#Signers July 4

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July 2026 several of us are going to take on the 30-Day America at 250 Coach4aday Challenge. Each day we share something about America’s unique and quirky history. It can be about a place, an event, or person. My focus today is on the SIGNERS of the Declaration of Independence.

As we celebrate America’s 250th birthday, it’s worth remembering that 56 men risked everything by signing the Declaration of Independence on July 4, 1776. By placing their names on that document, they put their lives, livelihoods, and honor on the line in pursuit of the ideals of liberty and self-government. Nearly 250 years later, Americans continue to strive toward those same ideals, recognizing that the promise of freedom is an ongoing journey rather than a finished achievement. What is startling is most citizens know very little about all 56 signers.

Day 4-Signers of Declaration of Independence

Back in 2014 I was curious about who signed the Declaration of Independence and researched the names on that document. Of course, I had some idea about John Hancock, Thomas Jefferson, and Benjamin Franklin. What I wasn’t sure of us was how many names were on the document and who were those people. That led me to discovering there were 56 signers of the Declaration.

New Jersey, South Carolina, and North Carolina Signers

I have lived in three states New Jersey, South Carolina, and North Carolina. I wanted to know more detail about the signers from those states.

The 56 men who signed the DECLARATION did it thru a process. Eight of the 56 were from Britain and Ireland. As I read the bios of each signee, I realized that none of them was perfect, yet each had redeeming qualities and compelling life stories.

The names of the signers from NJ, NC, and SC with a hyperlink to their bio are found below.

New Jersey included:
Abraham Clark, Francis Hopkinson, John Witherspoon, John Hart, and Richard Stockton

North Carolina included:
William Hooper, Joseph Hewes, and John Penn

South Carolina included:
Edward Rutledge, Thomas Lynch Jr, Arthur Middleton, and Thomas Heyward Jr

Our country has evolved because 56 leaders took a risk. If there was a common ingredient for today’s challenge it would be courage.

Happy 4th of July!