Thomas Heyward, Jr.

Thomas Heyward, Jr. (July 28, 1746 – March 6, 1809), was a signer of the United States Declaration of Independence and of the Articles of Confederation as a representative of South Carolina.

He was born in St. Luke's Parish, South Carolina and educated at home, then traveled to England to study law where he was a member of the Honourable Society of the Middle Temple. He was elected to the Continental Congress in 1775, and returned to South Carolina in 1778 to serve as a judge. In command of a militia force, he was taken prisoner by the British during the siege of Charleston. He continued to serve as a judge after the war, retiring from the bench in 1798.

Famous family members

A descendant of Thomas Heyward was DuBose Heyward (1885-1940), a poet, novelist and playwright who was a large influence on the Southern Renaissance and is most well-known for the 1925 and 1927 play "Porgy" and the libretto to the 1935 opera by George Gershwin based on the former, "Porgy and Bess".

A great-nephew was Confederate General James Heyward Trapier [http://www.findagrave.com/cgi-bin/fg.cgi?page=gr&GRid=9502] who was a 2nd cousin once removed of South Carolina Congressman Daniel Huger and was also a grandson of South Carolina Congressman Paul Trapier.(Paul Trapier's wife was a cousin of South Carolina revolutionary War General Peter Horry). James Heyward Trapier's wife (& 1st cousin once removed) was a 2nd cousin once removed of the following:
* The wife of Confederate General Roswell Sabine Ripley [http://www.findagrave.com/cgi-bin/fg.cgi?page=gr&GRid=9256] .
*Confederate General Arthur Middleton Manigault [http://www.findagrave.com/cgi-bin/fg.cgi?page=gr&GRid=9255] - a great nephew of the Congressman.
*Confederate Lt. Charles Manigault Morris- great-grandson of Lewis Morris.

External links

*CongBio|H000555
* [http://www.colonialhall.com/heyward/heyward.php Biography by Rev. Charles A. Goodrich, 1856]
*Find A Grave|id=2807