Mecklenberg Declaration of Independence

Mecklenberg Declaration of Independence

This is a copy of the Mecklenburg Declaration. This is not from the sources and references as below.

1. Resolved . . . That whosoever directly or indirectly abets, or in any way, form, or manner
countenances the invasion of our rights, as attempted by the Parliament of Great Britain,
is an enemy to his country, to America, and the rights of man.

2. Resolved . . . That we the citizens of Mecklenburg County, do hereby dissolve the political
bands which have connected us with the mother country, and absolve ourselves from all
allegiance to the British Crown, abjuring all political connection with a nation that has wantonly
trampled on our rights and liberties and inhumanly shed innocent blood of Americans in Lexington.

3. Resolved . . . That we do hereby Declare ourselves free and independent people; that we are,
and of a right ought to be, a sovereign and self-governing people under the power of God and
the*General Congress; to the maintenance which independence we solemnly pledge to each
other our mutual co-operation, our lives, our fortunes and our scared honor. *(Reference here
was to the Provincial Congress of North Carolina.)

4. Resolved . . . That we hereby ordain and adopt as rules of conduct all each of our former laws,
and that the crown of Great Britain cannot be considered hereafter as holding any rights, privileges,
or immunities among us.

5. Resolved . . . That all officers, both civil and military, in the country, be entitled to exercise the
same powers and authorities as heretofore; that every member of this delegation shall henceforth
be civil officer and exercise the powers of a justice of the peace, issue process, hear and determine
controversies according to law, preserve peace, union and harmony in the country, and use every
exertion to spread the love of liberty and of country until a more general and better organized
system of government be established.

6 Resolved . . . That a copy of these resolutions be transmitted by express to the President of the
Continental Congress assembled in Philadelphia to be laid before that body.
Signers of the Mecklenburg Declaration of Independence;

Gen. Thomas Polk ------------------------------ Col.Abraham Alexander
Dr. Ephraim Brevard ---------------------------Col. Adam Alexander
Gen. Robert Irwin -------------------------------John McKnitt Alexander
Rev. Hezekiah Balch ----------------------------Hezekiah Alexander
Capt. Zaccheus Wilson --------------------------Neil Morrison
Richard Barry------------------------------------ John Flennikin
William Graham ---------------------------------Matthew McClure
John Queary-------------------------------------- Ezra Alexander
Waightstill Avery --------------------------------Col. William Kennon
Col. James Harris --------------------------------Henry Downs
John Foard ----------------------------------------Charles Alexander
Maj. John Davidson ------------------------------John Phifer
Benjamin Patton ----------------------------------David Reese
Richard Harris
--------------------------------Spectators
Gen. Joseph Graham -----------------------------Gen. George Graham
Rev. Francis Cummings -------------------------Col Ezekiel Polk
Robert Harris Sr. ------------------------David Rose (Grandfather of Pres. Polk)

Another copy of the Declaration:

1. Resolved, That whosoever directly or indirectly abetted, or in any way, form, or manner,
countenanced the unchartered and dangerous invasion of our rights, as claimed by Great
Britain, is an enemy to this County, to America, and to the inherent and inalienable rights
of man.
2. Resolved, That we the citizens of Mecklenburg County, do hereby dissolve the political
bands which have connected us to the Mother Country, and hereby absolve ourselves from
all allegiance to the British Crown, and abjure all political connection, contract, or association,
with that Nation, who have wantonly trampled on our rights and liberties and inhumanly shed
the innocent blood of American patriots at Lexington.
3. Resolved, That we do hereby declare ourselves a free and independent people, are, and of
right ought to be, a sovereign and self-governing Association, under the control of no power
other than that of our God and the General Government of the Congress; to the maintenance
of which independence, we solemnly pledge to each other, our mutual cooperation, our lives,
our fortunes, and our most sacred honor.
4. Resolved, That as we now acknowledge the existence and control of no law or legal officer,
civil or military, within this County, we do hereby ordain and adopt, as a rule of life, all, each
and every of our former laws - where, nevertheless, the Crown of Great Britain never can be
considered as holding rights, privileges, immunities, or authority therein.
5. Resolved, That it is also further decreed, that all, each and every military officer in this County,
is hereby reinstated to his former command and authority, he acting conformably to these
regulations, and that every member present of this delegation shall henceforth be a civil officer,
viz. a Justice of the Peace, in the character of a 'Committee-man,' to issue process, hear and
determine all matters of controversy, according to said adopted laws, and to preserve peace,
and union, and harmony, in said County, and to use every exertion to spread the love of country
and fire of freedom throughout America, until a more general and organized government be
established in this province.

The following is a transcription directly from Roster of North Carolina in the American Revolution.

References – The Colonial Records of North Carolina, 1771 to 1775. Saunders,
Vol. IX. Pages 1263-1264 and 1265.
The Mecklenberg Declaration of Independence, May 20, 1775. And Lives of its
Signers. George W. Graham, M.D.
[P. 81]
References in the above book to Martin's History of North Carolina, which contains
a minute description and detailed account of the proceedings.
The above history proven authentic in as much that the book was written during the
years 1791 to 1829 – Martin's opportunities for ascertaining the truth, are that with
the exception of Major Garden, he is the only historian who personally knew
eye-witnesses and participants in the Mecklenburg Convention, etc.

Page 1236, Vol. IX
The Mecklenburg Declaration of 20th May, 1775 – Declaration

Names of the Delegates Present

[P. 1264]
Col. Thomas Polk
Ephraim Brevard
Hezekiah J. Balch
John Phifer
James Harris
William Kennon
John Ford
Richard Barry
Henry Downs
Ezra Alexander
William Graham
John Quary
Abraham Alexander
John McKnitt Alexander
Hezekiah Alexander
Adam Alexander
Charles Alexander
Zacheus Wilson, Sen.
Waightstill Avery
Benjamin Patton
Mathew McClure
Neil Morrison
Robert Irwin
John Flenniken
David Reese
Richard Harris, Se.

[P. 1265]
Abraham Alexander was appointed chairman, and John McKintt Alexander, clerk.
Resolutions were then drawn up, and "after discussing the resolves, and arranging
by-laws and regulations for the government of a Standing Committee of Pubic
Safety who were selected from these delegates the whole proceedings were
unanimously adopted and signed. A select committee was then appointed.
The names of the signers follow:

Reference
Pages
27. Ephraim Brevard (drew the week.bg Dec'n Indpndce.
27-28. John McKintt Alexander (secretary)
81. Major John Davidson (signer)
20. James Harris
20. Robert Irwin
delegates & signers
20. Col. Adam Alexander, member of Convention
115. Rev. Hezekiah Balch (voted)
117. Hezekiah Alexander served in the Mecklenburg Convention
118. Capt. Zacheus Wilson, member of the Mecklenburg Convention

PAGE 497

Pages
120. Neil Morrison, member of the Mecklenburg Convention
121. Richard Barry, member of the Mecklenburg Convention
122. John Flennikin, member of the Mecklenburg Convention
123. William Graham, member of the Mecklenburg Convention
123. Matthew McClure, member of the Mecklenburg Convention
124. John Queary, member of the Mecklenburg Convention
124-125. Ezra Alexander, delegate to the Mecklenburg Convention
125-126. Waightsill Avery (signer)
127-128. Col. William Kennon, member of the Mecklenburg Convention
128-129. Col. James Harris, delegate
130. David Reese, delegate to the Mecklenburg Convention
131. Henry Downs, reputed delegated to the Mecklenburg Convention
131. John Foard, reputed delegate to the Mecklenburg Convention
132. Charles Alexander, reputed delegate to the Mecklenburg Convention
131-134. Robert Harris, Sr.
123. Maj. John Davidson, delegate to the Mecklenburg Convention
136. Col. Ezekiel Polk, delegate, perhaps signer
137. Capt. James Jack, bearer of the Mecklenburg Resolves of May, 1775, to Philadelphia
139. Rev. Francis Cummings, DD., eye-witness of the Convention
140. Gen. Joseph Graham, was present during the meeting of the Mecklenburg Convention
. . . . Gen. George Graham