Fishberry Campground, Valentine, Nebraska
Live as people who are free, not using your freedom as a cover-up for evil, but living as servants of God. ~ I Peter 2:16
Fifty-six men, representatives of the then 13 colonies, signed our Declaration of Independence knowing full well that doing so put them at risk for execution for treason by the British Government. Fifty-six extremely brave men who believed that liberty was of utmost importance. And don’t forget their families. It also wasn’t an easy task to get all those men to agree. Seventy delegates of the Continental Congress (the ruling government at the time) were sent to represent the colonies, but only fifty-five attended. The Continental Congress met for at least four months – away from their families and jobs. Yes, they all had other jobs besides being part of the Continental Congress. In fact, I could find nothing that says they were paid anything prior to the Revolutionary War. How many of us would be so dedicated today?
Below are a few interesting things I picked up on the internet from various sources:
Actress Reese Witherspoon is a direct descendant of John Witherspoon, one of the 56 signers of the Declaration of Independence.
The Declaration of Independence spent many years on the road. After the signing ceremony on August 2, it was most likely filed in Philadelphia. On December 12, threatened by the British, Congress adjourned and reconvened 8 days later in Baltimore, MD, where the document remained until its return to Philadelphia in March of 1777. In the years to follow, it traveled widely with the Continental Congress throughout the Northeast, then moving to Washington, DC in 1800. In 1814, again threatened by war, it was moved to an unused gristmill in Virginia for protection. On August 24, as the British burned the White House, it was moved to Leesburg, VA until September, when it returned to the nation’s capital. With the exception of a trip to Philadelphia for the Centennial and to Fort Knox during World War II, it has remained there ever since.
The document has also experienced many modes of travel. Initially, like other parchment documents of the time, the Declaration was probably stored in a rolled format. Each time the document was used, it would have been unrolled and re-rolled. It likely traveled by light wagon and by horseback with the Continental Congress it its early years. When it was first brought to Washington, it traveled by boat, down the Delaware River and Bay, out into the ocean, into the Chesapeake Bay, and up the Potomac to the new capital city. During World War II, it was moved by Pullman train to Louisville, KY and transferred under armed guard to Fort Knox for safety and protection.
John Hancock signed first, with a large hand right in the middle because he was the President of the Congress. The others signed by state delegation, beginning in the upper right in one column, and then proceeding in five other columns, arranged from the northernmost state (New Hampshire) to the southernmost (Georgia).
Thomas Jefferson wrote the first draft of the Declaration of Independence, which was then edited by John Adams and Benjamin Franklin. Jefferson took their edits and incorporated them into what would become the version finally adopted.
News of the Declaration reached New York on July 9, 1776. With hundreds of British ships occupying New York’s harbor, George Washington read the document aloud in front of city hall, inciting such passion among the first generations of Americans that they began to riot, tore down a statue of George III, and later melted it into more than 42,000 musket balls for the American army.
The document stated the reasons the 13 American colonies wanted to be free of Great Britain’s government. The Declaration of Independence states that the authority to govern belongs to the people, rather than to kings, that all people are created equal and have rights to life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness.
RICHARD HENRY LEE PROPOSED THE BILL FOR INDEPENDENCE.
Richard Henry Lee proposed the Lee Resolution to the Second Continental Congress on June 7, 1776, and they were seconded by John Adams. It was the earliest form of a declaration of independence. In them, Lee famously declared: “That these United Colonies are, and of right ought to be, free and independent States.” After many heated debates, Congress delayed the vote for approval of the Lee Resolution and decided to reconvene on July 1, 1776.
THE DECLARATION OF INDEPENDENCE WASN’T SIGNED ON JULY 4, 1776.
While the Declaration of Independence was adopted and finalized on July 4, 1776, the majority of the other signers actually signed it on August 2, 1776. One reason is that it took nearly two weeks after it was endorsed for the document to be “engrossed” (written on parchment in clear handwriting). Another reason it took so long to be signed is that New York’s delegates didn’t receive authorization to sign until July 9, 1776.
THE VOTE FOR INDEPENDENCE WAS NOT UNANIMOUS.
When the Lee Resolution was brought again before the Continental Congress on July 2, 1776, twelve colonies adopted it with New York abstaining. On July 4, only nine colonies voted in favor of adopting the Declaration of Independence. Pennsylvania and South Carolina voted No, Delaware was Undecided and New York Abstained.
JOHN ADAMS REFUSED TO CELEBRATE JULY 4TH AS INDEPENDENCE DAY.
We recognize July 4 as the Declaration of Independence’s data because it’s the day it was adopted. However, the actual vote for independence occurred on July 2, 1776. President Adams would not recognize the fourth as a result and refused invitations to July 4th celebrations. Coincidentally, both he and President Thomas Jefferson died on July 4, 1826, 50 years after the adoption of the Declaration of Independence.
THOMAS JEFFERSON DIDN’T WRITE THE DECLARATION OF INDEPENDENCE ALONE.
While Jefferson was the primary author, he wasn’t alone in writing the Declaration. The Committee of Five was appointed on June 11, 1776, to draft a formal statement for the colonies’ case for independence. The committee members were John Adams of Massachusetts, Benjamin Franklin of Pennsylvania, Robert R. Livingston of New York, Roger Sherman of Connecticut, and Thomas Jefferson of Virginia.
There were a total of 86 edits to Jefferson’s original draft by the time of its approval on July 4, but the famous Preamble remained untouched.
JOHN DUNLAP PRINTED HUNDREDS OF COPIES OF THE DECLARATION OF INDEPENDENCE.
The Committee of Five was charged with making and sending copies of the Declaration to the masses on the night of July 4, 1776. They went to Philadelphia printer John Dunlap, who printed hundreds of copies that were dispatched across the Thirteen Colonies on July 5, 1776. These “Dunlap broadsides” are incredibly rare, and only 26 copies are known to have survived.
IT TOOK 442 DAYS FOR INDEPENDENCE TO BECOME AN ACCEPTED THOUGHT.
There were 442 days between the “Shot Heard ‘Round the World” fired at Lexington and Concord to the adoption of the Declaration of Independence. The majority of colonists viewed themselves as British subjects. In fact, when fighting broke out in Massachusetts in April 1775, it was considered a civil dispute. The thought of separation was seen as a radical notion. This remained true until King George III denounced the colonies in front of Parliament in October of 1775. It was then that American colonists agreed they should become an independent nation, as they felt their rights as British citizens were being denied.
IT WAS WRITTEN FOR A REASON BESIDES ANNOUNCING OUR INDEPENDENCE.
Many people know the Declaration was written, but most people never question or understand exactly why there was a need for a formal document. The answer is simple yet complex. If the colonies wanted foreign allies to aid them in separation, they first had to legally declare themselves independent of Britain. It was vital that each of the 13 colonies come together as a single body. A colony by itself wouldn’t be taken seriously by a world power like France, but the Thirteen together as one nation would. This was groundbreaking at the time, as each colony viewed itself as a singular entity, much like the countries of Europe.
THERE ARE 56 SIGNERS OF THE DECLARATION OF INDEPENDENCE.
None of the men who signed the Declaration were Americans, though most of them were born in Colonies. They were all technically British citizens at the time they signed the document. Eight of the signers were born in Britain. Richard Stockton was the only signer to recant his signature after he was captured by British soldiers a few months later. The last person to sign was Matthew Thornton, who signed it on November 4, 1776. Robert Livingston, one of the Committee of Five members, never signed it, stating it was too soon to declare independence from Britain.
THERE ACTUALLY IS SOMETHING WRITTEN ON THE BACK OF THE DECLARATION OF INDEPENDENCE.
Unfortunately for National Treasure fans, it’s not an invisible treasure map. Written upside down on the back of the document reads: “Original Declaration of Independence dates 4th July 1776.” It’s believed this text was added as a label, as parchment was oftentimes rolled up for transport during the Revolutionary War.
Remember – – although we declared our independence in a formal document to Britain in 1776 (The Declaration of Independence), the war which secured our separation from them wasn’t over until the Treaty of Paris was signed in 1783 – seven years later. And it took three months from the signing of the treaty before all the British soldiers left our shores.
Throughout the course of the Revolutionary war, an estimated 6,800 Americans were killed in action, 6,100 wounded, and upwards of 20,000 were taken prisoner. Historians believe that at least an additional 17,000 deaths were the result of disease, including about 8,000–12,000 who died while prisoners of war. British losses are estimated at 24,000-25,000.
We should never, never, never take our country for granted. Not only did these men risk everything for our independence from Britain, but throughout our 245-year history, more than one million troops have died in order for us to remain a free and independent nation.
We visited a very nice small church this morning – Berean Bible Church. The people were friendly, the service was good, the message was too. I love it when we travel around and stop at various churches along the road and meeting other brothers and sisters in Christ. I love it even more when the notes in my Bible margins match what the pastor is teaching. 😊
We didn’t do much with the rest of our day. It was stifling hot!
But at about 5pm, we headed over to the Cherry County Fairgrounds for a Demolition Derby and Fireworks. We spent a week trying to get information on this thing, and other than the requirements for drivers and the start time, we found precious little. We weren’t even sure if they’d have food, but decided if they didn’t, we could go get some somewhere.
Oh! Before I get started. Cherry County is so huge, it’s the size of Connecticut! Can you imagine?!? We think it’s because there are gigantic ranches and farms, and few people. They even say that there are more animals than people. 😊
So we showed up (it was still furnace hot), bought our $15 tickets, grabbed some food at the concession stand, and went to the top row bleachers under the overhang (for some shade!), made ourselves as comfortable as possible, and watched the stands fill up.
About 6:10pm, all the competitors lined up around the arena and they began this auction. We couldn’t figure out what exactly they were doing. At first we thought one or two of the cars were for sale, but soon realized that wasn’t the case. So I asked my neighbor. She said they auctioned each car’s ability to win, and if that car wins, the person who won the bid gets to take home “a pretty sizable purse”. Kinda sorta like buying a raffle ticket. It was sooo interesting watching all this take place! And my neighbor? She won a bid – for $190! – just by nodding her head. Unfortunately, her car did not win. Most winning bids were between $50 and $80, but some were as high as $500! Crazy!
when he has a higher bid or if bidding has stopped.
There was another guy in front of our stands, and another across the way.
How they can see those nods and keep track of everyone was beyond our comprehension!
We said the Pledge of Allegiance, sang the slowest version of the National Anthem in our nation’s history (they asked a little girl to lead 😊), offered a word of prayer, cleared the track of all the cars, and began.
Oh. I forgot to mention, there were 5-6 different starts (not races, but kinda like that). Between each one, they had to come in and tow the cars out with big John Deere’s, as well as another more gigantic tractor that was equipped with a scrapper and front-end loader, and he repaired the track. Took about 20-30 minutes each time.
Sometimes the cars got stuck in the dirt.
That counts as an end to your competition as well.
He was having a great time. . . . for most of the night at least.
They did a bang-up job! (pun intended)
And yes, you’re right, that’s the same blue truck. Someone else came in and drove it.
They even had a kiddy one! We weren’t sure what the criteria was for winning – maybe the last one with a working battery? – but they stopped the kids after a while, so maybe it was just timed.
And there was a candy toss for kids 0-10 years old, which took more time than you’d think. The kids were thrilled.
He looks more like a prisoner. lol
So they finished up demolishing all the cars, and cleaned up again, and then it was time for fireworks. Since we were under the overhang, we left the stands and went to wait by our Jeep. Eventually they began – one at a time. And then they stopped for awhile. Shot off three more. Stopped then a couple more. Then stopped all together. The announcer came on and said they were having trouble and the fireworks would be “elongated”, but they were doing them.
We left.
It was a great experience though! So grateful to be able to participate in these things!