Rare US Declaration of Independence found in Sussex One of only two ceremonial parchment copies of the American Declaration of Independence has been found in Sussex. The rare […]

One of only two ceremonial parchment copies of the American Declaration of Independence has been found in Sussex.

The rare artefact was discovered neatly folded away in the West Sussex Records Office in Chicester, where it had been stored for more than 50 years before it was tracked down by Harvard University academics.

After rigorous testing, the parchment has been certified as authentic – just in time for the 242nd anniversary of its signing on 4 July 1776.

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‘Terrific news’

“This is such terrific news about the Sussex Declaration,” Louise Goldsmith, leader of West Sussex County Council, said.

“We have all been waiting to hear what the experts have been able to discover for us and now we know!

“Our Records Office holds many fascinating treasures – but this treasure of a document is very, very special indeed.

“So we very much welcome this interest in the West Sussex archives and the work of the Record Office, which acts as the custodian for thousands of documents with a West Sussex link stretching back to 780.”

‘Sussex Declaration’

Non-invasive testing by researchers revealed a date beneath an erasure on the document which reads either “July 4, 178” or “July 4, 179”.

According to conservation scientists, it is impossible to say whether there was originally a fourth digit in the year.

The Sussex Declaration, as it is now known, is believed to have been held originally by the Third Duke of Richmond. He was known as the “Radical Duke” for his support of the Americans during the Revolution.

Despite its new name, the parchment is undeniably American, most likely to have been produced in New York or Philadelphia. Researchers are still trying to work out how it found its way to the UK – let alone ended up folded away in Chichester.

The Harvard team believe the unusual listing is reflective of the views of its most likely commissioner, James Wilson, who argued the authority of the Declaration rested on a unitary national people, and not on a federation of states.

‘A fascinating document’

DNA testing also revealed the parchment was prepared from sheepskin, rather than more expensive calfskin. X-ray fluorescence (XRF) capture showed high iron content in holes in the corner of the parchment, possibly due to iron nails that were used to hang the parchment.

“We are extremely excited to hear that Harvard’s research and the scientific analyses confirms the historical significance and importance of this archive,” West Sussex County Archivist Wendy Walker said.

“It is a fascinating document and it has been fantastic for us to work with colleagues at Harvard, the Library of Congress and the British Library to find out more about the story that surrounds it.”

The discoveries are set to be published by Harvard academics Danielle Allen and Emily Sneff in their paper, “The Sussex Declaration,” in the Proceedings of the Bibliographic Society of America this autumn.

This article was originally published on our sister site, the Chichester Observer