THANKSGIVING – As Written by the Pilgrims

THE MAYFLOWER COMPACT – SIGNED BY THE PILGRIMS IN 1620

 

CONTEMPORARY TRANSCRIPTION:
In the name of God, Amen. We, whose names are underwritten, the Loyal Subjects of our dread Sovereign Lord, King James, by the Grace of God, of Great Britain, France and Ireland, King, Defender of the Faith, etc.

 

Having undertaken for the Glory of God, and Advancement of the Christian Faith, and the Honour of our King and Country, a voyage to plant the first colony in the northern Parts of Virginia; do by these Presents, solemnly and mutually in the Presence of God and one of another, convenant and combine ourselves together into a civil Body Politic, for our better Ordering and Preservation, and Furtherance of the Ends aforesaid; And by Virtue hereof to enact, constitute, and frame, such just and equal Laws, Ordinances, Acts, Constitutions and Offices, from time to time, as shall be thought most meet and convenient for the General good of the Colony; unto which we promise all due Submission and Obedience.

In Witness whereof we have hereunto subscribed our names at Cape Cod the eleventh of November, in the Reign of our Sovereign Lord, King James of England, France and Ireland, the eighteenth, and of Scotland the fifty-fourth. Anno Domini, 1620

 

ACTUAL TRANSCRIPTION:
In ye name of God, Amen. We whose names are underwritten, the loyal subjects of our dread sovereign Lord King James by ye grace of God, of Great Britaine, Franc, & Ireland king, defender of ye faith, &c.
Haveing undertaken, for ye glorie of God, and advancemente of ye Christian faith, and honour of our king & countrie, a voyage to plant ye first colonie in ye Northerne parts of Virginia, doe by these presents solemnly & mutualy in ye presence of God, and one of another, covenant & combine our selves togeather into a civill body politick; for our better ordering & preservation & furtherance of ye ends aforesaid; and by vertue hearof, to enacte, constitute, and frame shuch just & equall lawes, ordinances, acts, constitutions, & offices, from time to time, as shall be thought most meete & convenient for ye generall good of ye Colonie: unto which we promise all due submission and obedience. In witnes wherof we have hereunder subscribed our names at Cap-Codd ye .11. of November, in ye year of the raigne of our soveraigne lord King James of England, France, & Ireland ye eighteenth, and of Scotland ye fiftie fourth. Ano: Dom .1620

 

PILGRIMS GAVE THANKS TO GOD

 

● The grateful Pilgrims therefore declared a three-day feast in December 1621 to thank God and to celebrate with their Indian friends.
● It is primarily from the Pilgrim’s Thanksgiving celebration of 1621 that we derive the current tradition of Thanksgiving Day.

 

 

PILGRIMS’ CAPITALISM WORKED

● For the Pilgrims, life was a constant battle for survival. Later, Governor William Bradford made a decision. Instead of the colonists sharing their crops equally, he assigned a parcel of land to each family and told them they could keep whatever they produced for themselves.
● ‘This had very good success, for it made all hands industrious, so as much more corn was planted than otherwise would have been.’ If you can keep everything you make, of course you’re going to work harder …more

 

PILGRIMS JOURNALS – FULL OF REFERENCES TO GOD

“Of Plimoth Plantation” by William Bradford
(the 2nd Governor of the Pilgram’s colony)
e-book: Bradford’s History of Plymouth Plantation 1606-1646
e-book: History of Plymouth Plantation, 1620-1647

records: Massachusetts Records:
“The earliest material in the manuscript collection is a letter written in Salem in 1641, and William Bradford’s hand-written account of the first years of the colony at Plymouth. The Pilgrims sailed from England on the Mayflower and arrived in Massachusetts in 1620. Bradford served as the colony’s first governor. Later in life he wrote an account of the settlement from 1620 to 1646, titling it “Of Plimoth Plantation.” The record is an invaluable source for the early history of Massachusetts and the United States. The manuscript contains a copy of the Mayflower Compact (the original copy, written on board the Mayflower, no longer exists) and a list of passengers who sailed on the vessel. The manuscript is not available for viewing by the general public.”