Reading of the Declaration of Independence

 

Yesterday, on July 8, at 6 p.m. Eastern Time, Americans across the globe joined together for a simultaneous reading of the Declaration of Independence. 

The event was planned to celebrate the 250th anniversary of the first public reading of the Declaration on July 8, 1776, at the Pennsylvania State House in Philadelphia. 

When I was researching the summer of 1776 in Philadelphia for my book For Liberty and Love, I unearthed an old history book from 1887.

According to the account in the book:

"The first public celebration of the event (signing of the Declaration) was in Philadelphia on the 8th of July. It did not take place earlier because printed copies were not ready sooner. At noon on the day named, the committee of safety and of inspection, the officers of the city government and the members of congress marched in procession from the hall to the yard, where an immense multitude had gathered. John Nixon, a member of the committee of safety, then read from the balcony in a loud and clear voice, the immortal Declaration of Independence, which was received with cheers and uproarious enthusiasm. The day was given to jollification, and the old Liberty Bell pealed out its joyous notes of the town and along the Delaware. " 

From The Youths' History of the United States by Edward S. Ellis

Bells began ringing before noon to summon the citizens of Philadelphia to the State House Yard.  The weather was unbearably hot. I can't imagine what it would have been like to have so many bodies crowded into that space, eager to hear what was about to be read. 

The bells stopped, and at noon, Colonel John Nixon read the Declaration of Independence. Some accounts say he stood on the balcony, others say he stood in the steps. Regardless of where he stood, he read in a loud, clear voice that carried the words of liberty (and at that time considered treason) over the crowd. 

Colonel Nixon was the son of a prominent Philadelphia shipping merchant and owner of a wharf on the Delaware River. He was educated in business instead of formal schooling, and inherited his father's enterprises in 1749. He because a warden of the port in 1766, a signer of paper money issued by Pennsylvania in 1767, and a manager of Pennsylvania Hospital from 1768-1772. In 1765 he married Elizabeth Davis and they had five children. He because an early and ardent proponent of the colonies, actively opposed to the Stamp Act. When the Revolutionary War began, he joined the Committee of Safety. He was a lieutenant-colonel in the Third Battalion of Associators (a unit of wealthy individuals), but he participated in the Battles of Trenton and Princeton, and was chosen partially for his military service with George Washington to read the Declaration of Independence on July 8, 1776. Nixon went on to become one of the organizers and a director of the Bank of Pennsylvania, and in 1784 because the director of the Bank of North America, the first national bank. 

After Colonel Nixon read the Declaration, the bells again began to peal and rang throughout the day. Reports state people celebrated the rest of the day, eager for liberty. 

Despite the heat and the crowds, I wish I could have been there that day to hear the words read aloud for the first time. 

Since I couldn't be there, I did the next best thing, and wrote about in from the perspective of my heroine, Lucy, in For Liberty and Love. 

I also wrote about the moment from the perspective of Lucy's little brother, Theo, in a rhyming read-aloud children's picture book.

Theo and the Day the Bells Rang follows Theo through the day on July 8, 1776, as he experiences a momentous event that changed our nation.

USA Today Bestselling Author Shanna Hatfield grew up on a farm where her childhood brimmed with sunshine, hay fever, and an ongoing supply of learning experiences.

Shanna creates character-driven romances with realistic heroes and heroines. Her historical westerns have been described as “reminiscent of the era captured by Bonanza and The Virginian” while her contemporary works have been called “laugh-out-loud funny, and a little heart-pumping sexy without being explicit in any way.”

When this award-winning author isn’t writing or testing out new recipes (she loves to bake!), Shanna hangs out at home in the Pacific Northwest with her beloved husband, better known as Captain Cavedweller.

Connect with her at her website: ShannaHatfield.com

Summer Camps for American Children in the 19th Century

In the years following the American Civil War, many families left the farm and moved to cities. They went to obtain employment that added to the national economy but was often in a mechanized or industrialized job. Taking up residence in the city often meant a smaller house than the family had previously, and it definitely meant the land they claimed as theirs was more constrained than before. If a family lived in an apartment building, little outdoor space was available for children to play. Parents grew concerned that their sons weren’t having the experiences deemed necessary to grow into manhood. Although misguided by today’s standards, they believed a boy or male youth who spent too much time indoors would become feminized. They also worried that exposure to only city life could lead to a corrupt or morally deficient lifestyle.

swimmers at boys' camp courtesy of History.com

Religious and community leaders heard the parents’ pleas and the initial push was to open camps so boys could reconnect with nature, which would aid them to grow into better men. Parents believed attendance at these camps would build character and sought to enroll their sons in the few camps that were established in the 1870s-1880s. One such place was Camp Chocorua in New Hampshire established by Ernest Balch, a student of Dartmouth College. The activities—fishing, target shooting, rowing, swimming, climbing trees, sports—were geared to strengthen bodies as well as develop leadership skills. Education was also part of the activities, including lessons on moral behavior. The first camps were attended by children of the wealthy, and by the turn of the century the estimated number of camps is 100.

1897 baseball team courtesy of DailyHistory.org

Within a decade, that number swelled to 1,000 camps, opening opportunities to children of middle- and lower-class families. In 1920, the American Camp Association was founded, and the association worked to achieve certification for more regimented activities and health standards. Not until World War I did organizers have the realization that girls could benefit from summer camps. The curriculum, however, was quite different with the focus on life skills like cooking, sewing, and preparing for motherhood.

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Neither person is who the other expects, and soon nurse Riona and ex-soldier Cody worry if a marriage be they ever met in person is a big mistake.

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The Case of the Disappearing Mother

by Sophie Dawson

I’m sure we all who have children have had difficulty getting them to pose for a formal photo shoot. Our kids are used to being photographed. The speed of camera shutters helps with this. Imagine you are having a photo of your child or children and the shutter speed is slow, making the subject have to sit still for several seconds. With some children that’s pretty difficult.

The children of the 19th century weren’t familiar with cameras. They’d been dressed in their Sunday-Go-To-Meeting clothes on a day which wasn’t Sunday. They had to stay clean while the traveled or walked to the photograph studio. Then they had to stand or sit still. This was serious business that the children most likely didn’t understand.

 Hand tinted photo.

 Not real happy here.

 This little girl wasn't very happy her photo was being taken.

This is my favorite. His mother is really keeping him corralled.

Why the mother's are hidden is debated. Some say it's because the focus was to be on the child. Other say that the mother wasn't important enough to be in the photo. This seems a bit off to me since there are many photos of mothers and children and families.


A sad version of a child’s photo was one taken after death. It seems quite morbid to us but it may have been the only photo ever taken of the child so would have been a treasured memorial. The child mortality rate was quite high and what we would consider a mild illness was often life threatening at the time. In these photos someone is behind the blanket supporting the child.

Ever since photography began people have taken pictures of their children. I'm glad we normally don't have to take images of those who have passed away. I'm also glad I didn't have to hide in photos with my boys.

Families in the Wild West

Some of the most well-known stories about the western territories include bandits, gamblers, saloons, and duels in the streets. They’re fun to read and they easily spark mental images of how things might have happened.

While I enjoy stories or movies about the rougher side of the wild west, I also love to read about families. Parents and children making a difference for each other and their neighbors. Working together to make life as good as possible. Parents raising their children with respect for others and appreciating the value of hard work.

I’ve read a few accounts of what life was like for farm families. Loneliness, isolation, and complete self-reliance is one scenario for the reality farmers faced. This opinion says that a family lived in misery and taught their children that community doesn’t matter. While it’s likely that this was the case for some, I don’t think it was the norm.

From what I’ve read, I’ve come to believe that a rich social network was part of the life of a pioneer farmer. They needed each other and were happy to lend helping hands. They appreciated each other and valued community.

Most of the organized events usually had three purposes—work, supper, and fun. Work needed to be done, so they’d get together and do it. Then they’d have something to eat. Of course, someone would bring a fiddle so they could sing and dance. Fellowship and good food were great rewards for jobs well done.

Children learned to work hard, but they also had fun. I’m certain life wasn’t perfect for all, but that’s the reality for some. I doubt that many children enjoyed a life of no chores or responsibilities, and that was the start of learning the importance of a job well done. This is how children were taught the value of hard work and being helpful to those who need it. I fully believe there was more than enough time for children to run through the fields and play and laugh together.

I imagine that most families enjoyed a life of fellowship and friendships along with the hard work. Little House on the Prairie is probably a romanticized view of what family life was like, but I think it's far more realistic than the idea of farm families choosing to be isolated and alone. God created us to come together as a community and the pioneer farm families believed that this was the way to success and happiness.

I love the Laura Ingalls Wilder stories. I choose to believe that life was hard, but fun and meaningful. 

If you enjoy stories of family and children, you might enjoy my new release in the Colorado Matchmaker Series. Book One, Susannah and Lucas, tells the story of a couple who wanted children but found out they'd never be able to be parents. While this is a heartbreaking event for them - and probably readers, too! - they overcome it. Their marriage is greatly tested, but they don't pull into a shell. They reach out to others who need them. They change their plan and enrich their lives and marriage in the process. This is the story that sets the stage for the rest of the series - more happy couples who have babies and make beautiful families!

Susannah and Lucas is available now on Amazon.

 

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Annie Boone writes sweet western historical romance with a happy ending guaranteed in every single story. Inspiration comes in many forms and Annie finds more than one way to make her stories entertain and inspire.

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