WORCESTER — On July 3, 1776, Founding Father and Second President of the United States John Adams declared in a letter to his wife, Abigail, that July 2 would be an American Holiday celebrating the 13 newly formed independent states.
“He was correct,” said Ted Edgar, museum assistant at the Peter Wentz Farmstead in Worcester. “But he was off by two days.”
Visitors to the farmstead Sunday heard Edgar narrate the history of the Declaration of the Independence while dressed in 1700’s apparel.
Edgar, who also volunteers in the 9th Pennsylvania Regiment and Doughty’s Continental Artillery Company, cleared up some of the myths associated with the declaration before he read the famous document aloud. Sunday was not only the first time Edgar read the declaration to a crowd, but also the first time it was read at the farmstead.
“Everyone has heard it or heard pieces of it, but a lot of people have never fully understood the feelings of that time. The war was going on for a year. The British had thousands of ships invading the New York harbor. Only one third of the nation was actually in favor of the war. Most of the delegates left Philadelphia before it was read aloud,” Edgar said, surmising that the delegates were not sure how the document would be received. “They kept working together and pushing for the strong government we have today. And their work paid off, because the declaration was welcomed by the people.”
According to Edgar, the declaration was not solely the work of Thomas Jefferson, but a committee of five, including Jefferson, John Adams, Roger Sherman, Robert Livingston, and Ben Franklin.
Starting June 11, 1776, the committee drafted the declaration, which listed the reasons for breaking with Great Britain, that was passed by the Continental Congress on July 2. The document was not unanimously signed, but had only two signatures: John Hancock and Charles Thomson, respectively the president and secretary of Congress. New York even abstained from voting, but 12 states were enough to pass the resolution.
The copies of the declaration that were sent to the legislatures of each state were dated July 4 and the first reading took place outside of Independence Hall in Philadelphia on July 6. King George did not receive a copy of the letter until August of 1776.
26 of those 200 copies are known to exist today. Recently, Edgar said, a couple found one behind a painting they bought at a flea market because they wanted the frame. It sold for $8 million.
“If you ever find one of these at a flea market you might just be able to get some money for it,” Edgar said.
Throughout Edgar’s reading, shouts of “Huzzah!” and “Down with the king!” were heard from Edgar’s son, Tommy, his fiancé, Brooke Ngo, re-enactor Bob Bendesky, and museum educator, Kimberly Boice, who also dressed in the styles of the time period.
After the speech Boice, who organized the event, poured lemonade for the visitors, who then joined in toasting to the birth of the nation.
Bendesky, president of the 6th Pennsylvania Regiment, fired ceremonial musket-shots.
Finally visitors were invited to meander the grounds or take an official tour of the Wentz farmhouse.
The farmstead originally belonged to German farmers, Peter and Rosanna Wentz, followed by a distant relative before it was bought by the Schultz family whose descendents eventually sold the land to Montgomery County in 1969.
Events are held at the farmstead the second Saturday of every Month. Upcoming events including a garden tour on July 12, a historic quilt exhibit from Sept. 12 to 21, and Fall Harvest Oct. 11. Additionally the farmstead hosts various camps throughout the summer. To find out more about the farmstead and the calendar of events visit the farmstead’s website at www.peterwentzfarmsteadsociety.org or visit Facebook.