1776 Document Found in National Archives in Kew is the Only Known Exeter Version Outside the United States
A historical discovery drew international attention after a rare copy of the US Declaration of Independence was found in London.
The document from 1776 was stored in the National Archives in Kew, among old correspondences of the British Royal Navy.
The piece was located by volunteer Michael Scurr, during a cataloging task of 18th-century documents.
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According to information released by The Guardian and Reuters, it is one of only 11 surviving copies of the so-called Exeter print.
This copy is also considered special because it is the only one known outside American territory.
Discovery in Archive Reveals Rare Historical Document
The find occurred during an apparently routine activity at the National Archives, located in Kew, London.
Michael Scurr was analyzing naval correspondences when he opened the paper and identified the header linked to the independence of the thirteen American colonies.
Soon after, he called his supervisor to examine the material, realizing that the document had great historical value.
The discovery gained even more significance because it occurred shortly before the celebrations of the 250th anniversary of the signing of the Declaration of Independence.
Document Was Among War Papers
The copy was found among confiscated records of the Dalton, an American privateer ship captured by a British vessel.
The capture occurred in December 1776, near the coast of Spain, amid the conflicts of the American Revolution.
At the time, documents considered relevant were sent to the Admiralty Court, including a commission signed by John Hancock.
The declaration was treated merely as “another document” and ended up forgotten for more than two centuries.
Exeter Print Circulated in July 1776
The copy was printed in Exeter, New Hampshire, between July 16 and 19, 1776.
This interval occurred because the news of independence needed to travel from Philadelphia, where the original document had been approved.
According to record specialist Graham Moore, these sheets were known as broadsides.
These prints had a direct function: to quickly spread important information to as many people as possible.
The copy found in London was not just an old paper, but a tool of political communication from that period.
Crew of the Dalton may have heard the declaration on deck
The records also indicate that Captain Eleazar Johnson might have obtained the copy in Portsmouth before setting sail.
According to Amanda Bevan, head of legal records, the manifesto might have been read aloud on the ship’s deck.
The vessel had about 120 crew members, composed of men from different backgrounds.
Among the captured sailors was Daniel Cottle, identified as a free black man.
This detail reinforces that people from diverse backgrounds participated on both sides of the American Revolution.
Discovery reinforces connection between United States and United Kingdom
For Saul Nassé, chief executive of the archive, the discovery shows that the American Revolution had a transatlantic dimension.
The importance of the document lies not only in its rarity but also in its complete provenance.
The piece’s trajectory can be traced from printing in Exeter to capture at sea and British archiving.
Experts consider the find exceptionally rare for historiography.
Why does this discovery matter?
The rare copy of the U.S. Declaration of Independence helps to understand how revolutionary ideas circulated during the war.
The document shows how seemingly common records can hold key pieces of world history.
The location in London also enhances the symbolic value of the find, as the declaration marked precisely the separation of the American colonies from British rule.
The copy takes on a special place in the historical memory of the American Revolution.
What do you find more impressive about this discovery: the rarity of the document or the fact that it was forgotten for almost 250 years? Share your opinion!
