IV 
109TH CONGRESS 
1ST SESSION 
H. CON. RES. 148 
Recognizing the 230th anniversary of the Mecklenburg Declaration of Inde-
pendence, which was the first proclamation issued by American colonists 
calling for complete separation of the American colonies from the British 
Crown. 
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
MAY 10, 2005 
Mrs. MYRICK (for herself, Mr. HAYES, and Mr. WATT) submitted the following 
concurrent resolution; which was referred to the Committee on Govern-
ment Reform 
CONCURRENT RESOLUTION 
Recognizing the 230th anniversary of the Mecklenburg Dec-
laration of Independence, which was the first proclama-
tion issued by American colonists calling for complete 
separation of the American colonies from the British 
Crown. 
Whereas, during the 1770s, conflicts grew between American 
colonists and the British Crown that wanted to maintain 
control over their North American colonies; 
Whereas, on April 19, 1775, British soldiers and American 
patriots exchanged fire in the Massachusetts’ towns of 
Lexington and Concord, starting what would become the 
American Revolution;
•HCON 148 IH 
Whereas, a day after learning of the Battle of Lexington and 
Concord, delegates at a Mecklenburg County convention 
in Charlotte, North Carolina, expressed outrage at the 
British attack on Massachusetts colonists; 
Whereas, at the Mecklenburg County convention, the 27 dele-
gates present voted to declare the United States free and 
independent and drafted a proclamation now known as 
the ‘‘Mecklenburg Declaration of Independence’’; 
Whereas the names of the 27 delegates who voted for inde-
pendence and signed the proclamation were Abraham Al-
exander, John McNitt Alexander, Ephraim Brevard, 
Charles Alexander, Hezekiah J. Balch, Zaccheus Wilson, 
John Phifer, Waightstill Avery, James Harris, Benjamin 
Patton, William Kennon, Matthew McClure, John Foard, 
Neill Morrison, Richard Barry, Robert Irwin, Henry 
Downs, John Flennikin, Ezra Alexander, David Reese, 
William Graham, John Davidson, John Qureary, Richard 
Harris, Hezekiah Alexander, Thomas Polk, and Adam 
Alexander; 
Whereas the Mecklenburg Declaration of Independence was 
read by Colonel Thomas Polk from the steps of the Char-
lotte courthouse to the assembled residents on May 20, 
1775; and 
Whereas North Carolina honors and respects the bravery of 
the men and women of Mecklenburg County for issuing 
the Mecklenburg Declaration of Independence by placing 
the date May 20, 1775 in a place of honor on its State 
flag: Now, therefore, be it 
Resolved by the House of Representatives (the Senate 
concurring), That Congress—
•HCON 148 IH 
(1) recognizes the 230th anniversary of the 
Mecklenburg Declaration of Independence, which 
was the first proclamation issued by American colo-
nists calling for complete separation of the American 
colonies from the British Crown; 
(2) honors the brave men who signed the Meck-
lenburg Declaration of Independence and the citi-
zens of Mecklenburg County, North Carolina, for 
their love of liberty and their stance against tyranny; 
(3) honors the bravery of the five men of Meck-
lenburg County’s Committee of Safety, Thomas 
Polk, Hezekiah Alexander, John McKnitt Alexander, 
Ephraim Brevard, and Abraham Alexander, who 
maintained order and kept citizens informed of the 
turbulent events taking place during the American 
Revolution; and 
(4) honors Thomas Polk for his bravery in lead-
ing the Mecklenburg militia. 
Æ