Page 6 - FREEDOM TIMES VOL 1-1

ThThomas Paine
• Born in Thetford, in Norfolk, England on January 29, 1737.
• He experimented in many occupations, being unsuccessful as a teacher, grocer, tobacco seller, and even an excise tax collector. These were difficult for him because he had difficulty in practical thinking and affairs.
• As a political philosopher, he also was a writer, and he supported many revolutionary causes, in both Europe and America. In France during their reign of terror, he was imprisoned for a short time.
• Paine believed that the American Revolution was working toward a political system that was superior to any other that he had seen, and that America ulti- mately would not be conquerable,. Believing this, he felt to use his writing skills to encourage those who were part of the resistance. This resulted in Thomas becoming a political activist and considered an American revolutionary.
• He had a chance meeting with Benjamin Franklin while in London, and this caused him to move to the Pennsylvania Colony on November 30, 1774.
• He wrote and published a pamphlet titled “Common Sense,” that favored American independence.
• In Pennsylvania, he wrote articles for and edited the Pennsylvania
Magazine. His articles criticized the British government and it was at this time that he published “Common Sense” pamphlet.
• This pamphlet was one of the best selling publications in our American history and it lit a fuse, that would soon be responsible for starting the American Revolution
• All of the articles and pamphlets he wrote were accepted wholeheartedly by the American common person, rallying them to encourage the American Revolution. The “Common Sense” pamphlet was most influential toward this goal.
• He despised inequality and denounced monarchy, declaring that he believed there were no natural rules, and proposing for the colonies, a repre- sentative government.
• Paine however, had no part in establishing the new republic after the winning of American independence. He was shunned because of his attack on Washington, with reports that he was an atheist. He was abandoned by his friends and criticized by the general public.
• On June 8, 2809 at 72 years old, he died, with a funeral that only had six people in attendance.
George Washington
• Born February 22, 1732 at Pope’s Creek in Westmoreland County, Virginia,
on his family’s plantation
• He was raised to be an 18th century gentleman, learning all he needed to know about the morals, manners and knowledge expected of him.
• George was later involved in skirmishes, that turned into the French and Indian War. He had two horses shot out from under him and four bullets tore his coat.
• He served in the Virginia House of Burgesses during the outbreak of the American Revolution.
• He was elected Commander in Chief of the Continental Army in May 1775 when he was a Virginia delegate of the Second Continental Congress.
• He then entered the six years of war on July, 1775, taking command of the ill trained troops.
• He was unanimously elected President by the Electoral College, and served for two terms. As the first president, he was aware that he needed to be an ex- ample of integrity, prudence and fairness for future presidents.
• He made nominations and signed bills into law as president, which includ- ed the nomination of the first chief justice of the Supreme Court, John Jay. He established his own cabinet. Secretary of State Thomas Jefferson and Alex- ander Hamilton, Secretary of the Treasury were his cabinet appointees who were considered his most prominent choices. John Adams, his vice president, succeeded him in the office of president.
• He signed bills including the establishment of the first national bank.
• He was very alarmed and disappointed in the developing of two political parties during the end of his first term.
• He could have served another term, but declined, and moved to his Mount Vernon plantation in retirement.
• His influence resulted in his picture on our one dollar bill and our quarter, and is known as the “father of our country.”
• Even though he had owned slaves, he was later convinced slavery was wrong and after his wife’s death, in his will, he ordered his slaves be freed.
• He died December 14, 1799 at age 67 and was buried in Mount Vernon, Virginia, on his plantation.
William Webber
• William Webber (great, great, great, great, grandfather of the editor),
was born 1735 in New Kent, Virginia.
• At age 16 William left his father’s house and was apprenticed to a house joiner.
• At age 23, after hearing some Baptist preachers, he was baptized by Elder Waller and was ordained shortly afterward.
• At this time it was against the law to minister or perform marriages, unless you were ordained by the Anglican Church (Church of England). Anglican ministers received their salaries from the taxes the government collected.
• William, being an early pioneer missionary preacher in the colonies, felt that God had called him to minister, and no man or government had anything to say about his calling or how and where he ministered.
• Knowing fully well he would no doubt be facing imprisonment, he went across the river to preach where ministers were being prosecuted by the government.
• He was dragged into court, charged with “preaching the Gospel with no authority, but from above.” His fine was a hundred and fifty pounds, quite a bit of money in those days, more than he had.
• One account says he was imprisoned for 46 days with a diet of bread
and water, (another account states he was imprisoned in Middlesex County for 46 days). At any rate, he was imprisoned in both counties. His followers brought him food, which he shared with other prisoners.
• Even after being put in jail, he and the other ministers who were arrest- ed with him, kept preaching the gospel out their cell window.
• The authorities, enraged because they would not stop preaching, built a high wall around the jail so the people could not see them. They also had people beat on pots and pans to try to drown out their voice.
• Revival was breaking out on the street outside the jail. As people heard the word of these men of God, they became converted right in the street.
• His health began to seriously decline because of the conditions of his imprisonment. This led those who loved him to believe he might not live.
• If it hadn’t been for a young lawyer named Patrick Henry, who paid his fine, and got him out, he may have very well have died in jail.
• There is still a monument in city of Chesterfield to him and the other six ministers imprisoned with him.
• He was pastor of Dover Baptist Church from 1773-1808 and moderator of the Dover Baptist Association in 1778 and from 1783 until 1806.
• After fighting the “good fight of faith,” Rev. William Webber, at the age of 62, died on February 29, 1808. (See top of page 2.)
We hope you enjoyed this edition of Freedom Times. If you did... don’t miss the next edition, as we continue sharing timely truths from our founding fathers.
“You will never know how much it has cost my generation to preserve YOUR freedom. I hope you will make a good use of it.” - John Adams
Are you aware you can help us spread the word???
The Lord gave the word: great was the company of those that published it. Psalm 68:11
We plan to mail printed editions to everyone who gives a “gift of love” to help us publish Freedom Times.
You can mail your check to: Freedom Times - P.O. Box 8407 - Ennis, TX 75120
Or pay by credit card at: www.thefreedomtimes.org/gift
Page 6