Happy Fourth of July!!!!

I was hoping that some one would talk to these issues, but since no one has, I will. If you're not up for a brief history of the American Revolution part 1, please delete!!! First, please know that much of that essay on the signers is exageration, based in fact, perhaps, but as my Dad would say, "Exaggeration for Effect!" For example, Nelson really did tell Washington to target his house...you can see where it stood in Yorktown today, and we've a college named for him here on the Virginia peninsula. The signers of this document put themselves and all they had at risk...by signing, they declared themselves traitors to the King, and immediately guilty of sediton! A hundred years or so before, this had cost our Bruce ancestor his freedom, home, and country, as he was put in chains, and sent to the Colonies. We're grateful that he didn't just give up when he arrived, but like so many of the people who came here, either voluntarily or otherwise, began to make a whole new nation. At first they prized their status as British citizens, but after the French and Indian War, things began to fall apart. Then, as now, wars were fought over economic factors perhaps even more than lofty ideals. The British Navy was shutting down the smuggling trade, which had brought cheap English goods into the Colonies...they were taxing the colonists for things you and I wouldn't stand still for...paper, thread, and other wool products, glass for their windows, tea, and finally the infamous "stamps"...not just postage but the stamps that went on deeds, wills, and the like. Add to that that the government had placed high import tax on all Colonial goods going into England...not a good thing for the Colonial tobacco growers. The war actually began in 1775, with the famous Bunker-Breed Hill incident. So the men who were at the second Continental Congress had been at war for a year with Britian...not to separate, but to force the King to give them the rights due to them as British citizens...not slaves (That's what all that Freedom stuff was all about). In 1776, the face of the war changed and a new nation was proposed. The cost for everyone would be enormous. It would be a country at war until 1781, and then the Constitution wouldn't be completely ratified for 7 years after that...can you imagine the chaos...soldiers, paid in usless continental script...one of my husband's ancestors is still owed for 400 pounds of beef. If you were a Loyalist, chances are that you would lose everything. And good people were loyalists...they'd made a committment to the King, and would abide by it, even if it cost them terribly. Most fled to England or Canada during or after the war. Families were split...in my family, half stayed in NY, and half fled to Canada (we're friends now...but this was a terrible split that would affect families though the War of 1812, [now that's another story!!]) Maybe it's this hard birth that made us who we are. Maybe it's because everyone who came here did so knowing that it would be a new start...for everyone, man and woman. Must create a strain of that patriot in us all. And I think that the outcome, a Nation with the same government for over 200 years...a model many have used in creating their own governments, is pretty amazing. It's had some spectacular successes and enormous failures...but we do it in public, with all the people of the nation and now the world looking on. As for WWII, I think that many people in the US, and Canada (the other Americans!!) and I'd bet, Australia, thought that the oceans that surrounded us would protect us. And it was hard at first to separate this war from the thousand years of war that Europeans engaged in. We didn't want a repeat of WWI...all that loss and the result is the same...more European war. We sent money and supplies. A movement of isolationism isn't hard to understand. And neither is our response to someone having the "Gall" to take us on. (We saw that again in Vietnam...one of those enormous failures I spoke to earlier.) And as to Africa...does 1942 Operation Torch and that uniquely American general, General George Patton, mean anything? Sorry, Rowland, that you don't much care for us...you're not required to. But, we are all connected by our Bruce lineage, and should try to be patient with each other, as "cousins" of an evershrinking world. I'm real proud to be an American, will fly our flag on the Fourth, as I do on most days, and I will use that day to think about the cost that others have paid, so that I can fly that flag...the signers of that Declartation, the men and women who fought that war, the War of 1812, and every other war-including Great Britian and her allies who defeated Hitler and his. And, British cousin, Bruce, I, too, will go to see "The Patriot"...because it's my favorite time of US History. It may be Hollywood, but I can deal with "exaggeration for effect" to get a sense of what it must have been like to make those choices and to live that time. In the spirit of the Fourth, that men and women are created to make their own choices, I wish all a Happy Fourth of July!!!!

She was born in TN or KY around 1945 - don't know her new last name now- Do any of the KY Bruce's have any inf on her - any help you could offer would be great- Thanks !!- Beth - blindmansi@aol.com

Oh come on now! It's as much exagerated as Holywood's ideas of America winning the two world wars after standing by whilst the Brits and their colonies, the French, the Belgians, the Poles, the Dutch and Russia all took the early brunt of things. In WWII the US lost 292,000 combatants, UK 397,762 and the colonies 146,534. Add in the civilians who died through bombing and you can understand why the Brits feel so annoyed at American claims of being the savior of the world.(And don't pretend that wasn't so. Why do we not see films about the North African campaign for example? Good old Uncle Sam wasn't there! Britain and France declared war on Germany on September 3rd 1939 because of Hiler's acts. When did USA have the guts to do the same? If it hadn't been for Pearl Harbor, would they ever have exhibited any moral rectitude?) Do you seriously believe that with the victors always writing the history of war, that what you unquestioningly accepted as "history" would not have been taught if it had occured that way? I'd heard this scuttlebuck before, and had understood that scholars in America, as opposed to ill informed bigots, had rejected these claims. Rowland BRUCE, Australia. BRUCE-L@rootsweb.com "IMPERIAL Designs" <web-czar@rcn.com> > ----- Original Message ----- > From: "J. E. Leonard" <lenardo@bellsouth.net> > To: <BRUCE-L@rootsweb.com> > Sent: Tuesday, June 20, 2000 4:36 PM > Subject: WHAT HAPPENED TO THEM? > > > I got this from one of the other lists I belong to. I thought it might > > fit in with our research of our families and their history and because > > of the Fourth of July rapidly approaching. I know that this isn't > > exactly specific to genealogy, but thought all might find it > > interesting. > > > > > > WHAT HAPPENED TO THEM? > > > > 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. A few > > weeks later, he died from exhaustion and a broken heart. > > > > Norris and Livingston suffered similar fates. > > > > Such were the stories and sacrifices of the American Revolution. These > > were not wild-eyed, rabble-rousing ruffians. They were soft-spoken men > > of means and education. They had security, but they valued liberty > > more. > > > > Standing talk straight, and unwavering, they pledged: "For the support > > of this declaration, with firm reliance on the protection of the divine > > providence, we mutually pledge to each other, our lives, our fortunes, > > and our sacred honor." > > > > They gave you and me a free and independent America. The history books > > never told you a lot about what happened in the Revolutionary War. We > > didn't fight just the British. We were British subjects at that time > > and we fought our own government! > > > > Some of us take these liberties so much for granted, but we shouldn't. > > > > So, take a few minutes while enjoying your 4th of July Holiday and > > silently thank these patriots. It's not much to ask for the price they > > paid. Remember: Freedom is never free! > > > > I hope you will show your support by please sending this to as many > > people as you can. It's time we get the word out that patriotism is NOT > > a sin, and the Fourth of July has more to it than beer, picnics, and > > baseball games.> I got this from one of the other lists I belong to. I thought it might > fit in with our research of our families and their history and because > of the Fourth of July rapidly approaching. I know that this isn't > exactly specific to genealogy, but thought all might find it > interesting. > > WHAT HAPPENED TO THEM? > > 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. A few > weeks later, he died from exhaustion and a broken heart. > > Norris and Livingston suffered similar fates. > > Such were the stories and sacrifices of the American Revolution. These > were not wild-eyed, rabble-rousing ruffians. They were soft-spoken men > of means and education. They had security, but they valued liberty > more. > > Standing talk straight, and unwavering, they pledged: "For the support > of this declaration, with firm reliance on the protection of the divine > providence, we mutually pledge to each other, our lives, our fortunes, > and our sacred honor." > > They gave you and me a free and independent America. The history books > never told you a lot about what happened in the Revolutionary War. We > didn't fight just the British. We were British subjects at that time > and we fought our own government! > > Some of us take these liberties so much for granted, but we shouldn't. > > So, take a few minutes while enjoying your 4th of July Holiday and > silently thank these patriots. It's not much to ask for the price they > paid. Remember: Freedom is never free! > > I hope you will show your support by please sending this to as many > people as you can. It's time we get the word out that patriotism is NOT > a sin, and the Fourth of July has more to it than beer, picnics, and > baseball games. > > ==== BRUCE Mailing List ====

On June 14, 2000, while I was teaching summer school classes at Harriman High School and my students were writing an assignment, I was called into the hall by one of my colleagues with a question about some forms that we teachers were required to complete. While I was in the hall, one of my students went to my computer and changed my password. I logged out not knowing that this had been done, and when I tried to access my e-mail account the next day, I couldn't get in. In spite of many letters to Hotmail pleading with them to reset my password, there has been no response. This morning I was told by one of my neighbors, who is on my mailing list, that she had received an e-mail from my stolen account. So it seems that the thief is now representing himself/herself as me. Please be aware that if you have received any e-mail from the account strunkjt1@hotmail.com since June 14, THOSE MESSAGES WERE NOT FROM ME. Please report any messages that you receive from strunkjt1@hotmail.com to abuse@hotmail.com and to any other authorities that you deem appropriate. Please note that my new e-mail address is: strunkjt2@hotmail.com The 1 is now changed to 2 in the address. Please make all necessary changes in your address books. Thank you and please receive my deepest apologies for any offensive messages that you may have received from this sick individual. Sincerely, John T. Strunk ________________________________________________________________________ Get Your Private, Free E-mail from MSN Hotmail at http://www.hotmail.com

In a message dated 06/21/2000 10:01:26 AM Central Daylight Time, BRUCE-D-request@rootsweb.com writes: WHAT HAPPENED TO THEM? I don't know if Paul Harvey wrote this, but I understand he read it on his radio program. The only problem is that it is such a gross exageration as to render it untruthful. E. Brooke Harlowe, Asst. Prof. and Coordinator, Intl Studies major/minor, Dept. of Political Science, Susquehanna University Selinsgrove PA 17870 has researched the lives of these men and written a rebuttal. It was posted to AMERICAN-REVOLUTION-L@rootsweb.com on 10 Aug 1999 It is a rather long essay and I don't want to post it to the list without the listowner's permission, but it can be found in the Rootsweb Archives. We owe the founders of this country a huge debt, and most of all we owe them an honest rendition of their lives. Joyce

Thank You for sharing this. I had not seen it before and thought it was very enlightening! Steven Page ----- Original Message ----- From: "J. E. Leonard" <lenardo@bellsouth.net> To: <BRUCE-L@rootsweb.com> Sent: Tuesday, June 20, 2000 4:36 PM Subject: WHAT HAPPENED TO THEM? > I got this from one of the other lists I belong to. I thought it might > fit in with our research of our families and their history and because > of the Fourth of July rapidly approaching. I know that this isn't > exactly specific to genealogy, but thought all might find it > interesting. > > > WHAT HAPPENED TO THEM? > > 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. A few > weeks later, he died from exhaustion and a broken heart. > > Norris and Livingston suffered similar fates. > > Such were the stories and sacrifices of the American Revolution. These > were not wild-eyed, rabble-rousing ruffians. They were soft-spoken men > of means and education. They had security, but they valued liberty > more. > > Standing talk straight, and unwavering, they pledged: "For the support > of this declaration, with firm reliance on the protection of the divine > providence, we mutually pledge to each other, our lives, our fortunes, > and our sacred honor." > > They gave you and me a free and independent America. The history books > never told you a lot about what happened in the Revolutionary War. We > didn't fight just the British. We were British subjects at that time > and we fought our own government! > > Some of us take these liberties so much for granted, but we shouldn't. > > So, take a few minutes while enjoying your 4th of July Holiday and > silently thank these patriots. It's not much to ask for the price they > paid. Remember: Freedom is never free! > > I hope you will show your support by please sending this to as many > people as you can. It's time we get the word out that patriotism is NOT > a sin, and the Fourth of July has more to it than beer, picnics, and > baseball games. > > > ==== BRUCE Mailing List ==== > >

I got this from one of the other lists I belong to. I thought it might fit in with our research of our families and their history and because of the Fourth of July rapidly approaching. I know that this isn't exactly specific to genealogy, but thought all might find it interesting. WHAT HAPPENED TO THEM? 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. A few weeks later, he died from exhaustion and a broken heart. Norris and Livingston suffered similar fates. Such were the stories and sacrifices of the American Revolution. These were not wild-eyed, rabble-rousing ruffians. They were soft-spoken men of means and education. They had security, but they valued liberty more. Standing talk straight, and unwavering, they pledged: "For the support of this declaration, with firm reliance on the protection of the divine providence, we mutually pledge to each other, our lives, our fortunes, and our sacred honor." They gave you and me a free and independent America. The history books never told you a lot about what happened in the Revolutionary War. We didn't fight just the British. We were British subjects at that time and we fought our own government! Some of us take these liberties so much for granted, but we shouldn't. So, take a few minutes while enjoying your 4th of July Holiday and silently thank these patriots. It's not much to ask for the price they paid. Remember: Freedom is never free! I hope you will show your support by please sending this to as many people as you can. It's time we get the word out that patriotism is NOT a sin, and the Fourth of July has more to it than beer, picnics, and baseball games.

Hi all With in the last 2 weeks or so.. The American Family Generations web site has added about 1,000 new names to its data bases. I would like to invite you to drop by and take a look. I plan on adding at least another 500 names within the next couple of weeks, so I'll keep ya posted. Good hunting. Tom Webmaster of: The American Family Generations: 1600 to 2000 Almost 20,000 hits since Nov. 1997 http://www.geocities.com/heartland/prairie/5121 ----------------------------------------- Researching the following Major Surnames w/variations: Baumann~BRATT~CHUDERSKI~Curvelier~deGroot~delaVigne~duTrieux~DUMBROWSKI~Gane svoort~GARRARD/JARRETT~deGraaf~GROESBECK~Hathaway~Higgins~HUYCK~Hunter~KENT~ LANGDON~LEICHT/LIGHT~LYCON/LYKINS~McLANE~Milles~Montross~Mookers~Noirett~PAS ZKIEWICZ~Peek~PERRIN~Post~ROSE~SAGER/SEGERS~SCHUYLER~Simons~Thysens~vanANTWE RP~vanBRACKELL~vanVALKENBURG~VERPLANCK~Viele~WILTZEE/WILLSEY~ZGL`Obicka~Zich uski. If it has all CAPS it is a very important line to my research.