The big names among the signers of the Declaration of Independence get all the attention they need, so Balladeer’s Blog will be spreading the love to ALL the signers in this article.
The big names are covered too, of course.
CONNECTICUT –
1. Samuel Huntington – Served as president of the Continental Congress from 1779 to 1781. After the war served as Connecticut’s Chief Justice and then Governor.
###2. Roger Sherman – In addition to signing the Declaration he also signed the Articles of Association, the Articles of Confederation AND the U.S. Constitution. ###
3. William Williams – Used his own money to finance various Connecticut Militia units and allowed American and later French troops to quarter in his home.
### 4. Oliver Wolcott – Went on to serve as a Major General and led his forces against British Loyalists who were launching raids along the Connecticut Coastline. He also served in the Long Island and Saratoga campaigns.
DELAWARE –
1. Thomas McKean – Despite being from Delaware he led the military unit called the Pennsylvania Associators (talk about a name guaranteed to strike fear into the hearts of the enemy) during Washington’s ultimately futile defense of New York City. When the British were moving through Delaware McKean had to move his family five times to keep them out of the Red Coats’ clutches.
###2. George Read – Served as the President of Delaware for part of the war and while fleeing the British advance he used an assumed name and bluffed the British soldiers who coralled him into thinking he was a Loyalist, so they let him go.
### 3. Caesar Rodney – I think we’re all sick of hearing about Rodney’s late-night ride to get back to Philadelphia in time to let him and McKean outvote George Read and cast Delaware’s vote FOR independence. Instead, I’ll mention Rodney’s service as a Militia General whose troops helped defend Delaware from the invading Brits. Continue reading
America’s 250th birthday is mere days away and as we honor men and women from long, long ago the current heat wave should remind us that Willis H. Carrier, the inventor of modern air conditioning, is truly the lion of the hour. 
THE CHASSEUR – This vessel was granted its Letter of Marque to prey on British shipping and take prizes on February 23rd, 1813. The Chasseur had 16 cannon and a crew of 160. 
RONALD THE GHOUL, real name Jerry Sandford, hosted the WVEC Norfolk and Hampton, Virginia version of Shock Theater on Friday nights at 11:30. 
Jerry Sandford’s Shock Theater had its own Maurice the Cool Ghoul (Frank Van), who was a beatnik ghoul and wore a monster mask in the show’s early years but then donned a beret and a goatee to enhance his beatnik image. Completing Ronald’s supporting cast was Vicki McKee as the beauty to Ronald and Maurice’s beasts. 
Back in 2017 when rational people were first getting fully exposed to the deranged anti-Donald Trump hysteria from Democrats I made a blog post joking about how obsessive their Trump hatred was. When they removed video of Trump in a harmless cameo in Home Alone 2 I facetiously said they would soon “ADD Trump to old media”, as in this scene from M*A*S*H. 
CAVALCADE OF AMERICA (1952-1955) – This terrific 30-minute anthology series dramatized real-life events in U.S. history from the Revolutionary War onward. Sometimes fictional works appropriate for the series would be presented as well. Even if you don’t want to watch the show you can just pick out historical names below and look them up online.
POOR RICHARD – Benjamin Franklin and John Adams surreptitiously delay pretended negotiations with General William Howe for an American surrender just to help buy time for General George Washington’s withdrawal from New York. Starring Dabbs Greer, Alan Napier and Henry Brandon. 
GEORGE C. ADAMS – As part of Balladeer’s Blog’s seasonal posts headed into America’s 250th birthday I recently reviewed the 1970s miniseries The Adams Chronicles – Part One 
Start your Monday with a current events roundup from 
Balladeer's Blog 