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Spirit of ’76
Author Archives: DSDI staff
George Wythe
George Wythe was born in Elizabeth City County (now Hampton), Virginia on his father’s plantation estate “Chesterville” in 1726, the son of Thomas Wythe III and Margaret Walker Wythe. His father, Thomas Wythe III, was the grandson of Thomas Wythe … Continue reading
Posted in Signers by state, Virginia
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Thomas Nelson Jr.
Thomas Nelson, Jr. was born on December 26, 1738 at Yorktown, Virginia, the son of William Nelson and Elizabeth Burwell. He was known as “Junior” because his uncle Thomas Nelson was also of Yorktown. Through his mother’s Burwell family and … Continue reading
Posted in Signers by state, Virginia
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Richard Henry Lee
“Resolved: That these United Colonies are, and of right, ought to be, free and independent States, that they are absolved from all allegiance to the British Crown, and that all political connections between them and the State of Great Britain … Continue reading
Posted in Signers by state, Virginia
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Francis Lightfoot Lee
A quiet philosopher, Francis Lightfoot Lee grew up at a large tobacco plantation and impressive home, Stratford Hall, in Virginia. He was a son of Thomas and Hannah Ludwell Lee with three older and two younger brothers and two sisters. … Continue reading
Posted in Signers by state, Virginia
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Thomas Jefferson
Thomas Jefferson’s ancestors were early British emigrants to Virginia. His father was Peter Jefferson and his mother was Jane Randolph, of Scottish descent. He was born at Shadwell Plantation in Goochland, Virginia on April l3, 1743. His father, Peter, was … Continue reading
Posted in Signers by state, Virginia
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Carter Braxton
Carter Braxton was born on September 10, 1736 at Newington Plantation in Livingston, Virginia. He was the son of George Braxton, Jr. and of Mary Carter, who died just seven days after giving birth. Carter’s father died when he was … Continue reading
Posted in Signers by state, Virginia
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Edward Rutledge
When asked to write a biography of Edward Rutledge I was excited because my grandmother, Valeria North Burnet, had done a masterful piece of detective work in documenting our family’s genealogy. She accomplished this in the 1920s with no typewriter … Continue reading
Posted in Signers by state, South Carolina
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Arthur Middleton
Arthur Middleton, American patriot and signer of the Declaration of Independence, was born on June 26, 1742 in a manor house known as Middleton Place on the banks of the Ashley River in South Carolina. He was the eldest son … Continue reading
Posted in Signers by state, South Carolina
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Thomas Lynch Jr.
Thomas Lynch, Jr., (the third Thomas Lynch in his line) was the son of a gentleman of the same name, and was born on the fifth of August, 1749, at Hopseewee Plantation in Prince George’s Parish, Winyah, in the province … Continue reading
Posted in Signers by state, South Carolina
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Thomas Heyward Jr.
The eldest son of a wealthy planter, Thomas Heyward, Jr., was born in at his father’s home, Old House, in St. Luke’s Parish (now Jasper County) in the Province of South Carolina, about 25 miles north of Savannah, Georgia, on … Continue reading
Posted in Signers by state, South Carolina
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