On this day in 1776, future President John Adams writes a letter about the man who would ultimately become the last living signatory of the Declaration of Independence.
Charles Carroll would also be the only Catholic person to sign. He suffered immensely because of this last fact.
For years, Carroll was mistreated because of his faith. As a young boy, he attended a religious private school in secret. When he got older, he traveled overseas to complete his education. When he returned to America, he was unable to run for office because he was Catholic.
All in all, perhaps it would have been understandable if he’d chosen to remain loyal to the Crown during the Revolution? He was a wealthy man with a lot to lose. And he surely had bad memories of being mistreated by the American colonists early on.
Carroll, however, was a fervent Patriot. When the conflict with Great Britain started, he wrote many anonymous letters defending the cause of liberty—and of religious freedom. People eventually discovered who had been writing the letters, and his name became more well-known.
What was special about Carroll's signature on the Declaration? The story continues here:
https://www.taraross.com/post/tdih-charles-carroll
On this day in 1776, the British demand that Patriots at Fort Washington surrender. Perhaps they thought Americans were discouraged and would simply comply? After all, George Washington and his men were coming off a nearly uninterrupted string of defeats in and around the New York area.
The latest in this string of defeats had occurred at White Plains, where Washington had once again found himself in retreat.
Did he feel like he was always retreating in those days? It must have been discouraging. Also: How miraculous that Washington’s men seemed to be always escaping and living to fight again another day. General Washington’s persistence would eventually win our Revolution.
The story continues here: https://www.taraross.com/post/tdih-fort-washington
On this day in 1832, a signer of the Declaration of Independence passes away. Charles Carroll of Carrollton was the last living signatory of that document.
He was also the only Catholic person to sign. He suffered immensely because of this latter fact.
For years, Carroll was mistreated because of his faith. As a young boy, he attended a religious private school in secret. When he got older, he traveled overseas to complete his education. When he returned to America, he was unable to run for office because he was Catholic.
All in all, perhaps it would have been understandable if he’d chosen to remain loyal to the Crown during the Revolution?
FULL STORY: https://www.taraross.com/post/tdih-charles-carroll
At about this time in 2005, a memorial is dedicated for Smoky, the “Yorkie Doodle Dandy” of World War II. Smoky was a little Yorkshire Terrier who served alongside Corporal William “Bill” Wynne in the 5th Air Force, 26th Photo Reconnaissance Squadron.
Wynne would call her a “mighty little dog I was fortunate enough to have.”
Corporal Wynne first met Smoky when he was serving as an aerial photographer in New Guinea. Another G.I. had found the dog in an abandoned foxhole. Poor Smoky was skin and bones! Wynne ended up buying her for two Australian pounds (about $6.44). From then on, man and dog were inseparable.
Wynne taught Smoky tricks during his free time, but Smoky also hung out in the darkroom with Wynne when he was working. When air raid sirens sounded, the two would run for cover together. Many soldiers came to believe that Smoky instinctively knew which shelter was best. They began following her to the hole that she chose.
FULL STORY: ...
