History with ‘Hud’: Wilmington’s connection to the Declaration of Independence
WILMINGTON, NC (WWAY) — Thursday marks arguably the most important day in United States history. 248 years ago, the Declaration of Independence was established, going on to be signed by dozens of people — including a man with connections to Wilmington.
William Hooper was born in Boston, Massachusetts on June 17, 1742. His parents wanted him to go into ministry when he grew up, but Hooper found a love for law, graduating from Harvard College in 1760 before continuing his studies in law and eventually settling in Wilmington by 1764.
Hooper was warmly accepted by the people of the lower Cape Fear, traveling hundreds of miles on horseback to meet with residents. By June of 1766 he was unanimously elected recorder of the borough.
One year later, on August 16, 1767, Hooper married Anne Clark, the daughter of the late high sheriff of New Hanover County. Around this time, he also worked closely with leading delegates Benjamin Franklin and John Adams.
By 1773 Hooper bought land for a home on Masonboro Sound, representing Wilmington in the General Assembly of North Carolina, and attending the Continental Congress in 1774 at 34 years old. But Hooper would resign from Congress just two years later and return home to Wilmington.
His mark on history, however, was still to come.
Hooper only began to support the idea of independence a few months before the Declaration of Independence was adopted. Although Hooper was absent when independence was voted on and declared on July 4, 1776, he, like most of the other delegates, signed his name to the amended Declaration on August 2nd of that year.
Five years later, when the British invaded Wilmington in January of 1781 (months before the end of the war), Hooper’s house was burned to the ground.
Hooper eventually moved inland to Hillsborough and mostly disappeared from the public eye. But he long maintained a considerable plantation near Wilmington.
In 1789 he was appointed to the Federal Bench, but a year later he retired due to failing health. He died on October 14, 1790 in Hillsborough at the age of 48.
But his legacy lived on.
On the corner of Fifth Avenue and Mears Street in Wilmington sits the William Hooper Apartment Complex, named for Hooper. It was a school for more than six decades.
Through this building, the legacy of a local man with a surprising connection to the United State’s most important document lives on.
Meteorologist Matthew Huddleston (‘Hud’) has always had two major loves – weather and history. While you can watch him talk about weather each morning on WWAY, he looks forward to bringing you a little piece of history each Thursday on WWAY’s website.
To read other History with ‘Hud’ segments, click HERE.
