Thanksgiving Through the Years

 By Sherri Stewart

 

As we prepare to celebrate Thanksgiving, I thought it useful to consider how our modern-day traditions correspond to those of the first Thanksgiving and even the Thanksgivings of the first few centuries. It is easy to celebrate when everything is going well in one’s life, but if any of us have experienced losing a loved one before a major holiday, the word thanksgiving doesn’t flow so glibly off the tongue. Indeed, in that first Thanksgiving of 1621, only four women of the original eighteen who’d reached the new world survived to cook the three-day celebration for the remaining fifty men and children, and the Wampanoag. The disparity in numbers may have been due to the fact that the women had to remain on the Mayflower while the men went ashore to build shelters. Susan Hardman Moore. Yale Books. November 2014  

www.history.com

While Washington and Adams (the first two presidents) were in favor of celebrating the national holiday of Thanksgiving, Thomas Jefferson was adverse to the idea of the government legislating a national holiday. In his letter to the Danbury Baptist Association in 1802, he said there should be a “Wall of Separation between the Church and State.” Note that this was in a letter, not in the Constitution, but because of a bigamy case, Reynolds v. United States, 98 U.S. 145 (1878), the Supreme Court ruled that Jefferson’s letter should be used to interpret the First Amendment of the Constitution. For the next sixty years, Thanksgiving was relegated to the jurisdiction of the state or the colony.

www.monticello.org

It wasn’t until 1863 that Abraham Lincoln instituted Thanksgiving as a national holiday, in part because the president wanted to unify a country that was badly broken after the Civil War. He was also moved by an impassioned letter written to him by Sarah Josepha Hale, who was editor of Godey’s Lady Book, a ladies’ magazine. She also wrote, “Mary Had a Little Lamb.” Her lobbying effort to make Thanksgiving a national holiday can be traced back to a passage of her 1827 novel Northwood. “We have too few holidays,” she wrote. “Thanksgiving like the Fourth of July should be a national festival observed by all the people … as an exponent of our republican institutions.” Olivia B. Waxman. Time. Nov 2016

Although most Americans consume turkey on Thanksgiving Day, the first Thanksgiving in 1621 most likely featured deer or fowl (partridge, quail), due to the fact that chickens, turkeys, and cattle were not  slaughtered because of their ability to produce eggs and milk. Advertisements, menus, and cookbooks show that the traditional turkey, dressing, cranberry sauce, and pumpkin pie meal hasn’t changed much since the early part of the twentieth century.

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Many of the origins of Thanksgiving’s modern traditions may surprise the reader. While Thanksgiving may be a huge day for food consumption, it’s also the most popular day of the year to run in a race. “Turkey trots” have been around since 1896 when the Buffalo YMCA hosted their first holiday 8K. These days, more than 14,000 runners will run in turkey trots all over America. For those Thanksgiving revelers who prefer to play “armchair quarterback,” the first official Thanksgiving NFL game took place between the Detroit Lions and the Chicago Bears in 1934, but playing football on this particular holiday can be traced back to 1869.  Although the dismal origins of Black Friday go back to 1869, only in the last decade have stores begun to open on Thanksgiving Day. Erin Johnson, MakeItGrateful.com So, what traditions do you keep with your family? Your answer, please.

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Selah Award finalist Sherri Stewart loves a clean novel, sprinkled with romance and a strong message that challenges her faith. She spends her working hours with books—either editing others’ manuscripts or writing her own. Her passions are traveling to the settings of her books and sampling the food. She traveled to Zürich for Secrets Dark and Deep. A widow, Sherri lives in Orlando with her lazy dog, Lily. She shares recipes, tidbits of the book’s locations, and other authors' books in her newsletter.

Subscribe at stewartwriting.com/newsletter

An Uncommon Gift

Ella Davis’s papa always told her there’d be no class difference in Heaven, but Ella has years to live on God’s green earth until she reaches her reward. She’s content to be a maid on the Huntington Estate, as long as she has her books and her kitten. But when her ladyship, Amberly Huntington, coerces Ella to take her place on the Mauretania, the fastest ocean liner in 1910, Ella’s worst nightmare has come to pass. She must pretend to be nobility for the eight days it takes to reach New York. In other words, she must live a lie—and this just before Christmas! https://bit.ly/47MTvYX

John Howland - The Pilgrim Who Fell Off the Mayflower

By Mary Dodge Allen

The Mayflower at Sea, painted by Gilbert Tucker Margeson

The Pilgrims had originally planned to sail to the New World in two ships, the Mayflower and the Speedwell. Both ships set sail on August 15, 1620, but the Speedwell leaked so badly, they both returned to Plymouth, England.

On September 16, 1620 the Mayflower set sail, alone, bound for the New World. The ship now carried Pilgrims from the Speedwell, making it severely overcrowded with 102 passengers and crew. One passenger was John Howland, a man in his early to mid-twenties, born in Fenstanton, Huntingdonshire, England. Howland boarded the ship with John Carver and his wife. Some historians believe he was John Carver's indentured servant. But others believe Howand was related to the Carver family, and he served John Carver as his manservant or secretary. 

During the 66-day voyage, storms buffeted the Mayflower's wooden frame, causing leaks and even cracking one of its main beams. One fierce storm sent a huge wave over the main deck, sweeping John Howland overboard.

Howland Overboard, painted by Mike Haywood

William Bradford described the event in his book: Of Plymouth Plantation:

"In a mighty storm, a lusty young man called John Howland... [was] thrown into the sea; but it pleased God that he caught hold of the topsail halyards which hung overboard and ran out at length. Yet he held his hold (though he was sundry fathoms under water) till he was hauled up by the same rope to the brim of the water, and then with a boat hook and other means got into the ship again and his live saved. And though he was somewhat ill with it, yet he lived many years after and became a profitable member both in church and commonwealth."

Another passenger, Elizabeth Tilley, age 13, had boarded the Mayflower with her parents, John and Joan Tilley and her uncle and aunt. In his book entitled: Mayflower, author Nathaniel Philbrick hints that a romance started between Elizabeth and John on the ship, perhaps while she was nursing him back to health.

The Mayflower Compact, painted by Jean Leon Gerome Ferris

In November 1620, the Mayflower Compact was drawn up. John Howland was one of the men who signed it. 

The Pilgrims suffered during the first harsh winter, and nearly half of them died, including Elizabeth Tilley's parents and her uncle and aunt. John Carver and his wife took in Elizabeth and made her part of their family. But unfortunately, John Carver and his wife died the following Spring. Since the Carvers died childless (their children had died before the Carvers set sail on the Mayflower), it is speculated that John Howland inherited the Carver estate. 

John Howland and Elizabeth Tilley married in 1623 or 1624, and they had ten children, who all survived to adulthood. John held a number of leadership positions during his lifetime, serving as a Plymouth colony selectman; assistant to the Governor; deputy for Plymouth to the general court; surveyor of highways; and as a prominent member of the fur trade committee. He also helped establish and operate a fur trading post on the Kennebec River (in current-day Maine).

John Howland Coat of Arms

John and Elizabeth Howland founded one of the largest Mayflower families. Their descendants include three presidents: Franklin D. Roosevelt, George H.W. Bush and George W. Bush; poets Ralph Waldo Emerson and Henry Wadsworth Longfellow; and actors Humphrey Bogart and Anthony Perkins. 

The John Howland Society includes nearly 1,200 documented descendants.

John Howland died in Plymouth, Massachusetts in 1672 or 1673. His wife Elizabeth died in Swansea, Massachusetts in 1687 or 1688.

The Howland Gravesite (Public Domain)

The amazing rescue of one man - John Howland - led to the subsequent birth of people who played a role in our nation's leadership or the arts. His rescue reminds me of the classic movie: It's a Wonderful Life, which illustrates the positive difference that one person's life can make in the world... for generations to come.

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Mary Dodge Allen is the winner of a 2022 Christian Indie Award, a 2022 Angel Book Award, and two Royal Palm Literary Awards (Florida Writer's Association). She and her husband live in Central Florida, where she has served as a volunteer with the local police department. Her childhood in Minnesota, land of 10,000 lakes, sparked her lifelong love of the outdoors. She has worked as a Teacher, Counselor and Social Worker. Her quirky sense of humor is energized by a passion for coffee and chocolate. She is a member of the Florida Writer's Association, American Christian Fiction Writers and Faith Hope and Love Christian Writers. 

Website: www.marydodgeallen.com

Mary's novel: Hunt for a Hometown Killer won the 2022 Christian Indie Award, First Place - Mystery/Suspense; and the 2022 Angel Book Award - Mystery/Suspense.

Click the link below to buy Hunt for a Hometown Killer at Amazon.com:

Hunt For A Hometown Killer: A Novel: Allen, Mary Dodge: 9781952369704: Amazon.com: Books

Link to Mary's Spotlight Interview:   Mary Dodge Allen Author Spotlight EA Books

Famous Infants in History: Virginia Dare - The First Child of the New World

Blogger: Amber Schamel

Baptism of Virginia Dare,
wood-engraving, 1880 Public Domain

Our next subject in our Famous Infants in History series leads us to the mysterious Roanoke colony in what is now North Carolina. The mystery and skepticism shrouding the "Lost Colony" is vast, and has become the subject of countless works including books, plays, movies, poems, songs, and yes, conspiracy theories. So it is quite possible that you have already heard the name of this famous infant: Virginia Dare.


The tale begins in London with Virginia's parents. Eleanor White, daughter of John White, married a bricklayer named Ananias Dare at St. Bride's Church in London. When Eleanor's father planned the expedition to found "the Cittie of Raleigh", both she and her husband joined. Eleanor was pregnant at the time. It is amazing to me that a pregnant woman would make such a dangerous journey, but she must have been a woman of great bravery, or of great optimism, hoping for a better life for her family.

John White was commissioned by the original founder of the Roanoke colony, Sir Walter Raleigh, to make a second attempt at establishing a city there. The first colony had failed due to lack of supplies, and hostilities with the indigenous people. The men that had remained to await supplies sailed with Sir Francis Drake back to England in 1586, abandoning the Colony. Raleigh was determined to make a second attempt. The fleet set sail on May 8, 1587.

Ken Lund from Reno, Nevada, USA,
CC BY-SA 2.0

Eleanor, who would have been six months pregnant at the time, sailed aboard the flagship Lion, which was captained by her father, and piloted by Simon Fernandes. The intention was to establish the colony at Chesapeake Bay, however when the party landed at Roanoke on July 22, Fernandes insisted that the colonists remain on Roanoke, and they never reached their final destination.

Shortly after they disembarked, one settler was killed by Native Americans while searching for crabs alone. The settlers realized they would have to mend relations with the indigenous people if they stood a chance at making the colony successful. The main tribe that they were able to negotiate with was the Croatan. Remember that name, because it is important later.

On August 18, 1587, Eleanor gave birth to the first English child to be born in the New World. She named her daughter Virginia,since at that time, the land was considered part of the Virginia territory. The child was baptized and deemed the "first Christian born in Virginia."

Nine days after the birth of his granddaughter, John White was persuaded by the colonists to return to England for more supplies. That is the last time he would see his daughter, his son-in-law, or his newborn granddaughter. 

 

The discovery of the abandoned colony, 1590
Public Domain

White's journey to England did not go as planned. Unforeseen obstacles, including war, kept him away for about three years, though he tried desperately to return to the colony. When he finally returned in 1590, there was no one left.

Before his departure in 1587, White had left instructions for the colonists to carve a Maltese cross in a tree if they were forced into departure. They found no such cross, instead finding the word "Croatan" engraved in a tree. The buildings were dismantled, which indicated that their departure had not been sudden. Because of these clues, White deduced that his family and the other colonists were safe, having moved to Croatan island, where they had stayed before, and had befriended the native tribe. He planned to search for them on the island, but a massive storm came up, and his men refused to risk a search party. Thus, the settlers, including three-year-old Virginia Dare were never found.

Roanoke Commemorative Coin, 1937
Public Domain

Virginia has become a prominent figure in American folklore, and monuments have been built in her honor. However, what she represents varies greatly between different groups. To some, she represents innocence, new beginnings, hope, or adventure. To others, she is a symbol of mystery. Unfortunately, some have also seized upon her as a symbol of white supremacy and keeping North Carolina "white" or predominantly people of European decent.


One thing we know for certain, Virginia Dare was the first English child to be born to colonists in the "New World", and she was the first child to be depicted on United States currency with the 1937 commemorative coin.

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Two-time winner of the Christian Indie Award for historical fiction, Amber Schamel writes riveting stories that bring HIStory to life. She has a passion for travel, history, books and her Savior. This combination results in what her readers call "historical fiction at its finest".

She lives in Colorado Springs near her favorite mountain, in a small “castle” with her prince charming. Between enjoying life as a new mom, and spinning stories out of soap bubbles, Amber loves to connect with readers and hang out on Goodreads with other bookish peoples.

Amber is a proud member of the American Christian Fiction Writers Association. Visit her online at www.AmberSchamel.com/ and download a FREE story by subscribing to her Newsletter!

First Amendment of the Constitution

By Elaine Marie Cooper My recent blog posts for Heroes, Heroines, and History have turned into a series. Why? Because never before in my lifetime, have the Amendments of the United States Constitution been teetering on the precipice of a cliff. It has become both alarming and anti-American. I have covered the passage of the 12th, 13th, and 15th Amendments so far in my previous posts. Today, I’m going back to the First Amendment. Here is what it says: Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances. The right to freedom of religion—whether Christianity, Judaism, or any other group—was the whole basis for the founding of this country. When the Pilgrims escaped England in 1620, it’s because they were being persecuted for holding services contrary to the Church of England.

Many of the Pilgrims were members of a Puritan sect known as the Separatists. They believed that membership in the Church of England violated the biblical precepts for true Christians, and they had to break away and form independent congregations that adhered more strictly to divine requirements. This did not sit well with the state religion (Church of England) that considered such “insurrection” as treason. Hence, the Separatists were willing to face a dangerous ocean voyage to start life anew in an unknown land. The Pilgrims followed the Geneva translation of the Bible. They took seriously the words of the Apostle Paul in 2 Corinthians 6:16-18: (16) And what agrement hathe the Temple of God with idoles? for ye are the Temple of the living God: as God hathe said, I wil dwell among them, and walke there; and I wil be their God, and shalbe my people. (17) Wherefore come out from among them, and separate your selves, faith the Lord: and touche none uncleane thing, & I wil receive you. (18) And I wil be a Father unto you, and ye shalbe my sonnes and daughters, saith the Lord almightie. One does not need to look far in the news to see the horror of persecution based on one’s religious beliefs. The First Amendment was written to protect this God-given right. The Amendment also ensures the right to free speech. This includes speech that may be considered offensive to some, which can include everything from religious sermons to vile programs filled with foul language. It does not, however, protect someone from yelling “Fire!” in a crowd, which could obviously cause pandemonium and even death. Freedom of the press ensures the right to publish and/or proclaim news that some believe but some may not. That is our right. The right to petition government for redress of grievances is the right to make a complaint to, or seek the assistance of one's government, without fear of punishment or reprisals. For example, if a law comes up for a vote, U.S. citizens have the right to call their congress person representing their district to complain about the contents of said legislation.

One may ask why the United States Constitution was drafted in the first place. If you think back to U.S. History classes from long ago, you may remember an event called Shay’s rebellion that occurred in 1786 and 1787. The newly formed United States was reeling from the huge debt incurred by the American Revolution that had ended in 1783. In order to head off a monetary crisis, the state governments raised taxes to the point that many lost their farms and businesses. The rural citizens made efforts to petition their state governments for help but to no avail.

In desperation and anger, the citizens of Massachusetts began attacking government buildings such as courthouses to rebel against these laws. It heated up to a full-blown rebellion in Springfield, MA led by Daniel Shays, the leader of the farmers’ cause. Shays was also a Revolutionary War veteran. Before the smoke cleared, 4 Americans were killed and 20 wounded. These were men who had just a few years before, had fought for this country. The revolutionaries were arrested and two were hanged. Most were eventually pardoned from their crimes. But the threat posed by these events led to the retired General George Washington returning to public service and eventually, he was elected President of the United States. In order to strengthen the federal government, the Constitutional Convention was called in 1787. Their work established the specific powers of the federal government, including the separation of powers into three branches of government.

The Constitution was ratified in 1789 and these became the law of our land ever since. They are as alive today as when they were ratified. You can read this article for more info about Shay’s rebellion: https://www.history.com/news/how-shays-rebellion-changed-america

Elaine Marie Cooper’s novel, Love’s Kindling is the second-place winner in Historical Romance for the 2020 Selah Award contest. Her most recent release is Scarred Vessels, which involves the slave trade in the Northeast during the Revolution. Like many of Cooper’s books, it focuses on the era of the American Revolution. She has authored several historical novels, a non-fiction memoir, and has been published in numerous anthologies and magazines. Although not a current resident of New England, Cooper’s heart for history was birthed there and continues to thrive. You can visit her website at www.elainemariecooper.com

Plymouth Colony and the Rock

Where Did They Land? 

by Martha Rogers   

Much lore, legend and tradition surrounds the first colonies of the new land on the Atlantic coast. The Mayflower was one of two ships that set sail for the new America to escape the hard times for the Pilgrims in England. The ship Mayflower arrived in Plymouth Harbor in 1620, after first stopping near today's Provincetown. According to oral tradition, Plymouth Rock was the site where William Bradford and other Pilgrims landed. 

However, there was no complete evidence that they actually first stepped foot on the rock. That claim didn't come until 121 years later in 1741 when Thomas Faunce, whose father was a passenger on the ship, said his father and several other passengers had assured him that was the spot they landed.  

The ship made its first stop at what is now Provincetown on November 11, 1620. Since they did not have a patent to settle there, they realized they needed some form of a governing document. This resulted in the Mayflower Compact. The
intent of the compact was to establish a means of governing the colony, and it resembled the same ones of towns they'd left in England. It was modeled on the church covenants of the Congregationalists and made clear the colony would be governed by just and equal laws.

Forty-one men signed that contract aboard the ship. After several weeks of trying to find a place to settle, a skirmish with Indians led them to set sail for another port. The Mayflower dropped anchor at Plymouth Harbor on December 16 and
spent several days looking for a settlement site. They decided on the recently abandoned site of the Patuxet tribe largely because of its defensive position centered between two hills. Also, the fact that the previously cleared land made agriculture relatively easy helped their decision. This landing is what perpetuated the story of Plymouth Rock being the landing spot.

  

Until housing could be built and the town established, the settlers lived on the ship. More than half of the settlers became ill and died during that first winter. Finally, in March, they began to move ashore to their permanent dwellings. There they met Squanto who acted as an interpreter and mediator between the native Americans on the land and the Pilgrims.

Although John Carver served as the first governor 

of the settlement in 1620, William Bradford is the best known and became governor in 1621. The governor was the most powerful executive who served the settlement along with seven

 assistants elected to serve with him as a form of cabinet. The colony leadership worked with the native Americans to learn more about crops and how to survive on the land.

Because of this friendship, the colonists were able to enjoy a bountiful harvest in the fall of 1621. That feast, which took place sometime between mid-September and November over a three day period, has been commemorated as the first Thanksgiving, and is the one most often presented in Thanksgiving pageants and plays.

Most of the Pilgrims in attendance were men because over seventy-five percent of the women had perished during the previous winter. Only fifty colonists were left to celebrate their survival and the harvest.

 

Plymouth Colony never grew to be the robust village

 of which they dreamed although it did become 

self-sufficient after five years. Then because so many other colonies sprang up and became prosperous, Plymouth was finally absorbed by the Massachusetts Colony in 1691. The drawing to the left is how it is believed that first colony was laid out as a colony.

Today, the original colony of Plymouth is a living museum where visitors can sample colonial food and see a restored Mayflower ll. The first Thanksgiving is also reenacted here each  November. 

My husband and I had the privilege of seeing some of those sights when we toured

New England a few years ago. The picture is at the dock where the Mayflower is moored near Plymouth Rock.

Martha Rogers is a free-lance writer and best-selling author from Realms Fiction of Charisma Media and Winged Publications. She was named Writer of the Year at the Texas Christian Writers Conference in 2009. She is a member of ACFW and writes the weekly Verse of the Week for the ACFW Loop. ACFW awarded her the Volunteer of the Year in 2014. Her first electronic series from Winged Publications, Love in the Bayou City of Texas, debuted in the spring of 2015.  Martha is a frequent speaker for writing workshops and the Texas Christian Writers Conference. She is a retired teacher and lives in Houston with her husband, Rex. They now have twelve grandchildren and six great-grandchildren.