Woburn Shows Off Copy Of Declaration Of Independence To Mark 4th

WOBURN, MA — When a copy of the then recently-signed Declaration of Independence arrive in Woburn in 1776, Woburn Town Clerk James Fowle meticulously copied it by hand into the town's records. Fowle's transcription of the Declaration of Independence took up three pages in a ledger. The document has been preserved in the city vault for the past 243 years, but this week Woburn officials took it out to share with residents.

"You will also see the facsimile signature of 'John Hancock' although not quite so flamboyant as the original," the city said on its Website, where it posted several photos of the document.