The Tabor independent. [volume] (Tabor, S.D.) 1913-19??, 1914-07-02
PRESERVING RECORDS OF THE SIGNING
OF THE DECLARATION OF INDEPENDENCE

Thomas jefferson was the father Of
No declaration OF Independence
John Hancock was the first man to
dam that document
Charles Thomson--
Who was he, you ask7 Why con-
Nect him with the declaration?
ssrO Thomson we owe the preserva-
l1Bn OF all the records OF the continental
pongress. Not alone the journals, OF
which there are seven, practically all
In his handwriting, but also the frag-
m@nts Of that congress. He saved the
original motions, committee reports and
al the other little odds and ends that
Today form 30 precious part or the
records OF that great body. II X had
not been for Thomson's painstaking
caro- q large part OF these might never
have been preserved, and thus one OF
the most interesting, as well as valu-
able. sources Of information regarding
The proceedings OF the congress would
have been lost for all time"
seS
The man who said that was Theo-
Goro r. Dwight. Previous to removing
the records OF the continental congress
D tho Congressional library, where
thsy are now, they were kept In the
library OF the state department. Mr..
DWIGHT was the chief OF the bureau OF
rellB and library OF that department at
that time. and his statement was based
upon fun knowledge Of the complete
mesa OF those records.
And then. too the declaration OF in
dependence OF which we usually think
Wa1 the engroSsed copy signed by the
n1nmbers OF the continental congress
August 3 1776. The first declaration,
signed July I. 1778 had but two names
GO II This is proven by an entry In
90
July 4, 1776, he wrote this, after having
recorded the fact that the declaration
bad been adopted: Signed by order
ard In behalf OF congress. John Kan
cook. president. Attest: Charles Tom
son. secretary"
90 Charles Thomson was the second
- ngn the declaration He did not,
however. Sign the engrossed copy.
Xet Charles Tomson, generally speak
M. y practically unknown. TO histor-
lans Thomson Is the secretary OF the
sentimental congress-. to be quoted when
necessary, to be spoken Of when occa-
non demands. But Charles Thomson,
one Of the most interesting figures OF
HIS time, time, too, which produced
some OF the greatest men this country
has ever had, has faded into blur.
he has suffered the fate OF so many
man, that OF fading into the back
ground OF q brilliant event In history.
Yet, even In addition to his achieve
nnant as secretary of the continental
congress-. Tomson has q right to. prom
lnonco. Starting life with unusual
hAndicaps. she fought his way to the
boD OF the ladder. a battle OF which any
man might well be proud. At the age
% IL he was an orphan In a strange
country, friendless and penniless. As
. grown man John Adams spoke OF
him az the. Sam Adams of Philadel-
"a % 10 81 0an AZ
and Able Robin, Rochambeau's chap
lain, aaid OF him: HE was the soul
e that political body"
Thomson'S life was fun Of just such
contrasts.
Born In Malhera, County Derry.
xFoland, November, 1924, his father.
John Thomson, was one OF the 20. 900
Rrotestants who. few years later, left
Ulster 20 seek religious freedom In
America. IT was In 1879 that Thomson,
. wtdower, started for this country
with his six children, Charles being
The fourth. Philadelphia. the goal OF
% many Of those Ulster immigrants,
was the destination, however, when
within sight OF land the father was
taken violently III and died almost inn
nediateIy, being buried al sea. The
children were thus thrown upon the
mercies Of the captain OF the boat, who.
II history is correct, proved little
worthy Of that trust. After embezzl-
eng all the remaining money possessed
BY the boys he landed them at New
Castle. Del, without friends or funds.
Here the boys separated, to 20 their
own way and earn a livelihood az
best they might. Charles remained at
New Castle. where he was taken into
tho family OF a blacksmith. To a bow
Of Charles temperament an existence
such as he lived under this roof was al
most uncomfortable, no matter how we'll
meaning the people might have been
toward him. Then. to cap the climax,