Henderson Circle near Charlotte in Mecklenburg County, North Carolina — The American South (South Atlantic)
Signers of Mecklenburg Declaration of Independence
May 20, 1775
Photographed by John Walker Guss, May 20, 2006
1. Signers of Mecklenburg Declaration of Independence Marker
Abraham Alexander, Chairman
John McKnitt Alexander, Secretary
Ephraim Brevard, Clerk
Hezekiah Alexander Ezra Alexander Adam Alexander Charles Alexander Waightstill Avery Hezekiah J. Balch Richard Barry Henry Downs John Flennegin John Foard William Graham James Harris Richard Harris Robert Irwin William Kennon Matthew McClure Neil Morrison Benjiman Patton John Phifer Thomas Polk John Queary David Reese Zaccheus Wilson John Davidson
Erected 1967 by Alexandriana Daughters of the American Revolution Chapter.
Topics and series. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Colonial Era • Patriots & Patriotism • War, US Revolutionary. In addition, it is included in the Daughters of the American Revolution series list. A significant historical date for this entry is May 20, 1775.
Location. 35° 21.474′ N, 80° 49.376′ W. Marker is near Charlotte, North Carolina, in Mecklenburg County. It is in Henderson Circle. It is on Old Statesville Road (State Highway 115) south of Independence Hill Road. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 9921 Old Statesville Rd, Charlotte NC 28269, United States of America. Touch for directions.
Regionally, this marker is in North Carolina’s Piedmont. It is also in the American South and specifically in the Upper South. Globally, it is in the North Atlantic Region, North America, the Western Hemisphere, the Western World, and the Anglosphere. Historically, it finds itself in what was once the territory of the Mississippian Culture, one of the original Thirteen Colonies, one of the Confederate States of America, and the Antebellum South.
Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within 5 miles of this marker, measured as the crow flies
this page online
Regarding Signers of Mecklenburg Declaration of Independence. This document was a prelude to our National Declaration of Independence. It has been stated that Thomas Jefferson took pieces of the Meck Dec to write the Declaration of Independence. The Declaration was signed at Alexandriana, J. M. Alexanders estate.
Also see . . .
1. Celebrating 250 Years of the Mecklenburg Declaration of Independence. The May 20th Society website homepage (Submitted on August 10, 2024, by Mark Parker of Hickory, North Carolina.)
2. The Mecklenburg Declaration of Independence - The Document.
There is no original copy of this document because it is alleged to have been burned in a fire shortly after its signing. However, others believe the loss in a fire was a misinterpretation of an historical(Submitted on August 10, 2024, by Mark Parker of Hickory, North Carolina.)event when John McKnitt Alexander's home burned. -Charlotte Mecklenburg LibraryPhotographed by John Walker Guss, May 20, 20062. Signers of Mecklenburg Declaration of Independence Marker
Additional commentary.
1. The Mecklenburg Delcaration of Independence
Charlotte, North Carolina. May 20th, 1775.
Resolved That whosoever directly or indirectly abets, or in any way, form, or manner countenances the invasion of our rights, as attempted by the Parliament of Great Britain, is an enemy to his country, to America, and the rights of man.
Resolved That we the citizens of Mecklenburg County, do hereby dissolve the political bands which have connected us with the mother country, and absolve ourselves from all allegiance to the British Crown, abjuring all political connection with a nation that has wantonly trampled on our rights and liberties and inhumanly shed innocent blood of Americans in Lexington.
Resolved That we do hereby Declare ourselves free and independent people; that we are, and of a right ought to be, a sovereign and self-governing people under the power of God and the General Congress; to the maintenance which independence we solemnly pledge to each other our mutual co-operation, our lives, our fortunes and
Photographed by Mark Parker, January 27, 2024
3. Monument reset into a planter
Resolved That we hereby ordain and adopt as rules of conduct all each of our former laws, and that the crown of Great Britain cannot be considered hereafter as holding any rights, privileges, or immunities among us.
Resolved That all officers, both civil and military, in the country, be entitled to exercise the same powers and authorities as heretofore; that every member of this delegation shall henceforth be civil officer and exercise the powers of a justice of the peace, issue process, hear and determine controversies according to law, preserve peace, union and harmony in the country, and use every exertion to spread the love of liberty and of country until a more general and better organized system of government be established.
Resolved That a copy of these resolutions be transmitted by express to the President of the Continental Congress assembled in Philadelphia to be laid before that body.
(signed as per the inscription above)
— Submitted July 15, 2007, by J. J. Prats of Powell, Ohio.
2. Mecklenburg Declaration of Independence
All modern scholarly research to date has been unable to verify the claim that there was in fact such a document called the Mecklenburg Declaration of Independence. There are
Photographed by John Walker Guss, May 20, 2006
4. Alexandriana, Birthplace of Mecklenburg Declaration of Independence
— Submitted November 29, 2007, by John Maass of Washington, District of Columbia.
Photographed by Mark Parker, January 27, 2024
5. Mecklenburg Resolves posted at the nearby information kiosk
The Mecklenburg Resolves
May 31, 1775 "This day the Committee of this County met, and passed the following Resolves:
"Whearas by an Address presented to his Majesty by both Houses of Parliament in February last, the American Colonies are declared to be in a state of actual rebellion, we conceive that all Laws and Commissions confirmed by, or derived from the Authority of the king or Parliament, are annulled and vacated, and the former civil Constitution of these Colonies for the present wholly suspended. To provide in some Degree for the Exigencies of the County in the present alarming Period, we deem it proper and necessary to pass the following resolves, viz.
"1. That all Commissions, civil and military, heretofore granted by the Crown, to be exercised in these Colonies, are null and void, and the Constitution of each particular Colony wholly suspended.
"2. That the Provincial Congress of each Province, under the Direction of the Great Continental Congress, is invested with all legislative and executive Powers within their respective Provinces; and that no other Legislative or Executive does or can exist, at this Time, in any of these Colonies.
"3. As all former Laws are now suspended in this Province, and the Congress have not yet provided others, we judge it necessary, for the better Preservation of good Order, to form certain Rules and Regulations for the internal Government of this County, until Laws shall be provided for us by the Congress.
"4.That the Inhabitants of this Country do meet on a certain Day appointed by this Committee, and having formed themselves into nine Companies, to wit, eight for the County, and one for the Town of Charlotte, do choose a Colonel and other military Officers, who shall hold and exercise their several Powers by Virtue of this Choice, and independent of Great-Britain, and former Constitution of this Province.
"5. That for the better Preservation of the Peace, and Administration of Justice, each of these Companies do choose from their own Body two discreet Freeholders, who shall be impowered each by himself, and singly, to decide and determine all Matters of Controversy arising within the said Company under the Sum of Twenty Shillings, and jointly and together all Controversies under the Sum of Forty Shillings, yet so as their Decisions may admit of Appeals to the Convention of the Select Men of the whole County; and also, that any one of these shall have power to examine, and commit to Confinement, Persons accused of Petit Larceny.
May 31, 1775 "This day the Committee of this County met, and passed the following Resolves:
"Whearas by an Address presented to his Majesty by both Houses of Parliament in February last, the American Colonies are declared to be in a state of actual rebellion, we conceive that all Laws and Commissions confirmed by, or derived from the Authority of the king or Parliament, are annulled and vacated, and the former civil Constitution of these Colonies for the present wholly suspended. To provide in some Degree for the Exigencies of the County in the present alarming Period, we deem it proper and necessary to pass the following resolves, viz.
"1. That all Commissions, civil and military, heretofore granted by the Crown, to be exercised in these Colonies, are null and void, and the Constitution of each particular Colony wholly suspended.
"2. That the Provincial Congress of each Province, under the Direction of the Great Continental Congress, is invested with all legislative and executive Powers within their respective Provinces; and that no other Legislative or Executive does or can exist, at this Time, in any of these Colonies.
"3. As all former Laws are now suspended in this Province, and the Congress have not yet provided others, we judge it necessary, for the better Preservation of good Order, to form certain Rules and Regulations for the internal Government of this County, until Laws shall be provided for us by the Congress.
"4.That the Inhabitants of this Country do meet on a certain Day appointed by this Committee, and having formed themselves into nine Companies, to wit, eight for the County, and one for the Town of Charlotte, do choose a Colonel and other military Officers, who shall hold and exercise their several Powers by Virtue of this Choice, and independent of Great-Britain, and former Constitution of this Province.
"5. That for the better Preservation of the Peace, and Administration of Justice, each of these Companies do choose from their own Body two discreet Freeholders, who shall be impowered each by himself, and singly, to decide and determine all Matters of Controversy arising within the said Company under the Sum of Twenty Shillings, and jointly and together all Controversies under the Sum of Forty Shillings, yet so as their Decisions may admit of Appeals to the Convention of the Select Men of the whole County; and also, that any one of these shall have power to examine, and commit to Confinement, Persons accused of Petit Larceny.
Photographed by Mark Parker, January 27, 2024
6. Information on The May 20th Society posted on the nearby information kiosk
The May 20th Society
The May 20th Society is a non-profit organization that endeavors to capture and celebrate Charlotte's rebellious and visionary spirit. We hope to define our City's future by heralding it's rich history - a history that changed forever on May 20, 1775, when at least 26 prominent civic leaders signed and approved The Mecklenburg Declaration of Independence. The May 20th society raises funds to bring world renowned historical figures to Charlotte to educate schoolchildren and deliver pertinent speeches as part of our adult historical lecture series. In addition to our youth and adult speaker series, The May 20th Society sponsors a free-to-the-public noon event which honors the reading of the Mec Dec and includes colonial re-enactments, and festivities at the corner of Trade and Tryon Streets in Uptown Charlotte. We also sponsor the James Jack Bike Ride in which hundreds of cyclists participate to commemorate Capt' Jack's historic ride from Charlotte to Philadelphia.
The May 20th Society is a non-profit organization that endeavors to capture and celebrate Charlotte's rebellious and visionary spirit. We hope to define our City's future by heralding it's rich history - a history that changed forever on May 20, 1775, when at least 26 prominent civic leaders signed and approved The Mecklenburg Declaration of Independence. The May 20th society raises funds to bring world renowned historical figures to Charlotte to educate schoolchildren and deliver pertinent speeches as part of our adult historical lecture series. In addition to our youth and adult speaker series, The May 20th Society sponsors a free-to-the-public noon event which honors the reading of the Mec Dec and includes colonial re-enactments, and festivities at the corner of Trade and Tryon Streets in Uptown Charlotte. We also sponsor the James Jack Bike Ride in which hundreds of cyclists participate to commemorate Capt' Jack's historic ride from Charlotte to Philadelphia.
Credits. This page was last revised on February 19, 2025. It was originally submitted on July 7, 2007, by John Walker Guss of Hillsborough, North Carolina. This page has been viewed 8,750 times since then and 170 times this year. Photos: 1, 2. submitted on July 7, 2007, by John Walker Guss of Hillsborough, North Carolina. 3. submitted on August 10, 2024, by Mark Parker of Hickory, North Carolina. 4. submitted on July 7, 2007, by John Walker Guss of Hillsborough, North Carolina. 5, 6. submitted on August 10, 2024, by Mark Parker of Hickory, North Carolina. • J. J. Prats was the editor who published this page.
