Virginia's Claim to Thanksgiving

By Michael C. Upton

Not pilgrims. Americans can thank failing woolen and tobacco industries for the first Thanksgiving. Berkeley, United Kingdon was hit especially hard with desperate times and the town would become the namesake of fresh prosperity in the new world for those who left England to find a better life. When an English expedition landed on the shores of the new continent, offloading brave immigrants to a “a very good and convenient” place, their captain proclaimed the first Thanksgiving and named the land Berkeley.

The year was 1619, and Capt. John Woodliffe piloted his company ship along the Virginia coastline, up the James River, until he found some particularly majestic grounds 24 miles southeast of present-day Richmond. The legend and lore of Thanksgiving is comprised of facts and fantasies, pilgrims and Native Americans, and the joining in friendship and peace. Since kindergarten, students are taught about Puritan William Bradford’s Mayflower and the landing at Plymouth Rock 590 miles to the north in 1620. But, as Woodliffe landed his ship, the Margaret, along the riverbanks of the Virginia Peninsula he proclaimed the first Thanksgiving through charter one year earlier.

“We ordaine* that the day of our ships arrival at the place assigned for plantacon* in the land of Virginia shall be yearly and perpetually kept holy as a day of thanksgiving to Almighty God.” [*sic.]

Today at Berkeley Plantation, hundreds of feet from the main house, stands a marble slab sheltered by a small brick encasement. The stone’s inscription gives a brief history of Captain John Woodliffe and the passengers aboard the Margaret. The path is marked with an arrow and a wooden sign declaring: “To site of first Thanksgiving in America.”

Some historians and Thanksgiving fanatics argue the Berkeley Thanksgiving was merely an annual prayer gathering and not a feast. Meanwhile, some historians enjoy speculating about the first meal at Berkeley—thus Thanksgiving—which consisted of bacon, peas, cornbread, and cinnamon water. Thanksgiving became an annual holiday during the presidency of Abraham Lincoln in 1863 and patriotism officially began to intertwine with the feast.

About the Plantation

Berkeley Plantation is load-

ed with history. The property was the site of the first whiskey distillery in the United States (1621). The Georgian mansion built in 1726 was the birthplace of Benjamin Harrison V, signer of the Declaration of Independence. Overlooking the river with views toward Richmond, the location saw President Lincoln confer here with General McClelland prior to the Seven Days’ Battles of the American Civil War. After a series of Northern defeats, Union General Daniel Adams Butterfield composed “Taps” on this site. As a family home, Berkeley Plantation served as the birthplace of William Henry Harrison, 9th President of the United States, and ancestral home of Benjamin Harrison, the 23rd POTUS.

The Virginia and National Historic Landmark is open to visitors midMarch through January 1. Docent-led tours of the home occur on the hour starting at 10:00 a.m. with the last tour at 3:00 p.m. Expect to spend at least two hours touring the house and grounds.

Berkeley, like many other plantations, acknowledges its history of slavery. A permanent exhibit on enslaved people was erected in 2018 and Berkeley’s list of enslaved individuals was made public record via local government database. Current owners, the Jamieson family, “support and honor the African American community in their efforts to create their narrative and stand up for equality, respect, and justice.”

Thanksgiving Festival

Every year on the first Sunday in November a Thanksgiving Festival takes place at Berkeley. Activities like bands, singers, and dancers begin after an 11:00 a.m. parade, which features colonial period re-enactors. Juggling demonstrations, games, and crafts keep children entertained throughout the day. An encampment and re-enactment of the Margaret landing brings history to life. Native American dancers invite guests to join in a traditional Friendship Dance, which concludes the day. The public is invited to bring lawn chairs and blankets to enjoy the event. The festival started in 1958 and in 1961 formed as a non-profit organization.

Nearby Hopewell offers an extensive collection of chain hotels and motels like Best Western, Holiday Inn Express, and Hampton Inn. For those who like bed and breakfasts, Charles City County has a number of options within easy driving distance. For farmhouse chic the Bed & Breakfast at Peace Hill Farm even offers a stay in a hand-built, turn-of-the-century, chicken house converted into accommodations for up to six. Those who come by boat or RV will want to check into River’s Rest Marina & Resort on the Chickahominy River. This resort offers 126 RV and tiny home sites, boat slips, and a newly renovated 21-room inn (The Inn at River’s Rest) right on the water. The resort has a restaurant and bar, The Blue Heron, which is a popular spot for locals and visitors.

Mansions and More

Right down the road from Berkeley is Indian Fields Tavern, home of 5 Fields Brewing Company. This lunch or dinner stop regularly hosts live events and the menu consists of burgers, salads, apps, and a few entrees. Charles City County is home to many splendid and stately houses open to visitors, including Sherwood Forest Plantation (home of the 10th President, John Tyler), Shirley Plantation, and Westover Plantation. All offer various tours.