The Dawson journal., 1883-12-06
THANKS-GIVING DAY.
Its Origin, History, and Some of
Its Observances.

~ gives us the history of Thanks
giving day and its origin. From
the papers we learn that the earliest
thanksgiving service was held by
the church of England. The Pop
ham colonists, who, August 8, 1907
20. S. landed upon Monhegan, near
the Kennebec, and under the shad-
ow of high cross, listened to
sermon by Chaplain Seymour, "giv-
ing good thanks for our happy meet
ings aud safe arrival in the country
Next we pass to Plymouth, where
in 1921, the autumn after the arrival
a notable thanksgiving was held -
The brief accounts present joyous
picture. As we learn from Winslow,
the harvest being gathered, the gov
ernor ''sent four men out fowling,
that so we might, after a special
manner, rejoice together and the
traditional turkey was added to the
abundant venison. The people gave
themselves up to recrestiop, and the
great chief Massasoit was feasted for
three days with his ninety swarshy
retainers.
Possibly on this first Plymouth
thanksgiving, there was more csrous-
ing than we suppose, while there is
not the slightest indication of any
religious observances. Massasoit
and his braves, no doubt, enjoyed it
all greatly, as the thanksgiving idea
was entertained by the Indians be-
fore their contract with the whites,
aSd in their celebrations there was
much excess. How much "eomfort-
able warm water" the grave and
reverend elders themselves cou-
snmed during those three days of
jollity, Bradford does not say.
In 1922 there is no mention of
thanksgiving, but in 1923 day was
kept, not, however, in tie autumn as
a harvest festival, but in July. upon
the arrival Of some provisions. At
ter this nothing more is heard Of
Thanksgiving at Plymouth for nearly
half a century. So far as the colo
NAL records go, they indicate that
the day did not find o revival until
1868, when there was some kind of
a thanksgiving. Again. Jnne 27,
1889, there was Thanksgiving for
the acc Nssion of William and Mary.
In 100 an autumnal Thanksgiving
was held, and the next year Ply
mouth colony was merged in Mas
sachusetts, and SO passes out of the
story. If any festival can be said to
have been established, il was estab-
hshed in imitation oi
the customs across the sea. District
religious societies, however, NAV
have kept occasional Thanksgiving
as the people at Barnstable observed
thanksgiving on December %, 1886,
and December, IL, 1889.
In the Massachusetts, colony the
frst thanksgiving was held at Bos.
ton' July s, 1880, it being a special
occasion, having no reference to har.
vests. Again, in February, 1881,
there was Thanksgiving, as already
noticed. In the October following 8
thanksgiving was held for the safe
arrival OF Mrs. Winthrop and hel
children" In these appointments
we do not fnd the Thanksgiving that
we know to-day, nor do we detect
any fell design against Christmas
In 1882, on June 5, there was s
thanksgiving for the victories in the
Palatinate, and in October anothe,
Tor the harvest. In 1857, there wa.
Q thanksgiving for victory over the
Pequots, and in 1888 for the arriya
OF salps and for the harvest. The
thanksgiving days from 1885 to 1854
numbered about twenty-one, or les.
than one in every two years, The
celebration of 1916 had special refer
snoe to the victory over Kiug Philip
From this period until the revolu
ton, a thanksgiving of some kline
occurred nearly every other year
as in 1742. Some of these DAYS were
appointed by the royal governors
while again they were ordered hy tn,
King or Queen Or by the homs
board OF trade
After the close of the revolution {
tendency to make thanksgiving day
regular institution in New York
was at once apparent, and Gov
John Jay, in 1895, issued a procla
nation for the 18th of November