The announcement of the Declaration of Independence on July 4, 1776, in Philadelphia. Hulton Archive via Getty Images On the eve of the American Revolution, Matthias Aspden made a decision that would change the trajectory of his life. A wealthy merchant from Philadelphia, Aspden carefully prepared to leave his home in March 1776 as rumors of revolution circulated. He drafted a will and appointed trusted friends to manage his property while he traveled to England. As a loyalist, someone who want