Given the extreme danger and the very harsh nature of sea travel in the early days of our settlement, coupled with the appropriateness of crediting the Almighty with all things "good", I very much suspect that the passengers of MANY ships offered their thanks to the Almighty shortly after arrival on these shores. It is my belief that the formality later accorded the day and celebration of Thanksgiving as a day of rest and thought was a needed invention of several of our Presidents, including Washington and Lincoln. As now, and as with Christmas and Easter, it was thought appropriate that we offer up our thanks on a date and day certain. Paul Drake JD Genealogist & Author <www.DrakesBooks.com> 931-484-9129 ----- Original Message ----- From: JDRodgers To: [email protected] Sent: Thursday, November 24, 2005 9:16 PM Subject: [VAROOTS] Proclamation I am not too sure about the rest of you but I am a citizen of the United States of America and my first President, George Washington, wrote this proclamation in 1789. http://earlyamerica.com/earlyamerica/firsts/thanksgiving/ While attending services this morning, I was reminded of Washington's words-- "A Day of Publick Thanksgiving anf Prayer." ============================== Find your ancestors in the Birth, Marriage and Death Records. New content added every business day. Learn more: http://www.ancestry.com/s13964/rd.ashx -- No virus found in this incoming message. Checked by AVG Free Edition. Version: 7.1.362 / Virus Database: 267.13.7/181 - Release Date: 11/24/2005