In today’s episode, we meet Scott Syfert, author of "The First American Declaration of Independence? The Disputed History of the Mecklenburg Declaration of May 20, 1775," and we explore the facts behind the controversy as to whether Mecklenburg County was first to declare independence from Great Britain.

Ken Burns, documentary filmmaker, says: “Scott Syfert has rescued and brought vividly to life a little-known story of our Revolutionary past and the urgent need by our ancestors for freedom.”

President John Adams called the controversy over the Mecklenburg Declaration of Independence “one of the greatest curiosities and one of the deepest mysteries that ever occurred to me.”

Andrew Roberts, author of “Storm of War” and “Masters and Commanders” calls the book, “One of the finest pieces of historical detective work I’ve ever read…engaging, scholarly and wholly convincing.”

Scott starts the show with a reading from the Prologue, where early on the morning of Friday, May 19, 1775, John McKnitt Alexander of Mecklenburg County rode his horse along a narrow path toward the small village of Charlotte.

You can connect with the show at: charlottereaderspodcast.com