Clinch Valley news. [volume] (Jeffersonville, Va.) 18??-2019, 1889-12-13
THANKSGIVING DAY.
Its Origin and Early Observ-
ances in america.
Thanksgiving Recommended
tons ana ProclamatIonS.

grants that lanicl on the bleak and
rocky c,ait of Capc Cod Bay in the
winter OF 1920 almost half died before
the following winter fairly SIT in. To.
day in our comfortable cou itry and city
homes we Cannot even Imagine the
su'fcrings of the survivors, both from
dcstitution anl the Indictment weather
which thy wir, no. prepare either as
to clothes or inhabita,ions to brave.
The most of the brave people were not
Injured to hardship. Among them
were gcatlc and dc,ita'c ly-nurturcd
mca and women.
They S akcd and laid out two rows Of
huis for the 10 families TINT compose
the colony, bat within tho first year
they had to make several times more
graves for the dead than hou cs for the
living. Notwithstanding all their trials
anu hardship, these brave founders of
great and glorious race hal so much
for which to DO thankful that they had
to appoint 'an especial day on which
TO give especial thanks for all their
mcicics."
So they agreed among themselves
that since their pruIcacc an fore
thought hal been SO wonderfully
blessed of God, they would send out
four men hunting that they might re-
joicc together in 4 special manner after
the fruit of their lab>-s had been gath
cred. According to the historian, barley
and Indian corn were tho only crops,
the ''pca' were not worth gathering.
Tor, ~ we feared, they were too late
sown" This was under the good Gov
ernor Brad ord. The four men who
went hunting brought in rs much game
as served the company for Il week. The
rec cations of the day consisted of the
exercise of their arms, M,ssasoit, the
Indian chief, and 90 Of his men coming
among them for three days, during
which time they were entertained and
feastcd ny tho colonists, the Indian,
killing and brin 5ing to the feast five
deer. This was in 1921 and was the
beginning of Thank giving day in
America.
Thc next Now En- gland Thanksgiving
day was in July, 1923. which hal been
appointed as day of fasting an
prayer on account of drought. While
they were praying rain fell abundant
ly, and the governor appointed
1t instead day of thanks
giving. In June, 1852. Governor Win.
throp of the Ma'sachuictt, BY colony
invited the COVE nor of Plymouth col
ony to unite with him III dag of pub
Inc thanksgiving because the action of
the British priyy council had been favor
able to the colonies. In Massachusetts
Bay colony old records show that days
OF thanksgiving were appointed in
1852, 1854. 1857, 1G3S and $3.50, and
sometimes of more Than one day in the
same year. In Plymouth we find men.
ton Of one in 1861. an again in 1868.
In 1850 it seems to have become an an
nual custom
During the revolution it was annually
recommended by congress; then there
was Thanksgiving for peace in 1871
and in 17S9 President Washington rec
ommeaded a day of Thanksgiving for
the adoption of the constitution. In
l7?' there was one for the suppression
OF Instruction, and in April. 1915, the
president appointed day of thanksgiv-
ing fer peace In New England dur
ing all this time, however, annual
proclamations were issued by the gov.
errors of the various states, officially
recommending the religious observance
of the day, where. indeed. it bccim
the principal social and home festival of
the year.
DIrirg the civil wa. President LIN.
coin appcin.cl special thanksgiving in
1862 AMI 1863, and national procla.
nation of annual Thanksgiving wa,
issued in 1868 and 1861. S.nc, tina,
time the president, az we'll as governors
and my ors have issucl such procla-
nation annually.
O..c Of the most remarkable thanks
givings on record wa, the custom in
Southampton and Ea'!hampton, Long
Island. Moataul Point, consisting Of
about 90J0 acres, was owned by
numerous projectors in those two
towns. Thcj u'cl it as n common
patu.agc for their stock. The time Of
driving the Il ,c:1s home for the winter
vas fixed at meeting by the town
council. 'and it came" say, the his.
torian, 'to be rule from the period
beyond which the memory IF man IN,