Six Patriots: Victims of War

Francis suffered for his beliefs. His estate and belongings on Long Island were destroyed by the British, and his wife was imprisoned under appalling conditions for over two years. Finally released, she died shortly after from her ordeal. Alone and in comparative poverty, Francis Lewis died, at the age of 90, on December 30th, 1803.

Thomas Lynch

The son of a prosperous South Carolina plantation owner, Thomas studied at Georgetown University, South Carolina, and later Cambridge, England. By all reports he was a good scholar and was expected to take up law. He returned to the Colonies in 1772 and immediately settled down as a gentleman about town. He didn’t practice law, and, restless and lacking direction, he turned to the military, and was commissioned to command a regiment of South Carolina militiamen in 1775, when relations with Britain were becoming increasingly strained. His military career was from the beginning marred by ill-health, and when his father became ill, Thomas Jr. took over the patriarchs’ duties in the Continental Congress.

His health continued to worsen, and he retired shortly after signing the Declaration. Towards the end of 1776, he and his wife sailed for the West Indies, on a voyage that was planned to eventually end in the South of France. They were never heard from again. At the age of thirty, Thomas, together with his wife, was presumed drowned.

Arthur Middleton

Like Thomas Lynch, Arthur Middleton was the son of a prominent and wealthy South Carolinian. Also like Lynch, he studied in England, at Hackney, and later Cambridge, where he took classics. He was an excellent scholar and gained a reputation for steadiness and hard work. He traveled widely in Europe, initially as a single man, later with his wife. In 1773, the young couple returned to the Colonies for good. Both Arthur and his father knew that their fortunes were put at risk by their outspoken support of Independence, but they did not hesitate to speak and act with their principles. It was in these tense times that Arthur became a military organizer. He was an effective administrator, and largely on the strength of his organizational success, he was appointed representative of South Carolina in the congress of the United States at Philadelphia, where he signed the Declaration of Independence.

In 1778, he returned to South Carolina, and was elected Governor, but turned down the position because he did not agree with the newly drawn-up State Constitution. In 1779, the war with Britain came home with a vengeance. His estates were plundered, and the family narrowly escaped the invading army. The following year, Arthur Middleton was not so lucky. He was captured while helping defend the City of Charleston. He was imprisoned for almost a year, and although he later returned and became a member of the South Carolina state legislature, he never recovered his fortune.

Richard Stockton

Richard Stockton was a distinguished lawyer, with large holdings in New Jersey. In 1766 and 1767, he visited England, Ireland, and Scotland. The British took to him, and he mingled with Royalty and academics. On his return to the Colonies, he was a favorite of British Royalty. However, as tensions mounted between Britain and her dominions, his patriotism for America became apparent. Initially, he tried to support a middle-of-the road position, but eventually, and with some regret he renounced his allegiance to his sovereign, in the full knowledge that he was embarking on a dangerous and uncertain course. He was elected as delegate to the General Congress in Philadelphia. There he was welded to the cause of Independence by the eloquence of John Adams.

Just a few months later, he was taken prisoner by the British and their supporters, and was treated so badly that his health was permanently damaged. When he was finally released, he found his lands devastated and his possessions destroyed. He died after a long period of ill health at the age of fifty-three, poor and dependent on the charity of his friends.

Diversity

Each of these men was highly intelligent, remarkably able and energetic. From different backgrounds, with differing views, they came together with the other fifty signers to launch the birth of the United States of America. The War of Independence affected all of them. The unfortunates suffered for their beliefs, but they were not the only ones. The rich and powerful American leaders of 1776 were willing to risk their lives and wealth in support of their newborn country.

It is instructive to note that ordinary Americans were also willing to suffer in their quest for Independence, and many did.

Portrait of the Six