March 7, 2023 Portsmouth Celebrates Founders’ Day
The Portsmouth Historical Society had a Founders’ Day Ceremony with a public viewing of the original founding document, the 1638 Portsmouth Compact, with the RI State Archives to commemorate its signing. The 385-year-old precious document, one of the oldest and most important documents in the State Archives, was transported with a police escort to and from the Portsmouth Town Hall where the public was able to view the document.
There was a ceremony where Craig Clark, Historical Society President, and Town Council Vice President, Len Katzman, wecomed guests. RI Secretary of State Gregg M. Amore made comments and Town Historian, Jim Garman, gave brief remarks.
Also on display was the Town of Portsmouth’s Declaration of Independence, which is believed to be only one of two Rhode Island copies that have remained at their intended destination – at a town clerk’s office or in a town hall. The Town of Portsmouth, RI has one of eight copies known to exist of the approximately 36 Declarations printed for the Rhode Island Assembly by Newport printer Solomon Southwick on July 13, 1776. Those Declarations were then distributed to each city and town clerk in Rhode Island to be read to the public or posted for the public to view
