Lancaster gazette. [volume] (Lancaster, Mass.) 1828-1830, 1829-11-24

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future number. WILLIAM PENN.
A BRIEF SKETCH OF THE SIGNERS OF
THE DECLARATION OF INDEPENDENCE.
THOMAS JEFFERsoN-A distinguished
statesman and philosophers native o
Virginia born April, 1858, educated al
William and Mary; and studied law un
der that distinguished civilian and patriot
Chancellor Wythe. In his Goth year,
distinguished member of the Virginia
Legislature in 1878, appointed mem
Der of the committee of correspond
ence," the most efficient body in directing
and maturing the materials from which
sprang the revolution; elected to Con
gress l775, reelected re. Member O
the committee which drafted the declara
ton, consisting of Jefferson, Adams
Franklin, Sherman and Livingston, anc
as chairman made the original draft. con
formable to which, 2Sth June, he intro
duced resolution that these States are
and Of right ought to De, free and indie
pendent States" which was seconded b,
John Adams, and unanimously passed
18th July, '76. Governor Of Virginia
'76-'S4; minister to France, which sta
ton he held until appointed Secretary O
State by President Washington, 80
Vice President United States '97, anc
President 1901, which place he hello
eight years. In the SD year Of his age
on the 5Oth anniversary Of our independ
ence, he died at Monticello, the seat o.
his fathers, having filled the highest off
ces and enjoyed the greatest honour:
within the gift of his countrymen.
BENJAMIN FRANKL1N-A printer, phil
osopher and statesman, native of Bos
ton. born 18th January. 1909. At the
age Of 30, appointed clerk to the General
Assembly and Postmaster at Philadel.
phia, at 3S member of the Assembly
About this time he Unidentified electricity
and lightning to be the same, by drawing
the lightning from the clouds, and many
other ingenious experiments; commits
stoned to Great Britain from the Colonies,
examined before the bar Of the House OF
Commons with great credit to himself
elected IT'S and rs member of Congress;
one of the committee to bear propositions
of reconciliation commissioner to France
in the list year Of his age; concluded a
treaty with that power in l47S; and in
1882 concluded treaty with Great Brit
ain, by which the war was terminated,
and our independence acknowledged ;
elected to the high honour of Foreign As
sociate of the Academy of Sciences, at
Paris, in 1881. After his return to
America, he was President of the Com
monweath, and of the State convention
which adopted the new constitution. At
ter long life, spent in the most active
and useful pursuits, he died in his Saith
year, 9th April, 1870.
Francis HoPKINsoN-A lawyer, and a
man of elegant literary attainments; a
native of Philadelphia born 1887. A
member of Congress l776, and voted and
subscribed the declaration. He died in
his 63d year, 9th May, 1871.
ROBERT Treat PAYNE, LII. D.-A
LAWYER of eminence, native of Boston,
born 1871. For several years past
member of the Legislature of Massachu-
sets; a member of the Provincial Con-
gress, l774; member of the first and
second general Congress member of
the committee of FIVE TO consider the
State of Massachusetts, and Supreme
Judge; died 18th May, 1914, aged "a.
THOMAS HAYwARD-Born in the Par
ish of St. Lukens, South Carolina, l749.
Educated in America, studied law in the
Middle Temple, London, spent several
wears on tour through Europe; IT'S
and '76 member Of Congress; afterwards
Supreme Judge of his native State; was
wounded at Beaufort ; taken prisoner at
Charleston was in the State Convention
for forming a new Constitution, 1870, dr.
ed March, 1909.
BENJAMIN RUSH, M. D.-Born near
Philadelphia, oath December, l745. A
physician of great eminence studied at
Eiinburg, Paris and London, his name IS
written as indelibly, if possible, on the