250 Years Later: Honoring New York’s Brave Signers of the Declaration of Independence
On the 250th anniversary of American independence, meet the four New Yorkers who pledged “our Lives, our Fortunes and our sacred Honor”
By Kim Hermance, President, Co-Founder, Co-Director Project CIVICA
Semi quincentennial Reflections | July 4, 2026
As we mark the 250th anniversary of the signing of the Declaration of Independence, fireworks will light up the sky and families will gather to celebrate America’s birthday. It’s a perfect moment to remember the human cost behind those immortal words. Today I want to focus on New York’s four signers — ordinary men of property and family who risked everything when they put pen to paper.
New York Almost Sat It Out
On July 2, 1776, the Continental Congress voted for independence. Twelve colonies said yes. New York abstained. The delegates lacked clear instructions from New York’s Provincial Congress amid the chaos of approaching British forces. On July 9, the NY Provincial Congress (meeting in White Plains) formally adopted the Declaration and authorized its delegates to sign. The engrossed parchment was signed beginning August 2, 1776. New York was in.
The Four Who Signed and What Became of Them
These were not abstract revolutionaries. They were merchants, farmers, and landowners who knew signing could bring ruin.
William Floyd (Long Island farmer and militia major general) saw his estate seized by the British and used as a military staging area for seven years. After the war he served in the New York State Senate and the first U.S. Congress. He later moved upstate to a farm in Westernville, Oneida County. He enjoyed good health and a clear mind until the end, dying peacefully on August 4, 1821, at age 86–87. He is buried in Westernville Cemetery.
Philip Livingston (wealthy New York City merchant) had both of his homes commandeered by the British — one turned into barracks, the other into a Royal Navy hospital. He continued serving in Congress despite failing health and died suddenly on June 12, 1778, at age 62, while attending Congress in York, Pennsylvania.
Francis Lewis (Welsh-born merchant) lost his home to destruction by British forces in 1776. His wife Elizabeth was captured and imprisoned for several months; she never recovered and died in 1779. Lewis continued supplying the Continental Army, served in Congress until 1779 (and signed the Articles of Confederation), and lived quietly in Queens until his death in 1802 at nearly 90.
Lewis Morris (owner of the large Morrisania estate in what is now the Bronx) was warned by his Loyalist brother, a British general, of the personal consequences. Morris replied, “Damn the consequences. Give me the pen.” The British ravaged his property — burning fields, slaughtering livestock, looting the manor house — and forced the family into exile. He resigned from Congress in 1777 to begin rebuilding, later served as a state senator, and died in 1798 after restoring much of what had been lost.
Places You Can Still Visit Today
The physical legacy of these men endures in several spots you can explore in this 250th-anniversary year:
William Floyd (1734 - 1821): His ancestral William Floyd Estate (the “Old Mastic House” and 613-acre grounds) is part of Fire Island National Seashore in Mastic Beach, Long Island. The grounds are open year-round (8 AM–5 PM, closed Thanksgiving/Christmas) for walking, biking, and picnicking. Seasonal ranger-guided house tours are available. The family cemetery is also on site. Details: nps.gov/fiis.
Philip Livingston (1716 - 1778): His grave and monument (erected by his grandson) are at Prospect Hill Cemetery in York, Pennsylvania. He was originally buried in York but later moved here.
Francis Lewis (1713 - 1802): He is the only Declaration signer buried in Manhattan. He rests in Trinity Churchyard (exact gravesite location unknown, but there is a memorial). Trinity Church is in Lower Manhattan and open to visitors.
Lewis Morris ( 1726-1798): He is interred in the family vault beneath St. Ann’s Episcopal Church in the Mott Haven section of the Bronx (the Morrisania area). The church and surrounding historic neighborhood preserve echoes of the original estate.
Their Closing Pledge
At the end of the Declaration, after listing grievances and declaring the colonies free and independent states, the signers wrote these unforgettable words:
“And for the support of this Declaration, with a firm reliance on the protection of divine Providence, we mutually pledge to each other our Lives, our Fortunes and our sacred Honor.”
They were not speaking metaphorically. Homes were burned, families displaced, fortunes lost, and some paid with their health or lives.
A Quiet Challenge for Our Time
Two hundred and fifty years later, the signers’ example still calls to us. They bet their lives, wealth, and reputations so that future generations could govern themselves. Today, the civic “sacrifice” required of us is far smaller: showing up to vote, staying informed, and refusing apathy. Yet many treat participation as optional.
This semiquincentennial 4th of July, let their courage move us. Read the Declaration again. Talk about it with your family. Visit one of these historic sites if you can. And recommit to the republic they risked everything to create.
The least we can do is show up for it.
Happy 250th Birthday America!
What do you think?
Reply to this post or share your own family stories, favorite lines from the Declaration, or photos if you’ve visited any of these sites during this anniversary year. If this reflection resonated, please subscribe or share it with friends.
Thank you for reading — and for carrying forward the spirit of 1776.
Yes, it is vital to keep telling our important American stories. I can't imagine many people in politics today would sacrifice for our country this way. May God continue to bless the USA!
Excellent article on our history in this state. One of thirteen original colonies where those that built New York decided their sweat and blood was not for sale to a despot.