Photo by Meg Hibbert
By Meg Hibbert
Contributing Writer
On the 248th birthday of the Declaration of Independence, speaker Edward J. Bennett promoted pride in our nation as he delved onto some little-known facts about the signers.
Bennett spoke at the annual Ringing of the Bell sponsored by the Fort Lewis Chapter of the National Society of the Daughters of the American Revolution, that was held at the Salem Civic Center on July 4.
He reminded his audience of 30 people how during the Revolution, “Women were left to take care of home and hearth” while their husbands, fathers, sons and sweethearts were fighting against British troops.
Bennett set the stage for the day when the Declaration was signed: “The sun was shining, there was a light wind from the southeast and it was 72.5 degrees,” he said, quoting from Virginian Thomas Jefferson’s meticulous diary.
The doors to the chamber were locked when all the delegates arrived, he said, causing the room to heat up and the horseflies that entered from the slightly opened window tops to torment the signers.
Jefferson, who was the author of the Declaration, grew increasingly frustrated as other delegates made 86 alterations to his words, Bennett said.
Voting took place by colony, from north to south. “There was no fanfare, no cheering as Congress moved forward with other business,” Bennett said.
He reminded the audience that the signers faced the threat of hanging if the colonies were unsuccessful in their fight, because the action was an act of treason against the Crown.
Ultimately, the British captured five of the signers and 11 had their homes destroyed. One of those was the home of Thomas Nelson of Virginia, which was being used as the command center for General Cornwallis. The home was not hit initially, but Nelson ordered his own troops to fire on it to send a message to Cornwallis.
The home has been restored and can be seen today, Bennett said.
He noted that two of the signers, Jefferson and John Adams, both died on July 4, 1826.
