FORSYTH NOTES
November 15, 2008
Welcome to the one hundred seventy-ninth issue of Forsyth Notes. Forsyth Notes is
published bi-monthly by Clan Forsyth Society of the USA, and is your e-link to your
extended Forsyth family. Click here for back issues of Forsyth Notes in PDF format.
A Wee Bit of Scottish Humor
A few years ago, an American and a British journalist were discussing Thanksgiving on
a British radio program. The American asked if Thanksgiving was celebrated in the UK.
"Yes," the British journalist replied, "but we celebrate it on the 6th of September."
"Why then?"
"That's when you chaps left."
Forsythe Family Farms
Forsythe Family Farms is owned and operated by Jim and Leslie Forsythe. Jim began
farming in the Markham area in 1972 growing cash crops such as feed corn and
progressed to growing sweet corn to stay busy during the summer months. He evolved
from growing and marketing fresh vegetables at a roadside wagon to an established
outdoor market and pick your own. In 1986 the farm relocated to 10539 Kennedy Road,
Markham, Ontario, Canada, and has developed far beyond what was initially imagined.
With encroaching urbanization and the influence of their sons, the farm’s focus has
expanded. With Markham roots established in
marketing their own and locally grown produce, they
have grown to include becoming a fun family
destination where people can enjoy what farms have
to offer – delicious food, outdoor fun and time to relax
with family and friends. They feel it is important for
everyone to remain linked to farms, knowing and
caring about where their food comes from.
School tours have developed with this mission in mind. They have been hosting groups
from the regions of York, Durham and Toronto for over 18 years. They are continually
seeking out new ideas and better ways of doing things through tours, conferences and
suggestions from our staff and customers. Their motto is: FARMS ARE FUN
Jim, Leslie, their sons and all their staff welcome you to FORSYTHE FAMILY FARMS.
They have something for everyone with the farm market, pick your own crops, farm
animals and fun area, weekend wagon rides and for nature
lovers a walk in the Enchanted Forest. The farm opens the
first weekend in May and is open every weekend to
December 24th.
Fall is traditionally the time to think of the farm. The
season’s harvest is at its peak and Thanksgiving is almost
here. Although preserving the harvest is no longer as essential as it once was, there is a
certain comfort in the abundance of food available. It is a colorful time of year and you
can make your home beautiful using corn stalks, straw bales, Indian corn, gourds,
garden mums and more. The fall colors are vibrant and the garden mums last into
November.
Origins of Thanksgiving
The modern Thanksgiving celebration in the United States originated with Lammas, a
British celebration of an abundant wheat crop. On this day, farmers attended the Loaf
Mass and brought loaves of bread as tokens of thanks.
The first recorded observance of Thanksgiving in America was a religious occasion that
did not include the feast now associated with the holiday. On December 4, 1619, a
small group
roup of English settlers arrived at Berkeley Plantation on the James River in
Virginia. In accordance with their charter, the group observed this day by giving thanks
to God.
Two years later, the residents of Plymouth rejoiced in an abundant crop
and Governor
vernor William Bradford proclaimed a three day harvest festival.
The colonists and about 90 Indians enjoyed an enormous feast which
included ducks, geese, turkey, fish, corn bread and vegetables. It is this
particular feast that is usually referred to as tthe
he First Thanksgiving.
Thanksgiving celebrations were observed irregularly in the years after 1621. However,
by 1789, the Thanksgiving custom had spread throughout the colonies and, in that year,
George Washington proclaimed November 26 as a "day of publi
public
c thanksgiving and
prayer." Washington's proclamation still did not lead to a regular national observance
although many states did celebrate Thanksgiving on an annual basis.
In 1863, President Abraham Lincoln issued a proclamation which invited Americans to
"observe the last Thursday of November as a day of Thanksgiving and
praise to our beneficent Father who dwelleth in the heavens." Such
proclamations were repeated by the President of the United States for
the next 75 years. In 1939, President Franklin Roosevelt changed the
date to the fourth Thursday in November. His goal was to help merchants
by lengthening the Christmas shopping season. Many were unhappy with
Roosevelt's break from tradition but the move was soon made permanent
by Congress.
A typical Thanksgiving meal in the United States includes turkey, dressing, sweet
potatoes, cranberry sauce, and rolls.
The Thanksgiving Story
The Pilgrims who sailed to this country aboard the Mayflower
were originally members of the English Separatist Church (a
Puritan sect). They had earlier fled their home in England and
sailed to Holland (The Netherlands) to escape religious
persecution. There, they enjoyed more religious tolerance, but
they eventually became disenchanted with the Dutch way of life, thinking
thinkin it ungodly.
Seeking a better life, the Separatists negotiated with a London stock company to
finance a pilgrimage to America. Most of those making the trip aboard the Mayflower
were non-Separatists,
Separatists, but were hired to protect the company's interests. Only about
one-third
third of the original colonists were Separatists.
The Pilgrims set ground at Plymouth Rock on December 11, 1620. Their first winter was
devastating. At the beginning of the following fall, they had lost 46 of the original 102
who sailed on the Mayflower. But the harvest of 1621 was a bountiful one. And the
remaining colonists decided to celebrate with a feast -- including Indians who had
helped the Pilgrims survive their first year. It is believed that the Pilgrims would not have
made it through the year without the help of the natives. The feast was
more of a traditional English harvest festival than a true "thanksgiving"
observance. It lasted three days.
Governor William Bradford sent "four men fowling" after wild ducks and
geese.
e. It is not certain that wild turkey was part of their feast. However,
it is certain that they had venison. The term "turkey" was used by the
Pilgrims to mean any sort of wild fowl.
Another modern staple at almost every Thanksgiving table is pumpkin pie. But it is
unlikely that the first feast included that treat. The supply of flour had been long
diminished, so there was no bread or pastries of any kind. However, they did eat boiled
pumpkin, and they produced a type of fried bread from their corn crop. There
T
was also
no milk, cider, potatoes, or butter. There were no domestic cattle for dairy products, and
the newly-discovered
discovered potato was still considered by many Europeans to be poisonous.
But the feast did include fish, berries, watercress, lobster, dried fruit, clams, venison,
and plums.
This "thanksgiving" feast was not repeated the following year. But in 1623, during a
severe drought, the pilgrims gathered in a prayer service, praying for rain. When a long,
steady rain followed the very next day, Gover
Governor
nor Bradford proclaimed another day of
Thanksgiving, again inviting their Indian friends. It wasn't until June of 1676 that another
Day of Thanksgiving was proclaimed.
On June 20, 1676, the governing council of Charlestown,
Massachusetts, held a meeting to determine how best to
express thanks for the good fortune that had seen their
community securely established. By unanimous vote they
instructed Edward Rawson, the clerk, to proclaim June 29 as a
day of thanksgiving. It is notable that this thanksgiving
celebration probably did not include the Indians, as the
celebration was meant partly to be in recognition of the
colonists' recent victory over the "heathen natives".
October of 1777 marked the first time that all 13 colonies joined
in a thanksgiving celebration.
ebration. It also commemorated the patriotic victory over the British
at Saratoga. But it was a one--time affair.
George Washington proclaimed a National Day of Thanksgiving in 1789, although some
were opposed to it. There was discord among the colonies, m
many
any feeling the hardships
of a few Pilgrims did not warrant a national holiday. And later, President Thomas
Jefferson scoffed at the idea of having a day of thanksgiving.
It was Sarah Josepha Hale, a magazine editor, whose efforts eventually led to what we
w
recognize as Thanksgiving. Hale wrote many editorials
championing her cause in her Boston Ladies' Magazine, and
later, in Godey's Lady's Book. Finally, after a 40--year campaign
of writing editorials and letters to governors and presidents,
Hale's obsess
obsession
ion became a reality when, in 1863, President
Lincoln proclaimed the last Thursday in November as a national day of Thanksgiving.
Thanksgiving was proclaimed by every president after Lincoln. The date was changed a
couple of times, most recently by Frankl
Franklin
in Roosevelt, who set it up one week to the
next-to-last
last Thursday in order to create a longer Christmas shopping season. Public
uproar against this decision caused the president to move Thanksgiving back to its
original date two years later. And in 1941, T
Thanksgiving
hanksgiving was finally sanctioned by
Congress as a legal holiday, as the fourth Thursday in November.
The Bard’s Corner
The following Thanksgiving verse can go with a Thanksgiving gift, but it
was really designed as a free Thanksgiving greeting to be sent
se or given
to someone on a Thanksgiving card. Th
This Thanksgiving Day poem
brings up thoughts of thankfulness.
More Than A Day
By Karl Fuchs
As Thanksgiving Day rolls around,
It brings up some facts, quite profound.
We may think that we're poor,
Feel like bums, insecure,
But in truth, our riches astound.
We have friends and family we love;
We have guidance from heaven above.
We have so much more
Than they sell in a store,
We're wealthy, when push comes to shove.
So add up your blessings, I say;
Make Thanksg
Thanksgiving last more than a day.
Enjoy what you've got;
Realize it's a lot,
And you'll make all your cares go away.
Devotional
Thoughts on Thanksgiving
By Pastor Greg Spencer - The Cyber Church of Milwaukee
In the U.S.A. we celebrate Thanksgiving this weekend. For some years now, I and my
family have enjoyed recalling the story of the first Thanksgiving by reading this week's
devotional as we sit before our Thanksgiving feast. On the table before us, our plates
are empty, save for five kernels of corn - lest we should forget.
THANKSGIVING READING
The pilgrims came to America in 1620. They spent 66 days in the hold of a ship called
The Mayflower, arriving on Nov. 21. One month later, on Dec. 26, all 102 passengers
set foot on land and began to establish the colony of Plymouth.
The pilgrims immediately began to build shelters, but soon they were overcome by a
general sickness. Through the course of the winter 46 died, nearly half their original
number.
One day in mid-March a lone Indian appeared, his name Samoset, he had learned to
speak English from the sea captains that sailed up and down the
coast, and was friendly. He left the pilgrims the next morning
returning a week later bringing another Indian with him named
Squanto.
Squanto had been captured and taken to England and lived there for
15 years. He had returned to America six months earlier only to find that his tribe had
been massacred. When he learned that this colony of English were struggling to
survive, he adopted them as his own, teaching them how to plant, fish, hunt, and trade
with their neighbors the Wampnoag Indians and their Chief, Massasoit.
The following is adapted from The Light and the Glory, by Peter Marshall, and David
Manuel.
That summer of 1621 was beautiful. Much work went into the building of new dwellings,
and ten men were sent north up the coast in the sailing shallop to conduct trade with the
Indians. Squanto once again acted as their guide and interpreter. It was a successful
trip, and that fall's harvest provided more than enough corn to see them through their
second winter.
The pilgrims were brimming over with gratitude, not only to Squanto and the
Wampanoags who had been so friendly, but to their God. In Him they had trusted, and
He had honored their obedience beyond their dreams. So, Governor Bradford declared
a day of public Thanksgiving, to be held in October.
Massasoit was invited, and unexpectedly arrived a day early-with NINETY
Indians! Counting their numbers, the Pilgrims had to pray hard to keep
from giving in to despair. To feed such a crowd would cut deeply into the
food supply that was supposed to get them through the winter.
But they had learned one thing through their travails, it was to trust God
implicitly. As it turned out, the Indians were not arriving empty-handed. Massasoit had
commanded his braves to hunt for the occasion, and they arrived with no less than five
dressed deer, and more than a dozen fat wild turkeys! And they helped with the
preparations, teaching the Pilgrim women how to make hoecakes and a tasty pudding
out of cornmeal and maple syrup. Finally, the Indians showed the Pilgrims a special
delicacy: how to roast corn kernels in an earthen pot until they popped, fluffy and white POPCORN! The Pilgrims in turn provided many vegetables from their household
gardens: carrots, onions, turnips, parsnips, cucumbers, radishes, beets, and cabbages.
It was all washed down with sweet wine made from the wild grapes. A
joyous occasion for all! Between meals, the pilgrims and Indians
happily competed in shooting contests with gun and bow. The Indians
were especially delighted that John Alden and some of the younger
men of the plantation were eager to join them in foot races and
wrestling. There were even military drills staged by Captain Standish. Things went so
well (and Massasoit showed no inclination to leave), that Thanksgiving Day was
extended for three days.
One month later, in November, a full year after their arrival, the first ship from home
dropped anchor in the harbor leaving off a cargo at Plymouth: thirty-five more colonists.
In the air of celebration that followed, no one stopped to think that these newcomers
had brought not one bit of equipment with them-no food, no clothing, no tools, no
bedding.
In the cold light of the following morning, a sobering appraisal by Bradford, Brewster,
and Winslow was taken, and a grim decision was reached: they would all have to go on
half-rations through the winter, to ensure enough food to see them into the summer
season, when fish and game would be plentiful.
That winter they entered into a time of starving, much like the
starving that took place at Jamestown that killed 8 out of 10 of their
people. With all the extra people to feed and shelter they were
ultimately reduced to a daily ration of Five Kernels of corn a piece.
In contrast to what happened at Jamestown, where they were driven
to despair, the people of Plymouth turned to Christ, and not one of them died of
starvation.
When spring finally arrived (1623), they were well aware that they needed at least twice
as much corn as their first harvest. The first planting would be for common use while the
second planting would be for private use.
After the first planting, a dry spell set in that turned into a 12 week drought.
The crops withered - along with the hopes of the pilgrims.
In the words of Edward Winslow:
These and the like considerations moved not only every goodman
privately to enter into examination with his own estate between God and
his conscience, and so to humiliation before Him, but also to humble
ourselves together before the Lord by fasting and prayer.
To that end, a day was appointed by public authority, and set apart from all other
employments.
But, O the mercy of our God, who was as ready to hear, as we were to ask! For though
in the morning, when we assembled together, the heavens were as clear and the
drought as like to continue as it ever was, yet (our exercise continuing some eight or
nine hours) before our departure, the weather was overcast, the clouds gathered on all
sides.
On the next morning distilled such soft, sweet, and moderate showers of rain,
continuing some fourteen days [!] and mixed with such seasonable weather, as it was
hard to say whether our withered corn or drooping affections were most quickened or
revived, such was the bounty and goodness of our God!"
The yield that year was so abundant that the Pilgrims ended up with a surplus of corn,
which they were able to use in trading that winter with northern Indians, who had not
had a good growing season.
That fall a second Day of Thanksgiving was planned, and Massasoit
was again the guest of honor, and this time he brought his principal
wife, three other sachems, and 120 braves! Fortunately he again
brought venison and turkey, as well.
The occasion was described by one of the Adventurers, Emmanuel Altham, in a letter to
his brother:
After our arrival in New England, we found all our plantation
health, and neither man, woman or child sick... in this plantation
twenty houses, four or five of which are very pleasant, and the
time will serve) shall be made better... the fishing that is in this
in good
is about
rest (as
country,
indeed it is beyond belief ... in one hour we got 100 cod ....And now to say
somewhat of the great cheer we had at the Governor's marriage.
We had about twelve tasty venisons, besides others, pieces of roasted
venison and other such good cheer in such quantities that I wish you
some of our share. For here we have the best grapes that ever you saw,
and the biggest, and divers sorts of plums and nuts ... six goats, about fifty
hogs and pigs, also divers hens ... A better country was never seen nor
heard of, for here are a multitude of God's blessing.
What Altham neglected to mention was the first course that was served: on an empty
plate in front of each person were five kernels of corn ... lest anyone should forget.
James 4:10: Humble yourselves in the sight of the Lord, and he shall lift you up.
Let’s close with a prayer.
Father, this story of the Pilgrim's faith and your love and grace brings us to
our knees before you. Help us to learn to depend on you as they did and to
examine our lives confessing and repenting of our sins each day - knowing
that you are able to empower us to live Holy lives. Father, my sins are not
hidden from you, but let me name them now in your presence......................
Lord I repent of these sins, please give me strength to turn from them when I am
tempted, in the name of your Holy Son Jesus, Amen.
Nuggets of Wisdom
In this very special season, our Clan Forsyth philosopher Jim “JD” Forsythe, sent along
these observations for us to ponder. Thanks to JD for his many
contributions.
AT Boynton School, North of Leachville,
Leachville, AR, at recess one day many kids
were around the water pump drinking and peeling and washing
washing wormy
apples. I was not conservative in peeling my apple.
apple. Then I saw a small girl
crawling through the crowd picking up and eating every scrap of the apple
apple
pee
peelings. To this day I cannot waste food. I hope the world has been favorable
for that little
little girl. J D Forsythe.
Radio Six International
These days many live radio shows are being broadcast over the
Internet and Radio Six International from Glasgow is one of them.
They broadcast a range of programs and have recently launched a
new series of Scottish music presented by the popular singer Moira
Kerr. There's a wide selection here of music from Scotland - including a sprinkling of her
own material. Her introductions to the tracks are based on her wide personal experience
of the Scottish music scene. "Moira Kerr's Scotland" goes out on Sunday at 5 pm GMT
(6 pm British Summer Time) and is repeated on Saturday at 1 am GMT which is 9 pm
EST in the US. For the entire program schedule, see www.radiosix.com.
Scotland on TV
A great new website is now available to all of us who are proud of our Scottish ancestry,
and wish to learn more about Scotland. Take a look at this new web
site called Scotland on TV. You can watch short television shows
about Scotland – past and present – right on your computer. This is
a growing site so there will be more programs each week. Take a
stroll through Scotland on TV. I have to say that his is a favorite of mine, and I suspect
it will be a favorite of yours also. You can also sign up for a weekly newsletter with the
latest shows.
Family Resource Sources On Line
You can go to the Brigham Young University web site
http://www.lib.byu.edu/ and do searches of over 5000 books
which the Family History Library has put online. By going directly to
the BYU web site to view the images, you are now able to do full-text
searches on each book, and on every digitized book in the
collection. To find the digitized images, go to the web site of the Harold B. Lee Library
at BYU at http://www.lib.byu.edu/ on their home page, and follow the links “Find
Other Materials/Electronic/On Line Collections at BYU”. Click on the “Text Collections”
tab and select the “Family History Archive” from the list of collections that are displayed.
(Direct link: http://www.lib.byu.edu/fhc/) You can use the “Search All” feature with
the ”Search Full Text” box checked. The “Advanced Search” will allow very highpowered searches that will allow certain phrases to be searched for and other words to
be used to exclude potential hits.
Forsyth Lapel Pins
Clan Forsyth Society Lapel Pins are still available. The price is
only $8.00 each, and they are immediately available. Show your
Forsyth pride. Get yours today! (Order Form below.)
Send orders to:
President Dale Forsyth Sandusky
Clan Forsyth Society of the U.S.A.
4336 South 3150 West
West Valley, Utah 84119
Make Checks Payable to: Clan Forsyth Society U.S.A.
(Actual size is 1 ¼” at the widest point)
Please send me _____ Forsyth Lapel Pins
At a cost of $8.00 each for a total of $_____________
Send to:
Name: ______________________________________
Address: ____________________________________
City, State, Zip: _______________________________
Forsyth Message Board
Wayne A. Forsyth, Clan Forsyth Ohio State Representative, hosts a Forsyth Message
Board where you can share information with other Forsyths; post photos
and Genealogy information; meet with other Forsyth(e)s from around the
world; leave links to other web sites of interest; help others find missing
links and long lost relatives. By posting messages and information to this
site you can help make this site a success, both for you and others. To
join
the
discussion,
simply
go
to
http://forums.delphiforums.com/Clan_Forsyth/start. This is a great opportunity to share
Forsyth information with your cousins.
Clan Forsyth Society of the USA
Forsyth Notes is a publication of Clan Forsyth Society of the USA. If you are not a
member of Clan Forsyth Society, we invite you to join us, and enjoy the full benefits of
membership in your extended Forsyth family. If you are not a member of Clan Forsyth
Society, and would like to join Clan Forsyth Society of the USA, go
to http://alt.xmission.com/~forsyth/application.html and complete
your membership application. A gift membership to Clan Forsyth
makes a great gift for your child or grandchild. Acquaint your
family with their illustrious Forsyth heritage. The cost is small – the
rewards are great.
We welcome our Forsyth cousins to Clan
Forsyth Society of the USA.
Be sure to visit our official Clan Forsyth Society of the USA web site at
http://alt.xmission.com/~forsyth for the latest information on Clan Forsyth Society of the
USA activities. You can visit Clan Forsyth – Mid-Eastern Region web site at
http://www.clanforsyth.org, Clan Forsyth updates, and back issues of Forsyth Notes. If
you have a Clan Forsyth or Scottish oriented web site, send your URL to
[email protected], and we will share your site with other Forsyths.
What’s In A Name
There are many variations of the Forsyth Name. Some of the
following may be alternate spellings of the Forsyth name: de
Forsyth; de Fronsac; Farcet; Faresyth; Farsieth; Farsyth; Fawsyde;
Fearsithe; Fersight; Fersite; Fersith; Fersy; Fersyth; Foirside; Forcet;
Forcett; Forcitt; Forcyth; Foresaith; Foreside; Foresight; Foresith;
Foresyde; Foresyth; Foresythe; Forsaith; Forsate; Forsath;
Forsayeth; Forsayth; Forsaythe; Forscythe; Forseith; Forseth;
Forsett; Forsey; Forseyth; Forside; Forsit; Forsite; Forsith; Forsithe;
Forsitht; Forsitt; Forsiyth; Forsize; Forsycht; Forsyeth; Forsyth;
Forsythe; Forsythes; Forsyths; Forsytht; Fronsac; Fursett;
MacForsyth; and Sytes. Contact your local Clan Forsyth Representative or President
Dale Forsyth Sandusky to determine if you qualify for membership in Clan Forsyth
Society. If you know anyone who bears the Forsyth name, or any one of the many
variations, or who is married to a Forsyth, or who is descended from a Forsyth, please
encourage him or her to contact their local Clan Forsyth Representative or President
Dale Forsyth Sandusky for additional information and a Clan Forsyth Society
Membership Application. We welcome our cousins from around the world.
Help Requested
Each of you know a Forsyth(e) who has made a difference, and because of whom the
world is a better (or a different) place. If you know an outstanding
Forsyth(e) that you would like to see featured in Forsyth Notes, send a
brief biographical sketch to Forsyth Notes at [email protected]. If
you can provide any follow-up information on any Forsyth(e) featured in
previous Forsyth Notes, send the information to [email protected],
and we will include the follow-up information in future issues. Your contributions will be
appreciated. We also encourage you to forward any local news article highlighting a
Clan Forsyth member for publication in Forsyth Notes.
A Puzzle for You
What do you see for Thanksgiving Dinner?
Dinner? A Duck or a Rabit?
Closing
Many people add greetings with a Scottish flavour at the end of their e-mails (and snail
mail). Here is an appropriate Celtic Thanksgiving Blessing for you:
King of Mysteries
You existed before the elements
before water covered the ocean floor
You are without beginning and without end
You created the land out of shapless mass
You carved the mountains and chisiled the valleys
and covered the earth with trees and grass
You measured each object
each span within the universe
the height of the mountains
the depths of the oceans
the distance from the sun to the moon
from star to star
You created men and women
to be stewards of your earth
And to always praise you for your boundless love
excerpt from a 9th century Celtic Psalter
Jim Forsythe
Clan Forsyth Society of the USA
James H. Forsythe
Rocky Mountain Regional Director
New Mexico State Representative
11 Lobelia Lane
Sandia Park, New Mexico 87047
Phone:
Cell:
E-Mail:
Web:
(505) 281-9259
(901) 494-5436
[email protected]
http://www.clanforsyth.org
Please note our new address and telephone number.
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