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The Gunpowder Plot and Thanksgiving in the USA Midi Music Thomas Campion, 1567-1620, "Suite in D-min: Tombeau," 9k
Wiliam Dummer Esq; Lieutenant Governour & Commander in Chief, in and over His Majesty's Province of the Massachusetts Bay in New-England.
A Proclamation for a General Thanksgiving Whereas it hath pleased Almighty God of his Great Goodness, to Favour us with many undeserved Blessings in the Course of this Year, Respecting as well our Nation, as our land; More especially, For that He hath preserved the persons of our Sovereign Lord the King, and Their Royal Highnesses the Prince and Princess of Wales, with the rest of the Royal Family, and has graciously directed & succeeded His Majesty's wise councils for preserving the tranquility of Europe that he hath granted us a good measure of Health and in many instances, a plentiful harvest, Notwithstanding the Scorching Drought in the Summer past; That he hath so far protected our Sea-Coasts from the Merciless Pirates, (some of whom it hath pleased God in a remarkable Manner to deliver into our Hands, ) and Defended our In-Land frontiers from the Rage and Violence of the bloody Salvages, and Granted us a very signal Victory over the Eastern Indians at Norridgewock.; And that He is pleased hitherto to Continue to us our invaluable Privileges Civil and Ecclesiastical; All which, with innumerable other Instances of the Divine Favour and Goodness demand our grateful and publick Acknowledgements:
I have thought fit, with the advice of his Majesty's Council, to Order and Appoint, That Thursday the Fifth of November next, be Observed as a Day of General Thanksgiving throughout this Province; Exhorting both Ministers and people in their respective Assemblies, Religiously to Celebrate the same by Offering up their Cheerful Praises and unfeigned Thanks to Almighty God the Author and Bestower of all our Mercies; And all Servile Labour is forbidden on the said Day.
Given at Boston the Seventeenth of October, 1724. In the Eleventh Year of the Reign of Our Sovereign Lord George by the Grace of God of Great Britain, France and Ireland, King, Defender of the Faith, etc. By Order of the Hounourable the Lieut. Governour, with the Advice of the council, Josiah Willard, Secr. W. Dummer God Save the King
Boston, Printed by B. Green, Printers to His Hounour the Lieut, Governour & Council 1724 Return to the top of this page clickit here Jonathan Trumbull, Esq; Governor of the English Colony of Connecticut, in New-England, in America A Proclamation. As is the Will of GOD that we should ask all Mercy we need, from Him who is the Father of Lights, from whom cometh down every good and perfect Gift; so it is our Duty in every Thing to give Thanks, and render to Him the Glory of all the Good we receive. And as He has been pleased to vouchsafe to us in this Colony new and gracious Influences of his Blessing in the Course of the Year past:
I HAVE therefore thought fit, by and with the Advice of the Council, and at the Desire of the Representatives, in General Court assembled, to appoint, and do hereby appoint, Thursday the Fifth Day of November next, to be observed as a Day of public Thanksgiving throughout this Colony; directing and exhorting both Ministers and People in all their religious Societies and Assemblies, to give Praise and Glory to GOD for all the Instances of his Goodness shewn to us in the past Year: Particularly, that He has preserved the Life of our gracious Soverign King George the Third, of his Royal Consort, and so many of his illustrious House: That we still enjoy the blessed Gospel, the unsearchable Riches of Christ, and so many of our precious civil and religious Rights and Liberties: That He continues Peace to our Nation and Land: That He has blessed us with general Health in the Course of the Year; and dealt with us much better than our Fears, in bestowing upon us a competent former and later Harvest. And to offer up our sincere and hearty Prayers to the great Preserver of Men, for the Continuance of the Life of his sacred Majesty the King; of our gracious Queen Charlotte; the Prince of Wales; and the Rest of the Royal Family. That He would graciously direct and bless the King's Administrations: Give his Counselors and Ministers Wisdom and Understanding in the Things of the King's Honour, and the Prosperity and Happiness of all his People; Continue to this Colony our civil and religious Privileges; Bless our civil Rulers with Wisdom and Firmness in a righteous and happy Administration of Government; Bless and succeed the Gospel Ministry and Ordinances; Grand His Smiles and Favour to the College, and Means of Education, and abundantly prosper them to promote useful Knowledge, real Religion and Virtue: That He would greatly bless us with the influence of His holy and good Spirit and cause Religion to flourish in Power and Purity among us: Give us to enjoy Health and Peace: Enable and incline us with our Lips, our Hearts and Lives to give Him the Glory due to His great and blessed Name.
And all Servile Labour is forbidden on said Day.
GIVEN under my Hand, at the Council-Chamber in New-Haven, the Thirteenth Day of October, in the Twelfth Year of the Reign of our Sovereign Lord GEORGE the Third, of Great-Britain, France, and Ireland, KING, Defender of the Faith, &c. Anoq; domini, 1772.
Jonth Trumbull
GOD save the King. Return to the top of this page clickit here
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When the American colonies were being explored and settled only a few years after the great Deliverance from the Gunpowder Plot of 1605 the only day of Thanksgiving on the Official Calendar of Customs of England was November 5 when thanks was given for deliverance from the horrors of the plot. The Government by law required that prayers were said, a sermon given and the official liturgy followed, so it was appropriate that as the culture and the government was transferred to the colonies so too was the liturgy and the observation of the day. The celebration of the 5th persisted into the 18th century.In the new colonies existing precariously on the edge of the frontier the celebration of the deliverance of November 5, 1605 was exceptionally heartfelt and relevant. For the colonists God's deliverance was a daily occurrence as they were protected from the native Americans, rebellions, bad weather and crop failure. Later as political ties with England were broken the date of the Thanksgiving changed. Even so proclamations recognizing the day continued to be issued on November 5 highlighting the date's continuing importance. Here are two proclamations of 18th century New England:
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