<!doctype html public "-//w3c//dtd html 4.0 transitional//en"> <html> Jon, I showed this to my wife and she mentioned a recent article she read in the local paper by Ann Landers about a Dallas historian who said that much of this is incorrect. Particularly the part about the "five signers captured"......  If I can find the article, I'll post more detail.  I'm afraid the creative mailers have got us again! I found it in today's newspaper.  I'm sending it directly to Jon. It's too big to send through Pianotech. Here's what the facts say: No signer was killed outright by the British and only one, Richard Stockton is said to have been imprisoned solely for having signed the Declaration.  The others were captured while fighting in ther army anwere treated just like any other prisoner (which was fairly harsh), but they were not tortured.  Of the 56 signers, 17 (not nine) held commissions in the army or did medical duty during the war.  Many of those whose property was looted or destroyed managed to re-establish themselves financially after the war.     Carter Braxton did suffer financial hardship because of the British, but he retained ohter holdings.  What ruined him were commercial setbacks after the war. Thomas McKean did not die in poverty. In fiact, he was quite wealthy when he died at the age of 83 in 1817.  No one knows for sure if Thomas Nelson's home was fired upon (the source of this story is family legend), but I heard the home was turned into a tourist attraction after the war, and additional connonball holes were added for "authenticity."     The other facts are essentially correct, but give the immpression died as a result of wounds suffered in the war, or they died in poverty.  In reality, the majority survived the war and rebuilt their fortunes.     The signer of the Declaration of Independence kenw they could have been targeted by the British as traitors.  They showed tremendous courage and bravery by willingly putting their names on a cocument that could bring aboutr their deaths. We do not need to embellish the truth.             History Buff in Dallas DEAR HISTORY BUFF:  Thank you for your excellent research.  You were not the only one to tell me that the facts presented in my column were misleading.  There was also some controversy about the author.  Some readers insisted the original piec was written by the father of Rush Limbaugh Jr. (Rush Sr.) during WWII.     another said the aurtor was Peter McWilliams, a libertarian writer.  Several said the true author is Gary Hildreth of Erie, Pa.     So, dear readers, those who want the entire history lesson can look up the facts at the local library or on the internet.  I've done my part. Copied from Ann Landers column for today. Jon, I was just ready to post this also when my wife let me have it with both barrels. :-) Warren Jon Page wrote: <blockquote TYPE=CITE>The 56 Patriots Who Signed The Declaration of Independence</blockquote> -- Warren Fisher RPT                   Beginners & Lurkers fish@Communique.net                 Basic Pianotech discussed 1422 Briarwood Dr.                  Ask any question. Slidell, LA 70458-3102              fish@gs.verio.net  </html>