The citizen-Republican. (Scotland, Bon Homme County, S.D.) 1???-19??, 1914-07-02
PRESERVING RECORDS OF THE SIGNING
OF THE DECLARATION OF INDEPENDENCE

Thomas Jefferson vas the father Of
NE declaration of independence.
John Hancock was the first man to
Ign that document.
Charles Thomson
Who was he, you ask? Why con-
aSct him with the declaration?
6scause-
10 Thomson we owe the preserva-
bon of all the records of the continental
congress. Not alone the journals, OF
which there are seven, practically all
In his handwriting. but also the trag-
ments OF that congress-. He saved the
original motions, committee reports and
Al the other little odds and ends that
today form so precious a part of the
records of that great body. Ii it 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 we'll as valu-
abba, sources of information regarding
the proceedings of the would
have been lost for all time"
The man who said tina was Theo-
dore r. Dwight. Previous to removing
records of the continental congress
% the Congressional library. where
q are now, they were kept In the
Dwight was the chief of the bureau of
rolls and library of that department at
That time. and his statement was based
upon q full knowledge OF the complete
ness OF those records.
And then, too, the declaration of in
dependence of which we usually think
waa the engrossed copy signed by the
OF the continental congress
August 2, 1zI6. The first declaration.
06ned July 4. 1I76. had but two names
on IT This is proven by an entry in
Tnomson,s journal. Under date of
July 4, l176. he wrote this. after having
Teoorded the fact that the declaration
mad been adopted: "Signed by order
and in behalf of congress. John Nan
q president. Attest: Charles Tom
son, secretary"
30 Charles Thomson was the second
20 Sign the declaration. He did not,
however, sign the engrossed cop
xet Charles Tomson, generally speak
ms. is practically unknown. To histor-
lRns Thomson is the secretary of the
continental congress. to be quoted when
necessary, to be spoken of when occa-
mon demands. But Charles Thomson.
one OF the most interesting figures of
~ time. q time, too, which produced
some of the greatest men his country
has ever had. has faded into a blur.
hs mas suffered the fate of so MANY
men, that of fading Into the back
ground of a brilliant event In history.
fet, even in addition TO his achieve
ment as secretary of the continental
congress. Tornson has q right TO prom
hence. Starting life with unusual
nsndicaps, she fought his way TO the
np OF the ladder. a battle of which any
man might well be proud. At the age
On II ne was an orphan In a strange
country. friendless and penniless AS
= grown man John Adams spoke of
nIn as the Sam Adams of PhtladeI-
phta. the life OF the cause OF liberfy"
sno Able Robin, Rochambeau's chap
lAin. said of him. He was the sor,l
Of that political body"
Thomson's life was fun OF lust such
contrasts.
Sorn In Makhera. County Derry.
1rSiand. November, 1874. his father
jon Thomson, was one of the On na6
Professionals who. q few years later isSt
o4atef To seek religious freedom in
America. 1t was In 1879 that Thomson
1dower. started for this country
Win his six children, Charles being
me fourth. Philadelphia. the goal Of
20 many of these ulster inrsfgrants
was the destination, however wl,a5
WITHIN sight of land the father was
tsksp violently Ill and died almost frn-
Esdiately. being buried at sea. Tha
cnitoren We're thus thrown upon n
mercies Of the captain OF the boat who
= n.ssory Il correct. proved little
worthy OF thai trust. After ernhezzf-
sng al the remaining money possessed
~ the boys he landed them at Naw
LsSIe. Del. without friends or funds
aere b boys separated, to 20 their
~ way n earn a livelihood 81
Seat tney might. Charles remained at
New Castle. where he was taken jn+o
TOE FAMILY OF a blacksmith. TO 4 brgr
% Charles temperament an existence
sucn as he lived under this roof was a.
most uncomfortable. 10 matter how well
msansng the people might have been
WWaru MIN Then. to cap the climax