New Hampshire elected William Whipple to the Continental Congress four times with his first election 23 January 1776 and he served the state longer than any of its other 17 delegates.  He arrived in Philadelphia Feb. 28, after a trip by horseback and took lodgings with John Adams on Second Street.  Mrs. Sarah Yates was their landlady.

On April 12, North Carolina became the first colony to speak for independence in unmistakable tones.  Its Provincial Congress gave its delegates power to declare independence and form foreign alliances

Congress made many momentous decisions in early May.   It authorized issuance of $5 million in paper money on the 9th and John Adam’s resolution advising the colonies to suppress Crown authority and to assume power under the authority of the people passed on the 15th.  George Washington was summoned on the 16th to plan for the coming campaign and conferred with the entire Congress on the 24th and 25th.  A Committee, including Whipple, was appointed to plan the military operations.  Josiah Bartlett the state’s other delegate arrived the evening of the 17th to share in the heavy work load.  On the 28th, Whipple and Bartlett wrote Meschech Weare, head of the Provincial Congress asking “for the sentiments of our colony on the important subject of a total separation from Great Britain.”

Whipple wrote John Langdon of Portsmouth in early June that a vote on independence was approaching and he believed it would pass.  Richard Henry Lee, Virginia delegate, introduced the resolution for independence Friday June 7.  “That these United Colonies are, and of right ought to be, free and independent States, that they are absolved from all allegiance to the British crown, and that all political connection between them and the state of Great Britain is, and ought to be, totally dissolved.  That it is expedient forthwith to take the most effectual measures by forming foreign alliances.  That a plan of confederation be prepared and transmitted to the respective colonies for their consideration and approbation.”  John Adams seconded. (more…)