Elizabeth Shubrick Lynch

                    The life of Elizabeth Shubrick Lynch is "another chapter to the tragic story of the Carolina signers and their families.  Elizabeth Shubrick and Thomas Lynch, Jr., future signer of the Declaration of Independence, were childhood sweethearts.  Thomas was the son of a wealthy planter and spent eight years in England obtaining his education at Eton, his degree at Cambridge, and studying law at The Temple.  He returned to America in 1772 determined to follow in his father's footsteps in advancing the patriot cause of liberty. 

                     Elizabeth was the beautiful daughter of "an old and prominent family."  Elizabeth and Thomas were married in 1773 and begin their marriage on a plantation given to them by Thomas's father.  Thomas became a militia captain in 1774 and was elected to fill his father's seat in Congress a year later.  Thomas remained in Congress long enough to support the proposal of gaining independence and to sign the Declaration of Independence.  Thomas resigned his seat in Congress due to his own failing health as well as that of his father.  Father and son were traveling slowly home when the father suffered a stroke in Annapolis and died. 

                    Thomas, upon the advice of his physicians and friends, decided to go to southern Europe with the hope of regaining his health.  Thomas and Elizabeth sailed to the West Indies in 1779 in order to secure a neutral ship to take them to Europe.  The ship with Thomas and Elizabeth aboard apparently sunk because it was never heard from again. 

                    Facts and quotes are from Wives of the Signers:  The women behind the Declaration of Independence, pp 268-270.