Pamplet edited by Memory F. Mitchell for the State Department of Archives and History that provides brief biographical sketches of the North Carolinians that signed the Declaration of Independence and Constitution. North Carolina has three signatories to the Declaration of Independence, William Hooper, John Penn, and Joseph Hewes. Interestingly enough, none of the North Carolina signers were native North Carolinians. The most famous signers of the Declaration of Independence at the time were arguably John Hancock, well-known for his massive signature, and Benjamin Franklin, a famous scientist and politician. Three men from North Carolina, chosen by the state's First Provincial Congress, signed the Declaration: Joseph Hewes, William Hooper, and John Penn.; Three North Carolinians signed the Declaration of Independence: William Hooper, John Penn, and Joseph Hewes. This chapter profiles the three North Carolina signers of the Declaration of Independence: William Hooper, Joseph Hewes, and John Penn. John Penn (May 17, 1741 – September 14, 1788) was an American Founding Father who served multiple terms in the Continental Congress, and who signed both the Declaration of Independence and Articles of Confederation as a delegate of North Carolina. North Carolina had three signers to the Declaration of Independence in July of 1776 at Philadelphia: Joseph Hewes, a merchant and justice of the peace from Edenton in Chowan County; John Penn, a farmer from Island Creek in Granville County; and William Hooper, a lawyer and delegate from New Hanover County. June 11 - Thomas Jefferson, John Adams, Benjamin Franklin, Roger Sherman, and Robert R. Livingston appointed to a committee to draft a declaration of independence. American army retreats to Lake Champlain from Canada. June 12-27 - Jefferson, at the request of the committee, drafts a declaration, of which only a fragment exists. Mecklenburg Declaration of Independence The flag of North Carolina bears the date of the Mecklenburg Declaration: May 20, 1775. The Mecklenburg Declaration of Independence is a text published in 1819 with the now disputed claim that it was the first declaration of independence made in the Thirteen Colonies during the American Revolution. And for the support of this Declaration, with a firm reliance on the protection of divine Providence, we mutually pledge to each other our Lives, our Fortunes and our sacred Honor. – Approved by The Continental Congress on July 4, 1776 North Carolina signers of the Declaration were William Hooper, Joseph Hewes and John Penn. But who were they? Although Joseph Hewes was a native of New Jersey, he was one of three North Carolinians to sign the Declaration of Independence. His business experience, education and honorable character enabled the Tar Heel to serve North Carolina vigilantly in public service for thirteen years. Joseph Hewes was born in Princeton, New Jersey on January 23, 1730, and attended The College of New Jersey (later renamed to Princeton University). He established a shipping business in Edenton, North Carolina in 1760 and, by the time of the American Revolution, had amassed a fortune. He was elected to represent the town of Edenton in the colonial House of Burgesses in 1766 and served there Information obtained from: American Council of Learned Societies. American National Biography. New York: Oxford University Press, 1999. Who Was Who in America: Historical Volume 1607-1896. Chicago: The A.N. Marquis Company, 1963. Back to The Signer's Gallery William Hooper was recognized for his participation in The Declaration of Independence in several areas. His prophetic observation in a letter of 26 April 1774 to his friend James Iredell is often quoted as a landmark of colonial foresight at this early period. Hooper wrote, “The Colonies are striding fast to independence, and ere long will build an empire upon the ruins of Great Britain A representative of North Carolina at the signing of the Declaration of Independence, William Hooper risked death and sacrificed his personal income to secure the creation of the United States. He later pursued a Federalist political ideology, which many North Carolinians disagreed with, and served as a federal judge until shortly before his death. The most famous signers of the Declaration of Independence at the time were arguably John Hancock, well-known for his massive signature, and Benjamin Franklin, a famous scientist and politician. Three men from North Carolina, chosen by the state’s First Provincial Congress, signed the Declaration: Joseph Hewes, William Hooper, and John Penn. 17 June 1742–14 Oct. 1790 "William Hooper." N.C. Highway Historical Marker D-45, N.C. Office of Archives & History. William Hooper, one of North Carolina's three signers of the Declaration of Independence, foremost Patriot leader, writer, orator, attorney, and legislator, was the oldest of five children of the Scots divine, the Reverend William Hooper (1704–14 Apr. 1767), second rector of William Hooper, one of North Carolina’s three signers of the Declaration of Independence, was born in Boston on June 17, 1742. He was the eldest child of William Hooper, Sr., rector of Boston’s Trinity Church, and his wife Mary, the daughter of a prominent Boston merchant. See also: Pre-revolutionary Resolves; Mecklenburg Resolves Souvenir depiction of the legendary Mecklenburg Declaration. Image from The Mecklenburg declaration of independence : a study of evidence showing that the alleged early declaration of independence by Mecklenburg County, North Carolina, on May 20th, 1775, is spurious. The Mecklenburg Declaration of Independence is the name given to a Patriot, Continental Congress member, and North Carolina signer of the Declaration of Independence, John Penn and his contributions to the American Revolution and the early days of a fledgling nation have been overlooked. Penn was one of three North Carolinians who signed the Declaration of Independence, and his efforts on the North Carolina Board of War were instrumental in undermining
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