quietly urged General George Washington to open fi re. Compliments of The home was destroyed, and Nelson died bankrupt. The Georgia Society The Sons of the American Revolution Francis Lewis had his home and properties destroyed. Declaration of Independence The enemy jailed his wife, and she died within a few www.sar.org/gassar • 770.952.1776 months. The Sons of the American Revolution are engaged in a variety of programs to promote the patriotic, educational John Hart was driven from his wife’s bedside as she and historical interests resulting from the American was dying. Their 13 children fl ed for their lives. His Revolution. Programs include Essay Contests for both fi elds and his gristmill were laid to waste. For more than High School students and Eagle Scouts, presentation a year he lived in forests and caves, returning home to of medals to College and High School ROTC students, fi nd his wife dead and children vanished. A few weeks Poster Contests for Elementary School students, later he died from exhaustion and a broken heart. American Revolution presentations to Elementary and Morris and Livingston suffered similar fates. Middle School students, presentation of medals to Public Safety offi cials, Revolutionary War Grave Dedications, Such were the stories and sacrifi ces of the American Volunteer work with Veterans, presentation of Flag Revolution. These were not wild-eyed, rabble-rousing Certifi cates to deserving organizations and schools, ruffi ans. They were soft-spoken men of means and participation in historic battle sites observances and education. They had security, but they valued liberty others. more. For Information Contact: Standing tall, straight, and unwavering, they pledged “For the support of this declaration, with a fi rm reliance on the protection of divine providence, we mutually pledge to each other, our lives, our fortunes, and our sacred honor.” This is the fi nal paragraph of the Declaration of Independence. They gave us a free and Independent America. Some of us take these The Bicentennial Quarter liberties for The Delaware Quarter - where one vote counted. In granted.....we 1776, the Delaware delegation was deadlocked in its shouldn’t. So, vote to declare independence from England. Caesar take a couple of Rodney had not attended the convention because of minutes while enjoying your 4th severe facial cancer and asthma. When word reached of July holiday and him of the impasse, he rode the 80 miles from Dover silently thank these to Philadelphia in a raging thunderstorm, arriving patriots. It’s not just in time to vote for Independence. He was a true This Brochure made available by much to ask for the hero. Rodney and Delaware are honored on the fi rst price they paid. Hospitality Safety and Training Association Bicentennial State Quarter. The Declaration of Independence The three signers of the Declaration of Independence from Georgia ............ ndependence Day celebrates the birthday of the IUnited States of America, founded July 4th, 1776, Button Gwinnett was born in the creator of the public school system in Georgia. He with the signing of the Declaration of Independence. Yorkshire, England in 1732. died, and was fi rst buried at Shellman’s Bluff. Later on, Have you ever wondered what happened to the 56 men His mother’s family name was his body was moved to Augusta, Georgia and is now who signed the Declaration of Independence? Button. He was a business man buried under the Signers Monument. He was 52 years and merchant. Button Gwinnett old when he signed the Declaration of Independence and • Five signers were captured by the British as traitors moved to Savannah, Georgia died in 1790 at the age of 67. and tortured before they died. • Twelve had their homes ransacked and burned. and later bought St. Catherines Hall County is named for him. Gainesville is the county Island and came under the seat. • Two lost their sons serving in the Revolutionary infl uence of Lyman Hall. He Army. Another two had sons captured. was a member of the Liberty George Walton was born in • Nine of the 56 fought and died from wounds or Boys, was impatient and Virginia. He was orphaned at an hardships of the Revolutionary War. overly ambitious. Button Gwinnett succeeded Archibald early age and became a carpenter’s Bulloch as Governor upon his death, but lost his race for apprentice. He worked out his They signed and pledged their lives, their fortunes and reelection to Adam Treutlen. He later engaged in a duel apprenticeship, moved to Georgia their sacred honor. What kind of men were they? with Lachlan McIntosh, resulting in his death in 1777 at and studied law. He was a Twenty-four were lawyers and jurists. Eleven were the age of 45. Button Gwinnett was 44 years old when Savannah lawyer and a member he signed the Declaration of Independence. He is buried merchants. Nine were farmers and large plantation of the Liberty Boys. He signed owners; men of means and well educated. But they in the Colonial Cemetery in Savannah. the Declaration of Independence signed the Declaration of Independence knowing full Gwinnett County is named for him. The county seat is when he was 27 years old and well that the penalty would be death if they were Lawrenceville. died at age 55. Walton was the most active after the Revolution. He was wounded in the leg and captured captured. Lyman Hall was born in at the fi rst Battle of Savannah. He was twice Governor; Carter Braxton of Virginia, a wealthy planter Connecticut, graduated at twice Senator; six times and trader, saw his ships swept from the seas Yale, fi rst in Theology, then Congressman; fi rst Chief transferred to medicine and Justice of the Court by the British Navy. He sold his home and became a respected doctor. He during the Confederacy; properties to pay his debts and died in rags. was a member of a Unitarian was Superior Court Congregation from Dorchester, Judge of Middle Circuit Thomas McKean was so hounded by the Massachusetts. The whole for six terms. He was British that he was forced to move his family congregation moved down to a signer of the Articles almost constantly. He served in the Congress of Confederation and South Carolina and formed a without pay, and his family was kept in hiding. helped draft them. He colony on the Ashley River known as Dorchester, South His possessions were taken from him, and died in 1804, at the Carolina. Later, this whole group moved over to what poverty was his reward. is now the Midway Church in Liberty County, Georgia. age of 55 and is buried It became the St. John’s Parish. Many famous leaders beside Lyman Hall in Vandals or soldiers looted the properties of in Georgia came from Midway and its port which was Augusta, Georgia. Ellery, Hall, Clymer, Walton, Gwinnett, Sunbury on the Midway River. The church at Midway was destroyed by the British at the outbreak of the Walton County is named Heyward, Rutledge, and Middleton. At the Revolution and rebuilt in 1790. It still stands. Hall’s for him. Monroe is the battle of Yorktown, Thomas Nelson, Jr., noted home was destroyed. He returned to Georgia and was county seat. that the British General Cornwallis had taken elected Governor at the conclusion of the War. He was over the Nelson home for his headquarters. He .