On July 4, 1776, the 2nd Continental Congress of the 13 American colonies unanimously adopted the Declaration of Independence announcing the colonies separation from Great Britain.  The Declaration summarized the colonies reasons for wanting the separation.

I love history, and especially American history.  For part of the past year I have spent studying the writings of Thomas Paine.  Paine did not immigrate to the American colonies until 1774, barely in enough time to participate in the movement that resulted in America’s independence from his home country.

He did, however, pen a 47-page essay in February 1776, four months prior to the Declaration of Independence, entitled “Common Sense.”  That short document, which truly is about “common sense” laid forth some of the priorities and reasons for our nation’s declaration.

In the preface to the writing he contends that “The cause of America is in great measure the cause of all mankind.”  Without taking an attitude that “America knows best”, I still believe that the founding principles of America can and should be a cause for all mankind even today.

Here is some of the other “Common Sense” for independence that Paine highlighted in his 1776 pamphlet:

• “Europe, and not England, is the parent country of America.  This new world hath been the asylum for the persecuted lovers of civil and religious liberty from every part of Europe.

• “It is the true interest of America to steer clear of European contentions, which she never can do, while by her dependence on Britain, she is made the make-weight in the scale on British politics.”

• “Even the distance at which the Almighty hath placed England and America, is a strong and natural proof, that the authority of the one, over the other, was never the design of Heaven.”

• For, as Milton wisely expresses, “never can true reconcilement grow where wounds of deadly hate have pierced so deep.”

• “. . there is something very absurd, in supposing a continent to be perpetually governed by an island.  In no instance hath nature made the satellite larger than its primary planet. . . “

• “For as in absolute governments the King is law, so in free countries the law ought to be King; and there ought to be no other.”

• “It is not in numbers, but in unity, that our great strength lies, yet our numbers are sufficient to repel the force of all the world.”

• “. . . until an independence is declared, the Continent will feel itself like a man who continues putting off some unpleasant business from day to day, yet knows it must be done, hates to set about it, wishes it over, and is continually haunted with the thoughts of its necessity.”

As I read these quotes by Paine, I’m amazed at how common sensical, and not government speak that they are.  Paine was not one of the signers of the Declaration of Independence, but his words gave great credence as to why the colonies should be independent.

More about Thomas Paine

As I’ve mentioned in this column before, our family ties to the Declaration of Independence come with our family’s use of the Thornton Law Offices over three generations of our family and two generations of Thornton lawyers.

As you may know, the Declaration of Independence needed to be signed by members of each colony.  One of the New Hampshire representatives was Matthew Thornton.  Mr. Thornton is actually the last signer of the Declaration of Independence and you can see his name at the very bottom of the document.

Here’s a short biography of Matthew Thornton and you can read why he was the last signer.  “An advocate for colonists’ rights from the middle of the century on, he was appointed a delegate to the Continental Congress in September 1776, and was allowed to sign the Declaration of Independence when he took his seat in November, four months after its publication.   Thornton left Congress in 1778 and resumed his duties as a judge of the New Hampshire Superior Court.”

Joseph Thornton was my father’s attorney as I was growing up, handled the estate of my father, and was an elder stateman in our community who gave me much appreciated advice and guidance early on in my career before his death in 1996.  He was the great-great-great-great grand nephew of Matthew Thornton (I can almost hear Joe saying it as I’m typing it, “4 greats and a grand” he would say).  Mr. Thornton was also an American history buff and had many original documents pertaining to his famous relative on the walls of his office.  Even though we had 44 years in age between us, history was a connection that brought us together for many good talks.  I still see his son Mike from time to time and am working on getting those documents in a “Thornton Collection” for our local museum.

More about Matthew Thornton

Thornton Law Office

Finally, today I will bring you a little information about the longest running 4th of July celebration in American history.  The official and historic celebration and patriotic exercises have been an annual doing in Bristol, Rhode Island since 1785.  My wife, Angie, and I learned of this celebration in 2017 when our son’s high school band trip included marching in the Bristol parade as part of the annual Summer band trip.

Knowing very little about the event, we flew to Providence for a long weekend and enjoyed one of the finest long weekends we have ever enjoyed.  A great small town that celebrated it right!!!

The Bristol, Rhode Island 4th of July web-site

Have a Happy 4th of July. . . . . May God Bless America!!!

More news from the world of Death Care:

• $18.5 million expansion to Christ Cathedral Cemetery is ready.  The Orange County Register (CA)
• Cremated and Unclaimed:  Nova Scotia funeral home seeks to return remains to families.  News video and print article.  CTV News (Canada)
• Delaware gets failing grade in providing consumer information regarding funerals.  Delaware Business Now
• Matthews International:  An opportunity to die for.  Seeking Alpha

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