July 4th: 1:00 pm
Fort Mifflin
A Public Reading of the Declaration of Independence
On July 8th in the Courtyard of the Pennsylvania State House (aka Independence Hall) Coronel John Nixon read allowed the newly published Declaration of Independence to an assembled unit of the Philadelphia Associators which was the city’s main militia unit. Following this reading, squads of the Associators went throughout the city removing anything that honored King and Parliament. Most notably, the King’s Coat of Arms that hung above the judge’s bench in the Statehouse was taken down, “placed upon a stack of faggots and BURNED!”
Prior to this reading, Col Nixon spent several months stationed at Fort Island (aka Mud Island or Fort Mifflin) where he commanded the defense of a portion of the Delaware River. This July 4th, we will recreate Col. Nixon’s reading in the courtyard of his main post, Fort Mifflin. Bonfires of the King’s arms and colors are optional.
Following the festivities during the day, we will host a “Jeffersonian Picnic” on the grounds to discuss whether war was inevitable and the merits or problems with having extended the Olive Branch Petition in July 1775.
This is a tradition with me, unfortunately the video was stopped and restarted so a few usurpations were missed but you get the basic idea.