The Declaration of Independence was a declaration of war – its adoption on July 4, 1776 marked the official start of the American Revolution. Historian Jan Eakins examines the District of Maine in the big picture of that revolution and shares stories of people from Belfast and nearby communities whose lives and livelihoods were upended by warfare. She ponders conditions in Belfast. She tracks near-starvation everywhere. She reads the letter of a despairing wife whose husband’s Loyalist fervor forced them to Canada. She relates the tale of a Patriot woman’s final revenge against British forces stationed at Castine. She tells of a gifted Wabanaki singer at Valley Forge and a slave who bought his freedom with proceeds from soldiering and privateering. She quotes from the extraordinary account of a common soldier. She traces the history of the rare copy of the Declaration of Independence that will be displayed at Belfast Free Library August 13 through 15 to honor our nation’s 250th anniversary. She concludes with facts about the Declaration and the Revolution that may surprise you.

Jan Eakins has researched, written and lectured on Maine’s history for thirty years. She trained docents and led special tours at Thomas Jefferson’s Monticello. She taught media history and other courses at SUNY Plattsburgh. She serves on the editorial board of Maine History, the scholarly journal of Maine Historical Society in Portland.