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The
image of the Plymouth
Pilgrims and their
Wampanoag neighbors
sitting down to a
peaceful feast in the
golden autumn of 1621 is
so familiar that most
people assume that the
event is well-documented
and the most minute
details of that famous
dinner are known to
historians.
Unfortunately, as in
most historical
circumstances, this is
not the case. We know
that wild fowl and
venison was served at
this three-day feast
from Edward Winslow's
1621 letter, the only
surviving description of
the event itself. We
also have Gov. William
Bradford's more general
comment on the first
harvest, which adds a
few culinary details.
The other elements of
the meal must be
extrapolated from our
knowledge of English
precedents.
It
is not known exactly
when the event occurred,
but it was between
September 21or 22 when a
group of Plymouth men
returned from
Massachusetts, and
November 9, 1621, when
the ship Fortune
arrived.
Edward
Winslow's letter
(written December 11,
1621 and sent to England
by ship):
"Our
Corne did proue well,
& God be praysed,
we had a good increase
of Indian Corne, and
our Barly indifferent
good, but our Pease
not worth the
gathering, for we
feared they were too
late sowne, they came
vp very well, and
blossomed, but the
Sunne parched them in
the blossome; our
harvest being gotten
in, our Governour sent
foure men on fowling,
that so we might after
a more speciall manner
reioyce together,
after we had gathered
the fruit of our
labors; they foure in
one day killed as much
fowle, as with a
little helpe beside,
served the Company
almost a weeke, at
which time amongst
other Recreations, we
exercised our Armes,
many of the
Indians coming
amongst vs, and among
the rest their
greatest King Massasoyt,
with some nintie men,
whom for three dayes
we entertained and
feasted, and they went
out and killed fiue
Deere, which they
brought to the
Plantation and
bestowed upon our
Governour, and upon
the Captaine, and
others. And although
it be not alwayes so
plentifull, as it was
at this time with vs,
yet by the goodneses
of God, we are so
farre from want, that
we often wish you
partakers of our
plenty."
Edward
Winslow, Plymouth, in
New England, this 11th
of December, 1621. in A
RELATION OR Iournal of
the beginning and
proceedings of the
English Plantation
settled at Plimoth in
NEW ENGLAND, by
certaine English
Aduenturers both
Merchants and others.
LONDON, Printed for
Iohn Bellamie, 1622.
pp. 60-61.
(modern
version) Our corn did
prove well, and, God
be praised, we had a
good increase of
Indian corn, and our
barley indifferent
good, but our peas not
worth the gathering,
for we feared they
were too late sown.
They came up very
well, and blossomed,
but the sun parched
them in the blossom.
Our
harvest being gotten
in, our governor sent
four men on fowling,
that so we might after
a special manner
rejoice together after
we had gathered the
fruit of our labors.
They four in one day
killed as much fowl
as, with a little help
beside, served the
company almost a week.
At which time, among
other recreations, we
exercised our arms,
many of the Indians
coming amongst us, and
among the rest their
greatest king
Massasoit, with some
ninety men, whom for
three days we
entertained and
feasted, and they went
out and killed five
deer, which they
brought to the
plantation and
bestowed upon our
governor, and upon the
captain, and others.
And although it be not
always so plentiful as
it was at this time
with us, yet by the
goodness of God, we
are so far from want
that we often wish you
partakers of our
plenty.
Edward
Winslow, December 11,
1621, in A Journal
of the Pilgrims at
Plymouth (Mourt’s
Relation: A Relation
or Journal of the
English Plantation
settled at Plymouth in
New England, by
certain English
adventurers both
merchants and others.)
Dwight Heath, ed. New
York: Corinth Books,
1963, p. 82.
"They
begane now to gather
in ye small harvest
they had, and to fitte
up their houses and
dwellings against
winter, being well
recovered in health
& strenght, and
had all things in good
plenty; for some were
thus imployed in
affairs abroad, others
were excersised in
fishing, aboute codd,
& bass, &
other fish, of which
yey tooke good store,
of which every family
had their portion. All
ye somer ther was no
wante. And now begane
to come in store of
foule, as winter
aproached, of which
this place did abound
when they came first
(but afterward
decreased by degree).
And besids water foule,
ther was great store
of wild Turkies, of
which they took many,
besids venison,
&c. Besids they
had aboute a peck a
meale a weeke to a
person, or now since
harvest, Indean corne
to yt proportion.
Which made many
afterwards write so
largly of their plenty
hear to their freinds
in England, which were
not fained, but true
reports."
William
Bradford. Bradford's
History "Of
Plimoth
Plantation."
Boston: Wright &
Potter Printing Co.,
State Printers...
1898. p. 127.
(modern
version)They began now
to gather in the small
harvest they had, and
to fit up their houses
and dwelling against
winter, being all well
recovered in health
and strength and had
all things in good
plenty. For as some
were thus employed in
affairs abroad, others
were exercised in
fishing, about cod and
bass and other fish,
of which they took
good store, of which
every family had their
portion. All the
summer there was no
want; and now began to
come in store of fowl,
as winter approached,
of which this place
did abound when they
first (but afterward
decreased by degrees).
And besides waterfowl
there was great store
of wild turkeys, of
which they took many,
besides venison, etc.
Besides, they had
about about a peck a
meal a week to a
person, or now since
harvest, Indian corn
to that proportion.
Which made many
afterwards write so
largely of their
plenty here to their
friends in England,
which were not feigned
but true reports.
William
Bradford, Of
Plimoth Plantation.
Samuel Eliot Morison,
ed. New York: Knopf,
1952. p.20.
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