The First Thanksgiving, 1621
establish a settlement in the wilderness. They were aided by two members of the local Native American tribes. To the astonishment of the Pilgrims, both of these Good Samaritans spoke English. One, Squanto, a member of the Pawtuxet tribe, had been kidnapped by English adventurers a few years earlier and taken to England. He was subsequently able to achieve his release and return to his homeland
The Pilgrims' first corn harvest was successful and in November the group's leader, Governor William Bradford, called for a feast to celebrate It was not what they had planned. In September their good fortune. Hunters were sent into the of 1620, 102 pilgrims embarked from England wilderness to hunt game for the event. aboard the Mayflower (see Aboard the Members of the local Native American tribes Mayflower, 1620). Their intent was to establish were invited and brought deer meat to add to a settlement in the Hudson River area in the the menu. The celebration lasted for three days northern reaches of the recently established Virginia Colony. However, after a sixty-six-day "...for three days we entertained and feasted." journey they made landfall some 150 miles north of their target (whether by design or Edward Winslow was among the group of mishap is unclear) at the eastern tip of Cape Pilgrims present at the first Thanksgiving. He Cod in present-day Massachusetts. They describes the scene: explored the area for about a month and then "Our harvest being gotten in, our governor sailed further west to the mainland at present- sent four men on fowling, that so we might day Plymouth. It was here that they decided to after a special manner rejoice together after establish a new homeland. we had gathered the fruit of our labors. They For the first few months the majority of the four in one day killed as much fowl as, with a expedition remained cloistered aboard ship little help beside, served the company almost a where many succumbed to mal-nutrition and week. disease. It is estimated that half of their number At which time, amongst other recreations, we died by the following Spring. With the return of exercised our arms, and many of the Indians favorable weather the remaining adventurers coming amongst us, and among the rest their abandoned their ship and moved ashore to greatest king Massasoit, with some ninety men, whom for three days we entertained and feasted, and they went out and killed five deer, which they brought to the plantation and bestowed on our governor, and upon the captain and others. And although it be not always so plentiful as it was at this time with us, yet by the goodness of God, we are so far from want that we often wish you partakers of our plenty."
The journal of William Bradford reveals more information on the first Thanksgiving…
“They begane now to gather in ye small harvest they had, and to fitte up their houses and dwellings against winter, being all well recovered in health & strenght, and had all things in good plenty; fFor as some were thus imployed in affairs abroad, others were excersised in fishing, aboute codd, & bass, & other fish, of which yey tooke good store, of which every family had their portion. All ye somer ther was no want. And now begane to come in store of foule, as winter approached, of which this place did abound when they came first (but afterward decreased by degrees). And besids water foule, ther was great store of wild Turkies, of which they tooke many, besids venison, &c. Besids, they had about a peck a meale a weeke to a person, or now since harvest, Indean corn to yt proportion. Which made many afterwards write so largly of their plenty hear to their freinds in England, which were not fained, but true reports.”
References:
Edward Winslow's's account appears in: Heath, Dwight, A Journal of the Pilgrims at Plymouth: Mourt's Relation (1963); EyeWitness to America (1997); Morrison, Samuel Eliot, Builders of the Bay Colony (1930).
Bradfords Journal
Eyewitness to History