The Signers of the Declaration of Independence: A Biographical and Genealogical Reference

None of the 56 men who signed the Declaration of Independence in 1776 could have imagined a few years earlier that they would be part of such an event. All had been loyal British subjects earlier in their lives, and several had held British government posts in their home colonies. In 1743, Samuel Adams became one of the first to advocate for independence and he was gradually joined by others as English control became increasingly oppressive. A biography and genealogical history of the 56 signers, and of Secretary Charles Thomson who attended all meetings and witnessed the original broadside with John Hancock but did not actually sign it, are presented in this unique reference work. Each of the 57 entries open with a biography of the man, focusing on his education, political career and the events that led him to advocate for independence, based in large part on contemporary sources. This is followed by a narrative genealogical history, providing names, birth and death dates, marriages, children and other details of the signer's ancestors. Photographs of the men are included.

Table of Contents:
Table of Contents Foreword      Preface      1. John Adams      2. Samuel Adams      3. Josiah Bartlett      4. Carter Braxton      5. Charles Carroll      6. Samuel Chase      7. Abraham Clark      8. George Clymer      9. William Ellery      10. William Floyd      11. Benjamin Franklin      12. Elbridge Gerry      13. Button Gwinnett      14. Lyman Hall      15. John Hancock      16. Benjamin Harrison V      17. John Hart      18. Joseph Worth Hewes      19. Thomas Heyward, Jr.      20. William Hooper      21. Stephen Hopkins      22. Francis Hopkinson      23. Samuel Huntington      24. Thomas Jefferson      25. Francis Lightfoot Lee      26. Richard Henry Lee      27. Francis Lewis      28. Philip Livingston      29. Thomas Lynch, Jr.      30. Thomas McKean      31. Arthur Middleton      32. Lewis Morris      33. Robert Morris      34. John Morton      35. Thomas Nelson, Jr.      36. William Paca      37. Robert Treat Paine      38. John Penn      39. George Read      40. Caesar Rodney      41. George Ross      42. Benjamin Rush      43. Edward Rutledge      44. Roger Sherman      45. James Smith      46. Richard Stockton      47. Thomas Stone      48. George Taylor      49. Charles Thomson      50. Matthew Thornton      51. George Walton      52. William Whipple      53. William Williams      54. James Wilson      55. John Witherspoon      56. Oliver Wolcott      57. George Wythe      Appendices I. Interrelationships Among Signers and Their Families      II. The Declaration of Independence      Selected Bibliography      Index     

About the Author :
A former genealogical consultant, Della Gray Barthelmas now lives in Fort Lauderdale, Florida.

Review :
“should be found in every genealogical library”—Booklist; “recommended”—Choice; “impressive.... A valued contribution to any school or public library”—Midwest Book Review; “concise biographical and genealogical information...attractive, informative, and well written”—ARBA; “unique...well-written and extensively researched reference for students of early American History and for genealogists as well. It is recommended for both public and academic libraries”—Catholic Library World; “well-written and systematically organized...a joy for the general reader who wants to have a more intimate knowledge of the American independence movement and many of its principal actors”—History: Reviews of New Books.