has a good related article which may explain the origin of this claim Many declarations were resolutions adopted at town or county meetings that offered support for independence A few came in the form of jury instructions such as the statement issued on April 23 1776 by Chief Justice William Henry Drayton of South Carolina the law of the land authorizes me to declare that George the Third King of Great Britain has no authority over us and we owe no obedience to him 38 Or maybe there is some confusion with SC being the first to secede from the Union A Google search for south carolina first state to declare independence American revolution shows nothing consistent with the claim other than this South Carolina article It seems reasonable to remove it until a solid reference is provided