The Signing of the Declaration of Independence by John Trunbull 1819
A COLUMN By Kathryn Ross
Did You know that most of the 56 signers of the Declaration of Independence did not sign the document declaring the 13 colonies free from British rule, until August 2, 1776.
So, why do we celebrate July 4th, as Independence Day? Because 36 men did sign it on July 4th after the document was accepted by the Second Continental Congress according to most historians. And Thomas Jefferson had help from John Adams, Benjamin Franklin, Roger Sherman, and Robert Livingston, and other members of the Congress writing the Declaration.
While the document was widely distributed after July 4th, King George III didn’t learn about it until August 6th, although he had previously declared that the American colonies were in rebellion. A fast ship, in good weather took approximately 25 days to cross the Atlantic. The ship must have had the wind at its back that summer.
Fiftysix men signed the Declaration of Independence, representing all thirteen American colonieswith John Hancock as the first signer and Benjamin Franklin as the oldest.
The signers of the Declaration of Independence were delegates to the Second Continental Congress who risked their lives and property by formally declaring independence from Britain. The signing took place primarily on August 2nd, 1776, although John Hancock signed earlier as president of the Congress and some delegates signed later. The signers came from diverse backgrounds, including lawyers, merchants, plantation owners, physicians, farmers and a musician and a minister. Eight were immigrants and 41 were slave owners.
The signers were:
Delaware – George Read, Caesar Rodney and Thomas McKean.
Pennsylvania – Benjamin Franklin (oldest signer, 70), Robert Morris, Benjamin Rush, John Morton, George Clymer, James Smith, George Taylor and James Wilson.
New Hampshire – Josiah Bartlett, William Whipple and Matthew Thornton.
Massachusetts -John Adams, Samuel Adams, John Hancock (first signer), Robert Treat Paine and Elbridge Gerry.
Rhode Island – Stephen Hopkins and William Ellery.
New York – William Floyd, Philip Livingston, Francis Lewis and Lewis Morris.
Georgia – Button Gwinnett, Lyman Hall and George Walton.
Connecticut – Roger Sherman, Samuel Huntington, William Williams and Oliver Wolcott.
New Jersey – Richard Stockton, John Witherspoon, Francis Hopkinson and John Hart and Abraham Clark.
Maryland – Charles Carroll, Samuel Chase, Thomas Stone and William Paca.
Virginia – George Wythe, Richard Henry Lee, Thomas Jefferson, Benjamin Harrison, Thomas Nelson Jr., Francis Lightfoot Lee and Carter Braxton.
North Carolina – William Hooper, Joseph Hewes and John Penn.
South Carolina – Edward Rutledge (youngest signer, 26), Thomas Heyward Jr., Thomas Lynch Jr. and Arthur Middleton.
Known as the “Dunlap Broadside,” the Declaration of Independence was printed in Philadelphia on the evening of July 4 and the early morning of July 5, 1776.
After the final wording of the Declaration was approved by the delegates of the Continental Congress on July 4, a hand-written version was sent down the street to the shop of John Dunlap, the official printer of the Congress.
The printers spent that evening setting the type, and printed a proof copy, made a few minor edits, and then printed about 200 copies of the Declaration. Congress ordered that copies be sent to governmental authorities and military commanders, as well as to the British Crown in London.
The Library of Congress owns two of the 26 surviving copies of the first printing of the Declaration of Independence.
This year marks the semi quincentennial of the United States, but since that is too hard to say, the consensus is just calling it the 250th Anniversary.
Lots of celebrations are planned throughout the nation with many of them taking place on or near July 4th. Big parades are being scheduled in Andover and Hornell for the Fourth. Here in Allegany County the Catharine Schuyler Chapter of the Daughters of the American Revolution will dedicate a memorial to the county’s patriots in Park Circle in Angelica during Heritage Days.
I’m of the belief that something should be done in Wellsville since it is the largest village in the county. I vividly recall the big parade for the 200th anniversary. But I don’t want to do another parade. I think something celebrating our heritage would be more appropriate than a bunch of emergency vehicles driving down the street would be. So, I would like to organize an event to take place in late August or September, but I will need some help. I’m looking for some like-minded volunteers to help out with an event in Island Park.
Contact me by email if you are interested. kathr_2002@yahoo.com
