Founding Fathers

My historical passion and particular era of interest is the Colonial and Founding Era.  I had never set out to document the resting places of the Signers of the Declaration, Articles of Confederation or the Constitution....it just sort of happened along the way.  As I stumble on the graves of these great men who risked it all, let us be reminded and mindful that Freedom is indeed, not free, and that it came at a greater cost and peril to these men in their times than to us today.

A plaque at Berkeley Plantation in Virgina

Boston's Old Granary Burial Ground



 Those men killed during the Boston Massacre

 Sam Adams

 Robert Treat Paine

 John Hancock

 Paul Revere

Old Christ Church and Burial Ground in Philadelphia

 Ben Franklin

 Dr. Benjamin Rush

 Francis Hopkinson

 James Wilson

 George Ross

 Joseph Hewes

Ross and Hewes are buried side by side

Yale Cemetery in Connecticut

Roger Sherman

Colonial Park - Savannah, Georgia

Button Gwinnett

Virginia Signers

 Col. Benjamin Harrison buried at his home Berkely Plantation

Thomas Nelson buried in Yorktown, VA

St. Michaels Episcopal Church Charleston South Carolina

 Charles Cotesworth Pinckney

John Rutledge

St. Philips Episcopal Church in Charleston, South Carolina

 Charles Pinckney

Edward Rutledge

York, PA Cemetery

Philip Livingston, from New York died while attending the Continental Congress

James Smith, Lawyer and delegate from York. Buried at First Presbyterian Church

RAHWAY, NEW JERSEY

This Abraham Clark Signer of the Declaration.  Two of sons fought in the Revolution, were captured by the British and held on the deplorable prison ships.  They are buried next to him.

ALBANY, NEW YORK

William Patterson, Signer of the Constitution, Governor of New York.  Buried in Albany Rural Cemetery with President Chester Arthur, John Lansing- delegate to the Constitutional Convention who refused to sign the Constitution, many American Revolution Generals and the Rensselaer family.

James Monroe - Richmond, Virginia

James Monroe served as a soldier under General Washington for several years.  He crossed the Delaware and is depicted in the famous painting, standing right behind Gen. Washington.  A delegate to the Continental Congress, who then opposed ratification of the Constitution.  He served in the first Senate, then went on to become Governor of Virginia. He was a diplomat to France, Secretary of State and Secretary of War to James Madison and became President in 1819.  The Monroe Doctrine is named for him, though written by John Quincy Adams, his Secretary of State.  He is buried in Hollywood Cemetery in Richmond, VA.  A very beautiful cemetery.  

Chichen Itza and Tulum Mexico

I took this trip in 2002.  It was hotter than blue blazes but stunningly beautiful.  Digital cameras did not exist then so many of the pictures do not have vivid color and clarity.  No comment or explanations are needed for these.  Enjoy.