Results tagged “James Smith” from York Town Square

In summer 1776, James Smith signed both the Declaration of Independence and the Pennsylvania Constitution. The York, Pa., lawyer also served in the Continental Congress during that body's visit to York County after British troops forced members from Philadelphia. Background posts: 400 years ago, John Smith explored Chesapeake Bay - 1 of 20 iconic images, Where was Thomas Jefferson when Congress met in York?, and Who will lead York in the future?

This painting of James Smith is another in a series of iconic images of York County, Pa. Smith lived and died in York County, joining New York's Philip Livingston as the two signers of the Declaration buried in York County soil... .

The Civil War-era U.S. Army General Hospital became a major site for treatment because of its proximity to Virginia and Maryland, where many battles took place, and its location on a major rail line. Here, convalescents pose in one of the hospital wards at the Penn Park complex. The military hospital is an example of a York County history topic awaiting study. Background posts: Civil War nurse: 'Dogs of War in our midst' and Not all rebel wounded suffered after Gettysburg.

Many people use New Year's to kick off historical research projects.

My York Sunday News column Looking for a local history research project? probed several topics ripe for research focusing on York's Civil War-era military hospital.

The following is a sampling of topics from York County history awaiting further exploration or publication of existing research:

Lt. Col. Phil Aubel of York stretches out the center of the American flag on display Friday night in center field at Sovereign Bank Stadium. The York Revolution's new ball park is full of connections to the American Revolution.

To continue to tie the past with the present, I again explained in a York Sunday News column the link between the American Revolution and the York Revolution baseball team playing in its first season.

I adjusted the column to show James Smith, York's Declaration of Independence signer, attending a York Revolution game, assuming he came back to live today.

Indeed, from young Alexander Graydon's account, Smith would have enjoyed such a festive occasion.

Graydon, attorney-in-training in 1773, found lawyer Smith fond of the bottle and bursting with whimsical humor: ,,,

James Smith

A proponent for additional statues in York recently backed James Smith as a candidate. (See who's your candidate for York's next statue?)

After all, he argued, York's most prominent 18th-century lawyer signed America's top three seminal documents: the Declaration of Independence, Articles of Confederation, U.S. Constitution.

That's not quite correct, as this Q &A suggests: ...