Page:The Journal of American History Volume 9.djvu/464

 through this influence that the ideas of John Wise, which the "Britannica" tells us can be traced in the immortal Declaration of Independence, were distributed throughout the Colonies, until they became almost household words in the early days of our American Revolution. We can thus distinguish very clearly the great influence of that Ipswich town meeting, and see the propriety and justice of that patriotic claim, which will forever be the proud boast of the Town of Ipswich, that here was "The Birthplace of American Independence, 1687."