Extremely Important John Hanson Thanksgiving Proclamation March 19, 1782

September 17, 2011 Maryland Auction

Price Realized: $13,800.00 (Price includes 15% buyer's premium).

Extremely Important John Hanson Thanksgiving Proclamation, March 19, 1782, signed "John Hanson," President of The United States in Congress Assembled, and "Chas Thomson," Secretary of Congress, two pages, folio, each 12 1/2" x 8". Ink of document remains dark and bold, including that found on Hanson signature. Extremely rare hand-signed document, the first Thanksgiving Proclamation issued in the United States under the Articles of Confederation. Inscribed on reverse, "Rhode Island - March 19, 1782 / Resolve of Congress for Fast". Provenance: Purchased at public auction by Douglas Hamilton Thomas, February 22, 1898, from Davis & Harvey, Philadelphia. Lot includes envelope from auctioneers and letter written by curator at the Maryland Historical Society describing the pending sale.

John Hanson (1715-1783), the first President elected to an annual term under the Articles of Confederation, is credited, among many other national "firsts," with first establishing the last Thursday of November as a day of thanksgiving, with a Thanksgiving Proclamation on October 11, 1782. Although other heads of Congress issued Thanksgiving Proclamations before Hanson, this March 19, 1782, example is a logical predecessor to Hanson's October 11 issue and the first Thanksgiving Proclamation issued in the United States under the Articles of Confederation.

Recognizing the tenous ground on which the United States stood, namely that Great Britain "still persists in the design of subjugating these United States," congress issued this proclamation on March 19, 1782, calling on every state to devote the last Thursday of April, 1782, "as a day of fasting, humiliation and prayer." Topics of prayer, according to Congress, should include "reformation among all ranks" towards holiness, blessing of allies, military success, "comfort and consolation to our Prisoners in a cruel captivity," protection for the Commander in Chief, "peace in all our borders," as well as general happiness and success for farmers, businessmen, and schools. This document offers rare insight into the uncertain times of the early years of America under the Articles of Confederation, and the consequential reliance on faith to protect the country in its infancy. The full text reads as follows:
The goodness of the Supreme Being to all his rational creatures, demands their acknowledgments of gratitude and love; his absolute government of this world dictates that it is the interest of every Nation and people ardently to supplicate his favor and implore his protection.

When the lust of Dominion or lawless ambition excites arbitrary power to invade the rights or endeavor to wrest from a People their sacred and invaluable privileges and compels them in defence of the same to encounter all the horrors and calamities of a bloody and vindictive war, then is that people are loudly called upon to fly unto that God for protection who hears the cries of the distressed and will not turn a deaf ear to the supplication of the Oppressed.

Great Britain hitherto left to infatuated councils and to pursue measures repugnant to her own interest and distressing to this Country still persists in the design of subjugating these United States; which will compel us into another active and perhaps bloody Campaign.

The United States in Congress Assembled, therefore, taking into consideration our present situation our multiplied transgressions of the holy laws of our God, and his past acts of kindness and goodness towards us, which we ought to record with the liveliest gratitude, think it their indispensable duty to call upon the several States to set apart the last thursday in April next as a day of fasting, humiliation and prayer, that our joint supplications may then ascend to the throne of the Ruler of the Universe, beseeching him, to diffuse a spirit of universal reformation among all ranks and degrees of our Citizens, and to make us a holy that so we may be an happy People; that it would please him to impart wisdom, integrity and unanimity to our Counsellors, to bless and prosper the reign of our Illustrious Ally and give success to his Arms employed in the defence of the rights of human nature; that he would smile upon our military arrangements by land and sea, administer comfort and consolation to our Prisoners in a cruel captivity, protect the health and life of our Commander in Chief, grant us victory over our enemies, establish peace in all our borders, and give happiness to all our Inhabitants, that he would prosper the labor of the husbandman, making the Earth yeilds its encrease in abundance and give a proper season for the ingathering of the fruits thereof; that he would grant success to all engaged in lawful trade and commerce & take under his guardianship all Schools and Seminaries of learning and make them nurseries of virtue and piety; that he would incline the hearts of all men to peace and fill them with universal charity and benevolence and that the religion of our divine redeemer with all its benign influences may cover the Earth as the waters cover the Seas.

Done by the United States in Congress Assembled this nineteenth day of March in the Year of our Lord one thousand seven hundred & eighty one [actually two] and in the Sixth Year of our Independence. ~
John Hanson, President
Attest Chas Thomson, Secretary

Some discoloration to edges. Fold lines. Significant separations at fold running vertically down midsection. Pencil inscription bearing provenance and an ink inscription of the number 881 in upper left corner.

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