Thomas Heyward, Jr.

"God save the 13 states" was Heyward's sentiment deep.

Even when held captive, it was a sentiment to keep.
 

        Thomas Heyward was born in St. Luke's parish, in the province of South Carolina.  His father, Colonel Daniel Heyward, was a hard-working planter who achieved great wealth and made sure his son got a fine education.  Heyward studied well to learn subjects taught in the most respectable provincial seminaries.  Then he was sent to England to complete studies in law and was afforded a tour of Europe for several years. 

 "He enjoyed a rare opportunity of contrasting the industry and simplicity of his countrymen, with the indolence, and luxury, and licentiousness, the pride and haughtiness, so prevalent on the old continent."  Rev. Charles A. Goodrich Lives of the Signers to the Declaration of Independence. New York: William Reed & Co., 1856. Page 440.

"Already they are starting to call Americans rebels. Where this will lead, I cannot say."

           After returning home, he took up law as his profession.  He was elected to a congressional vacancy in 1775 made available by recall of John Rutledge to defend South Carolina against British threats.  Thus, he was given opportunity to participate in debates concerning American independence, and, afforded further opportunity, he gladly signed the Declaration.

           In 1778, Heyward dutifully accepted appointment as a judge of the criminal courts of the new government.  Soon after his appointment, he presided at the trial and condemnation of several persons charged with a treasonable correspondence with the British army. 

 

          In 1779, he was wounded during Brigadier General Moultrie's defense of a British attack on Port Royal Island, along the South Carolina coast near Heyward's home.  

 

         When the city of Charleston was taken over, Judge Heyward, who at this time commanded a battalion, became a prisoner of war.  Leaders of the revolution, including Heyward, were transported to St. Augustine, while the other prisoners were confined on prison ships in the harbour of Charleston.  His plantation was destroyed by a party of marauders, and all his slaves seized and carried away.  Some of his slaves were afterwards reclaimed; but many were transported, it is assumed, to sugar planters in Jamaica.

 

        Judge Heyward and his fellow prisoners at St. Augustine were eventually given leave to return to Philadelphia.  Shortly before his release, he celebrated Independence Day by setting patriotic verses to the British national anthem. 

 

        "It was happy for America, happy for the cause of freedom, that the God of heaven raised up such a generation of men at a time when the civil and religious liberties of the country demanded their wisdom, fortitude, and patriotism; and at a time, too, when, without their existence, and without their exalted virtues, the world had never seen so brilliant an exhibition of political liberty, order, and peace, as is presented in the government of republican America."  Rev. Charles A. Goodrich Lives of the Signers to the Declaration of Independence. New York: William Reed & Co., 1856. Page 443. 

 http://genforum.genealogy.com/heyward/messages/25.html http://genforum.genealogy.com/heyward/

 For God hath not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind.

 II Timothy 1:7