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Celebrating the Mecklenburg Declaration of Independence: All About the Declaration
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Signers' Biographies & Signatures

The Mecklenburg Declaration of Independence was supposedly signed by more than twenty-five prominent citizens of Mecklenburg County on May. 20, 1775. These signers came from all walks of life and had a great influence in Charlotte's early history. Find out a bit more about these significant individuals for yourself .

Biographies
Abraham Alexander
Adam Alexander
Charles Alexander
Ezra Alexander
Hezekiah Alexander
John Alexander
Waightstill Avery
Hezekiah Balch
Richard Barry
Ephraim Brevard
John Davidson
Henry Downs
John Flennekin
John Foard
William Graham
James Harris
Richard Harris
Robert Irwin
William Kennon
Matthew McClure
Neill Morrison
Duncan Ochiltree
Benjamin Patton
John Phifer
Thomas Polk
John Queary
David Reese
Zaccheus Wilson
Richard Barry (ca. 1726-August 21, 1801)

Richard Barry was born in 1726 in Pennsylvania. He immigrated to Mecklenburg through Maryland. Records indicate that he was a tanner and owned a business for many years. He is listed as one of Mecklenburg County's first magistrates. On February 6, 1764, he was sworn in as a member of the House of Representatives from Mecklenburg County. On November 7, 1768, by an Act of the General Assembly, Richard Barry was appointed as a member of a group of trustees and directors who were charged with the responsibilty of planning and building the town of Charlotte, North Carolina. In addition to his community and business life, Barry was an active member of the Hopewell Presbyterian Church and is buried in its cemetery.

Signatures are provided from other historical documents of the era since the original Meck. Dec. document does not exist. (Courtesy of T. Crumbley)
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