Author Archives: DSDI staff

George Wythe

Posted on December 11, 2011 by DSDI staff

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 →

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Thomas Nelson Jr.

Posted on December 11, 2011 by DSDI staff

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 →

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Richard Henry Lee

Posted on December 11, 2011 by DSDI staff

“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 →

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Francis Lightfoot Lee

Posted on December 11, 2011 by DSDI staff

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 →

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Thomas Jefferson

Posted on December 11, 2011 by DSDI staff

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 →

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Carter Braxton

Posted on December 11, 2011 by DSDI staff

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 →

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Edward Rutledge

Posted on December 11, 2011 by DSDI staff

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 | Leave a comment

Arthur Middleton

Posted on December 11, 2011 by DSDI staff

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 →

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Thomas Lynch Jr.

Posted on December 11, 2011 by DSDI staff

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 | Leave a comment

Thomas Heyward Jr.

Posted on December 11, 2011 by DSDI staff

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 | Leave a comment