Commemoration of Henry Felder’s Declaration of Separation from the English King will be read on its 250th Anniversary, May 20, 2026
April 28, 2026
A public commemorative reading in the Great Hall of the Old Exchange and Provost Dungeon will be held at 6:00 pm, Wednesday, May 20, 2026 of Henry Felder’s Declaration of Separation from the English King for the colony of South Carolina, on the anniversary of its first public address in 1776. The 30 minute event will include the backstory of why the declaration was written by Mr. Felder and the cost suffered by him and his family as a result.
A ten-minute reading of the text will be presented by Henry Felder’s sixth great grandson, nationally known actor, director and writer, Clarence Felder, and members of his award-winning film and theater company, Actors’ Theater of South Carolina, including author, John Brian Eleazer, another direct descendant of Henry Felder, followed by a short reception.
Swiss-German immigrant Henry Felder—a farmer, merchant, and foreman of the Orangeburg District British grand jury—endured the same injustices as many colonists and eventually lost patience with the corruption of magistrates in Orangeburg’s judicial system. He expressed his grievances officially in an Address and Declaration of Separation from the English King on May 20th, 1776, to the Chief Justice of South Carolina, William Henry Drayton. The document was signed by Felder and eleven other members of his committee. The address was presented roughly five weeks before Thomas Jefferson delivered his first draft of the Declaration of Independence.
A portion of Felder’s Declaration is in the award-winning docudrama film, All For Liberty, which explores the journey of Henry Felder and his family in the War for American Independence. It stars Clarence Felder, supported by a large cast. In the course of his journey as a statesman, Henry Felder became a captain, led a militia unit with his seven sons, was tasked by the provincial government to make gunpowder, gather funds, collect artillery and purchase cannon for the Continental army in South Carolina.
Joining Mr. Felder will be co-stars, wife, Chris Weatherhead, Michael Easler (who portrayed Governor Rutledge), actress, Karen DeLoach, and journalist, Mark Leon.
The event is free and open to the public. It is sponsored by Actors’ Theater of South Carolina and the Old Exchange and Provost Dungeon.
For further information, call producing director of Actors’ Theater of South Carolina, Chris Weatherhead-Felder, 843-697-9607, or email at: [email protected]
