Dear History Lover,
Countries around the globe celebrate momentous occasions in the month of July. For example, the 1st day of the month is Canada Day; the 6th-- Kupala Day, which marks the solstice in Ukraine, Poland, Belarus, and Russia. Here in the United States, we appreciate American Independence Day on the 4th, while on the 14th, the French and Francophiles
laud Bastille Day for the toppling of the monarchy and commencement of a Revolution.
As History At Play™, LLC is a Boston-based educational entertainment company, it's easy to get caught up in the allure of 4th of July festivities, particularly with the success of this year's Harborfest. One of the highlights of this four-day
jubilee is the reading of the Declaration of Independence from the balcony of the Old State House. On this particular Fourth of July, I was fortunate to walk with the Massachusetts 7th Regiment in Boston's Independence Day parade and found myself weepy whilst standing in the shadow of the famed balcony from which the declaration was originally read on
July 18, 1776.
I asked myself, was this America's first Declaration of Independence, or was this merely a final draft of many revisions which had come before it?
Society is often programmed to believe that the most famous milestone is the first time that an idea, event, or announcement has occurred, when in fact, many similar, though lesser known occurrences have come years prior to a noted design, action, or proclamation. To quote President Jefferson in the aforementioned text, "... let facts be submitted to a
candid world."
Worcester Town Meeting Notes. 4 October 1774.
The United States' first declaration of independence was not written in the (recently shuttered) City Tavern of Philadelphia; rather, it may have been penned nearly two years earlier. In response to the Coercive Acts
enacted upon the inhabitants of Boston following the Tea Party, Joseph Warren penned the Suffolk Resolves on September 6, 1774, promoting civil disobedience in the form of a boycott of British goods.
Less than one month later, on October 4, 1774, Worcester, Massachusetts demanded that Parliament reinstate the Massachusetts Charter of 1691. The Worcester Town Meeting stated that if the governing body failed
to comply, Worcester would declare independence from Great Britain. A representative of the Massachusetts Provincial Congress would "consider the people of this province absolved, on their part, from the obligation therein contained [the 1691 Massachusetts Charter], and to all intents and purposes reduced to a state of nature; and you are to exert yourself in devising ways and means to raise from the dissolution of the old constitution, as from the ashes of the Phenix, a new form, wherein all
officers shall be dependent on the suffrages of the people, whatever unfavorable constructions our enemies may put upon such procedure."
Nineteen months later, Malden, Massachusetts passed a unanimous vote
that declared, "...we are confirmed in the opinion, that the present age would be deficient in their duty to God, their posterity and themselves, if they do not establish an American republic. This is the only form of government which we wish to see established for we can never be willingly subject to any other King than he who, being possessed of infinite wisdom, goodness, and rectitude, is alone fit to possess unlimited power."
Some two weeks before John Hancock put quill to paper in Philadelphia, the Natick Resolves for Independence were also penned, stating that "... every idea of moderation, justice, humanity and Christianity is entirely laid aside," on account of Great Britain's treatment of the colonies and then set forth the hope
that "... peace, liberty, and safety, will be more likely speedily... restored and established in our once happy land."
Nearly every town in Massachusetts issued a declaration or a resolve for independence prior to the signing of the famed document in Philadelphia. One
exception was the Town of Barnstable, which, coincidentally, was the birthplace of James Otis; a famed orator, who is credited with the revolutionary slogan that still resonates today that is "Taxation without representation is tyranny."
Is it possible that Thomas Jefferson, author of the formally
recognized Declaration, may have been privy to copies, or even recollections of these earlier drafts and resolves? No matter what the case, or who his inspiration, it is vital to recognize that what society may deem to be the "first," may actually have been preceded by a multitude of preliminary posits, earlier events, and aforementioned
announcements.
Facsimile of Declaration of Independence. Photo by Zoë Knight / History At Play, LLC.
We hope you'll join us in Barnstable, Massachusetts (the
only town that did not declare independence from Great Britain prior to the July 4, '76 declaration) on Monday July 25, at 7pm, for a performance of Tinseltown Inventor Hedy Lamarr™ , sponsored by Tales of Cape Cod. The performance, hosted at the Olde Colonial Courthouse, 3046 Main Street (Rt. 6A), Barnstable Village, MA, is open to the
public and tickets are available at the door. Keep reading for more
information...
Historically yours,
Judith "Jude" Kalaora
Founder | Artistic Director
With support from Collin Robert Smith, Social Media Coordinator.
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For playbill information, click the photo associated with each event.
MONDAY July 25, 2022
7:00pm ET
Olde Colonial Courthouse
3046 Main St. (Rt. 6A), Barnstable Village, MA
(Parking at St. Mary's, across Main Street)
Followed by Dessert Reception
$15 Non-Members/$10 Members at the door.
IN PERSON
Wednesday July 27, 2022
7:00pm ET
Learn about the field of Living History during our monthly VIRTUAL event. Discuss historical themes, share anecdotes, and play collaborative history games.
$5 Contribution. We'll send the Zoom link.
VIRTUAL
HAP 'n CHAT Presents
FRIDAY August 5, 2022
7:15pm ET Zoom Room Opens with Music
7:30pm ET Performance
Followed by real-time Q&A.
Viewable for 5 days!
Pay-What-You-Can $10/$15/$20
VIRTUAL
J. Kalaora as Dolley Madison. Photo: History At Play, LLC.
SATURDAY August 6, 2022
Performances: 1:00pm, 1:45pm, & 2:30pm ET
19 North Square, Boston, MA
IN PERSON
SATURDAY August 13, 2022
10:45 am ET
120 Tremont Street, Boston, MA
This event is SOLD OUT!
J. Kalaora will be offering an EXCLUSIVE, INTIMATE Peter Faneuil/Mercantile-focused 18th Century walking tour in Downtown Boston on Sunday August 14, 3-5pm.
Limited Tickets. $40 per person.
IN PERSON
THURSDAY September 8, 2022
6:30pm ET
28 Pearl Street, Gardner, MA
IN PERSON
J. Kalaora as Hedy Lamarr. Photo: Chris Beasley Photography
WEDNESDAY September 14, 2022
5pm Cocktails, 6pm Dinner, 7pm Performance
28 Depot Street, Palmer, MA
Registration coming soon!
IN PERSON
J. Kalaora as Hedy Lamarr. Photo: Chris Beasley Photography
WEDNESDAY September 21, 2022
12pm Luncheon, 1pm Performance
80 Haven Street, Dedham, MA
Registration coming soon!
IN-PERSON
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THURSDAY THROWBACK
On July 1, 1983, Princess Diana celebrated Canada Day, which also happened to be the People's Princess' birthday.
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