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First signature on the declaration of independence

56 men signed the Declaration of Independence 56 men signed a document guaranteeing our right to pursue our happiness what sort of men were these 24 were judges and lawyers 9 were farmers and plantation owners 11 were merchants the remaining 12 were doctors ministers and politicians well-educated men of means knowing full well that signing such a document would mean certain death if captured these 56 men sacrificed everything to ensure our freedom five were tortured and subsequently died 12 had their homes ransacked and burned nine died fighting the Revolutionary War signer and New York delegate Frances Lewis was born in Wales the only child of a clergyman and orphaned at an early age his signature proved costly indeed francis Lewis saw his home plundered and properties destroyed the enemy incarcerated his wife and she died months later signer Carter Braxton born in Virginia invested much of his wealth as a successful planter and trader into the revolutionary cause the British destroyed his private fleet as well as a number of his plantations after selling his home and remaining possessions to pay his debts Carter Braxton died in rags the signers of the Declaration of Independence were men of courage men such as signer Thomas McKean born in Pennsylvania in 1734 continually hounded by enemy pursuers Thomas was forced to move his family on a constant basis he served in Congress without pay his reward a family kept in hiding his possessions taken away a life in abject poverty signer John Hart was a highly successful New Jersey farmer he served as a justice of the peace and a member of the New Jersey Assembly later John Hart became a delegate to the Continental Congress after being driven from his dying wife's bedside his 13 children having fled for their lives John Hart lived in the woods and forest caves for over a year he returned home only to find his wife dead and his children vanished weeks later John Hart died from exhaustion and a broken spirit signers Philip Livingston and Lewis Morris experienced similar fates and then there's the remarkable story of signer Thomas Nelson jr. Thomas Nelson jr. lived his life before the war as a Virginia planter soldier and statesman his home was abruptly taken by British General Cornwallis for uses headquarters during the Battle of Yorktown governor Nelson became incensed as American guns would not engage why do you spare my home he decried their response sir out of respect for you frustrated Nelson demanded give me the cannon then proceeded to destroy the palatial residence himself yet this was not the end of his heroic sacrifice Nelson raised two million dollars pledging his own estates to support the revolutionary cause his property was forfeited when a peacetime Congress refused to honor that debt Thomas Nelson jr. died a few years later bankrupt at age 50 Thomas Nelson jr. wasn't alone as soldiers and vandals ransacked and pilfered the homes of signers climber...