Thomas Barker, writing to his wife Martha on July 6, 1776 expressed the joy of the moment: "We will be the first free people since the Athenians, my love. The honor is ours if we take it!" (1). But in the same letter he admitted his "doubts that England will let such a rich colony go without a war" (2).
At least some colonists were already saving food for the winter (Barker 2).
__________________________________________________________________________________
Works Cited
Barker, Jonathan. "July 6, 1776 Letter to Martha Barker." Voices in
Revolutionary Times: Family Correspondence Following the Declaration of Independence, edited by Lisa Ann Greenley, Blacksmith Press, 2001, Thompson Historical Database. http:XXXXXX.com/XXXXXXxxxccc.