Volunteer Finds Lost 1776 Declaration Copy in UK Archive

Michael Scurr was organizing old naval letters in The National Archives in London when he stumbled upon a piece of American history that had been hiding in plain sight for two and a half centuries. Tucked among routine military correspondence was an original 1776 printing of the Declaration of Independence, one of just 11 known to exist.

The volunteer had been cataloging boxes of letters from British naval captains when he noticed something unusual in correspondence from Captain Thomas Fitzherbert. A document Fitzherbert casually described as "another document" turned out to be an extremely rare Exeter Declaration, printed in New Hampshire between July 16 and 19, 1776, just days after independence was declared.

The story behind its journey to London reads like a historical thriller. On Christmas Eve 1776, Captain Fitzherbert's HMS Raisonable captured an American privateer ship called the Dalton off the Massachusetts coast. According to maritime law, all seized papers had to be presented to a court, and Fitzherbert's junior officer swore under oath that everything had been handed over.

That oath was a lie. Fitzherbert secretly forwarded the Declaration to Royal Navy officers in London, where it stayed for the next 250 years, first with the Navy and eventually with The National Archives.

The timing of the discovery couldn't be more perfect. The Archives was preparing an exhibition about the emergence of the United States for America's 250th birthday when Scurr made his astonishing find. This copy was printed by Robert Luist Fowle in Exeter, New Hampshire, for his newspaper, the New Hampshire Gazette or Exeter Morning Chronicle.

The Ripple Effect

Before this discovery, all 10 known Exeter Declarations were held in American institutions. Now, this sole international copy creates a powerful bridge between nations that were once enemies and are now allies. The document's survival through wars, fires, and centuries of neglect reminds us how fragile historical memory can be and how important preservation efforts remain.

The discovery also highlights the vital role volunteers play in protecting our shared past. Scurr's careful attention to detail while working on the America 250 project ensured this treasure didn't remain forgotten in a box forever. His work shows how citizen historians continue to reshape our understanding of pivotal moments.

The Archives plans to feature the newly discovered Declaration in their upcoming exhibition, giving visitors on both sides of the Atlantic a chance to see this remarkable piece of history that survived a sea battle, a captain's deception, and 250 years of obscurity to emerge just in time for America's birthday.