The first Thanksgiving in America was held in Newfoundland by Martin Frobisher and the Frobisher Expedition in 1578. Bob Juch http://www.Juch.org -----Original Message----- From: Carolyn Bruce [mailto:[email protected]] Sent: Thursday, November 24, 2005 2:58 PM To: [email protected] Subject: Re: [VAROOTS] FW: THANKSGIVING PROCLAMATION BY PRESIDENT WILLIAM H. TAFT Okay, the Pilgrims held THEIR first Thanksgiving in 1621, a mere two years after the men of a place now called Berkeley Plantation, fell to their knees beside the James River and held the FIRST, First Thanksgiving, Dec. 4, 1619. Further, it was THEN established as an annual observance with these words: "We ordaine that the day of our ships arrivall at the place assigned for plantacon in the land of Virginia shall be yearly and perpetually keept holy as a day of thanksgiving to Almighty God." 1619 comes before 1621, at least here in Virginia. In 1619, the Pilgrims were still in Leyden, Netherlands. Mr. Lincoln was only about two and a half centuries late with his proclamation. Carolyn HALE BRUCE Co-author Rebel King, Hammer of the Scots and Rebel King, The Har'ships http://www.RebelKing.com Our newest published title: Virginiana, A Visitors' Guide to Virginia History and Other Stuff http://www.VirginianaBooks.com Hot off the press: Herb Jones, Poet With a Paintbrush by Barbara Jones Jones