The First American Thanksgiving

Note: This article has been excerpted from a larger work in the public domain and shared here due to its historical value. It may contain outdated ideas and language that do not reflect TOTA’s opinions and beliefs.

From Mourts Relation, or, Journal of the Plantation at Plymouth by Edward Winslow, edited by Henry Dexter, 1865.

A Letter Sent From New-England to a friend in these parts, setting forth a briefe and true Declaration of the worth of that Plantation; As also certaine usefull Directions for such as intend a Voyage into those Parts.

Loving, and old Friend, although I received no Letter from you by this Ship, yet forasmuch as I know you expect the performance of my promise, which was, to write unto you truely and faithfully of all things, I have therefore at this time sent unto you accordingly. Referring you for further satisfaction to our more large Relations. You shall understand, that in this little time, that a few of us have beene here, we have built seaven dwelling houses, and foure for the use of the Plantation, and have made preparation for divers others. We set the last Spring some twentie Acres of Indian Corne, and sowed some six Acres of Barly & Pease, and according to the manner of the Indians, we manured our ground with Herings or rather Shadds, which we have in great abundance, and take with great ease at our doores.

Our Corne did prove well, & God be praysed, we had a good increase of Indian-Corne, and our Barly indifferent good, but our Pease not worth the gathering, for we feared they were too late sowne, they came up very well, and blossomed, but the Sunne parched them in the blossome.

Our harvest being gotten in, our Governour sent foure men on fowling, that so we might after a more speciall manner reioyce together, after we had gathered the fruit of our labours; they foure in one day killed as much fowle, as with a little helpe beside, served the Company almost a weeke, at which time amongst other Recreations, we exercised our Armes, many of the Indians coming amongst us, and amongst the rest their greatest King Massasoyt, with some ninetie men, whom for three dayes we entertained and feasted, and they went out and killed fine Deere, which they brought to the Plantation and bestowed on our Governour, and upon the Captaine, and others. And although it be not alwayes so plentifull, as it was at this time with us, yet by the goodnesse of God, we are so farre from want, that we often wish you partakers of our plentie.

Wee have found the Indians very faithfull in their Covenant of Peace with us; very loving and readie to pleasure us: we often goe to them, and they come to us; some of us have bin fiftie myles by Land in the Country with them; the occasions and Relations whereof, you shall understand by our generall and more full Declaration of such things as are worth the noting, yea, it hath pleased God so to possesse the Indians with a feare of us, and love unto us, that not onely the greatest King amongst them called Massasoyt, but also all the Princes and peoples round about us, have either made sute unto vs, or beene glad of any occasion to make peace with us, so that seaven of them at once have sent their messengers to us to that end, yea, an Ile at sea, which we never saw hath also together with the former yeelded willingly to be under the protection, and subjects to our soveraigne Lord King James, so that there is now great peace amongst the Indians themselves, which was not formerly, neither would have bin but for us; and we for our parts walke as peaceably and safely in the wood, as in the hie-wayes in England, we entertaine them familiarly in our houses, and they as friendly bestowing their Venison on us.

They are a people without any Religion, or knowledge of any God, yet very trustie, quicke of apprehension, ripe witted, just, the men and women goe naked, onely a skin about their middles; for the temper of the ayre, here it agreeth well with that in England, and if there be any difference at all, this is somewhat hotter in Summer, some thinke it to be colder in Winter, but I cannot out of experience so say; the ayre is very cleere and not foggie, as hath beene reported.

I never in my life remember a more seasonable yeare, then we have here enjoyed: and if we have once but Kine, Horses, and Sheepe, I make no question, but men might live as contented here, as in any part of the world.

For fish and fowle, we haue great abundance, fresh Codd in the Summer is but course meat with us, our Bay is full of Lobsters all the Summer, and affordeth varietie of other Fish; in September we can take a Hogshead of Eeles in a night, with small labour, & can dig them out of their beds, all the Winter we have Mussells and Other [shellfish] at our doores: Oysters we have none neere, but we can have them brought by the Indians when we will; all the Spring time the earth sendeth forth naturally very good Sallet Herbs; here are Grapes, white and red, and very sweete and strong also. Strawberies, Gooseberies, Raspas, &c. Plums of three sorts, with blacke and red, being almost as good as a Damsen; abundance of Roses, white, red, and damask: single, but very sweet indeed.

The Countrey wanteth onely industrious men to imploy, for it would grieve your hearts (if as I) you had seene so many myles together by goodly Rivers uninhabited, and withall to consider those parts of the world wherein you live, to be euen greatly burthened with abundance of people. These things I thought good to let you understand, being the truth of things as nere as I could experimentally take knowledge of, and that you might on our behalfe give God thankes who hath delt so favourably with us.

Winslow, Edward. Mourts Relation, or, Journal of the Plantation at Plymouth. Edited by Henry Martyn Dexter, J.K. Wiggin, 1865.

Edward Winslow

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