07/19/2026
"... and all the people shall say Amen".
250 Years Ago Today, Mrs. Abigail Adams stood beneath the balcony of today's Old State House in Boston to hear the words of the document read aloud that her husband John Adams and many other Continental Congress delegates contributed to upon a vote for separation from Great Britain: "...after hearing a very Good Sermon I went with the Multitude into Kings Street to hear the proclamation for independence read and proclaimed. Some Field pieces with the Train were brought there, the troops appeared under Arms and all the inhabitants assembled there (the small pox prevented many thousand from the Country). When Col. Crafts read from the balcony of the State House the Proclamation, great attention was given to every word. As soon as he ended, the cry from the balcony, was God Save our American States and then 3 cheers which rendered the air, the Bells rang, the privateers fired, the forts and Batteries, the cannon were discharged, the platoons followed and every face appeared joyful. Mr. Bowdoin then gave a (toast) Sentiment, Stability and perpetuity to American independence. After dinner the kings arms were taken down from the State House and every vestige of him from every place in which it appeared and burnt in King Street. Thus ends royal Authority in this State, and all the people shall say Amen."
đź“·: Abigail Adams Statue sculpted by Sergey Eylanbekov, Hancock Adams Common, Quincy, Massachusetts.
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