CONCORD, N.H. (WCAX) – New Hampshire this week marked the 250th anniversary of its first Constitution, in effect making it the first colony to declare independence 250 years ago.
During a reenactment this week in Concord, an actor portraying Provincial Congress President Matthew Thornton read from the text he signed on January 5, 1776.
At that time, 250 years ago, British Royal Governor John Wentworth had fled New Hampshire for his own safety, effectively leaving the colony without a government.
“That was why the committee was formed and why they had the blessing of the Continental Congress to draft a constitution to govern,” explained historian Michael Lepage. “The most fascinating part of the constitution of New Hampshire is the fact that there is — in the one of 1776 — there is no executive branch.”
“These are the people’s records, I am just the custodian of them,” said Ashley Miller, New Hampshire state archivist.
New Hampshire’s first Constitution is housed in the State Archives Building on Ratification Way. On display along with the Constitution is the waist coat of New Hampshire resident Josiah Bartlett, one of the original signers of the Declaration of Independence, several months later.
“We learn from our past. We need to make these things accessible and be aware of them because these things that were decided 250 years ago affect our daily lives,” Miller said.
“They created two-year terms, which are still in place,” said New Hampshire Secretary of State David Scanlan.
New Hampshire was the first colony to declare independence from British rule, putting power back in the people’s hands. That’s something the Scanlan said continues to ring true every four years with the state’s presidential primary.
“We are probably the last remaining place in this country, where the average citizen, the people who created our government in the first place, has the ability to actually run a campaign with the possibility of ending up the president of the United States,” Scanlan said.
New Hampshire’s Daughters of the American Revolution took part in the celebration 250 years in the making.
“And to go back to those roots and to really celebrate those individuals who were here 250 years ago,” said the DAR’s Laura McCrillis Kessler.
Like Vermont, New Hampshire will be hosting a series of events all year, leading up to a parade and July 4th celebration at the Statehouse.
