Mark Cole
In the history of the Continental Congress, only one father and son served concurrently: Thomas Lynch and Thomas Lynch, Jr., of South Carolina.
The father, Thomas Lynch, was like other delegates from South Carolina, a wealthy planter. By the time the Continental Congress met in Philadelphia, Thomas Lynch had a long history of being elected by his fellow South Carolinians to various legislative posts. He had already served in the South Carolina commons house of assembly, as a delegate to the Colonial Congress, as a delegate to the First and Second Provincial Congresses of South Carolina, and as a member of the first State general assembly.
Meanwhile, as father Lynch became deeply involved in the independence movement, Thomas Lynch, Jr., studied law in London (at the same time, it should be noted, as Edward Rutledge and Thomas Heyward, Jr.). Upon his return in 1772, Lynch, Jr., also became a planter and was elected to the First and Second Provincial Congresses of South Carolina, serving concurrently with his father.
In late 1775, while his father was a member of the Continental Congress, the younger Lynch served as a captain in the First South Carolina Regiment. As he traveled the state to recruit troops, Captain Lynch contracted a violent fever from which he would never fully recover. He would be a partial invalid for the remainder of his short life.
To make matters worse for the Lynch family, shortly after that, in Philadelphia, Thomas Lynch, Sr., suffered a stroke in early 1776. This development understandably caused the people of South Carolina concern, and they responded by sending Thomas Lynch, Sr., some help.
The man they chose to fulfill that role was Captain Thomas Lynch, Jr.
Though he was also in very poor health, the younger Lynch dutifully made the onerous trip from South Carolina to Philadelphia, arriving in early summer. He remained throughout the sweltering summer months, through the debate on the motion for independence, and through the signing of the Declaration of Independence. We can speculate that he kept his ailing father fully informed as to developments in the Congress.
Thomas Lynch, Jr. was thus the second youngest signer of the Declaration of Independence. Only Edward Rutledge of South Carolina was younger. And when Thomas Lynch, Jr. signed the Declaration, there can be no doubt that he signed not only for himself, but for his father Thomas Lynch, Sr., who was too ill to directly participate in the historic event. But he is there, in the background. If he had been physically able, he would have signed, also.
By the end of 1776, Thomas Lynch and Thomas Lynch, Jr., were both too sick to remain in Philadelphia any longer, so they started the long, arduous journey back to South Carolina. Sadly, en route, at Annapolis, Maryland, a second stroke took the life of Thomas Lynch, Sr.
Thomas Lynch, Jr., broken in spirit and physically unable to continue serving as a member of the Continental Congress, resigned and retired to the family plantation. A few years later, on the advice of a physician, he and his wife set sail for southern France with hopes that he could there regain his health.
Tragically, the ship was lost at sea and never heard from again.
Thomas Lynch, Jr., was thus the youngest (though not the first) of the signers to die. He was only 30 years old, and died a mere three years after his father. Neither Thomas Lynch, Sr., nor Thomas Lynch, Jr. would live to see the fruit of their labors.
Their story is a reminder to us of the cost of our liberty. They helped to secure what we enjoy. The least we can do for them, is to try to preserve what they bestowed upon us.
Check out Mark’s book: Lives, Fortunes, Sacred Honor: The Men Who Signed the Declaration of Independence
