This year, the United States of America is marking 250 years since its Declaration of Independence. This text, and its arguments for 'life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness', was issued in Philadelphia on 4 July 1776 to act as a rallying cry on behalf of the rebel Continental Congress – it is now considered a founding national document of the US.
Meanwhile, as we prepared to open an exhibition charting the emergence of the United States, a volunteer made an astonishing discovery: an unknown copy of the Declaration.
Michael Scurr, a volunteer on our America 250 – Royal Navy Admirals’ and Captains’ letters project, was cataloguing a box of correspondence when he found the Declaration. It was discovered among letters sent in by Thomas Fitzherbert, captain of HMS Raisonable.
The copy of the 'Exeter Declaration' found at The National Archives.
This copy of the Declaration was taken from the papers of an American privateer (a private vessel commissioned by a government to attack enemy ships), the Dalton of Newburyport (Massachusetts), which was captured by the Raisonable on 24 December 1776. It was printed in Exeter, New Hampshire, by Robert Luist Fowle sometime between 16 to 19 July 1776 for his newspaper, the New Hampshire Gazette or Exeter Morning Chronicle. There are (now) only 11 known surviving copies of these so-called ‘Exeter Declarations' and, prior to this discovery here in London, there were none known outside of the United States.
Focus on
The American privateer and the secret copy of the Declaration of Independence
Uncover the story of the Dalton, and her rare copy of the Declaration of Independence.
Among the captain's letters
The discovery followed the completion of a project to catalogue over 100,000 Royal Navy Captains’ letters for the French Revolutionary and Napoleonic Wars (1793–1815). The team, who are managed by Naval records specialist Bruno Pappalardo, then started on correspondence sent during the American Revolutionary War (1775–1783) to tie in with the 250th anniversary. It was in one of 104 boxes of correspondence that Michael Scurr was to make the exciting find.
While cataloguing a letter, dated 10 January 1777, in which Captain Fitzherbert reports the capture of the Dalton, Michael noted a reference to documents seized from the ship. On closer inspection of these records, one that Fitzherbert described as 'another document' proved to be the extremely rare 'Exeter Declaration'.
Unearthing and handling such a significant historical document has been thrilling, particularly in this important anniversary year.
Michael Scurr, volunteer
Prize papers
We know about the Dalton thanks to the Prize Papers Project – a 20-year collaboration between The National Archives and the University of Oldenburg. The aim of the project is to catalogue and digitise papers taken from ships (prizes) captured by the Royal Navy and British privateers between 1652 and 1815. This includes the capture of the Dalton and over 3,600 other ships taken by the British during the American Revolutionary War – these are set to go online in October 2026.
On Christmas Eve 1776, about 250 miles west of the coast of Portugal, the HMS Raisonable spotted the Dalton and made chase. After a seven-hour pursuit, the Dalton surrendered. Before the ship was captured, the captain, Eleazar Johnson, threw overboard all his papers, logs, and crew lists, except for three printed documents: his privateering commission, his orders from Congress, and the Declaration of Independence.
The capture of enemy ships was a normal practice of warfare at this time. To ensure it was legal, however, the captors had to bring all the papers taken from any captured ship before a court. Fitzherbert's junior officer swore to the court that all seized papers from the Dalton had been provided. We now know this was not the case, as Fitzherbert had forwarded the Declaration to the Admiralty in London.
Here it has been ever since, first with the Admiralty and finally with the Public Record Office – now The National Archives – where it was discovered 250 years later.
A collection of letters from the Prize Papers collection. Catalogue reference: HCA 30/313
The Prize Papers Project is part of the Göttingen Academy of Sciences and Humanities in Lower Saxony. It is based at the Carl von Ossietzky University of Oldenburg and The National Archives.
Undertaking conservation
This new discovery has the potential for some fascinating scientific research. This includes possible comparisons with the three 'Dunlap Broadsides' (the first prints of the Declaration) held in our collection.
Our senior conservator Jillian Harrold in Collection Care was able to separate the document from the volume using an ultrasonic humidifier, which introduces moisture in a precise and controlled way. This softened the adhesive enough so that the document could be gently separated using a spatula. Overall, the Declaration is in a good condition. There was, however, a long tear across the left-hand middle area, which was repaired using fine Japanese paper and wheat starch paste.
Exploring materiality
The record was then examined and imaged by our Heritage Scientist Marc Vermeulen, making it possible to investigate several aspects of its materiality and production. Raking light photography, which involves illuminating the object from the side at a very low angle, revealed the network of original folds.
Microscopic examination revealed a significant presence of blue fibres embedded within the paper structure. This is characteristic of rag paper, typically produced from recycled textiles such as worn clothing. The presence of numerous yellowish, woody fragments suggests the possible inclusion of plant-based materials, such as hemp hurd, in the papermaking process.
Transmitted light imaging of the relatively thin sheet clearly showed the chain and laid lines that are typical of handmade paper. However, no watermark could be found identifying the maker, in contrast to what has been seen in some 'Dunlap Broadsides'.
Taken together, these observations point to the use of comparatively lower-quality paper, particularly when measured against the Dunlap copies. This is consistent with the economic and material constraints faced in New England during the 1770s and the Declaration's intended wide distribution.
Imaging the Declaration
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Transmitted light imaging showed the chain and laid lines that are typical of handmade paper.
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Raking light imaging revealed the network of original folds.
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Microscopic examination revealed a significant presence of blue fibres and yellow fragments from the papermaking process.
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The joy and mystery of archival work
This Declaration’s remarkable journey to The National Archives is testament not only to the power and complexity of 18th-century record-keeping, but also to the joy and mystery of archival work.
When we last found a copy of the US Declaration in our archives in 2009, we knew there was a chance we might hold another one. Still, the scale of our collections meant that this new find would be impossible without our dedicated volunteers. It’s thanks to them that we can tell this new chapter in the transatlantic history of the American Revolution.
You can find out more about the Declaration of Independence and see a Dunlap copy in our exhibition Revolution 250: America's Independence Story 1763–1783 (24 June to 29 November 2026).
Exhibition
Revolution 250: America's Independence Story 1763–1783
Marking the 250th anniversary of The US Declaration of Independence, this powerful free exhibition charts the emergence of the United States of America.
