We’ve already discussed signers from Virginia, Pennsylvania, Maryland, North Carolina, and South Carolina. We’ve got about three more installments in this series. I did not want to make these too long, as I wanted to be sure each signer got credit for their sacrifices and weren’t glossed over. Today, we’ll look at the signers from Connecticut, Delaware, and Georgia.
Connecticut
Samuel was born July 5, 1731, without knowing how influential he would be 45 years later. He and his wife adopted his brother’s children when his brother died. The Governor of Connecticut gave Samuel a position on the Connecticut Superior Court, and Samuel grew increasingly upset with Parliament’s actions. He was appointed to the Second Continental Congress, and served as a delegate until 1781. He voted and signed for independence without hesitation. He negotiated Maryland’s signing the Articles of Confederation, as they were upset that other states held land in the Ohio Territory. Samuel was the fifth President of the Continental Congress and then became the first President of the United States in Congress Assembled. in 1785, Samuel was selected as Lieutenant Governor of Connecticut, In 1786 he was elected governor, and remained re-elected every year until he passed in 1796, along with two electoral votes for President of the United States.
Roger kept himself busy, as a surveyor, annual almanac-writer, merchant, and lawyer. When the Sons of Liberty were too much for the Connecticut Governor to control, Roger mentioned:
“I have no doubt of the upright intentions of those gentlemen who have promoted the late meetings in several parts of the Colony which I suppose were principally intended to prevent introduction of the Stamp papers, and not in the least to oppose the laws or authority of the government; but is there no danger of proceeding too far in such measures?”
When Virginia proposed the First Continental Congress, everyone but Georgia accepted. Roger was a delegate to the First and was a delegate until 1781. Roger initially wanted a New Englander to be in charge of the Colonies’ army, and opposed George Washington. However, when it came time for a formal vote, he did vote for Washington, making it unanimous. Roger hoped for reconciliation, but when news that the King demanded the insurrection be handled with the sword, and Thomas Paine’s Common Sense, Roger realized reconciliation was not going to happen. Sherman was appointed to the committee to draft the Declaration, and is pictured on the painting by John Trumbull. Roger was also on the committee to write the Articles of Confederation. Roger suffered dire financial stress due to the war and resulting inflation, but he maintained the four civil positions he held in politics and tried to keep the morale of his state when the Continental Congress suffered through the war. He passed after contracting typhoid fever in 1793.
William was going to follow his father into becoming a pastor, but when he served in the French and Indian War and saw how the British troops regarded the colonists with contempt, William changed his mind. He held several positions in the Connecticut Assembly and became the son in law of the Royal Governor of Connecticut. William also was a Colonel in the Connecticut Militia from 1773-1775. He was elected to the Second Continental Congress. There, he voted and signed the declaration. The war cost him a fortune as he worked to help make sure the military was supplied. While he was criticized for his resignation from the militia, when he heard about Benedict Arnold raiding New London in 1781, William hopped on his horse and rode to join the fight. He also gave his house to French troops who came to assist the colonists. He died in 1811 after his health rapidly declined.
Oliver served in the French and Indian War as a Captain with his own regiment. When he returned after the war, he studied medicine. He remained active in the militia up to and throughout the Revolutionary War. He was appointed to the Second Continental Congress, where he remarked to his wife that “[a] final separation between the countries I consider as unavoidable.” Oliver was busy, appointed Brigadier General in August 1776, assuming command of 14 Connecticut Militia Regiments to serve on Long Island during the battle of Brooklyn, and returning to sign the Declaration in the middle. After the war, he served as Lieutenant Governor and Governor of Connecticut. Unlike the majority of his Continental Congress compatriots, he spent most of his time on the battlefield, returning just in time to vote or sign the Declaration. He died in 1797.
Delaware
Thomas built himself a career in law, but when he attended the Stamp Act Congress in 1765, he proposed that no matter the size or population of a colony, each one would get an equal vote. His proposition was accepted. Thomas seemed to not care about getting himself into fights. During the Stamp Act Congress, several refused to sign, and he stood up demanding why the president of the congress, Timothy Ruggles, refused. Timothy stated it was against his conscious, which Thomas took the opportunity to challenge him on that word. He challenged Timothy to a duel, but it never took place: Tim fled to Massachusetts and became a prominent Tory. In June 1776, when the debate for independence began, Caesar Rodney was absent, having returned home. Thomas sent a dispatch to Rodney requesting he ride all night, if he needed to – the tie had to be broken. Rodney arrived just in time for Delaware to vote for independence on July 2, and for the Declaration of Independence on July 4. There is debate on whether Thomas signed the Declaration when everyone else did, as several copies were distributed without his signature. To this, Thomas wrote:
“My name is not in the printed journals of congress, as a party to the Declaration of Independence, as this, like an error in the first concoction, has vitiated most of the subsequent publications; and yet the fact is, that I was a member of congress for the state of Delaware, was personally present in congress, and voted in favor of independence on the 4th of July 1776, and signed the declaration after it had been engrossed on parchment, where my name, in my own hand writing, still appears.… that on the 19th day of July, 1776, the congress directed that it should be engrossed on parchment, and signed by every member, and that it was so produced on the 2nd of August, and signed. This is interlined in the secret journal, in the hand of Charles Thompson, the secretary. The present secretary of state of the United States, and myself, have lately inspected the journals, and seen this. The journal was first printed by Mr. John Dunlap, in 1778, and probably copies, with the names then signed to it, were printed in August, 1776, and that Mr. Dunlap printed the names from one of them.”
Thomas died in 1817 at 83, one of the last five signers still living.
George hoped that reconciliation would be on the table, and voted against independence initially. However, he signed the Declaration when it was evident reconciliation would not be possible. He was then an ardent supporter, and suffered for his decision. His home was seized by the British, his wife was captured by the British, and he was on the run for six years. He held several political offices throughout the war and after, though. He died as the Chief Justice for the state of Delaware in 1798.
Caesar’s history dated far back to English roots, with the brother of Jane Seymour being in his family tree. He never married, but held several offices in Delaware, of which no one has come close to holding as many. He served as a Brigadier and Major General in the War, and was occupied with militia creation and Tory problems in Delaware. Delaware was divided, with George voting no and Thomas voting yes for independence. Caesar then received a messenger from Thomas informing him. He rode eighteen hours, through pouring rain, covered in mud, and violently ill from his journey. He broke the tie, and Delaware voted for independence. Later, Caesar wrote to his brother:
“I arrived in Congress (tho detained by thunder and rain) time enough to give my voice in the matter of independence . . . We have now got through the whole of the declaration and ordered it to be printed so that you will soon have the pleasure of seeing it.”
He continued serving in the military, occasionally holding offices throughout that period. He died less than a year before the signing of the Treaty of Paris, mostly due to poor health and bankruptcy.
Georgia
Born in England and moving to the colonies for a better life, Button was a Whig through and through, thinking none could defeat Britain. He was eventually persuaded in 1775, where his whole outlook on life changed. A year later, he was appointed to the Continental Congress, travelled to Philadelphia, voted and signed for the Declaration of Independence. Unfortunately, he did not get a General appointment in the militia, and he was upset about that. Instead, it went to Lachlan McIntosh. Button did become Governor of Georgia and the Commander in Chief of the Georgia Army in March 1777. But his pride got in the way. When Lachlan’s brother was accused of treason, Button ordered him to arrest him. After that and a failed attack, Lachlan blamed Button and called him “a scoundrel and a lying rascal”. Button demanded an apology, and when Lachlan refused, Button challenged him to duel. Two months after Button became Governor, they dueled with 12 feet of distance. Both were wounded, and Button died 11 days later due to gangrene infection. Lachlan was charged with murder, acquitted, and summoned to Continental Army HQ by General Washington who feared Button’s allies would take revenge. Lachlan spent the winter at Valley Forge with General Washington. Many people had good things to say about Button, but he died because he was too prideful.
Lyman moved from Connecticut to Georgia. Being a doctor, Lyman’s skills were sorely needed in Georgia due to the malaria that often spread. He was appointed to the Second Continental Congress, where he served until 1780, signing and voting for independence. When the British took Savannah, General Washington told him to take his family and move elsewhere, so Lyman moved back to Connecticut. The British confiscated his Georgia home, causing him to suffer great financial loss. In 1782, he returned to Georgia and was elected Governor in 1783. He served only one year, trying to help Georgia recover from the loss and devastation the British had inflicted. He returned to medicine, and died in 1790, his wife and son dying within that same year.
George moved from Virginia to Georgia, and was elected to the Second Continental Congress. The Royal Governor threatened treason and military force. Instead, the Royal Governor was ignored and a new Governor was elected to rule Georgia. After signing and voting for independence, George became a Colonel in the Georgia militia, and was present when Savannah had to surrender to the British. During this, George had been wounded in the thigh, fell from his horse, and captured by the British, where he was held prisoner for almost a year. After his exchange, he was appointed Governor, but resigned as he was still a member of the Continental Congress. He also got into some trouble during this time. He had been in opposition of Button and a friend of General Lachlan McIntosh. It was said that George forged a letter to Congress, which brought about the duel and where Lachlan was removed from military duty. There is an account in the Georgia Historical Society that William McIntosh (Lachlan’s son) was enraged and horse-whipped George. William was then court martialed, and George became Chief Justice of Georgia, where he held that position until his death in 1804.
I’m really enjoying going back through and learning about all of these men. I must say I’m impressed (and glad) that Caesar rode all night to get to Philadelphia in time to vote for Independence. Some of the stories about these men also showed that they signed away their fortunes and sacred honor – suffering financial ruin, their families being captured, being captured themselves, and their homes destroyed. All because they decided to stand up and declare that Britain was overstepping. Who did you enjoy learning about today?
P.S. This post image is also from Colonial Williamsburg VA. I love visiting there!
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