The Unheralded “Blogger” Who Gave Us Thanksgiving

Guest Post by Brian Klassen

(History & Genealogy Buff, and Julie’s Husband)

What more can be said about Thanksgiving? We all know that the holiday is about eating turkey, being thankful, and spending time with family and friends. We all know that Thanksgiving started with that plucky band of self-styled Pilgrims who got together with a group of Native Americans and gave thanks to God for their newfound freedom and for just being alive. But how do we know all this? Were any selfies taken at the first Thanksgiving? Did someone send out a tweet, or live stream the occasion on YouTube? No, of course not, but there was a “blogger” of sorts in the group and his account was instrumental in making Thanksgiving an integral part of American life. Without him, we would have to muddle along without a feast or Black Friday shopping. 🙂

So who was this mysterious blogger? Was it William Bradford the governor, or William Brewster the spiritual leader, or perhaps Miles Standish the head of security?  These guys get the most ink in the history books but as it turns out the aspiring reporter was a man named Edward Winslow. Winslow would become the go-to representative for the fledgling colonists. When the chief of the Wampanoag tribe first visited the struggling Pilgrim settlement it was Winslow who was chosen to walk out and greet the mighty sachem named Massasoit. It was the beginning of a lasting relationship as Winslow took a great interest in the leader and his people. Later, when Massasoit fell gravely ill, Winslow visited him in his home and nursed him back to health using the tried-and-true elixir of chicken soup. It was Winslow who traveled back and forth to England and represented the interests of the Pilgrims. I find it extraordinary that all of these exploits took place when Edward Winslow was only in his twenties.

Here are the words that Edward Winslow penned in his now famous Thanksgiving account:

Our harvest being gotten in, our governor sent four men on fowling, that so we might after a special manner rejoice together, after we had gathered the fruits of our labors; they four in one day killed as much fowl, as with a little help beside, served the Company almost a week, at which time amongst other Recreations, we exercised our Arms, many of the Indians coming amongst us, and amongst the rest their greatest king Massasoit, with some ninety men, whom for three days we entertained and feasted, and they went out and killed five Deer, which they brought to the Plantation and bestowed on our Governor, and upon the Captain and others. And although it be not always so plentiful, as it was at this time with us, yet by the goodness of God, we are so far from want, that we often wish you partakers of our plenty.”

Winslow published his account in Mourt’s Relation: A Journal of the Pilgrims at Plymouth (1622). Personally I am very proud to say that Edward Winslow is my 11^th Great Uncle. I am a descendant of Edward’s younger brother Kenelm who came to the Plymouth colony a few years later. If you are fortunate enough to be a direct descendant of one of the 102 brave souls aboard the Mayflower, I salute you. As for me, in the words of Maxwell Smart, I “missed it by that much.”

For additional reading regarding the Pilgrims, I recommend the book Mayflower written by Nathaniel Philbrick. (Incidentally Nathaniel Philbrick is my 11^th cousin once removed. I can see my wife Julie rolling her eyes from here.)

So next year, as you eat your feast and post Thanksgiving photos online, think of Edward Winslow.