Samuel Adams was born wealthy but squandered most of it while he worked to free the colonies from Britain's rule. As a young man he did not do well in some jobs and finally his father put him to work at his brewery where he was known as “Sam the Maltster” because he hauled bags of malt up and down the street for his father’s business. He was in his twenties but still dependent on his father for an income.

Edward Rutledge, SC Signer of the Declaration, married Henrietta Middleton who was the sister of Arthur Middleton. Arthur was also a SC Signer of the Declaration. John Adams worked closely with Rutledge but did not like him. Adams later described him as "Young Ned Rutledge a peacock who wasted time upon points of little consequence.”

Dr. Benjamin Rush's mother, Susanna Hall Rush, owned her own grocery and provision store after his father passed away in 1751. It was named Blazing Star. She would marry once more, but would be widowed again. She was a source of strength and help to him in his early years, teaching him the importance of industry in success! She died in 1793 of yellow fever during the pandemic that swept Philadelphia that year. Parents make the difference in children's lives - they learn fro

Six of the seven Virginia Signers of the Declaration of Independence were related to each other either through Robert "King" Carter*, one of the wealthiest men in Virginia, or one of the other Founding Families of Virginia. Carter Braxton and Benjamin Harrison were first cousins. Richard Henry Lee and Francis Lightfoot Lee were brothers and 2nd cousins to Thomas Jefferson Thomas Nelson, Jr was a cousin to Braxton, Harrison, the Lee Brothers, and Thomas Jefferson George Wyth

Seven things that came out of World War I that are used daily in today's world but were not previously used before the Great War: Wristwatches: Before the war, only women wore them because men used pocketwatches. Pilates: Joseph Pilates invented this when he was at an internment camp on the Isle of Man to help those confined to their beds. He eventually opened a studio in New York City in 1925. Trench Coats: Were developed for British officers to keep them warm and dry in

Original Capitol Tram In 1909, a subway was installed under the Capitol for Senators and Congressmen to travel between the Capitol and their offices. Initially, the train only went to the Russell Senate Office Building. It is a monorail-type system that uses cars resembling an amusement park tram, and there are six stations in total.

Sumptuary Laws The Colonial Laws of Massachusetts in 1651 included Sumptuary laws, which regulated what individuals could wear based on their social class. Sumptuary Laws facilitated the identification of social status. Even those who had lost their wealth were still permitted to wear clothing that symbolized their former wealth. This concept aligns with the belief that once you are part of the elect, you remain so, regardless of any fall in status. This indicates that while

The shortest Inaugural Address by a President was just 135 words and delivered by George Washington during his second inauguration, while the longest one was given by William Henry Harrison. It was 8,445 words and lasted about three hours.

Easter in early Colonial America was banned because the Puritans believed it was a pagan celebration. Puritans believed that all days were holy, and since holidays like Easter and Christmas were not mentioned in the Bible, they were not to be celebrated. [1] The Puritans were extremely strict about this because they believed that most people were going to be damned to hell and only a few would enter heaven as the elect. In 1659, both holidays were officially banned, and anyo

Traveling through time is possible when you visit historic sites. These places tell stories of the past, revealing the lives, struggles, and achievements of those who came before us. I have always found that exploring these locations offers a unique way to connect with history. Each site holds layers of meaning, waiting to be uncovered by curious minds. It is not just visiting important sites, but learning about them through books, original documents, and drawings, seeing int

Below is a great video by Tony Williams of the Bill of Rights Institute. When I first read Frederick Douglas's speech I was not initially...

Every so often I come across a story about an unusual weather event that caused panic among the population - two such dates events...

J.Q. Adams through the years While reading David McCullough’s John Adams, I learned some interesting tidbits about his son and our...

So often we see biographies of historical people that present the usual facts about a person's life but leave little to the imagination....

On this date 251 years ago, the infamous Boston Tea Party occurred. It was a direct response to the Tea Act which was passed earlier in...

Factions have always been a concern in any form of government but especially in a republican form of government because we take our...

Originally appeared on the Bastrop GOP website The idea of a Bill of Rights was particularly important during the Ratification of the...