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Greetings!
I got to thinking recently about Thanksgiving...when was the first Thanksgiving announced and celebrated in Monterey or Alta California? Since President Lincoln did not make it a national holiday until 1863, I wondered if people celebrated here prior. My research may still be incomplete so I always welcome feedback. I decided to start by looking at historic California newspapers. The first newspaper in California was The Californian, published beginning in 1846 here in Monterey inside the Custom House from an old printing press by Walter Colton and Robert Semple. That press and the paper moved to San Francisco in 1847. From what I gathered, the newspaper editor Robert Gordon hosted a meeting at his house in San Francisco to plan when to celebrate.
In Monterey, 175 years ago, the first official proclamation from California was issued to celebrate Thanksgiving. I've included that 1849 Proclamation as an image above and in the text below.
The Californian, November 3rd, 1847
"The rainy season has commenced in good earnest. Overshoes, overcoats and umbrellas are the order of the day. November, to a New Englander, is a month which contains one of the dearest association of his childhood – a vacation and Thanksgiving day. Let all New Englanders here unite to remember this peculiar festival of their country. A festival which, at home, ever collects all the members of a family under the parental roof-tree."
Advertisement from the The Californian, November 3rd, 1847
"THE Sons of New England are requested to meet at the house of Robert Gordon, on SATURDAY evening November 7th at 7 o’clock, to devise measures to celebrate “Thanksgiving.” San Francisco, November 3d 1847"
The Californian, November 10th, 1847
"Agreeable to the notice the sons of New England met at the appointed hour. The celebration of a good old fashioned “Thanksgiving” was unanimously resolved upon. Thursday the 18th instant, was the day appointed to celebrate this peculiar festival of their land."
"On Thursday, 18th instant, (thanksgiving day,) public service will be performed at the house of Mr. Lincoln at 10 A.M. The public are invited to attend. The sons of New England will dine at the City Hotel at 3 P.M."
The Californian, November 1st 1849
"PROCLAMATION.
In conformity with the customs of other States and Territories, and in order that the people of California may make a general and public acknowledgement of their gratitude to the supreme Ruler of the universe for his kind and fostering care during the past year, and for the boundless blessings which we now enjoy, it is recommended that Thursday, the 29th day of November next, be set apart and kept as a day of Thanksgiving and Prayer.
Given at Monterey, California, the 24th day of October, A.D. 1849 (Signed,) B. RILEY, Bv't Brig. Gen. U.S.A. and Governor of California.
By the Governor, W.H. Halleck, Bv't Capt. and Secretary of State."
A couple fun facts and insights~!
The 'City Hotel' was the first hotel in San Francisco. William Alexander Leidesdorff was the Vice Consul to Mexico (Thomas Larkin in Monterey was Consul). He also served on the first Town Council in SF, was the first Black millionaire, and had the first steamer ship. After the first celebration (Fandago) in 1847, another was held for people who missed it. So I wonder who was at the party back in 1847??
Robert Gordon is a bit of a mystery. He served as editor for The Californian for only a short time, then left for Sacramento. I found his name pop up in 1849 serving on a committee in Sacramento urging California to call a convention to become a state. Gordon served as secretary, and the president of the group became the first California Governor - Peter Burnett. Of course, later that year the convention was called here in Monterey.
I'm not sure who Mr. Lincoln was, but apparently people knew where he lived without needing to advertise his address! I could not find his name in the 1850 census or city directory.
Although I may be missing some of the historic pieces of info, I leave you with this great tagline quote from early editions of The Californian:
"The Liberty of the Press, consists of the right to publish the TRUTH, with good motives and for justifiable ends." - Alexander Hamilton
Happy & Healthy Thanksgiving everyone
Warmly~
Brian
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