Wells finds original 1776 transcription of Declaration of Independence
A transcribed copy of the Declaration of Independence in the Town of Wells Record Book, transcribed by Town Clerk Nathaniel Wells in 1776 and unearthed recently. (Photo by Rebekah Kelley, courtesy of the town of Wells)
The town of Wells announced Thursday that staff recently discovered an original, handwritten transcription of the Declaration of Independence from 1776 while perusing historical records.
The newly unearthed copy was recorded in the Wells Town Record Book by Town Clerk Nathaniel Wells in July 1776.
The record book contains the handwritten document, as well as the original instructions ordered by the Massachusetts Council, which ordered that the declaration be recorded in the town’s official record book to “remain as a perpetual Memorial thereof.”
The 1776 transcription of the Declaration of Independence was written by the Wells town clerk after a copy was read aloud to local church congregations, in accordance with the instructions from the Massachusetts Council. (Photo by Rebekah Kelley, courtesy of the town of Wells)
After the declaration was adopted by the Second Continental Congress, copies were distributed to local church ministers with instructions to read them aloud to the congregation. Then, ministers were to hand off the copy to the town clerk, who would then transcribe the document into the official town record.
Assistant Town Clerk Jennifer Robinson said one reason town staff were so delighted to discover the transcription was to see the timelessness of the work of the town clerk even 250 years ago.
“It makes us happy that he did what he was supposed to,” she laughed. “The things that we’re supposed to record, we record, and it’s been going on all this time.”
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Robinson said the document was discovered when a visitor with knowledge of the historical instructions stopped in and asked if the town had its transcription.
The Town of Wells Record Book from 1775 to 1810, where a transcription of the Declaration of Independence created in 1776 was recently unearthed. (Photo by Rebekah Kelley, courtesy of the town of Wells)
“He came and asked us, and we said, ‘Well, you know, we’re not sure. Let’s look,’” Robinson explained. “We wouldn’t have just set out to find it particular, but then we did.”
Robinson said although town officials have been searching and hoping, the town doesn’t have the original copy. Regardless, they feel that the transcription is an exciting piece of history.
This year, in celebration of the 250th anniversary of the United States, one of 26 surviving copies of an early version of the declaration (known as a Dunlap Broadside) took a tour of Maine hosted by The Maine Historical Society.
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Robinson said anyone interested in viewing Wells’ transcription is welcome to stop at the Town Clerk’s Office. Town officials also made a scan of the transcription that can be read in a higher resolution.
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Tagged: America's 250th, history, maine history, york county Maine
Abigail is a community reporter for Kennebunk, Kennebunkport, Sanford, and Wells. She recently moved up to Maine from Connecticut after getting her bachelor’s degree in English/Journalism at the University. More by Abigail Driscoll
