1906- The Moravian Record

THE MORAVIAN RECORD  

Following is a translation of the above German transcript from the Moravian Records in the archives at Salem, furnishing strong and indisputable proof of the authenticity of the Mecklenburg Declaration: (Reprinted from The Observer, Dec. 18, 1905.)  

1775.  

At the end of 1775, I cannot omit to mention, that already in the summer of the same year, that is to say in May, June or July, the county of Mecklenburg in North Carolina did declare itself free and independent from England and did make such disposition for the administration of laws, as later on, the Continental Congress established for the whole.  But this Congress looked upon such a proceeding as too premature.  

1776.  

Up till now most of the inhabitants of the country had banded themselves together against Great Britain and exercised patience towards those that did not join their association; and over and above they had to take a solemn oath that they would keep silence and not in any way act contrary to the sacred interest of the Association, but as these did not keep silence; on the contrary, in word and deed endeavored to act for the King, the above mentioned inhabitants commenced to take various measures against them.  This was made manifest that the non-associates had to give up their arms which were forcibly taken from them; and is proved by officers from Rowan, who say that many people living near South Fork and Hope and Surry complained to Col. Armstrong and he gave them a writing in April to one of the officers, telling him to abstain from such manner of acting, and also wrote to other officers to make restitution of their arms (guns); but nothing came of it.  But the worst was yet, that the taking away of arms was repeated on several occasions and each time by a new officer and in raids.  

Each district in a county, after that, selected its own captain.  In Dobbs Parish or in the Wachovia they selected the blacksmith, Henry Schmidt, at which election many of our young men presented themselves as if for fun and gave their vote and thereby acknowledged to belong to our future mustering drills and to go to war and to that end they were called out in unlimited numbers and picked out for that purpose.  Many of their parents had lax principles to such an extent that, when it became a matter in earnest, they wanted to save their children in Salem by good advice and deeds (by hook or by crook, as Milton says).  Many a young man belonging to our side came for a little while to Salem (to hide) until the storm would be passed, because their fathers did not wish to make a clean breast of it, when they were questioned by officers, whether they had any arms for an unfriendly purpose and declared they did not meddle with quarrels and fights (though they did not mean what they said).  But many a farmer, who lived secluded on a plantation, was in reality in an evil plight, as they and their sons stood on the muster-rolls and were called out “to the tips of their fingers” for parades and drills, yet with their plausible tales they found the officers willing to believe them.  But there were cases, where some of our young men voluntarily enlisted, drilled and went to fight, but not direct from Salem or Bethabara.  

The Royal Governor Martin had, without doubt, delegates and confidential persons scattered among the people higher up in the country; besides, many people were loyal to the King, even some of those who had joined the association.  Nobody knows what the Governor had in mind to do, for one of our brothers to whom the offer was made to get acquainted with the Governor’s secret, refused to listen to any proposition whatsoever.  Nevertheless, so much of the Governor’s plans was made known afterwards; that his intention was that the aid of his so-called faithful minded ones, to reconquer the country for the King and with that object in view the Scotch, who lived between Crosscreek and Wilmington, were to give him assistance apart, but those who lived higher up in the country, were to meet him with provisions, wagons and horses and at the apportune moment the banner of the King (should be unfurled).”  End of page 1776th year.  

MORE IMPORTANT EVIDENCE.  

Toast Offered at Fourth of July Celebration in Charlotte in 1808 and another Toast in 1825 by Marquis De Lafayette.  

The following letter to Prof. Alexander Graham, is the latest one and of the most interesting bits of evidence bearing on the authenticity of the Mecklenburg Declaration of Independence:  

My Dear Sir: 

The toast to which I alluded was in an account of a Fourth of July celebration at Charlotte in 1808.  It will be found in The Raleigh Register (file in State library) for July 28th, 1808, is as follows:  

“By Jos. Pearson—The patriots of Mecklenburg—the first to declare independence.  May their sons be the last to acknowledge themselves slaves.”  

Another toast (though later than the 1819 controversy), was offered by the illustrious Marquis de Lafayette when entertained at a public dinner in the Governor’s mansion at Raleigh on March 2, 1825, and is reported in Raleigh Register of March 8, 1825, as follows:  

“The State of North Carolina, its metropolis, and the 20th May, 1775, when a generous people called for independence and freedom, of which may they more and more forever cherish the principles and enjoy the blessings.”

As to your request for permission to publish this reply to your inquiry, of course I have no objection. 

M. DELANCEY HAYWOOD.