What would happen if the signers were brought before a royal court?

Most of the signers were American born although eight were foreign born. The ages of the signers ranged from 26 (Edward Rutledge) to 70 (Benjamin Franklin), but the majority of the signers were in their thirties or forties. More than half of the signers were lawyers and the others were planters, merchants and shippers.

Signers would be found guilty of treason and would have to be hung in the gallows.