Continuing series on the Signers of the Declaration of Independence Carter Braxton ( September 10, 1736 – October 10, 1797 ) was born to wealth, power and privilege. His father George Braxton Jr. was a rich landowner and merchant. His mother, … Continued
Continuing series on the Signers of the Declaration of Independence Charles Carrol of Carrolton ( September 19, 1737 – November 14, 1832) is referred to this way because of the numerous other Charles Carrol relatives. His ancestor, also Charles Carrol, … Continued
An ordinary man, with an extraordinary contribution
Continuing series on the Signers of the Declaration of Independence George Clymer( March 16, 1739 – January 23, 1813) was born in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, descended from a merchant family of Bristol, England. His father died at a young age, and his … Continued
Continuing series on the Signers of the Declaration of Independence William Floyd( December 17, 1734 – August 4, 1821) came from early settlers of north-central Long Island, New York. His ancestor Richard came from Wales in 1654 and founded Setauket, … Continued
Signers of the Declaration of Independence Button Gwinnett(1732- May 19, 1777 ) spent his early life in England. Born as the third child to Rev. Samuel Gwinnett and Ann Eames in Down Hatherly, Gloucestershire, England, his parents were of modest … Continued
Signers of the Declaration of Independence Benjamin Harrison V(April 5, 1726 – April 24, 1791) was born at Berkeley Plantation on the James River in Virginia, about thirty-two miles southeast of Richmond. His parents were Benjamin Harrison IV and Ann Carter. … Continued
Signers of the Declaration of Independence John Hart(Feb 21, 1713- May 11, 1779)* was a poor farmer, son of Captain Edward Hart, a farmer, public assessor, Justice of the Peace, and Martha Hart of New York. His father led the … Continued
His reputation was spotless, and he moved in the circles of the rich. Joseph met the sister of the governor – Isabella Johnston. As the couple spent more time with each other, Joseph fell passionately in love with her, and they were engaged. Isabella fell ill and died a few days before they were to marry. Joseph was heartbroken. In his diary at the end of his life, he records that he was a broken and lonely man. He never married or had children.
Heyward was apparently well regarded by his peers. Dr. Benjamin Rush, a Signer from Pennsylvania and a prominent Philadelphia physician and medical teacher, had this to say about him: “he was a firm Republican of good education and most amicable manners. He possessed an elegant political genius, which he sometimes exercised with success upon the various events of the war”.