Kentucky Irish American. (Louisville, Ky.) 1898-1968, 1911-03-17
Native Of ireland who Prophesied
Lighting Of Liberty's
Fires.
Destroyed Valuable Historical Data
Rather Than Cause
Pain.
HIS EARLY HARD STRUGGLES

The first Secretary Of the Ameri-
can Continental Congress was an
freshman and, albeit. a Presbyterian.
He was Charles Thomson, a native of
Maghera, County Derry, and was
born on November 20, 1928. He
served as Secretary OF the first Con-
tlnental Congress in 1874 and In
every subsequent session until
1883. with his father and four
brothers he sailed for America In
.174O. His father died on the voy-
age and the orphans we're left with
scant resources They made their
way to the rapidly growing Irish set
Elements in Pennsylvania. There re-
ligious liberty was guaranteed to
both Catholics and non-Catholics.
The Thomson orphans were Irish
Presbyterians and lived and died In
that creed.
Charles Thomson. aided by
friends. became student In the
classical academy OF Dr. Francis
Alison, a Presbyterian minister at
New London, Chester county, Penn
sylvania. DR.. Allsen. like many
other educators in the colonies at
that period, was a native of Ireland.
Young Thomson made rapid progress
In his studies and had barely at
tanned his majority when he was
selected TO conduct a Quaker acad-
envy at New Castle. Del He often
visited Philadelphia and acquired
the esteem OF Benjamin Franklin
and other eminent men OF the day.
One thing for which he was always
noted was his scrupulous regard for
the whole truth. The Delaware In
dams adopted him into their nation
In 1856 because he was a man OF
truth" And the Rev. Ashbel Green
tells us that II was common say
ing over a large part Of Pennsyl-
vania to say OF an honest statement
that Il was "as true as II Charles
Thomson's name was to It,"
When the discussion with Great
Britain over her claim of right TO
tax the colonists began Thomson
was one Of the most formidable adj
versaries of the claim. He had
enormous influence because the peO-
pie had firm faith in his ability in-
tegrity and fidelity. He canv4ssed
the farmers of the colony to ascer-
tain how far they could be depended
upon IN the crisis which he deemed
Inevitable. He aroused the
apathetic and stimulated the luke
warm to be prepared to resist British
claims by every means within the
control OF freemen. When the
Stamp Act passed in 1865, despite
Franklin's protests on behalf OF
American colonies, Franklin, writing
10 him from London, said pathet-
lcally: I'VE might as well have
hindered the suns setting. That We
could not do. But since 1t is down,
my friend, and II may be long before
1t rises again, let us make as good
night of 1t as We can. We may
still light candles. Frugality and
Industry win partly indemnify us.
without any delay Thomson re-
piled to the pathetic allusion in the
philosophers letter in these terse
and pregnant words; BE assured
the Americans will light lamps OF a
different sort from those you con
template" The combative Irish
nature OF Thomson refused TO ac-
quiesce In the philosopher alterna-
tive as a settled colonial policy, John
Adams, of Massachusetts,. said
Thomson was the Sam Adams of
Philadelphia. the life of the cause of
liberty" And so when the first
Continental Congress assembled in
Philadelphia In September. 1774, he
was unanimously chosen as It's Sec
rotary. He accepted the position for
one year on condition that he re-
ceive no pay. Congress, however.
presented his young wife with a sill
yer urn In recognition of his devoted
service to the cause of liberty.
Then, year after year, during the
long and at times desperate struggle
for independence, the Irish emigrant
from Maghera, Derry. kept not only
the records OF Congress but made
copious notes OF its proceedings and
OF the progress of the revolution as
II passed before his eyes. on his
retirement from public office he pre-
pared a history OF the Revolution,
using his notes as the data OF basis
OF the narrative. However, some
time before his death he destroyed
the valuable historical manuscript.
He concluded that 10 print the truth
about the unpatriotic conduct OF
some OF the so-called American pa
triots would give great pain TO their
worthy descendants This re-
nowned first Secretary OF Congress-
died in Lower Merton. Penn. August
16, 1924.