Remembering Our Two First Thanksgiving Celebrations

Christams Lady 2

Long before the Civil War and the Thanksgiving Proclamation by President Lincoln, the north and south had their individual days of Thanksgiving. Let´s review the first two celebrations of giving thanks in America: Mayflower Colony and the Virginia Plantation.

Mayflower Colony

One group that helped to settle the New World was the English Separatists who were part of the Protestant Reformation. These individuals were mostly former English patriots who wanted freedom to practice or live their religion within the realm of the Church of England. They fervently believed the reforms of Martin Luther has not gone far enough and wanted a more personal involvement and voice is all areas of the church. This did not sit well with King James I, who was head of the Church of England. One particular group, hearing that King James I was getting ready to "harry them from the land", escaped England and its persecution and harassment. They settled in the Netherlands where they were given religious sanctuary.

Unfortunately, living among the Dutch, they were subjected to Dutch customs and traditions which differed greatly from their teachings. After about 10 years, several of the leaders felt this was encroaching upon their group, especially their children, and urged the group to make a fresh start in the New World. This was not an easy decision and much time, prayer, thought, and even bitter disagreements arose while the group debated this move.

Reprisals from the Dutch government began to occur more frequently. The Dutch government wanted England, King James I, as an ally since it looked like war was imminent with Catholic Spain. During a particular hard economic time, the church voted to create a new settlement in the New World.

This was just the beginning of the many obstacles they would have to overcome to make their journey. We think nothing of flying or taking a voyage from one country to another in our world today. But in early 1600, this type of journey came with all kinds of hazards and impediments. They had to secure a government grant for land in the New World in order to relocate, obtain financing for their voyage, hire a ship with crew, and buy provisions for their journey and their new life in a new land.

Remember, these Separatists were not welcomed in England, yet as English subjects, they had to obtain English government approval for their land grant for settlement. With much effort and bargaining, they obtained two "patents" for land through their relationship with the London Company. Their next big hurdle was the cost of the voyage. They eventually negotiated part of their finances through a prominent iron merchant in London.

After further negotiations, the Dutch Separatists were forced to open their voyage to non-Separatists for payment. They set sail for the New World aboard the Mayflower on September 16, 1620 with about 102 passengers. (Less than half of these were from the Dutch group.) The air was rife for dissention, discord and danger.

The sea voyage was long and ferocious. Most of the company suffered seasickness. They encountered numerous storms. The main beam of the ship cracked. The main deck leaked. Threats of mutiny from the non-Separatists were frequent. (They wanted to leave the group as soon as they landed.) It was not a pleasant crossing.

Even before land was reached, the threats of mutiny had to be confronted. After 65 days at sea, land was finally spotted on November 19th and the group landed on November 21st. The Dutch Separatists realized they had not arrived at the land provided for by the patent. They knew the only way to survive was to stay together and combine resources. Hence the Mayflower Compact was created and signed granting this group the land and the governing power. It was a covenant dedicated to preserving unity.

The winter of 1620 was harsh and brutal. Over a third of the company did not survive and those that did would not have lived if not for the help of the Native Americans.

Fortunately, for these colonists, they had settled in an abandoned Indian village. When former villagers returned to view their home, they saw the white man and offered their assistance. (One of the Native Americans had been befriended by an English sea captain years before so communication was easily established.)

With the Native Americans guidance and help, the harvest of 1621 was a good one. So bountiful in fact, that it led Governor Bradford to celebrate a traditional English harvest festival.

While many of the foods we associate with Thanksgiving, such as potatoes and pumpkin pie, were not present at this first celebration, they did enjoy a bounty of wild fowl (turkey), venison, berries, plums, dried fruit, lobster, clams and fish. The celebration lasted for three days and about ninety Native Americans participated.

William Bradford, governor of the Plymouth Colony for over 30 years, first penned the term, Pilgrim, for the Dutch Separatists who embarked on this epic journey. In 1799, the term, Pilgrim Fathers, was applied to the Mayflower´s passengers.

Berkeley Plantation

A year before the Mayflower Colony celebrated their harvest festival, Captain John Woodlief led his group of 38 men to fall on their knees and give thanks for their safe arrival in the New World on December 4, 1619 by the James River.

They vowed to remember and commemorate this day each year. "Wee ordaine that the day of our ships arrival at the place assigned for plantacon in the land of Virginia shall be yearly and perpetually kept holy as a day of Thanksgiving to Almighty God."

This tradition has been carried out at the Berkeley Plantation since that day. It is now celebrated on the first Sunday in November. Visitors are encouraged to visit the site on this date. The day is filled with history, food, and fun. Tours of the historic 1726 manor house and garden are given with a formal living history program.

Berkeley Plantation is the birthplace of Benjamin Harrison, a signer of the Declaration of Independence, our 9th President, William Henry Harrison and the ancestral home of our 23rd President, Benjamin Harrison.

These two celebrations guided future celebrations and proclamations which eventually led to the creation of our national holiday, Thanksgiving Day.

John J. Roberts writes on a variety of subjects and interest. Enjoy the fragrance and natural beauty of a lovely fall centerpiece this Thanksgiving.