I am unable to confirm the meme's claim that the pilgrims were Anglicans. The site mayflowerhistory.com claims they were Puritans, but that site has at least one factual error concerning Anglicans (it says we observe more than two sacraments, like the RCs). Can anyone confirm or deny that they were proper Anglicans?
I think you're confused. The settlers at Jamestown, VA were Anglicans. They celebrated a Thanksgiving in 1610. The colony was founded in 1607 and was the first permanent English colony in America. The Pilgrims (who were not Anglicans but a particular kind of Puritan called a Separatist), did not arrive in America or celebrate their Thanksgiving until 1620. Although the Pilgrims' Thanksgiving is more popular, Jamestown was the first.
I see! Thanks. I was taught that the Plymouth MA pilgrims held the first Thanksgiving, and my internet search brought up a series of sites that all said the same thing. Yet Wikipedia reports the same as you: Jamestown beat out Plymouth for the honors (but the Plymouth tale of Native Americans' involvement wins out in many accounts of history because it is so much more colorful). Not the first instance of history being altered to suit preferences, and I'm pretty certain it won't be the last.