Big Celebration Planned for Captain Jack Unveiling

[On the Line]

I am proud to be a direct descendant of one of the Meck Dec signers--Henry Downs was my great-great-great-great-great grandfather and he and his wife are buried in the Providence Presbyterian Church cemetery. Also, my birthday falls on May 20th. I remember as a little girl my mother brought me to downtown Charlotte (didn't call it Uptown then!) to shop on my 8th birthday and I was thrilled by all the banners across Tryon Street and the big parade. Mother had to let me down gently and tell me that all the celebration was not in honor of my birthday, but rather it was Meck Dec day!

[Dave76]

Before this thread fades into oblivion, I just wanted to add a couple more things that I think people might find interesting and also point out that a lot of great information can be found at this page, including a large number of eyewitness testimonials concerning the Mecklenburg Declaration of Independence. Google Books is also a great source.

Just for fun, below is a story about the first Mec Dec celebration that took place in 1835 and appeared in something called the Miners' and Farmers' Journal, Charlotte, N. C., May 22,1835:



THE GREAT CELEBRATION OF THE MECKLENBURG DECLARATION OF INDEPENDENCE.

The streets of Charlotte were thronged throughout the day with a dense crowd of people from all the surrounding country to witness the imposing spectacle of the first grand celebration of our own independence. The feeling and enthusiasm of the whole multitude was beyond anything we ever witnessed. The Revolutionary soldiers— with their satin badges marked '75 instead of '76—the great men of our State and a numerous concourse of strangers from South Carolina and the more distant counties of our own State, were present and joined in the celebration. The day was unusually splendid.

The immense military parade under the command ,of Gen. Polk opened the ceremonies of the day. His Excellency, the Governor, was present and reviewed the troops. At 12 o'clock the military passed through the streets, and the procession formed and joined in opposite Dr. Boyd's Hotel. Thence they proceeded to the church grove where arrangements had been made for the delivery of the oration and the reading of the Mecklenburg Declaration. The stand from which the oration was delivered was wreathed all around with flowers—a decoration for which we were indebted to the taste of the young ladies of Charlotte. The grove was crowded all around further than the human voice could reach—and it is no exaggeration to say there were five thousand within hearing of the stand.

At precisely half past one the Rev. Mr. Armstrong opened with a prayer; and then followed Mr. Osborne ,the reader of the Declaration, who prefaced his talk with a few eloquent and pertinent remarks. He then read the Declaration and gave out the names of the signers in a loud and impressive voice. Then followed the orator, Franklin Smith, Esq. He gave a succinct and eloquent account of the aggressions of the mother country upon the rights of the colonies, and then came down to the period of the Declaration. He sketched the character of the Mecklenburg Convention, and in a strain of feeling eloquence, commemorated the virtues of the heroes of the 20th of May. 1775.

Then came the dinner. Upwards of 600 persons sat down to the table, prepared by Doctor Boyd, in a grove fronting the house of Doctor Caldwell. The greatest good feeling prevailed, and merriment and social cheer went brisk around. The toasts announced as the toasts of the day were arranged by the committee consisting of Mr. Davidson, Dr. Dunlap, Wm. J. Alexander and Franklin Smith. Esqrs. Mr. Senator Mangum, Governor Swain and others spoke at length upon the politics of the day. Gen. Graham gave an interesting historical sketch by way of response to the sentiment [our honored guest] in compliment to him. The whole day went off joyously well.

In the evening there was a splendid ball. The room was crowded with ladies, gaily attired, who seemed to enjoy the celebration as much as the youth of the country. The supper taMe was beautifully arranged and the large centre Cake was gilded with the inscription—The 20th of May, 1775. Charlotte has not seen such a day for 60 years.

In our hurry to go to press we are obliged to omit the Toasts and the letters from invited guests, who could not attend, and a more particular account and notice of the proceedings of the day.




Finally, I've included what is usually considered the most impressive eyewitness testimony concerning the events of May 20th 1775, which comes from General Joseph Graham. Graham, who witnessed the proceedings as a 15 year old boy, was the leader of the patriot forces when General Cornwallis and the British Army invaded Charlotte in 1780. Despite being badly outnumbered, the patriot forces put up a good fight before they eventually had to begin retreating as the battle continued several miles outside of town. Graham was eventually overtaken by a platoon of British Dragoons and was brutally butchered: He received nine wounds, three gunshot wounds and six by the sabre, including several deep gashes to his head and face. He was left for dead but was later found alive and taken to safety where he received medical attention. Graham eventually recovered and returned to the war and had a distinguished military career. After the war, he became Mecklenburg County's first sheriff and its first state representative before eventually moving to nearby Lincoln County where he operated a very successful iron works for 40 years. Below is his testimony:



Vesuvius Furnace, 4th October, 1830.

Dear Sir:—Agreeably to your request, I will give you the details of the Mecklenburg Declaration of Independence on the 20th of May, 1775, as well as I can recollect after a lapse of fifty-five years. I -was then a lad about half grown, was present on that occasion (a looker-on).

During the Winter and Spring preceding that event, several popular meetings of the people were held in Charlotte; two of which I attended. Papers were read, grievances stated, and public measures discussed. As printing was not then common in the South, the papers were mostly manuscript; one or more of which was from the pen of the Reverend Doctor Reese, (then of Mecklenburg), which m'et with general approbation, and copies of it circulated. It is to be regretted that those and other papers published at that period, and the journal of their proceedings, are lost . They would show much of the spirit and tone of thinking which prepared them for the measures they afterwards adopted.

On the 20th of May, 1775, besides the two persons elected from each militia company, (usually called Committee-men,) a much larger number of citizens attended in Charlotte than at any former meeting—perhaps half the men in the county. The news of the battle of Lexington, the 19th of April preceding, had arrived. There appeared among the people much excitem'ent. The committee were organized in the Court-house by appointing Abraham Alexander. Esq., Chairman, and John McKnitt Alexander, Esq., Clerk or Secretary to the meeting.

After reading a number of papers as usual, and much animated discussion, the question was taken, and they resolved to declare themselves independent. One among other reasons offered, that the King or Ministry had. by proclamation or other edict, declared the Colonies out of the protection of the British Crown; they ought therefore, to declare themselves out of his protection, and resolve on independence. That their proceedings might be in due form, a sub-committee, consisting of Dr. Ephraim' Brevard, a Mr. Kennon, an attorney, and a third person, whom I do not recollect, were appointed to draft their Declaration. They retired from the Courthouse for some time; but the committee continued in session in it. One circumstance occurred I distinctly remember. A member of the committee, who had said hut little before, addressed the Chairman as follows: "If you resolve on independence, how shall we all be absolved from' the obligations of the oath we took to be true to King George the 3rd about four years ago,* after the Regulation battle, when we were sworn whole militia companies together. I should be glad to know how gentlemen can clear their consciences after taking that oath." This speech produced confusion. The Chairman could scarcely preserve order, so many wished to replyThere appeared great indignation and contempt at the speech of the member. Some said it was nonsense; others that allegiance and protection were reciprocal; when protection was withdrawn, allegiance ceased; that the oath was only binding while the King protected us in the enjoyment of our rights and liberties as they existed at the time it was taken; which he had not done, but now declared us out of his protection; therefore was not binding. Any man who would interpret it otherwise, was a fool. By way of Illustration, one speaker (pointing to a green tree near the court-house) stated, if he was sworn to do any thing as long as the leaves continued on that tree, it was so long binding; but when the leaves fell, he was discharged from its obligation. This was said to be certainly applicable in the present case. Out of respect for a worthy citizen, long since deceased, and his respectable connections, I forbear to mention names; for though he was a friend to the cause, a suspicion rested on him in the public mind for some time after.

The sub-committee appointed to draft resolutions returned and Doctor Ephraim Brevard read their report, as near as I can recollect, in the very words we have since seen them several times in print. It was unanimously adopted, and shortly after it was moved and seconded to have proclamation made and the people collected, that the proceedings be read at the Court-house door, in order that all might hear them. It was done, and they were received with enthusiasm. It was then proposed by some one aloud to give three cheers and throw up their hats. It was immediately adopted, and the hats thrown. Several of them lit on the Court-house roof. The owners had som'e difficulty to reclaim them.

The foregoing is all from personal knowledge. I understood afterwards that Captain James Jack, then of Charlotte, undertook, on the request of the committee, to carry a copy of their proceedings to Congress, which then sat in Philadelphia; and on his way at Salisbury, the time of court, Mr. Kennon, who was one of the committee who assisted in drawing the Declaration, prevailed on Capt . Jack to get his papers, and have them read publicly; which was done and the proceedings met with general approbation. But two of the lawyers, John Dunn and a Mr. Booth, dissented, and asserted they were treasonable, and endeavored to have Captain Jack detained. He drew his pistols, and threatened to kill the first man who would interrupt him, and passed on. The news of this reached Charlotte in a short tim'e after, and the executive powers, ordered a party of ten or twelve armed men to bring said Lawyers from Salisbury;* when they were brought, and the case investigated before the committee. Dunn, on giving security and making fair promises, was permitted to return, and Booth was sentenced to go to Camden, in South Carolina, out of the sphere of his influence. My brother George Graham and the late Col. John Carruth were of the party that went to Salisbury and it Is distinctly remembered that when in Charlotte they camte home at eight, in order to provide for their trip to Camden; and that they and two others of the party took Booth to that place. This was the Bret military expedition from Mecklenburg in the Revolutionary War, and believed to be the first any where to the South.

Yours respectfully, J. Graham.

[Dave76]

This is the current tribute to Captain Jack on West Trade St.