July 2, 1776's Significance: Some Contemporary Accounts

February 15, 2005

On July 2nd 1776 the Continental Congress of the United Colonies DULY ADOPTED a three part Resolution "respecting Independency", first drafted and moved (introduced) on June 7, 1776 by a Delegate from Virginia, Richard Henry Lee, with the motion seconded by a delegate from Massachusetts, John Adams:

"RESOLVED: (1) That these United Colonies ... are..., and of right ought to be ...free and independent States, that they...are... absolved of all allegiance to the British Crown and that all political connection between them and the State of Great Britain...is...and ought to be...totally dissolved. (2) That it is expedient forthwith to take the most effectual measures for forming foreign alliances. (3) That a plan of confederation be prepared and transmitted to the respective Colonies for their consideration and approbation."

COMMENT: It was this historic action by the Continental Congress which was recognized by the newspapers and other records of the time, as constituting the effective "proclamation" of Independence of the United States (or to be more precise, "Independency" of the United States; the noun, "Independen..cy..", as clearly distinguished from "Independence", was repeatedly used during that era as univocally signifying State "sovereignty".)

That John Adams believed during the first week of July 1776 that July 2nd would be the date which would always be celebrated in the future by America can be seen from the two well-known and historic letters which he wrote to his wife in the morning and evening of the day following. (Not quoted here).

THE FOREMOST AUTHORITY: Scholars acknowledge that the most authoritative study of the events of the first week of July 1776 still remains after 99 years John H. Hazelton's THE DECLARATION OF INDEPENDENCE, IT'S HISTORY (New York, 1906). On page 166 Hazelton states: "The 2nd of July and not the 4th therefore was the day upon which America declared her independence."

PUBLISHED ACCOUNTS EXCERPTED HERE BELOW:

July 2, 1776

The PENNSYLVANIA POST:

On the very evening of July 2 was published the following: "This day the Continental Congress declared the United Colonies Free and Independent States."

Christopher Marshall's DIARY (his "Remembrancer"); Marshall, a Philadelphia resident:

"This afternoon the Continental Congress declared the Independency of the United Colonies"

July 3, 1776

The PENNSYLVANIA GAZETTE:

"Yesterday the Continental Congress declared the United Colonies Free and Independent States"

July 8, 1776

The NEW YORK GAZETTE AND WEEKLY MERCURY:

"On July 2nd the Continental Congress declared the United Colonies to be henceforth United States....sovereign and free...."

July 11, 1776

The NEW ENGLAND CHRONICLE:

"We are assured that on July the second the Congress voted for Independency, not one colony dissenting, but the Delegates of New York remained neutral for want of being instructed on the head."

July 1, 1795

Boston's COLUMBIAN CENTINEL in seeking to enhance the fame of John Adams:

"..the real day to be celebrated should have been and should be the anniversary of July 2nd, 1776."

John T W B

Jorge Angelino <jorge.angelino wrote:

Dear John,

Thank you for keeping on throwing light on the real US date of birth.

Your contribution has been precious.

Best wishes,

Jorge

John T W B [jtwbjakarta] sábado, 12 de Fevereiro de 2005 00:16samva Subject: July 2, 1776's Significance: A Wry Reflection by historian John Ferling

Carey Winfrey, Editor, SMITHSONIAN MAGAZINE, in the July 2004 issue, wrote:

We're also pleased to have found historian John Ferling, Professor Emeritus of History at the State University of West Georgia.

In "The Rocky Road to Revolution," Ferling reminds us of the contentious debates of 1776 that finally led the Second Continental Congress to declare independence from England. The historic vote was taken on that fateful July 2,

1776.

"That's right," says Ferling. "July 2nd! I like to grill outside or picnic on July 2nd. I feel that I am remembering the proper day, and it also enables me to celebrate twice — on the real Independence Day and two days later on the contrived holiday."

So how did July 4 come to be the official holiday?

Pure accident. In 1777, no one in Congress, busy prosecuting a war, gave much thought to the July 2 anniversary until it was at hand. "Given such short notice, it was obvious that not much of a celebration was possible," says Ferling. Only by buying 48 hours, could they do the thing justice. "As the sky darkened on July 4, 1777, and a band composed of Hessian prisoners of war provided music," Ferling goes on, "13 rockets were fired into the sky above Philadelphia." And the fourth of July—which was, after all, the day Congress adopted the text of the Declaration—became Independence Day.

http://www.smithsonianmag.com/smithsonian/issues04/jul04/editorsnote.html

ALL-NEW Messenger - all new features - even more fun!

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February 15, 2005

Dear John and Jorge...

Please let us know the time you are using on July 2, 1776 for the chart of USA.

It appears from the info below, it was in the afternoon.

Thank you.

David Hawthorne

-

John T W B

SAMVA

Tuesday, February 15, 2005 6:56 AM

July 2, 1776's Significance: Some Contemporary Accounts

On July 2nd 1776 the Continental Congress of the United Colonies DULY ADOPTED a three part Resolution "respecting Independency", first drafted and moved (introduced) on June 7, 1776 by a Delegate from Virginia, Richard Henry Lee, with the motion seconded by a delegate from Massachusetts, John Adams:

"RESOLVED: (1) That these United Colonies ... are..., and of right ought to be ...free and independent States, that they...are... absolved of all allegiance to the British Crown and that all political connection between them and the State of Great Britain...is...and ought to be...totally dissolved. (2) That it is expedient forthwith to take the most effectual measures for forming foreign alliances. (3) That a plan of confederation be prepared and transmitted to the respective Colonies for their consideration and approbation."

COMMENT: It was this historic action by the Continental Congress which was recognized by the newspapers and other records of the time, as constituting the effective "proclamation" of Independence of the United States (or to be more precise, "Independency" of the United States; the noun, "Independen..cy..", as clearly distinguished from "Independence", was repeatedly used during that era as univocally signifying State "sovereignty".)

That John Adams believed during the first week of July 1776 that July 2nd would be the date which would always be celebrated in the future by America can be seen from the two well-known and historic letters which he wrote to his wife in the morning and evening of the day following. (Not quoted here).

THE FOREMOST AUTHORITY: Scholars acknowledge that the most authoritative study of the events of the first week of July 1776 still remains after 99 years John H. Hazelton's THE DECLARATION OF INDEPENDENCE, IT'S HISTORY (New York, 1906). On page 166 Hazelton states: "The 2nd of July and not the 4th therefore was the day upon which America declared her independence."

PUBLISHED ACCOUNTS EXCERPTED HERE BELOW:

July 2, 1776

The PENNSYLVANIA POST:

On the very evening of July 2 was published the following: "This day the Continental Congress declared the United Colonies Free and Independent States."

Christopher Marshall's DIARY (his "Remembrancer"); Marshall, a Philadelphia resident:

"This afternoon the Continental Congress declared the Independency of the United Colonies"

July 3, 1776

The PENNSYLVANIA GAZETTE:

"Yesterday the Continental Congress declared the United Colonies Free and Independent States"

July 8, 1776

The NEW YORK GAZETTE AND WEEKLY MERCURY:

"On July 2nd the Continental Congress declared the United Colonies to be henceforth United States....sovereign and free...."

July 11, 1776

The NEW ENGLAND CHRONICLE:

"We are assured that on July the second the Congress voted for Independency, not one colony dissenting, but the Delegates of New York remained neutral for want of being instructed on the head."

July 1, 1795

Boston's COLUMBIAN CENTINEL in seeking to enhance the fame of John Adams:

"..the real day to be celebrated should have been and should be the anniversary of July 2nd, 1776."

John T W B

Jorge Angelino <jorge.angelino wrote:

Dear John,

Thank you for keeping on throwing light on the real US date of birth.

Your contribution has been precious.

Best wishes,

Jorge

John T W B [jtwbjakarta] sábado, 12 de Fevereiro de 2005 00:16samva Subject: July 2, 1776's Significance: A Wry Reflection by historian John Ferling

Carey Winfrey, Editor, SMITHSONIAN MAGAZINE, in the July 2004 issue, wrote:

We're also pleased to have found historian John Ferling, Professor Emeritus of History at the State University of West Georgia.

In "The Rocky Road to Revolution," Ferling reminds us of the contentious debates of 1776 that finally led the Second Continental Congress to declare independence from England. The historic vote was taken on that fateful July 2, 1776.

"That's right," says Ferling. "July 2nd! I like to grill outside or picnic on July 2nd. I feel that I am remembering the proper day, and it also enables me to celebrate twice — on the real Independence Day and two days later on the contrived holiday."

So how did July 4 come to be the official holiday?

Pure accident. In 1777, no one in Congress, busy prosecuting a war, gave much thought to the July 2 anniversary until it was at hand. "Given such short notice, it was obvious that not much of a celebration was possible," says Ferling. Only by buying 48 hours, could they do the thing justice. "As the sky darkened on July 4, 1777, and a band composed of Hessian prisoners of war provided music," Ferling goes on, "13 rockets were fired into the sky above Philadelphia." And the fourth of July—which was, after all, the day Congress adopted the text of the Declaration—became Independence Day.

http://www.smithsonianmag.com/smithsonian/issues04/jul04/editorsnote.html

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February 15, 2005

Hi David,

Jorge has established a rectified time of 4:48 pm.

What few anecdotal accounts disclose is that the July 2nd vote was taken during the first hour of the afternoon session.

BACKGROUND: Between 1774 and 1776 Journal entries were at times done as if "back-of-the-envelope". By 1777 the diary record keeping of the Secretary's office in the Continental Congress had marginally improved with Charles Thomson getting approval to hire assistants. The entries in official Journal of Congress starting that year show the improvement, including daily mention of the routine time of start of the morning and afternoon sessions: with the afternoon session convened routinely at 4:00 pm, following a long unofficial working "dinner" break. (In that era, a colonial gentleman "dined" well after midday; "supped" in the late evening; and usually drank American coffee, in preference to British tea) .

Significantly & Regrettably, the Continental Congress did not record the time of day of the adoption of the Lee resolution for "Independency" on July 2, 1776. Yet with careful study this comes as no surprise given the comparative inadequacy of Congressional diary coverage before 1777; in no manner of speaking is the official Journal in 1776 a "Captain's Log" either in detail or chronological order. And so, for instance, U.K. astrologer Ron Howland's contention that the official Journal entries for "JULY 4TH" indicate a morning session adoption of the text of the Declaration comes to nothing. On July 5th 1776 Massachusetts Delegate Elbridge Gerry wrote a letter confirming that the July 4th debate on that historic resolution took the entire day before the final vote (on the detail of the text). (And which conversation stopping fact of the Gerry letter I gleefully refer to as Sibly's Revenge on Howland).

FOR THE BEST ACCOUNT OF JULY 2ND 1776, please read:

Cornel Lengyel's FOUR DAYS IN JULY (Doubleday, N.Y. 1958, chapters on July 2nd, pp 83-156)

FOR THE IN DEPTH EXPLANATION OF WHY HOWLAND IS WRONG, please read:

Mellen Chamberlain's AUTHENTICATION OF THE DECLARATION OF INDEPENDENCE (Boston, 1885). Furthermore, Chamberlain provides path-breaking argumentative proof that on July 4th the Declaration WASN'T SIGNED...... wasn't signed BY ANYBODY .... until and on August 2, 1776.

John Hazelton, the foremost authority, treats Chamberlain's account as authoitative.

John T W BDavid Hawthorne <david wrote:

Dear John and Jorge...

Please let us know the time you are using on July 2, 1776 for the chart of USA.

It appears from the info below, it was in the afternoon.

Thank you.

David Hawthorne

-

John T W B

SAMVA

Tuesday, February 15, 2005 6:56 AM

July 2, 1776's Significance: Some Contemporary Accounts

On July 2nd 1776 the Continental Congress of the United Colonies DULY ADOPTED a three part Resolution "respecting Independency", first drafted and moved (introduced) on June 7, 1776 by a Delegate from Virginia, Richard Henry Lee, with the motion seconded by a delegate from Massachusetts, John Adams:

"RESOLVED: (1) That these United Colonies ... are..., and of right ought to be ...free and independent States, that they...are... absolved of all allegiance to the British Crown and that all political connection between them and the State of Great Britain...is...and ought to be...totally dissolved. (2) That it is expedient forthwith to take the most effectual measures for forming foreign alliances. (3) That a plan of confederation be prepared and transmitted to the respective Colonies for their consideration and approbation."

COMMENT: It was this historic action by the Continental Congress which was recognized by the newspapers and other records of the time, as constituting the effective "proclamation" of Independence of the United States (or to be more precise, "Independency" of the United States; the noun, "Independen..cy..", as clearly distinguished from "Independence", was repeatedly used during that era as univocally signifying State "sovereignty".)

That John Adams believed during the first week of July 1776 that July 2nd would be the date which would always be celebrated in the future by America can be seen from the two well-known and historic letters which he wrote to his wife in the morning and evening of the day following. (Not quoted here).

THE FOREMOST AUTHORITY: Scholars acknowledge that the most authoritative study of the events of the first week of July 1776 still remains after 99 years John H. Hazelton's THE DECLARATION OF INDEPENDENCE, IT'S HISTORY (New York, 1906). On page 166 Hazelton states: "The 2nd of July and not the 4th therefore was the day upon which America declared her independence."

PUBLISHED ACCOUNTS EXCERPTED HERE BELOW:

July 2, 1776

The PENNSYLVANIA POST:

On the very evening of July 2 was published the following: "This day the Continental Congress declared the United Colonies Free and Independent States."

Christopher Marshall's DIARY (his "Remembrancer"); Marshall, a Philadelphia resident:

"This afternoon the Continental Congress declared the Independency of the United Colonies"

July 3, 1776

The PENNSYLVANIA GAZETTE:

"Yesterday the Continental Congress declared the United Colonies Free and Independent States"

July 8, 1776

The NEW YORK GAZETTE AND WEEKLY MERCURY:

"On July 2nd the Continental Congress declared the United Colonies to be henceforth United States....sovereign and free...."

July 11, 1776

The NEW ENGLAND CHRONICLE:

"We are assured that on July the second the Congress voted for Independency, not one colony dissenting, but the Delegates of New York remained neutral for want of being instructed on the head."

July 1, 1795

Boston's COLUMBIAN CENTINEL in seeking to enhance the fame of John Adams:

"..the real day to be celebrated should have been and should be the anniversary of July 2nd, 1776."

John T W B

Jorge Angelino <jorge.angelino wrote:

Dear John,

Thank you for keeping on throwing light on the real US date of birth.

Your contribution has been precious.

Best wishes,

Jorge

John T W B [jtwbjakarta] sábado, 12 de Fevereiro de 2005 00:16samva Subject: July 2, 1776's Significance: A Wry Reflection by historian John Ferling

Carey Winfrey, Editor, SMITHSONIAN MAGAZINE, in the July 2004 issue, wrote:

We're also pleased to have found historian John Ferling, Professor Emeritus of History at the State University of West Georgia.

In "The Rocky Road to Revolution," Ferling reminds us of the contentious debates of 1776 that finally led the Second Continental Congress to declare independence from England. The historic vote was taken on that fateful July 2,

1776.

"That's right," says Ferling. "July 2nd! I like to grill outside or picnic on July 2nd. I feel that I am remembering the proper day, and it also enables me to celebrate twice — on the real Independence Day and two days later on the contrived holiday."

So how did July 4 come to be the official holiday?

Pure accident. In 1777, no one in Congress, busy prosecuting a war, gave much thought to the July 2 anniversary until it was at hand. "Given such short notice, it was obvious that not much of a celebration was possible," says Ferling. Only by buying 48 hours, could they do the thing justice. "As the sky darkened on July 4, 1777, and a band composed of Hessian prisoners of war provided music," Ferling goes on, "13 rockets were fired into the sky above Philadelphia." And the fourth of July—which was, after all, the day Congress adopted the text of the Declaration—became Independence Day.

http://www.smithsonianmag.com/smithsonian/issues04/jul04/editorsnote.html

ALL-NEW Messenger - all new features - even more fun!

Search presents - Jib Jab's 'Second Term'

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February 16, 2005

Dear David,

Here is the rectified

chart:

USA Independence

Jul 2, 1776 4:48:46

PM +05:00 EST

Philadelphia, PA:USA Longitude: 75W10 Latitude: 39N57

Lahiri Ayanamsha:

20:44 Current Period: VE/SA/ME

Planet Deg Sign

Speed SA Nakshatra Lord

================================================

Asc 15:30 Sco

Anuradha Sa

Sun 20:39 Gem

+00:57:11 WK Punarvasu Ju

Moon 07:22 Cap +14:18:36 WK U.Shadya

Su

Mars 29:15 Tau

+00:41:03 FM Mrigsira Ma

MercR 04:15 Can -00:19:39 CM Pushya

Sa

Jupt 14:44 Gem

+00:13:35 CM Ardra Ra

Ven 09:53 Gem

+01:13:28 FM Ardra Ra

Sat 24:00 Vir

+00:01:37 WK Chitra Ma

Rahu 15:50 Can -00:00:44 FM Pushya

Sa

Ketu 15:50 Cap -00:00:44 FM Shravana Mo

True Node 365.25

Day Year - Internet Time: 951 beats

Day: Tuesday Sunrise: 4:37 AM

Tithi: Krishna Dvitiya

Yoga Pt: 1:21 Cn Yogi:Ju AviYogi:Su

Dup Yogi: Mo

Dagha Rashis: Sag

Pisces

Sytems Approach

Analysis

========================

Sun Bad

Placement,

Moon Good

Placement, Bright,

Afflicted House and Mool MEPs

Mars Good

Placement, In Old Age: 85%,

Afflicted House MEP

Mercury Good

Placement, Combust 7%, In Infancy: 15%, Weak Dispositor,

Afflicted House and Mool MEPs

Jupiter Bad

Placement, Combust 54%,

Venus Bad

Placement,

Saturn Good

Placement, Weak Dispositor,

Afflicted House MEP

Rahu Good

Placement, Debilitated in Navamsha, Weak Dispositor,

Afflicts

1 3 5 9 house MEPs, Afflicted House MEP

Ketu Good

Placement, Debilitated in Navamsha,

Afflicts

3 7 9 11 house MEPs, Afflicted House MEP

Rashi Chart

*******************************************************

**

9 * * 7 **

*10*

* * * *

*

* * * * *

*

* * * * *

* *

* * * *

*MO 07:22 *

* * * *

*KE 15:50 * 8 AS 15:30 * 6 SA 24:00*

* *

* * * *

* *

* * * *

*

* * * * *

*

* * * * *

*

* * * * *

** *

* **

*11

* 5 *

**

* * **

*12*

* * * *

*

* * * * *

*

* * * * *

* *

* * * *

* *

* * * MER04:15*

* *

2 MA 29:15 * 4 RA 15:50*

* *

* * * *

* *

* VE 09:53* *

* *

* * JU 14:44 * *

* *

* * SU 20:39 * *

* *

* * * *

** 1

* * 3 **

*******************************************************

Navamsha

*******************************************************

** 9 *

* 7 **

*10*

* * * *

* *

* * * *

* *

* * * *

* VE

* * * *

* *

* AS * * *

* *

8 RA * 6 MA *

* *

* * * *

* * *

* *

* * * *

* *

* * * *

* *

* * * *

**

* * MER **

*11 JU

* 5 SA *

**

* * **

*12*

* * * *

* *

* * * *

* *

* * * *

* *

* * * *

* *

* * * *

*MO *

2 KE * 4 *

* *

* * * *

* *

* * * *

* *

SU * * * *

* *

* * * *

* *

* * * *

** 1

* * 3 **

*******************************************************

Vimshottari Dasha/Buktis

========================

Su/Ke 02.05.1776

Su/Ve 07.09.1776

Mo/Mo 08.09.1777

Mo/Ma 09.07.1778

Mo/Ra 07.02.1779

Mo/Ju 08.08.1780

Mo/Sa 08.12.1781

Mo/Me 09.07.1783

Mo/Ke 08.12.1784

Mo/Ve 09.07.1785

Mo/Su 09.03.1787

Ma/Ma 08.09.1787

Ma/Ra 04.02.1788

Ma/Ju 22.02.1789

Ma/Sa 29.01.1790

Ma/Me 09.03.1791

Ma/Ke 06.03.1792

Ma/Ve 02.08.1792

Ma/Su 02.10.1793

Ma/Mo 07.02.1794

Ra/Ra 08.09.1794

Ra/Ju 21.05.1797

Ra/Sa 15.10.1799

Ra/Me 21.08.1802

Ra/Ke 10.03.1805

Ra/Ve 28.03.1806

Ra/Su 28.03.1809

Ra/Mo 20.02.1810

Ra/Ma 22.08.1811

Ju/Ju 08.09.1812

Ju/Sa 27.10.1814

Ju/Me 10.05.1817

Ju/Ke 16.08.1819

Ju/Ve 22.07.1820

Ju/Su 23.03.1823

Ju/Mo 09.01.1824

Ju/Ma 10.05.1825

Ju/Ra 16.04.1826

Sa/Sa 08.09.1828

Sa/Me 12.09.1831

Sa/Ke 22.05.1834

Sa/Ve 01.07.1835

Sa/Su 31.08.1838

Sa/Mo 13.08.1839

Sa/Ma 13.03.1841

Sa/Ra 22.04.1842

Sa/Ju 26.02.1845

Me/Me 09.09.1847

Me/Ke 05.02.1850

Me/Ve 02.02.1851

Me/Su 03.12.1853

Me/Mo 09.10.1854

Me/Ma 10.03.1856

Me/Ra 07.03.1857

Me/Ju 24.09.1859

Me/Sa 30.12.1861

Ke/Ke 08.09.1864

Ke/Ve 04.02.1865

Ke/Su 07.04.1866

Ke/Mo 12.08.1866

Ke/Ma 13.03.1867

Ke/Ra 10.08.1867

Ke/Ju 27.08.1868

Ke/Sa 03.08.1869

Ke/Me 12.09.1870

Ve/Ve 09.09.1871

Ve/Su 09.01.1875

Ve/Mo 09.01.1876

Ve/Ma 09.09.1877

Ve/Ra 09.11.1878

Ve/Ju 08.11.1881

Ve/Sa 09.07.1884

Ve/Me 09.09.1887

Ve/Ke 10.07.1890

Best wishes,

Jorge

David Hawthorne

[david]

quarta-feira, 16 de

Fevereiro de 2005 01:10

SAMVA

Re: July 2,

1776's Significance: Some Contemporary Accounts

Dear

John and Jorge...

Please

let us know the time you are using on July 2, 1776 for the chart of USA.

It

appears from the info below, it was in the afternoon.

Thank

you.

David

Hawthorne

-

John T W B

SAMVA

Tuesday,

February 15, 2005 6:56 AM

July 2, 1776's Significance: Some Contemporary Accounts

On July 2nd 1776 the

Continental Congress of the United Colonies DULY ADOPTED a three

part Resolution " respecting Independency " , first drafted and

moved (introduced) on June 7, 1776 by a Delegate from Virginia, Richard

Henry Lee, with the motion seconded by a delegate from Massachusetts,

John Adams:

" RESOLVED: (1) That

these United Colonies ... are..., and of right ought to be ...free and independent

States, that they...are... absolved of all allegiance to the British Crown and

that all political connection between them and the State of Great

Britain...is...and ought to be...totally dissolved. (2) That it is expedient

forthwith to take the most effectual measures for forming foreign alliances.

(3) That a plan of confederation be prepared and transmitted to the respective

Colonies for their consideration and approbation. "

COMMENT: It was this

historic action by the Continental Congress which was recognized by the

newspapers and other records of the time, as constituting the effective

" proclamation " of Independence of the United States (or to be

more precise, " Independency " of the United States; the noun,

" Independen..cy.. " , as clearly distinguished from

" Independence " , was repeatedly used during that era as

univocally signifying State " sovereignty " .)

That John Adams believed

during the first week of July 1776 that July 2nd would be the date which would

always be celebrated in the future by America can be seen from the two

well-known and historic letters which he wrote to his wife in the morning and

evening of the day following. (Not quoted here).

THE FOREMOST

AUTHORITY: Scholars acknowledge that the most authoritative study of the events

of the first week of July 1776 still remains after 99 years John H.

Hazelton's THE DECLARATION OF INDEPENDENCE, IT'S HISTORY (New York, 1906). On

page 166 Hazelton states: " The 2nd of July and not the 4th therefore was

the day upon which America declared her independence. "

PUBLISHED ACCOUNTS

EXCERPTED HERE BELOW:

July 2, 1776

The PENNSYLVANIA POST:

On the very evening of

July 2 was published the following: " This day the Continental Congress

declared the United Colonies Free and Independent States. "

Christopher Marshall's

DIARY (his " Remembrancer " ); Marshall, a Philadelphia resident:

" This afternoon the

Continental Congress declared the Independency of the United Colonies "

July 3, 1776

The PENNSYLVANIA GAZETTE:

" Yesterday the

Continental Congress declared the United Colonies Free and Independent

States "

July 8, 1776

The NEW YORK GAZETTE AND

WEEKLY MERCURY:

" On July 2nd the

Continental Congress declared the United Colonies to be henceforth United

States....sovereign and free.... "

July 11, 1776

The NEW ENGLAND

CHRONICLE:

" We are assured that

on July the second the Congress voted for Independency, not one colony

dissenting, but the Delegates of New York remained neutral for want of being

instructed on the head. "

July 1, 1795

Boston's COLUMBIAN

CENTINEL in seeking to enhance the fame of John Adams:

" ..the real day to

be celebrated should have been and should be the anniversary of July 2nd,

1776. "

John T W B

Jorge Angelino <jorge.angelino

wrote:

Dear

John,

Thank

you for keeping on throwing light on the real US date of birth.

Your

contribution has been precious.

Best

wishes,

Jorge

John T W B

[jtwbjakarta]

sábado, 12 de Fevereiro de

2005 00:16

samva

July 2, 1776's

Significance: A Wry Reflection by historian John Ferling

Carey

Winfrey, Editor, SMITHSONIAN MAGAZINE, in the July 2004 issue, wrote:

We're also

pleased to have found historian John Ferling, Professor Emeritus of

History at the State University of West

Georgia.

In " The

Rocky Road to Revolution, " Ferling reminds us of the contentious debates of 1776

that finally led the Second Continental Congress to declare independence from England.

The historic vote was taken on that fateful July

2, 1776.

" That's

right, " says Ferling. " July 2nd! I like to grill outside or picnic on

July 2nd. I feel that I am remembering the proper day, and it also

enables me to celebrate twice — on the real

Independence Day and two days later on the contrived

holiday. "

So how did

July 4 come to be the official

holiday?

Pure

accident. In 1777, no one in Congress, busy prosecuting a war, gave much

thought to the July 2 anniversary until it was at hand. " Given such short

notice, it was obvious that not much of a celebration was possible, " says

Ferling. Only by buying 48 hours, could they do the thing justice.

" As the sky darkened on July 4,

1777, and a band composed of Hessian prisoners of war provided

music, " Ferling goes on, " 13 rockets were fired into the sky above Philadelphia. "

And the fourth of July—which was, after all, the day Congress

adopted the text of the Declaration—became Independence Day.

http://www.smithsonianmag.com/smithsonian/issues04/jul04/editorsnote.html

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February 16, 2005

thank you john,

david

-

John T W B

SAMVA

Tuesday, February 15, 2005 10:40 PM

Re: July 2, 1776's Significance: Some Contemporary Accounts

Hi David,

Jorge has established a rectified time of 4:48 pm.

What few anecdotal accounts disclose is that the July 2nd vote was taken during the first hour of the afternoon session.

BACKGROUND: Between 1774 and 1776 Journal entries were at times done as if "back-of-the-envelope". By 1777 the diary record keeping of the Secretary's office in the Continental Congress had marginally improved with Charles Thomson getting approval to hire assistants. The entries in official Journal of Congress starting that year show the improvement, including daily mention of the routine time of start of the morning and afternoon sessions: with the afternoon session convened routinely at 4:00 pm, following a long unofficial working "dinner" break. (In that era, a colonial gentleman "dined" well after midday; "supped" in the late evening; and usually drank American coffee, in preference to British tea) .

Significantly & Regrettably, the Continental Congress did not record the time of day of the adoption of the Lee resolution for "Independency" on July 2, 1776. Yet with careful study this comes as no surprise given the comparative inadequacy of Congressional diary coverage before 1777; in no manner of speaking is the official Journal in 1776 a "Captain's Log" either in detail or chronological order. And so, for instance, U.K. astrologer Ron Howland's contention that the official Journal entries for "JULY 4TH" indicate a morning session adoption of the text of the Declaration comes to nothing. On July 5th 1776 Massachusetts Delegate Elbridge Gerry wrote a letter confirming that the July 4th debate on that historic resolution took the entire day before the final vote (on the detail of the text). (And which conversation stopping fact of the Gerry letter I gleefully refer to as Sibly's Revenge on Howland).

FOR THE BEST ACCOUNT OF JULY 2ND 1776, please read:

Cornel Lengyel's FOUR DAYS IN JULY (Doubleday, N.Y. 1958, chapters on July 2nd, pp 83-156)

FOR THE IN DEPTH EXPLANATION OF WHY HOWLAND IS WRONG, please read:

Mellen Chamberlain's AUTHENTICATION OF THE DECLARATION OF INDEPENDENCE (Boston, 1885). Furthermore, Chamberlain provides path-breaking argumentative proof that on July 4th the Declaration WASN'T SIGNED...... wasn't signed BY ANYBODY .... until and on August 2, 1776.

John Hazelton, the foremost authority, treats Chamberlain's account as authoitative.

John T W BDavid Hawthorne <david wrote:

Dear John and Jorge...

Please let us know the time you are using on July 2, 1776 for the chart of USA.

It appears from the info below, it was in the afternoon.

Thank you.

David Hawthorne

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John T W B

SAMVA

Tuesday, February 15, 2005 6:56 AM

July 2, 1776's Significance: Some Contemporary Accounts

On July 2nd 1776 the Continental Congress of the United Colonies DULY ADOPTED a three part Resolution "respecting Independency", first drafted and moved (introduced) on June 7, 1776 by a Delegate from Virginia, Richard Henry Lee, with the motion seconded by a delegate from Massachusetts, John Adams:

"RESOLVED: (1) That these United Colonies ... are..., and of right ought to be ...free and independent States, that they...are... absolved of all allegiance to the British Crown and that all political connection between them and the State of Great Britain...is...and ought to be...totally dissolved. (2) That it is expedient forthwith to take the most effectual measures for forming foreign alliances. (3) That a plan of confederation be prepared and transmitted to the respective Colonies for their consideration and approbation."

COMMENT: It was this historic action by the Continental Congress which was recognized by the newspapers and other records of the time, as constituting the effective "proclamation" of Independence of the United States (or to be more precise, "Independency" of the United States; the noun, "Independen..cy..", as clearly distinguished from "Independence", was repeatedly used during that era as univocally signifying State "sovereignty".)

That John Adams believed during the first week of July 1776 that July 2nd would be the date which would always be celebrated in the future by America can be seen from the two well-known and historic letters which he wrote to his wife in the morning and evening of the day following. (Not quoted here).

THE FOREMOST AUTHORITY: Scholars acknowledge that the most authoritative study of the events of the first week of July 1776 still remains after 99 years John H. Hazelton's THE DECLARATION OF INDEPENDENCE, IT'S HISTORY (New York, 1906). On page 166 Hazelton states: "The 2nd of July and not the 4th therefore was the day upon which America declared her independence."

PUBLISHED ACCOUNTS EXCERPTED HERE BELOW:

July 2, 1776

The PENNSYLVANIA POST:

On the very evening of July 2 was published the following: "This day the Continental Congress declared the United Colonies Free and Independent States."

Christopher Marshall's DIARY (his "Remembrancer"); Marshall, a Philadelphia resident:

"This afternoon the Continental Congress declared the Independency of the United Colonies"

July 3, 1776

The PENNSYLVANIA GAZETTE:

"Yesterday the Continental Congress declared the United Colonies Free and Independent States"

July 8, 1776

The NEW YORK GAZETTE AND WEEKLY MERCURY:

"On July 2nd the Continental Congress declared the United Colonies to be henceforth United States....sovereign and free...."

July 11, 1776

The NEW ENGLAND CHRONICLE:

"We are assured that on July the second the Congress voted for Independency, not one colony dissenting, but the Delegates of New York remained neutral for want of being instructed on the head."

July 1, 1795

Boston's COLUMBIAN CENTINEL in seeking to enhance the fame of John Adams:

"..the real day to be celebrated should have been and should be the anniversary of July 2nd, 1776."

John T W B

Jorge Angelino <jorge.angelino wrote:

Dear John,

Thank you for keeping on throwing light on the real US date of birth.

Your contribution has been precious.

Best wishes,

Jorge

John T W B [jtwbjakarta] sábado, 12 de Fevereiro de 2005 00:16samva Subject: July 2, 1776's Significance: A Wry Reflection by historian John Ferling

Carey Winfrey, Editor, SMITHSONIAN MAGAZINE, in the July 2004 issue, wrote:

We're also pleased to have found historian John Ferling, Professor Emeritus of History at the State University of West Georgia.

In "The Rocky Road to Revolution," Ferling reminds us of the contentious debates of 1776 that finally led the Second Continental Congress to declare independence from England. The historic vote was taken on that fateful July 2, 1776.

"That's right," says Ferling. "July 2nd! I like to grill outside or picnic on July 2nd. I feel that I am remembering the proper day, and it also enables me to celebrate twice — on the real Independence Day and two days later on the contrived holiday."

So how did July 4 come to be the official holiday?

Pure accident. In 1777, no one in Congress, busy prosecuting a war, gave much thought to the July 2 anniversary until it was at hand. "Given such short notice, it was obvious that not much of a celebration was possible," says Ferling. Only by buying 48 hours, could they do the thing justice. "As the sky darkened on July 4, 1777, and a band composed of Hessian prisoners of war provided music," Ferling goes on, "13 rockets were fired into the sky above Philadelphia." And the fourth of July—which was, after all, the day Congress adopted the text of the Declaration—became Independence Day.

http://www.smithsonianmag.com/smithsonian/issues04/jul04/editorsnote.html

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