Americans are shocked to hear that a woman’s name appears in the Declaration of Independence: “We have a Founding Mother!”
Americans know that 56 men signed the Declaration of Independence, but recently many have learned that a woman’s name also appears on the documents.
A recent TikTok video that has been viewed over a million times has gone viral after it was shared that “Marry Katherine Goddard” is written at the bottom of the page.
Goddard was not a signer, but in 1777 she printed the first copy of the Declaration of Independence for the Continental Congress, making her the first female government official in the United States.
At the time, women were considered second-class citizens. They had no voting rights and were not allowed to hold positions in the publishing industry.
Americans know that 56 men signed the Declaration of Independence, but what many have recently learned is that a woman’s name appears on the documents
A recent TikTok video that has been viewed over a million times has gone viral after it was shared that ‘Marry Katherine Goddard’ is written at the bottom of the page
But Goddard worked at her brother’s newspaper in Baltimore, which printed the first copies of the Declaration of Independence. She put her name on every copy she printed.
Although her name has long been in the history books, many people are only now learning about her story and calling her “our Founding Mother.”
The video has received nearly 300,000 likes and over 1,000 comments, with users admitting they had no idea.
Others said they “got really emotional when they saw Goddard’s name,” with some even saying they cried when they saw the short clip.
Goddard, born in Connecticut in 1738, began printing for her brother William’s newspaper, the Maryland Journal and the Baltimore Advertiser, but she did so under “M.K. Goddard” because women were not allowed to practice trades.
In December 1776, the Continental Congress moved to Baltimore, just a few blocks from the newspaper.
And a month later, Goddard printed the first version of the document, which included the names of most of the signatories.
Goddard’s imprint at the bottom of the document not only lists the city where she worked, but also her full name: “Baltimore, Maryland: Printed by Mary Katharine Goddard.”
“Goddard risked her life and livelihood by putting her own name on the Declaration of Independence,” a blog by the National Park Service.
The risk was related to the possible consequences of ignoring women’s roles, such as flogging or imprisonment.
Goddard was not a signer, but in 1777 she printed the first copy of the Declaration of Independence for the Continental Congress, making her the first female government official in the United States.
The first copy of the Declaration of Independence also differs from the copy many Americans are familiar with because it was signed only by John Hancock, the president of the Continental Congress, and Charles Thomson, the secretary.
Goddard not only exposes herself to the world, she also unmasks the 55 men who dared to defy tyranny and declare independence from England.
Goddard again broke through traditional boundaries in the postal world by becoming one of the first postmasters, heads of post offices, to employ a postman.
While she was a pioneer in her time, misfortune struck when William fired her from the newspaper. The reason is unknown, but reports suggested the two never spoke again.
In 1789, Goddard’s position as postmaster was taken over by a man with few qualifications.
The Governor of Maryland and more than 230 Baltimore citizens signed a petition to reappoint her, and she went to the Senate to advocate for her return to office.
But the Senate never responded to her letter.
She then presented her case in another letter to President George Washington.
“She was removed from her position without being accused of even the slightest wrongdoing,” the letter said.
Unlike the Senate, Washington did respond, but not as Goddard had hoped.
“I have always avoided interfering in arrangements that did not require my official intervention,” he replied.
Goddard never worked for the post office or a newspaper again, but started her own printing and bookbinding business, which operated successfully for 20 years.
She died at the age of 78 on August 12, 1816.
The TikTok video brings her story back to life and many Americans are in tears after hearing about Goddard.