Mecklenburg Declaration of Independence - Historum

cinamin · September 19th, 2009, 06:04 PM

I came across this bit of information while working on genealogy, something that I hadn't known about previously. It seems there is controversy over whether this document ever existed and wondered what the historians here thought of it and if this was known by Jefferson at the time if it may have been used as a framework to write the Declaration of Independence.

For those unfamiliar with it, as I was until a few months ago, apparently this document was written in 1775, making Mecklenburg County of North Carolina the predecessor of the US Declaration.
More of the story here: Link

The document as written from notes, due to the loss of the original can be read at this Link

Any scholarly thoughts on this ?

**crossroadclarence** · September 19th, 2009, 06:49 PM

I was born and raised in Mecklenburg County: it's real as far as I know.

Another link is more detailed:

http://www.cmstory.org/history/hornets/facts.htm

cinamin · September 20th, 2009, 05:20 AM

Thanks for the detailed article. I'm convinced now this document did indeed exist and preceded the US Declaration. And since it was brought to Philadelphia, then it's very possible it was kept and maybe used to write the US Declaration a year later?

Could the county of Mecklenburg be responsible for the idea of writing the US Declaration in the first place?

**Belisarius** · September 20th, 2009, 05:59 AM

Until this I'd always thought Mecklenburg was in Germany.

cinamin · September 20th, 2009, 06:26 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Belisarius

Until this I'd always thought Mecklenburg was in Germany.

Yup! The county was named for the German Princess Charlotte of Mecklenburg-Strelitz. Thus, where the city of Charlotte also gleaned it's name.

Quote:

In 1762, Mecklenburg County was a part of the area known as Anson County in North Carolina. It, however, was switched over to become it's own county, and when it was decided that it would be its own county it was named after the German Princess Charlotte of Mecklenburg-Strelitz, who was alive at the time but who died about forty years later. She was the queen consort of King George III. The largest city in the county also got its name from this queen, as the largest city is named Charlotte.

So there ya go!

**tjadams** · September 20th, 2009, 07:28 AM

"I must not be understood as suggesting any doubtfulness in the state of North Carolina. No state was more fixed or forward. Nor do I affirm positively that this paper is a fabrication: because the proof of a negative can only be presumptive. But I shall believe it such until positive and solemn proof of it's authenticity shall be produced". Jefferson to Adams 9 July 1819

I would have to assume that Hooper, Hewes & Penn would have recognized the wording as from their Mecklenburg document when they voted on and signed the US Dec.o.Ind. From all accounts Jefferson drew his inspiration from the likes of Locke, Hume & others. There's just no solid evidence supporting the case against Jefferson.