Page 119 - JM Book 9/2020
P. 119
Friday, July 19, 1776
Since all thirteen colonies had now approved the Declaration of Independence, someone suggested that the Declaration’s title should be changed. Late that morning a motion was made and accepted that changed the title from “A Declaration by the Representatives of the United States of America” to “The Unanimous Declaration of the Thirteen States of America.”
President Hancock instructed Secretary Thomson to make arrangements for the Declaration to be engrossed on parchment so every member of Congress could sign it.
Thomson asked his assistant, Timothy Matlack, to engross the Declaration with the new title. During his service in Congress, Matlack had engrossed a number of congressional documents, including George Washington’s commission as commander of the Continental Army.
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