In July we celebrate the signing of the Declaration of Independence, marvel at its soaring language, and honor our freedom. But in 1776, the Declaration was treason and its signers were targets.
Here is a summary of the fate of the 56 signers:
Arrested/Imprisoned: 5
Property Destroyed or Confiscated: At least 17
Died During the War: 9 (from wounds, disease, or hardships, not execution)
Sons Killed: 1 confirmed.
Sons Captured: 2.
Financial Ruin: About 17 faced significant financial losses or poverty
Of note was the fate of "Honest John" Hart. Born in 1711, Hart as a farmer, miller, and public servant from Hopewell, New Jersey. By 1776, he was elected to the Continental Congress, where he voted for independence and signed the Declaration.
In late 1776, British forces invaded New Jersey. Hart's home in Hopewell became a target due to his status as a signer. Fearing capture, Hart, 65, was forced to flee, leaving behind his wife, Deborah, who was seriously ill, and their 13 children. Hart hid in the nearby Sourland Mountains, living in caves, forests, and abandoned barns.
British and Hessian troops ransacked Hart's 600-acre farm. His home was looted, his mills were damaged or destroyed, and his livestock was confiscated or killed. The devastation of his property left Hart, once a prosperous landowner, financially ruined.
By October 1776, Hart's wife had died and his children were forced to scatter.
In early 1777, after George Washington's victories at Trenton and Princeton pushed British forces out of much of New Jersey, Hart was able to return home. He was never able to recover physically, emotionally, or financially from his ordeal and he died in May 1779.