In Congress, Exeter Nov. 4, 1775. A proclamation for a public thanksgiving : … We, the representatives of the colony of New Hampshire, in Congress assembled, have thought to advise, that Thursday the 30th of this instant November, be observed and kept as a day of publick thanksgiving throughout this colony … (1)
Signed: By order of Congress, Matthew Thornton, president
(1) UCBerkeley Law Library Catalog
The Founders’ Thanksgivings
Excerpts
Throughout the War for Independence, the Continental Congress called for official days of thanksgiving and prayer(1) through eight separate Proclamations. (Congress also issued seven proclamations for times of fasting and prayer. Thus, the national governing body of which many Founders were a part, called for a total of 15 official times of prayer.(2)
New Hampshire Speaker of the House John Langdon (later signer of the US Constitution and governor of New Hampshire) wrote a Thanksgiving proclamation in 1778. (3)
end notes
(1) Religion and the Founding of the American Republic, “Religion and the Congress of the Confederation,” Library of Congress, accessed August 30, 2023, https://www.loc.gov/exhibits/religion/rel04.html.
(2) See the Journals of the Continental Congress (1905) for June 12, 1775; March 16, 1776; December 11, 1776; November 1, 1777; March 7, 1778; November 17, 1778; March 20, 1779; October 20, 1779; March 11, 1780; October 18, 1780; March 20, 1781; October 26, 1781; March 19, 1782; October 11, 1782; October 18, 1783.
(3) Meshech Ware & John Langdon, “Thanksgiving Proclamation,” issued November 19, 1778, WallBuilders, https://wallbuilders.com/proclamation-thanksgiving-day-1778-new-hampshire/.
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