Era or Event: 1770s-1780s: War for Independence

Proclamation – Thanksgiving Day – 1780, Massachusetts

John Hancock (1737-1793) was a signer of the Declaration of Independence, the president of the Continental Congress, and governor of Massachusetts. It was during his time as governor that he issued the following November 8, 1780 proclamation declaring a day of Thanksgiving for December 7, 1780.

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By His Excellency
John Hancock, Esq.;

Governor and Commander in Chief in and over the Commonwealth of Massachusetts.

A PROCLAMATION,
For a Day of THANKSGIVING

 

Whereas it hath pleased Almighty God, the Father of all Mercies, amidst the Vicissitudes and Calamities of War, to bestow Blessing on the People of these States, which call for their devout and thankful Acknowledgments; more especially in the late remarkable Interposition of His watchful Providence, in rescuing the Person of our Commander in Chief, and the Army, from imminent Dangers, at the Moment when Treason was ripened for Execution; in prospering the labors of the Husbandmen, and causing the earth to yield its Increase in plentiful Harvests; and above all, in continuing to us the Enjoyment of the Gospel of Peace:

I do therefore, by and with the Advice of the Council, recommend to the good People of this Commonwealth, to set apart THURSDAY the Seventh Day of December next, (the Day recommended by the Congress of the States) to be observed as a Day of public THANKSGIVING and PRAYER:— That all the People may assemble on that Day, to celebrate the Praises of our Divine Benefactor,—to confess our Unworthiness of the least of his Favors,—and to offer our fervent Supplications to the GOD of all Grace, that it may please Him to pardon our heinous Transgressions, and incline our Hearts for the future to keep all his Laws,—to comfort and relieve our Brethren who are in any wise afflicted or distressed,—to smile upon our Husbandry and Trade,—to direct our public Councils,—and lead our Forces by Land and Sea to Victory,—to take our illustrious Ally under His special Protection, and favor our joint Councils and Exertions for the Establishment of speedy and permanent Peace,—to cherish all Schools and Seminaries of Education,—and to cause the Knowledge of Christianity to spread over all the Earth.

Given at the Council-Chamber in Boston, the Eighth Day of November, in the Year of our Lord One Thousand Seven Hundred and Eighty, and in the Fifth Year of the Independence of the United States of America.

JOHN HANCOCK.

By His Excellency’s Command,
John Avery, Sec’y

God save the People of the United States.

Proclamation – Thanksgiving Day – 1779, Pennsylvania

Joseph Reed (1741-1785) was born in New Jersey; graduated from the College of New Jersey (now Princeton) in 1757; and practiced law in New Jersey and Philadelphia. He served in the American army as aide-de-camp and secretary to George Washington (1775) and as Adjutant General (1776-1777). Reed was a member of the Continental Congress in 1778 where he signed the Articles of Confederation. He served as President (Governor) of Pennsylvania from 1778-1781.

Joseph Reed issued the following proclamation on November 29, 1779 as president of Pennsylvania declaring December 9, 1779 a day of Thanksgiving. The text and image of this proclamation is taken from The Pennsylvania Packet or the General Advertiser published on November 30, 1779.

By His EXCELLENCY
JOSEPH REED, Esquire,
President, and the Supreme Executive Council of the
Commonwealth of Pennsylvania,
A PROCLAMATION.

WHEREAS the Honorable the Congress of the United States of America, by their resolve of the twentieth day of October last, did recommend in the following words, to wit:

“WHEREAS it becomes us humbly to approach the throne of Almighty God, with gratitude and praise, for the wonders which His goodness has wrought in conducting our forefathers to this Western world; for His protection to them and to their prosperity, amid difficulties and dangers; for raising us their children from deep distress, to be numbered among the nations of the earth; and for arming the hands of just and mighty Princes in our deliverance; and especially for that He hath been pleased to grant us the enjoyment of health, and so to order the revolving seasons, that the earth hath produced her increase in abundance, blessing the labors of the husbandman and spreading plenty thro’ the land; that He hath prospered our arms and those of our ally, been a shield to our troops in the hour of danger, pointed their swords to victory and led them in triumph over the bulwarks of the foe that He hath gone with those who went out into the wilderness against the savage tribes; that He hath stayed the hand of the spoiler, and turned back His meditated destruction, that He hath prospered our commerce and given success to those who fought the enemy on the face of the deep; and above all, that He hath diffused the glorious light of the Gospel, whereby, through the merits of our gracious Redeemer, we may become the heirs of His eternal glory. Therefore,

“RESOLVED, That it be recommended to the several States to appoint THURSDAY the ninth of December next, to be a day of public and solemn THANKSGIVING to Almighty God, for His mercies, and of PRAYER, for the continuance of His favor and protection to these United States; to beseech Him that He would be graciously pleased to influence our public councils, and bless them with wisdom from on high, with unanimity, firmness and success, that He would go forth with our hosts and crown our arms with victory; that He would grant to His Church the plentiful effusions of Divine grace, and pour out His Holy Spirit on all Ministers of the Gospel; that He would bless and prosper the means of education, and spread the light of Christian knowledge through the remotest corners of the earth; that He would smile upon the labors of His people and cause the earth to bring forth her fruits in abundance, that we may with gratitude and gladness enjoy them; that He would take into His Holy protection our illustrious Ally, give him victory over his enemies, and render him signally great, as the father of his people, and the protector of the rights of mankind; that He would graciously be pleased to turn the hearts of our enemies, and to dispense the blessings of peace to contending nations; that He would in mercy look down upon us, pardon all our sins, and receive us into His favor; and, finally, that He would establish the Independence of these United States upon the basis of religion and virtue, and support and protect them in the enjoyment of peace, liberty and safety.”

WHEREFORE, as well in respect of the said recommendation of Congress, as the plain dictates of duty, to acknowledge the favor and goodness of Providence, and implore Its further protection: We Do hereby earnestly recommend to the good people of Pennsylvania, to set apart THURSDAY, the ninth day of December next, for the pious purposes expressed in the said resolve; and that they abstain from all labor on that day.

GIVEN under the Hand of His Excellency Joseph Reed, Esq; President, and the Seal of the State, at Philadelphia, this twenty-ninth day of November, in the year of our Lord One thousand seven hundred and seventy nine, and in the Fourth year of the Independence of the United States of America.

JOSEPH REED, President.

Attest, T. MATLACK, Secretary.

GOD SAVE THE COMMONWEALTH.

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 from Harvard in 1735 and practiced law. He was a member of the state legislature for many years (serving as speaker in 1752), he was a member of the Albany Congress in 1754, and served as justice of the state Supreme Court – where he became chief justice in 1777. During the Revolutionary War, he was a member of the executive council, chairman of the committee of safety, and president of New Hampshire from 1776 through the end of the Revolutionary War and again in 1784-1785.

John Langdon (1741-1819) had a long career in public service. During the Revolution War years he: served in the Continental Congress (1775-1776), superintended construction of several warships, served as speaker of his state’s House of Representatives, was a State senator (1784), and President of New Hampshire (1785, 1788). After the Revolution he was: a signer of the United States Constitution, a member of New Hampshire’s ratifying convention for the Constitution, and a United States senator (1789-1801) where he served as the first President pro tempore for a brief time. He also served in his state’s legislature (1801-1805) where, for his last two terms, he was the Speaker; and was Governor of New Hampshire (1805-1808, 1810-1811).

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Proclamation for a Public Thanksgiving.
The mercies which, notwithstanding our great Unworthiness, we are constantly receiving at the Hands of Almighty God, ought ever to remind us of our obligations to him; and it becomes our especial duty at the Close of a year, to unite together in rendering thanks to the Divine Dispenser of all good for the bounties of his providence conferred on us in the course thereof.

We have therefore thought fit to appoint and accordingly do appoint Thursday the Tenth day of December next to be observed as a day of Public Thanksgiving throughout this state – hereby calling upon Ministers and People of all Denominations to meet for religious Worship on said day and Devoutly to offer up their unfeigned Praises to Almighty God, the Source and Benevolent bestower of all good, who in the midst of Judgment hath been graciously pleased to remember great mercy – for his affording the necessary means of Subsistence though our commerce has been so greatly obstructed in that such a measure of health has been and is still enjoyed among us – that the lives of our officers and soldiers has been preserved – that, notwithstanding the threatening aspects of Providence the last summer he hath dispensed to us the Fruits of the earth in such quantity, as will enable us cheerfully to wait his further Bounty – That the attempts of our enemies have in a great measure proved abortive – That our rights and privileges, both civil and Religious, are yet presented to us, notwithstanding all the Endeavors of our barbarous Enemies to deprive us of them.

At the same time, to offer up humble and fervent Prayers to Almighty God for these free Sovereign and Independent States. That he would commiserate us in our present Distresses, and deliver us out of the hands of our enemies – That he would enable us to recover our rights and Properties by them unjustly invaded – That he would keep all Sin out of our camps, as well as from the whole Community, and make us a penitent and reformed people – That he would Inspire our officers with conduct and resolution, and our soldiers with faithfulness and courage; and that as the Captain of our Salvation, he would lead them on to Success and Victory – That he would graciously Divest our the Counsels and prosper the Just arms of these States for restoring and establishing Peace – and that the divine Promises and predictions of the universal and Spiritual Reign of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, the prince of Peace, may be speedily accomplished. –

And all Servile Labor is forbidden on Said day.

State of New Hampshire November 19th, 1778
By order of the Council and Assembly
E. Thompson Secry

M Weare President

John Langdon Speaker

God save the United States of America.

Proclamation – America Seeks God in a Time of War – 1777

In light of America’s war in Iraq and 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, 1777.

IN CONGRESS

November 1, 1777

FORASMUCH as it is the indispensable Duty of all Men to adore the superintending Providence of Almighty God; to acknowledge with Gratitude their Obligation to him for benefits received, and to implore such farther Blessings as they stand in Need of; And it having pleased him in his abundant Mercy not only to continue to us the innumerable Bounties of his common Providence, but also to smile upon us in the Prosecution of a just and necessary War, for the Defence and Establishment of our unalienable Rights and Liberties; particularly in that he hath been pleased in so great a Measure to prosper the Means used for the Support of our Troops and to crown our Arms with most signal success:

It is therefore recommended to the legislative or executive powers of these United States, to set apart THURSDAY, the eighteenth Day of December next, for Solemn Thanksgiving and Praise; That with one Heart and one Voice the good People may express the grateful Feelings of their Hearts, and consecrate themselves to the Service of their Divine Benefactor; and that together with their sincere Acknowledgments and Offerings, they may join the penitent Confession of their manifold Sins, whereby they had forfeited every Favour, and their humble and earnest Supplication that it may please GOD, through the Merits of Jesus Christ, mercifully to forgive and blot them out of Remembrance; That it may please him graciously to afford his Blessing on the Governments of these States respectively, and prosper the public Council of the whole; to inspire our Commanders both by Land and Sea, and all under them, with that Wisdom and Fortitude which may render them fit Instruments, under the Providence of Almighty GOD, to secure for these United States the greatest of all human blessings, INDEPENDENCE and PEACE; That it may please him to prosper the Trade and Manufactures of the People and the Labour of the Husbandman, that our Land may yet yield its Increase; To take Schools and Seminaries of Education, so necessary for cultivating the Principles of true Liberty, Virtue and Piety, under his nurturing Hand, and to prosper the Means of Religion for the promotion and enlargement of that Kingdom which consisteth “in Righteousness, Peace and Joy in the Holy Ghost.”

And it is further recommended, that servile Labour, and such Recreation as, though at other Times innocent, may be unbecoming the Purpose of this Appointment, be omitted on so solemn an Occasion.

Extract from the Minutes,

Charles Thomson, Secr.

[This proclamation can be found in: Journals of the American Congress From 1774 to 1788 (Washington: Way and Gideon, 1823), II:309-310]

 

This is text excerpted from a national fast declared by the Continental Congress on March 16, 1776:

IN CONGRESS

In times of impending calamity and distress; when the liberties of America are imminently endangered by the secret machinations and open assaults of an insidious and vindictive administration, it becomes the indispensable duty of these hitherto free and happy colonies, with true penitence of heart, and the most reverent devotion, publickly to acknowledge the over ruling providence of God; to confess and deplore our offences against him; and to supplicate his interposition for averting the threatened danger, and prospering our strenuous efforts in the cause of freedom, virtue, and posterity.

. . . Desirous, at the same time, to have people of all ranks and degrees duly impressed with a solemn sense of God’s superintending providence, and of their duty, devoutly to rely, in all their lawful enterprizes, on his aid and direction, Do earnestly recommend, that Friday, the Seventeenth day of May next, be observed by the said colonies as a day of humiliation, fasting, and prayer; that we may, with united hearts, confess and bewail our manifold sins and transgressions, and, by a sincere repentance and amendment of life, appease his righteous displeasure, and, through the merits and mediation of Jesus Christ, obtain his pardon and forgiveness; humbly imploring his assistance to frustrate the cruel purposes of our unnatural enemies; . . . that it may please the Lord of Hosts, the God of Armies, to animate our officers and soldiers with invincible fortitude, to guard and protect them in the day of battle, and to crown the continental arms, by sea and land, with victory and success: Earnestly beseeching him to bless our civil rulers, and the representatives of the people, in their several assemblies and conventions; to preserve and strengthen their union, to inspire them with an ardent, disinterested love of their country; to give wisdom and stability to their counsels; and direct them to the most efficacious measures for establishing the rights of America on the most honourable and permanent basis—That he would be graciously pleased to bless all his people in these colonies with health and plenty, and grant that a spirit of incorruptible patriotism, and of pure undefiled religion, may universally prevail; and this continent be speedily restored to the blessings of peace and liberty, and enabled to transmit them inviolate to the latest posterity.

And it is recommended to Christians of all denominations, to assemble for public worship, and abstain from servile labour on the said day.

[Source: Journals of the American Congress From 1774 to 1788 (Washington: Way and Gideon, 1823), I:286-287]

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.

proclamation-thanksgiving-day-1775-massachusetts-1Although in consequence of the unnatural, cruel, and barbarous measures, adopted and pursued by the British Administration, great and distressing calamities are brought upon our oppressed country, and on this colony in particular; we feel the dreadful effects of Civil War, by which America is stained with the blood of her valiant sons, who have bravely fallen in the laudable Defense of our Rights and Privileges;— Our Capital, once the Seat of Justice, Opulence and Virtue, is unjustly wrested from its proper Owners, who are obliged to free from the Iron Hand of Tyranny, or are held in the unrelenting Arms of Oppression:—Our seaports greatly distressed, and Towns burnt by the Foes, who have acted the Part of barbarous Incendiaries. —And although the wise and holy Governor of the World, has in his righteous Providence, sent Droughts into this Colony, and wasting Sickness into many of our Towns; yet we have the greatest Reason to adore and praise the Supreme Disposer of Events, who deals infinitely better with us than we deserve; and amidst all his Judgments hath remembered Mercy, by causing the Voice of Hezlin again to be heard amongst us;— Instead of Famine, affording to an ungrateful People a Competency of the Necessaries and Comforts for Life; in remarkably preserving and protecting our Troops, when in apparent Danger, while our Enemies, with all their boasted Skill and Strength, have met with Loss, Disappointment, and Defeat;— and in the Course of his good Providence, the Father of Mercies hath bestowed upon us, many other Favors, which call for our grateful Acknowledgment:
proclamation-thanksgiving-day-1775-massachusetts-2Therefore,
We have thought fit, with the Advice of the Council and House of Representatives, to appoint Thursday the Twenty-third Day of November Instant, to be observed as a Day of public THANKSGIVING, throughout this Colony; hereby calling upon Ministers and People, to meet for religious Worship in said Day, and devoutly to offer up their unfeigned Praises to Almighty God, the Source and benevolent Bestower of all Good, for his affording the necessary Means of Subsistence, though our Commerce has been prevented, and the Supplies from the Fishery denied us.— That such a Measure of Health is enjoyed among us; that the Lives of our Officers and Soldiers have been so remarkably preserved, while our Enemies have fell before them;— That the vigorous Efforts which have been used to excite the Savage Vengeance of the Wilderness, and rouse the Indians to Arms, that an unavoidable Destruction might come upon our Frontiers, have been almost miraculously defeated;—That our unnatural Enemies, instead of Ravaging the Country with uncontrolled Sway, are confined within such narrow Limits, to their own Mortification and Distress, environed by an American Army, brave an determined; — That such a Band of union founded upon the sect Principles, unites the American Colonists;—that our Rights and Privileges, both Civil and Religious, are so far preserved to us, notwithstanding all the Attempts of our barbarous Enemies to deprive us of them—

And to offer up humble and fervent Prayers to Almighty God, for the Whole British Empire; especially for the United American Colonies; —that he would bless our Civil Rulers, and lead them into wise and prudent Measures in this dark, and difficult Day:— That he would endow our General Course with all that Wisdom which is profitable to direct:— That he would graciously Smile upon our Endeavor to restore Peace, preserve our rights and Privileges, and hand them down to Posterity:—That he would give Wisdom to the American Congress, equal to their important Station:— That he would direct the Generals, and the American Armies, wherever employed, and give them Success and Victory:— That he would preserve and strengthen the Harmony of the United Colonies:—That he would pour our his Spirit upon all Orders of Men, through the Land, bring us to a hearty Repentance and Reformation; purity and sanctify all his Churches:— That he would make Ours Emanuel’s Land:— That he would spread the knowledge of the Redeemer through the whole Earth, and fill the World with his Glory.And all servile Labor is forbidden on said Day.

Given under our Hands at the Council-Chamber, in Watertown, this Fourth Day of November, in the Year of the Lord, One Thousand seven Hundred and Seventy-five,

By their Honor’s command, PEREZ MORTON, Dep. Sec.

James Otis, W. Spooner, Caleb Cushing, Joseph Gerrish, John Whetcome, Jedediah Foster, James Prescott, Eldad Taylor, Benjamin Lincoln, Michael Farley, Joseph Palmer, Samuel Holten, Jabez Fisher, Moses Gill, Benjamin White.

GOD Save the PEOPLE.

Sermons by Chaplains

American War for Independence Chaplains
 

Thomas Allen (1743-1810)

Thomas Allen volunteered as a chaplain during the revolutionary war and took up arms in the Battle of Bennington.

 

Manasseh Cutler (1742-1823)

Manasseh Cutler served as military chaplain for multiple American units during the Revolutionary War.

 

Timothy Dwight (1752-1817)

Timothy Dwight served as a chaplain in a Connecticut brigade and later became the president of Yale College.

 

Samuel Spring (1746-1819)

Samuel Spring served as a chaplain during the Revolutionary War (1775-1776) and carried a wounded Aaron Burr from the field during the Battle of Quebec.

 

Nathan Strong (1748-1816)

Nathan Strong became a chaplain in the patriot army during the American Revolution, and was a strong supporter of the American cause. He later was a chief founder and a manager of the Connecticut Missionary Society and was involved in the “Connecticut Evangelical Magazine.”

 

Benjamin Trumbull (1735-1820)

Benjamin Trumbull was a chaplain during the Revolutionary War and served as a minster for almost 60 years.

 

Samuel West (1730-1807)

Samuel West served as a chaplain during the Revolutionary War, joining just after the Battle of Bunker Hill. He later was a member of the Massachusetts state constitutional convention and a member of the Massachusetts convention that adopted the U.S. Constitution.

 

Civil War
John W. Sayers
John W. Sayers served as the chaplain for Camp Geary at Gettysburg in 1883 and delivered sermons as the Pennsylvania “post” chaplain of the Grand Army of the Republic (an organization of Union veterans) from 1894-1899.

Miscellaneous

 

 

American Revolution – Letter by James Caldwell

Rev. James Caldwell was a chaplain during the American Revolution. Below is a letter Caldwell wrote during that time.

 

Albany June 14, 1776

My dearest

I have nothing new to write – Nor time of that. Tomorrow I leave this with the remainder of our Baggage with instructions for our Battalion.
We are to be employed up the Mohawk River. A scene as agreeable as we can expect war to be – I hope by the divine blessing very useful.

I send you a pattern for a gown, which I met with yesterday, & which is thought a very great beauty. It cost £3.02 – which is very cheap compared with other things.
I shall take care that all letters left with Mr. Henry [Mercer] in Albany, shall be conveyed with speed to me. Let Mrs. Dayton know this – that her husband is well & in high esteem.

Help the dear Children. I give love to all friends

Given in the tenderest bonds

James Caldwell

Proclamation – Thanksgiving Day – 1789

This is the text of George Washington’s October 3, 1789 national Thanksgiving Proclamation; as printed in The Providence Gazette and Country Journal, on October 17, 1789. (See another national Thanksgiving proclamation issued by George Washington in 1795.)

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By the President of the United States of America.
A Proclamation.

proclamation-thanksgiving-day-1789-2Whereas it is the duty of all nations to acknowledge the providence of Almighty God, to obey His will, to be grateful for His benefits, and humbly to implore His protection and favor; and whereas both Houses of Congress have, by their joint committee, requested me “to recommend to the people of the United States a day of public thanksgiving and prayer, to be observed by acknowledging with grateful hearts the many and signal favors of Almighty God, especially by affording them an opportunity peaceably to establish a form of government for their safety and happiness.”

Now, therefore, I do recommend and assign Thursday, the 26th day of November next, to be devoted by the people of these States to the service of that great and glorious Being who is the beneficent author of all the good that was, that is, or that will be; that we may then all unite in rendering unto Him our sincere and humble thanks for His kind care and protection of the people of this country previous to their becoming a nation; for the signal and manifold mercies and the favorable interpositions of His providence in the course and conclusion of the late war; for the great degree of tranquility, union, and plenty which we have since enjoyed; for the peaceable and rational manner in which we have been enabled to establish constitutions of government for our safety and happiness, and particularly the national one now lately instituted; for the civil and religious liberty with which we are blessed, and the means we have of acquiring and diffusing useful knowledge; and, in general, for all the great and various favors which He has been pleased to confer upon us.

And also that we may then unite in most humbly offering our prayers and supplications to the great Lord and Ruler of Nations, and beseech Him to pardon our national and other transgressions; to enable us all, whether in public or private stations, to perform our several and relative duties properly and punctually; to render our National Government a blessing to all the people by constantly being a Government of wise, just, and constitutional laws, discreetly and faithfully executed and obeyed; to protect and guide all sovereigns and nations (especially such as have shown kindness to us), and to bless them with good governments, peace, and concord; to promote the knowledge and practice of true religion and virtue, and the increase of science among them and us; and, generally, to grant unto all mankind such a degree of temporal prosperity as He alone knows to be best.

Given under my hand, at the city of New York, the third day of October, in the year of our Lord one thousand seven hundred and eighty-nine.

G. Washington.

Proclamation – Thanksgiving Day – 1788, Connecticut

This is the text of the October 13, 1788 Samuel Huntington Day of Thanksgiving Proclamation, as he served as Governor of Connecticut; as printed in The New-aven Gazette, and the Connecticut Magazine on October 23, 1788.

proclamation-thanksgiving-day-1788-connecticut-1
By His Excellency
Samuel Huntington, Esquire
Governor and Commander in Chief, in and over the State of Connecticut, in America
A Proclamation.

proclamation-thanksgiving-day-1788-connecticut-2

Considering the great and manifold favors, which it pleased Almighty God, the Father of Mercies, to bestow upon the inhabitants of this Land, and the people of this State in the course of the current year, which demand our sincere and grateful Acknowledgment:

I Have 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 twenty-seventh day of November next, to be religiously observed as a day of Public Thanksgiving throughout this State; earnestly exhorting ministers and people of all Denominations, with becoming devotion, to assemble for divine and social worship; and with grateful hearts, to acknowledge the divine goodness in the great and distinguishing Favors and blessings bestowed upon these United States, and the people of this State in particular: For the continuation of the inestimable privileges of the Gospel and means of Grace, the blessings of Peace, and for the general health enjoyed; the supplies of the fruits of the Earth, notwithstanding the harvests are in some measure diminished; and for all other innumerable favors and unmerited mercies conferred upon us from the fountain of all goodness: Also to offer up fervent supplication and prayer to Almighty God, the supreme Governor of the Universe, and ruler of the Kingdoms of Men, that it may graciously please him, to shower divine blessings upon the people of these Untied States; disposing them in a yet unexampled manner, to unite in voluntarily forming a salutary Constitution, which shall best fulfill the purposes of Civil Government, by securing the unalienable Rights of Individuals, and removing Oppression far from them, and in promoting the prosperity and permanent happiness of the Union: Inspire all in civil Administration with wisdom and Integrity: Abundantly bless the inhabitants of this State: Succeed a preached Gospel and the means of Grace, and cause pure religion to flourish: Grant us health in all our dwellings: Continue peace; make our land a quiet habitation and refuge for the oppressed; caused the Earth to yield her increase, and bless us in all our interests and concerns: Extend his mercies to all Mankind: Dispose the Nations of the Earth to universal peace, and put a period to the calamities of war; and cause the world to be filled with the Knowledge and Glory of God. And all servile Labor is forbidden on said day.

proclamation-thanksgiving-day-1788-connecticut-3Given at the Council Chamber at New-Haven, the Thirteenth day of October, in the Thirteenth Year of the independence of the United States of America, Annoque Domini, 1788.

Samuel Huntington.

By his Excellency’s Command, George Wyllys Secretary.

Proclamation – Thanksgiving Day – 1784, Massachusetts

John Hancock (1737-1793) was a signer of the Declaration of Independence, the president of the Continental Congress, and governor of Massachusetts. It was during his time as governor that he issued the following October 28, 1784 proclamation declaring a day of Thanksgiving for November 25, 1784. The proclamation text and image is taken from Thomas’s Massachusetts Spy dated November 11, 1784.

COMMONWEALTH OF MASSACHUSETTS.
By His Excellency, JOHN HANCOCK, Esquire,
Governor of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts,
A PROCLAMATION,
For a Day of THANKSGIVING.
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It being our indispensable duty as a people, in a public and religious manner, to acknowledge the preserving and Governing providence of Almighty God, and more especially to celebrate the Divine Goodness in the various blessings conferred upon us in the course of the year past.

I have therefore thought fit, with the advice and consent of the Council, to appoint, and do hereby appoint THURSDAY the Twenty-Fifth Day of NOVEMBER next, to be religiously observed as a Day of THANKSGIVING throughout this Commonwealth; hereby calling upon Ministers and people of all denominations, in their several assemblies, to unite with grateful hearts in celebrating the Praises of Almighty GOD, of His great goodness and bounty vouchsafed [given] to a sinful and unworthy people; particularly for the great and signal interpositions of His Providence in behalf of the United States in the course of the late contest, and that after being rescued from the dangers and calamities of war; peace has been restored to us, and that our public affairs are in so promising and happy a situation; for granting to us a plentiful harvest in the great abundance of the fruits of the earth; for the general health enjoyed throughout this State during the course of the year, and preventing epidemical and mortal distempers from spreading among us; reviving our trade, navigation and fishery and protecting the same from the insults of Pirates and other disasters; for directing and succeeding our public Councils, and above all for continuing to us the light of the blessed Gospel, and securing to us our religious and civil liberties and privileges. And to join with their praises their earnest and humble supplications to Almighty GOD, for the pardon of our past ingratitude and other transgressions; and that He would grant that all instances of the Divine goodness may have an effectual influence for working a general reformation in all orders of persons among us; that so we may be that happy people, whose GOD is the LORD, and that ALL nations may bow to the scepter of our LORD and SAVIOR JESUS CHRIST, and that the whole Earth may be filled with His Glory.

GIVEN at the Council-Chamber in Boston, the 28th day of October, in the Year of our Lord, one Thousand seven hundred and eighty-four, and in the ninth year of the Independence of the United Sates of America.

JOHN HANCOCK.

By his Excellency’s Command,
JOHN AVERY, Jun. Secretary
GOD save the Commonwealth of MASSACHUSETTS.