What happened to the signers of the Declaration of Independence?
Of the 56 men who signed the Declaration, five were arrested by the English, charged with treason. Twelve watched as their homes were looted and burned by British soldiers and sympathizers. Twoo lost sons who were serving in the Continental Army. Seventeen lost their entire fortunes. Nine signers died during the War, giving their lives as they had pledged. However, several signers lived to old age, three of them living to be over 90, ten past 80,and eleven past 70 years.
One man, George Wythe, was poisoned by his grand-nephew at the age of 80. Caesar Rodney died of cancer. Samuel Chase was appointed to the United States Supreme Court by President Goerge Washington. Button Gwinnett was elected governor of Georgia, only to be killed in a duel at the age of 42. Oliver Wolcott served as governor of Connecticut.
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