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With reference to the report on the Liberty Bell (July 4), it might be of interest to readers to know further details about it, how it was confirmed that John Pass was Maltese and also the reason why his surname was spelt incorrectly in America

According to the original documents from Isaac Norris, a member of State House in the City of Philadelphia who was present when the first bell was cast by Pass and John Stow, he had doubts about the sound of the bell and in a letter dated March 29, 1753, recorded his thoughts to a James Wright

Norris was proved right when the bell was rung in the steeple on April 14, 1753. To Pass and Stows’ embarrassment, the bell issued a disturbing “bonk” sound which one witness described like two coal scuttles banged together

On the same day, Norris wrote a letter to Robert Charles explaining the circumstances for the bell’s failure.

It was in this letter, dated April 14, 1753, that Norris informed Charles about the two forgers and identifies Pass as Maltese: “…A native of the isle of Malta (Pass) and a son of Charles Stow were the persons who undertook to cast our Bell…”

Pass and Stow had to work 24 hours a day to produce a second casting and, by the first week in June, the bell was hung again in the steeple.

On July 3, 1753, they forwarded their bill and were paid £60.13s 5d. Stow and Pass both signed the receipt of payment. Stow signed his name “John Stowe”. Pass placed his mark “X” in the space left for John Pass This shows that Pass could not write and it is open to question if he could read. It does seem the name “Pass” came about on Stow first meeting him.

Pass could have pronounced his surname “Pace” in a way which sounded to Stow as “Pass”. Even today, an English person cannot pronounce “Pace” correctly without practice.

The bell cracked a second time on July 8, 1835, while being rung at the funeral of Judge John Marshall

It only became known about 1839 as the Liberty Bell. Previously it had been called the Old State House Bell, the Bell of the Revolution or Old Independence.