Did you know? The first documented and original English Thanksgiving took place on December 4, 1619, at a place called Berkeley Plantation on the banks of the James River in what is now Greater Williamsburg, Virginia. Thirty-eight British settlers celebrated “a day of thanksgiving to Almighty God,” reading from the Book of Common Prayer. The Pilgrims’ Thanksgiving that we have all heard about actually took place two years later, in 1621.
The First Thanksgiving
The colonists were hungry, but there was no grand meal at the first English Thanksgiving in America at Berkeley Plantation. In fact, they likely fasted, a common practice during religious days in those times. There were also no friendly Native Americans. And certainly no turkey. But they did eventually eat.
Basically, they were grateful for just being alive after 75 days on-shore in a new world and crossing the rather dangerous Atlantic Ocean in a tiny boat. And they did this “Thanksgiving” under strict orders from the London-based Berkeley Company, which sponsored their epic journey.
What Did They Eat?
The first Thanksgiving was a combination of leftover provisions the settlers brought from the ship and what they could hunt and gather from the waterways and land. There was no turkey, corn, potatoes or pumpkin pie.
The Chesapeake Bay offered a bounty of crab, oysters and huge sturgeon, as well as croaker, spot and flounder. Colonists raised cattle, sheep and pigs. Early on, Virginia hams acquired a reputation for being tasty because pigs were allowed to wander and foraging from the forest, which created more flavorful meat.
They grew beans, peas, lettuce, cabbage, collards and other seasonal fruits and vegetables. Most meat came from wild animals. Most domesticated animals roamed free; there were no fences.
And Don’t Forget Beer, Hard Cider, Wine and “Aqua Vitea”
Documentation from ships’ logs and diaries from the Berkeley expedition survivors tell us that the ship’s provisions included 8,000 hardtack cookies, bread, 160 pounds of butter, 50 pounds of suet, oatmeal, 127 pounds of bacon, horsemeat, two lots of cheese, five ropes of onions, 33 pounds of soap, pepper, salt, ginger, a barrel of vinegar, 11 gallons of oil, 20 bushels of wheat, 60 bushels of peas, 1,386 gallons of beer, 1,512 gallons of cider, 11 gallons of wine and 15 gallons of “aqua vitae.”
Two Restaurants Pay Homage to the Original English with a Modern Twist
Today, some of the finest restaurants in Greater Williamsburg are paying homage to the first Thanksgiving dinner using local seafood, meats, fowl and crops, much of it coming from the exact same waterways and even gardens that fed the first colonists almost 400 years ago. Of course, it has a modern twist to tempt today’s sophisticated palates.
Kingsmill Resort
Kingsmill Resort, a condo resort on the James River, is offering a special menu at Eagles (in addition to turkey and all the fixings) with reverence for local foods from the same land and waterway first cultivated by the colonists. Try something different on our national day of thanks and feast on a variety of courses including wild greens with sorrel, cress and angelica served in a rich duck consommé; James River oysters in natural liquor and pickled rhubarb; Boyle pheasant with pudding; leg of venison with shallot gravy; and poached rockfish with a horseradish and dill pan sauce. Every course is paired with local wines and beers. Visit Kingsmill Resort’s website for more information.
Café Provençal at The Williamsburg Winery
At Café Provençal at The Williamsburg Winery, a special Thanksgiving menu starts with butternut squash bisque with savory granola and sage marshmallow, roast of venison larded with Autumn Olive Farm pork or a roasted game bird with truffle stuffing and a choice of sauces including pomegranate cranberry pecan or roasted chicken veloute. Sides range from potatoes and brussels sprout petals to baked oysters, duck bacon, absinthe green beans and leek and mushroom soubise. Visit The Williamsburg Winery’s website for more information.
For more information on the first Thanksgiving or Greater Williamsburg, Virginia, check out Visit Williamsburg’s website.
- Outdoor patio photo: Kingsmill Resort
- Remaining photos: Williamsburg Winery
