History 2.0 - SC Signers of the Declaration of Indepedence




Columbia's Daily Phoenix Newspaper July 1867.

 
  Happy Fourth of July readers! Many of you are probably busy enjoying a day off work by getting drunk and lighting papers stuffed full of gun powder on fire, which is a fine time-honored tradition practiced by Americans for many generations. However, before you grab the cooler and the matches ask yourself how much do you know about the four South Carolinians who signed the Declaration of Independence in 1776? You may have heard of Edward Rutledge thanks to his (rather melodramatic) penchant for belting out show tunes and, of course, his fabulous taste in wigs but I bet the names of the other three men are a bit harder to remember (without a trip to Google). No worries! Because I have decided to spend my Fourth the best way I know how - by doing a bunch of research and writing an essay about it.

　









Edward Rutledge

1. Edward Rutledge

  Rutledge was only 26 when he signed the Declaration of Independence, making him the youngest delegate to sign. Family connections (both his older brother and his father-in-law were appointed delegates as well) and his own reputation as a talented lawyer and legislator earned him a spot as one of five South Carolina representatives to the Continental Congress. Soon after Edward found himself in charge of the South Carolina delegation after two senior delegates retired and his older brother was occupied at home with state business. Although South Carolina had given its delegates permission to vote for independence, Rutledge was concerned about moving forward without the promise of foreign support and initially led his delegation to vote against the measure. However, it quickly became clear the majority was in favor of independence so South Carolina reversed its position and made the vote unanimous.



Haters gonna hate, y'all.
Edward Rutledge as depicted in the HBO mini-series John Adams.

 
  Rutledge was captured and imprisoned in St. Augustine, FL by the British after the siege of Charleston in 1780. After his release he went back to his law practice in Charleston, served in the state legislature and made obscene amounts of money off his plantations and all the slaves he owned. He was chosen to serve as the Governor of South Carolina 1798 but died in Charleston before his term was concluded.







Thomas Heyward, Jr.

2. Thomas Heyward, Jr.
 
  Born to a wealthy planter family in 1746, Heyward spent 5 years studying law in London before opening his own practice in Charleston in 1771. A year later he represented his parish in the colonial legislature and by the summer 1774 was an active supporter of the Revolutionaries. As a representative of South Carolina he signed both the Declaration of Independence and the Articles of Confederation before returning home to become a circuit court judge. The British plundered Heyward’s plantation, White Hall, and later captured him in Charleston. While imprisoned in St. Augustine, FL (along with Edward Rutledge) Heyward entertained himself by changing the words to famous British songs, like “God Save the King” to the more patriotic (if a little obvious) “God Save the Thirteen Colonies”. After the Revolution Heyward went back to his work as a circuit court judge before devoting his time entirely to running his plantation. He died in 1809 at the age of 62, the last of the surviving signers from South Carolina.




Arthur Middleton

3. Arthur Middleton
 
  Much like his fellow delegates, Middleton was born into wealth thanks to his father’s 50,000 acres of land and nearly 800 slaves. Educated in England he returned to South Carolina and served as a justice of the peace and state legislator. He supported the Revolutionaries in fighting against the Royal Governor and eventually joined Charleston’s branch of the Sons of Liberty. He took part in raids to seize public arms and raised money to support armed resistance against the British. He was also a big fan of tarring and feathering those who disagreed with the Revolutionaries (quite the patriotic hero this guy). While helping to create a state constitution Middleton was chosen to join South Carolina’s delegation to the Continental Congress. He was also later captured by the British and imprisoned in St. Augustine, FL along with Rutledge and Heyward. After the Revolution he spent the majority of his time rebuilding the family plantation, Middleton Place, which had been nearly destroyed by the British. He died at the age of 45 in 1787.





Thomas Lynch, Jr.

4. Thomas Lynch Jr.

  Okay, this poor guy was like cursed at birth or something. I’m not even going to knock him for being a plantation owning slave holder because for all his wealth his life went crappy pretty quickly. Lynch was also educated in England but unlike his fellow delegates he chose not to go into law. His father was an ardent Revolutionary and Lynch, Jr also took an avid interest in politics. He served in the first state legislature and accepted a position in the First SC Regiment of Continentals in 1775. Not bad so far, right? Well, soon after he began his military career he contracted bilious fever and nearly died. The illness left him almost an invalid and he gave up his military position. Poor Lynch was only elected to South Carolina’s Continental Congress delegation because his father had a stroke and was unable to fulfill his duties. Still, he did get to take part in one of the most important events in our country’s history. He was 27 when he signed the Declaration of Independence, making him the second youngest signer next to Edward Rutledge.


Hopsewee Plantation. Birthplace of Thomas Lynch, Jr.

  So, you are probably wondering if his bad luck included time spent in the same St. Augustine prison that housed his fellow delegates Rutledge, Heyward and Middleton? Short answer: no. Maybe his luck wasn’t all bad then, right? Well, he wasn’t captured in 1780 like the others because the previous year (after the death of his father) Lynch and his wife set sail for southern France. Guess not-being-imprisoned was as far as his tiny bit of luck extended though, because his ship went down on the journey and both Lynch and his wife were lost at sea. He was only 30.

  Hope you enjoyed your history lesson! Feel free to spend the rest of your day getting tanked, eating a variety of grilled foods and hopefully not blowing off any appendages with fireworks. I know our forefathers would be so proud.




South Carolina delegates' signatures on the
Declaration of Independence.