Personal Injury and Tax Attorney Jeffrey T. Jones, founder of the Law Offices of Jeffrey T. Jones, and best-selling author of “Protect and Defend” sheds the light of history on the ever changing date of the Thanksgiving Holiday that we all take for granted.

Charleston, WV, November 13, 2014: Personal Injury attorney Jeffrey T. Jones, founder of the Law Offices of Jeffrey T. Jones, and best-selling author of “Protect and Defend” has posted a new article on his website entitled “Thanksgiving’s Little Known History.”  For as long as anyone living can remember, Thanksgiving, one of this country’s most loved and cherished holidays, has always been on the last Thursday of November. That was not always the case though.

Jeffrey Jones has taken a long look back and gives us a look at the incredibly changing dates that have been selected throughout history for this holiday. Jones says, “It took more than 200 years to officially establish the actual Thanksgiving holiday that we know today.” He has gathered his information from a Smithsonian article entitled, “Thanksgiving in North America: From Local Harvests to National Holiday” (http://www.si.edu/Encyclopedia_SI/nmah/thanks.htm).   He shares this fact, “the Europeans celebrated the first Thanksgiving on May 27, 1578, nearly 100 years before the Pilgrim’s celebration.”

Jones says that during that time there were many things to be thankful for “as the country was just taking shape; the safe arrival of colonists to various areas from Massachusetts to Virginia, as well as the safe arrival of supply ships were being celebrated. Thanksgiving celebrations were held practically every month at different times and places.”

However, writes Jones, ““Most of the credit for the establishment of an annual Thanksgiving holiday should be given to Sarah Josepha Hale. She happened to be the Editor of two popular magazines of the day and she began printing articles stirring up attention, which demanded the establishment of an unchangeable official Thanksgiving day. In addition, “She published stories and recipes, and wrote scores of letters to governors, senators, and presidents. After 36 years of crusading, she won her battle. On October 3, 1863, buoyed by the Union victory at Gettysburg, President Lincoln proclaimed that November 26th would be a national Thanksgiving Day, to be observed every year on the fourth Thursday of November.”

The entire article can be read here.

About Jeffrey T. Jones

Jeffrey T. Jones has more than 25 years of experience and served as the former President of the West Virginia Association for Justice and is a Personal Injury, Wrongful Death and IRS Tax Attorney in Charleston, West Virginia. He has also been recognized as one of the Top 100 Trial Lawyers in West Virginia. He has appeared in USA TODAY as an Emerging Business Leader to Watch and has been named one of the top 10 lawyers in West Virginia for client satisfaction by the American Institute of Personal Injury Attorneys. He represents persons injured or killed in accidents and has written the West Virginia Automobile Accident Injury Guide and a Special Report dealing with car accidents, personal injury and insurance companies.

About the Law Offices of Jeffrey T. Jones

For quality, dependable legal representation, clients throughout West Virginia rely on the Law Offices of Jeffrey T. Jones, PLLC in Charleston, West Virginia. Our office serves clients from Charleston to Huntington, from Beckley to Princeton and as far as Clarksburg. We’re strong advocates for those who have been injured by negligence of any kind. Whether you have been injured by a negligent driver or a drunk driver, a defective product, or a doctor or hospital, we can help you recover the financial compensation you are entitled to receive.