UK Archives Uncover 1 of 11 Rare 1776 Declaration Copies Outside US

Q: Will this rare Declaration of Independence return to the US for its 250th anniversary?

No. There is no indication in the reporting or the related material that this newly discovered Exeter printing will be sent to the United States for the 250th anniversary. The copy was found at the UK National Archives in Kew and has been presented there as a major British archival discovery. Officials have emphasized its transatlantic history and its significance as the only known copy outside the US, but they have not announced any loan, transfer or repatriation plan tied to the July 4, 2026 anniversary. The broader anniversary coverage points in the opposite direction: rare Declaration-related documents are being exhibited in Britain during the semiquincentennial year, including this Exeter printing and another rare 1776 Dunlap printing on display in Bath. That suggests the UK institutions are marking the anniversary with their own public presentations rather than sending the documents to the US. The United States is holding its own 250th anniversary events around the original Declaration at the National Archives in Washington, so there is no sign that this British-held copy is needed there for the commemorations. Based on the available evidence, the rare Exeter printing is expected to remain in the UK unless a future loan is formally announced.

Q: What became of the American privateer's diverse crew after their capture by the British?

After their capture, the *Dalton*’s crew were imprisoned by the British in England, where they faced the same harsh captivity that befell many American privateers during the war. The news report identifies the crew as a diverse 120-man company that included Daniel Cottle, a free Black sailor, and says that he and others were eventually jailed in England after the ship was taken in December 1776. Additional historical reporting indicates the *Dalton*’s men were held at Plymouth, where prisoners commonly endured hunger, disease, and punishment. More broadly, captured American privateers often suffered severe treatment because the British frequently viewed them as closer to pirates than regular naval combatants. Many were confined for long periods in overcrowded prisons or prison ships under brutal conditions, and some died in captivity. Others were later exchanged for British prisoners, while some were pressured to enter Royal Navy service to escape prison. In the *Dalton*’s case, at least some crew members survived long enough to be exchanged. One example is Charles Hebert, a 19-year-old from the ship, who was reportedly released after more than two years in captivity. So while the crew’s immediate fate was imprisonment in England, their longer-term outcomes varied between prolonged detention, possible exchange, and in some cases coercion into British service.

3 articles · Updated · BBC.com · Jul 2

The National Archives in Kew said a volunteer found in February a rare Exeter, New Hampshire, printing of the Declaration of Independence—the only known example outside the United States.
Michael Scurr uncovered the document while cataloguing Royal Navy captains' papers from the American Revolutionary War, where it had been folded into Captain Thomas Fitzherbert's correspondence and effectively hidden for centuries.
The copy was one of 11 printed in July 1776 to spread news of independence, then seized on Christmas Eve 1776 when HMS Raisonable captured the American ship Dalton off Portugal after a seven-hour chase.
Conservators have stabilized the paper and repaired a slight tear, and the document will go on display in the National Archives' Revolution 250 exhibition on America's path to independence.
The find adds a distinct survivor to a scarce record: the archives already hold three Dunlap printings from 4 July 1776, of which only 26 are known to survive from roughly 200 printed.

Sources

BBC.com3h ago

Volunteer Discovers Rare US Declaration of Independence Copy in UK Archives

The Guardian4h ago

Volunteer Michael Scurr Discovers "Vanishingly Rare" US Declaration of Independence Copy in UK Archives

bbc.co.uk3h ago

Volunteer Michael Scurr Discovers Rare 1776 US Declaration of Independence Copy at UK National Archives

4 Sources

Will this rare Declaration of Independence return to the US for its 250th anniversary?

How did a reluctant loyalist's printing become a treasured artifact of American freedom?

What became of the American privateer's diverse crew after their capture by the British?

250 Years Hidden: Discovery of a Rare Exeter Declaration of Independence in UK Archives Rewrites Revolutionary History

Overview

A rare and previously unknown Exeter printing of the Declaration of Independence, hidden for nearly 250 years, was officially announced on July 2, 2026, after being discovered in the UK National Archives. This remarkable document was found among the papers of the American ship Dalton, which was seized by British forces in 1776. Its existence challenges long-held myths about the birth of the United States and provides new insights into the transatlantic connections of the American Revolution. The discovery highlights how important historical artifacts can still emerge, reshaping our understanding of pivotal moments in history.

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