July 11, 1776

On July 8, the Declaration of Independence was read aloud at the Northampton County courthouse in Easton, Pennsylvania, sixty miles north of Philadelphia. Soldiers paraded in front of the courthouse, “the light infantry company marching there with drums beating, fifes playing,” and a display of the colors of the thirteen United States. Then, the Declaration was read aloud to “a great number of spectators, who gave their hearty assent with three loud huzzas, and cried out MAY GOD LONG PRESERVE and UNITE the FREE and INDEPENDANT STATES of AMERICA.”

The Pennsylvania Evening Post
Printed by Benjamin Towne

EASTON (Northampton county) July 8. This day the DECLARATION of INDEPENDANCY was received here, and proclaimed in the following order: The Colonel and all other field officers of the first battalion repaired to the courthouse, the light infantry company marching there with drums beating, fifes playing, and the standard (the device for which is the thirteen United Colonies) which was ordered to be displayed, and after that the Declaration was read aloud to a great number of spectators, who gave their hearty assent with three loud huzzas, and cried out MAY GOD LONG PRESERVE and UNITE the FREE and INDEPENDANT STATES of AMERICA.