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 ====

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 ==== > > > >