Proclamations Library Page
Proclamation – Thanksgiving – 1779, Virginia
Thomas Jefferson (1743-1826) was involved in many professions throughout his life. He was a lawyer, a member of the Virginia House of Burgesses (1769-1775), served in the Continental Congress (1775-1776) where he drafted the Declaration of Independence, was governor of Virginia (1779-1781), and the U.S. minister to France (1785-178). Jefferson also [...]
Proclamation – Fasting – 1870
William Claflin (1818-1905) was governor of Massachusetts from 1869-1872. Here is his proclamation for a statewide day of fasting and prayer for April 7, 1870. Notice the mention he makes of "The request of a few that this custom [of issuing proclamations] be discontinued..." Commonwealth of Massachusetts By His Excellency William [...]
Proclamation – Thanksgiving Day – 1909
This is the text of a Thanksgiving Day proclamation issued by President William Howard Tafton November 15, 1909. [Thanksgiving- 1909.] By the President of the United States of America. A Proclamation. The season of the year has returned when, in accordance with the reverent custom established by our forefathers, the [...]
Proclamation – Humiliation, Fasting and Prayer – 1799
John Adams (1735-1826) Adams was an attorney, diplomat, and statesman; he graduated from Harvard (1755); leader in the opposition to the Stamp Act (1765); delegate to the Continental Congress (1774-77) where he signed the Declaration of Independence (1776); appointed Chief Justice of Superior Court of Massachusetts (1775); delegate to the Massachusetts [...]
Proclamation – Humiliation, Fasting and Prayer – 1863
Below is Abraham Lincoln's proclamation for a day of humiliation, fasting, and prayer. This was issued on March 30, 1863 and declared April 30th the national day of fasting. Also shown is Massachusetts Governor John Andrew's announcement of Lincoln's proclamation. By His Excellency Abraham Lincoln, President of the United States of [...]
Proclamation – Lord’s Day – 1782
John Dickinson (1732-1808) was a lawyer, statesman, and soldier during the War for Independence. He wrote, among many other pieces, the Letters from a Farmer in Pennsylvania which were highly praised both in the colonies and abroad. Although he was a delegate to Continental Congress, he absented himself from the vote to [...]
Proclamation – Humiliation and Prayer – 1812
This it the text of James Madison's August, 1812 Humiliation and Prayer Fast Proclamation; as printed in the Independent Chronicle on July 20, 1812. To see a sermon preached on the fast day of August 20, 1812, click here. WHEREAS the Congress of the United States, by a joint resolution of [...]
Proclamation – Thanksgiving Day – 1775, Massachusetts
This is a proclamation given by the city council of Watertown, Massachusetts for a day of Thanksgiving as printed in The Pennsylvania Evening Post. The proclamation was issued on November 4, 1775 for the day of Thanksgiving on November 23, 1775. A Proclamation For A Public Thanksgiving. Although in consequence of [...]
Proclamation – America Seeks God in a Time of War – 1777
In light of America's current war in Iraq and ongoing war against terrorism, the actions of our Founding Fathers in times of war are instructive. This is the text of the first national day of thanksgiving in America (set for December 18, 1777), declared by the Continental Congress on November 1, [...]
Proclamation – Thanksgiving Day – 1778, New Hampshire
Following is the handwritten New Hampshire Thanksgiving proclamation issued by the state President Meshech Weare (signed by him and John Langdon) on November 19, 1778, declaring December 10, 1778 the day of Thanksgiving. The transcription of this proclamation has been updated to include modern grammar and spelling. Meshech Weare (1713-1786), graduated [...]
