Winning essays show research and perspective taking skills

Laura Young
ECB Publishing, Inc.

The Keystone Federated Republican Women (KFRW) announced the winners of their fourth annual 2023 historical essay contest on Monday, March 27. All middle and high school students who are schooled in Jefferson County were eligible to enter the contest.
This year's topic asked contestants to research and write about one of the lesser known men who signed the Declaration of Independence: Carter Braxton (Virginia); Charles Carroll of Carrollton (Maryland); William Ellery (Rhode Island); Elbridge Gerry (Massachusetts); John Hart (New Jersey); Francis Hopkinson (New Hersey); Francis Lewis (New York); Thomas Lynch, Jr. (South Carolina); Thomas McKean (Delaware); Robert Morris (Pennsylvania); Thomas Nelson, Jr. (Virginia); or Caesar Rodney (Delaware).
Part one of the contest entry had to take the form of a biographical narrative with particular attention to the subject's participation in the events leading up to and after the signing of the Declaration of Independence, as well as details about his family, friends, education, beliefs, accomplishments, abolitionist views and character traits.
For part two of the contest entry, students pretended to be a citizen of the colony that the person they selected represented in the Second Continental Congress. In a letter from the imaginary citizen's point of view, they recited their subject's patriotic accomplishments and expressed an opinion about his value to the country.
And now for the winners!

High School Division
First Place (Award Certificate and $300): Zoe Burrell
Second Place (Award Certificate and $200): Annalise Grettenberger
Third Place (Award Certificate and $100): Adeline Grettenberger
Participation Certificate: Gannett Fulford, Talia Grettenberger and Vera Peters

Middle School Division
First Place (Award Certificate and $300): Corban Blake Burrell
Second Place (Award Certificate and $200): Ansleigh Camper
Third Place (Award Certificate and $100): Lillian Burrell
Participation Certificate: Allie Dollar, Kamrynn Johnson and Belle Burrell

First Place High School Essay
by Zoe Burrell

When in the course of human events it becomes mandatory that a man must no longer be forgotten, a tribute to this man must be attempted. Mister Charles Carroll of Carrollton was a man of unwavering virtue. A man of his eminence and influence should never be forgotten.
Charles Carroll of Annapolis married Miss Elizabeth Brooke and had a gross worth of more than eighty-eight thousand pounds and sixty thousand acres. Charles Carroll of Carrollton, an only child, was born on September 19, 1737. The seventeenth century was an epoch of bitter prejudices. All Catholics were denied religious, political, and educational freedom. The Carroll family, although being staunchly Catholic, was exempted from most of these unjust laws. Young Charles was sent to Bohemia Manor, a Catholic school in Maryland, when he was ten years old. In 1748, Carroll was sent to St. Omer's, another Catholic school, in England. Carroll then studied at Louis Le Grand in Paris. He completed his classical education in France and prepared to study law in London. After four years at Paris, Carroll advanced to London for further study. In 1760, Carroll's father wrote that the young man must study for four more years. Charles Carroll possessed a keen interest in his country and read the local Provincial newspaper while he was in Europe. Carroll always listened to every side of an argument before he inserted his opinion. Carroll returned to America when he was twenty-six years old, but not without sorrow. Tragically, Carroll's mother died while he was in London.
When Carroll returned to Maryland, his father bestowed the ten-thousand acre plot of Carrollton to him. Soon after Carroll's arrival in Maryland, the Governor was involved in a scheme to illegally procure higher taxes. Attorney General Daniel Dulany was submitting articles in defense of the Governor's actions. Suddenly another writer under the alias of the "First Citizen" confounded Dulany's arguments. These arguments lasted from January 7 to July 1, 1773. This patriot was none other than Charles Carroll. This young American understood that war with England was inescapable and relayed this message in simple words to the general populace. In the year 1768, thirty-year-old Charles Carroll married his cousin Mary Darnall. The couple had a total of seven children. In the year 1776, Carroll was a member of Congress, the Maryland Assembly, the Convention for a new state Constitution, three different Provincial committees, the War Board, and a Commissioner to Canada. Carroll also had the occupations of a husband, father, and landowner. Charles Carroll was sent as a Commissioner to Canada along with other men including a close friend, Benjamin Franklin. Discouraging, the mission to persuade the Canadians to the American cause utterly failed.
When Carroll returned, he took his seat in Congress. Charles Carroll was the first man, the wealthiest man, and the shortest man to sign the Declaration on August second. Contrary to popular belief, Charles Carroll always signed his name "of Carrollton." Perhaps the most important thing that Carroll performed was the Treaty of Paris. Carroll wanted to stay “in the background,” so he worked through his director of affairs in France, who was named La Fon. People that La Fon worked with were Vergennes, head of the French Department of Foreign Affairs, and Beaumarchais, a man who King Louis XVI listened intently to. It would not do for Carroll, a Roman Catholic, to be known as openly vouching for Catholic France.
In 1777, Carroll was desperately fighting alongside his friend Colonel Tilghman to keep George Washington's position as Head General of the United States Army. Carroll often rode to Valley Forge to visit the melancholy General. Congress was decidedly against Washington, but Carroll saved his good friend. Charles Carroll, along with his companions Robert Morris and Samuel Chase, helped save America's finances. Carroll also was for the gradual abolition of slavery and even had an African-American child in a family picture. Carroll's father died on May 30, 1781 and his wife on May 10, 1782. In the antebellum years, Carroll helped bring about a railroad through Maryland and Virginia and was influential in conceiving the United States Navy. The distinguished Lafayette was also entertained by Charles Carroll. Perhaps the most paramount accomplishment in Carroll's life was witnessing Amendments one through six, which promised total and religious freedom. Charles Carroll of Carrollton was a patient, understanding, and kind man who held fast to his integrity. Should we not remember him?

Dearest Mary,
I regret to hear of your father's death in Baltimore just ten days ago. Ninety-five years of wisdom has now passed! You must think of your father's legacy! He has established a stable government for us. Think of when he signed that Declaration. He signed away millions! Our children will forever sit under the happy sunshine of your father's legacy and the freedom he has fought for. In spite of all this, he said his greatest accomplishment was that he “practiced the duties of [his] religion.”
I am,
Your Friend,
Prudence Greenwood
Annapolis, Maryland, November 24, 1832
[Footnotes and bibliography omitted]

First Place Middle School Essay
by Corbin Blake Burrell

Carter Braxton was born on September 10, 1716 in King and Queen County, Virginia to a wealthy planter. His mother died when he was 7 days old, and when he was but a teenager his father passed away. After his father's passing, he inherited the large estate, which included five plantations and many slaves, along with his father's occupation.
After studying at William and Mary College, he married (at age 19) Judith Robinson, who gave him two children. Unfortunately she died while giving birth to her second child.
Mr. Braxton enjoyed a couple of years in England, which improved both his mind and manners; he came back to America and found that his brother had built a brick mansion for him, which he called Elsing Green. He then remarried to the King's Receiver-General's daughter named Elizabeth Corbin. She gave him 16 children, though several of them died in infancy and childhood.
In 1761 he entered the House of Burgesses as a representative of King and Queen County, where he served until 1771. In 1772, he was elected sheriff of his hometown and served there until the next year.
Braxton was known as a very “affectionate and obliging” husband, father, neighbor, and friend. He was a very kind, generous, and hospitable man and enjoyed entertaining his
friends and guests. Many of them were the wealthiest members of Virginian society.
In 1775 Braxton was called to a higher duty. When Peyton Randolph of the Constitutional Convention suddenly died, Mr. Braxton was elected to take his place. He was busy at work until 1776, when he signed the Declaration of Independence. Despite his patriotism, it was a hard decision to sign and break all ties with Great Brittan, since he had family there. It was known to all signers, as stated in the declaration, “we mutually pledge to each other our lives, our fortunes, and our Sacred Honor.” Braxton was doing more than that. He was betraying one whole side of his family because of his marriage to the daughter of a British official. In 1786 he was appointed to be a member of the council of state of the commonwealth where he served until the 13th of March, 1791.
Braxton was clearly a supporter of slavery, for in two of his letters to Nicholas Brown he writes, “I am told there is a great traid carried on from Rhode Island to Guinea for Negroes, and I should be glad to enter into partnership with some Gentlemen for a voyage or two and have the Negroes sent hem where I believe they sell as well as anywhere.” He also states in a later letter that, "I shall be very glad to be concerned in the Affrican Trade and will be a fourth of the voyage if you choose it,” and again, “Gold Coast Slaves are esteemed the most valuable, and sell best. The price of Negroes keep up amasingly.”
Carter Braxton was a very zealous advocate for civil liberty, but is mostly known for his achievements of religious freedom. On October sixteenth, 1797, he suffered a stroke and died, leaving behind a reputation known as the Hospitable Patriot.

My Greatest friend and Dearest acquaintance George,
I received your letter and was absolutely heartbroken to hear about your father's passing! Even though he was sixty-one, he would have had at least several good years left had it not been for that stroke! In Exodus 20:12 the Lord says, “Honor your father and your mother that your days may be long in the land that the Lord your God is giving you.” He may not have lived as long as he should have, but his legacy will live on. Think, though George, how many lives have likely been saved by this one life. An advocate for religious liberty is hard to find, and had it not been for him, this country may have become a persecuted nation!
Through his life, he did many things for our nation and religious peace. He was a man of duty and honor, and was likely the only man who had no emotion plain on his face while signing the Declaration, for his father-in-law was British, which meant he was betraying family. But most importantly, of all his accomplishments, he stayed loyal to his country.
Sincerely yours,
William Brown

[Footnotes and bibliography omitted]