Thankful Griffin and Nathan Buell

Thankful's birth is recorded in the document that is the face of the blog. She married into one of the most prominent families in Killingworth. Her father in law Daniel Buell was a Deacon in the Killingworth Congregational 2nd Society. Her marriage to Nathan Buell is recorded in the pages of the church records. Thankful and Nathan's family is recorded, as was the local tradition, on a page in the town records. Her husband having died quite young Thankful assumed the role of family matriarch a role she filled with vigor an idea somewhat unusual in the day. Gathering for Thankgiving Day was a family tradition that was held dear by most Connecticut families. Children would travel some distance for that occasion. Before she died in 1816 I am quite sure her granddaughter Sarah Josepha Buell Hale enjoyed Thanksgiving at her Grandmother Thankful's. As the editor of Godey's Lady's Book, the premenient women's magazine of the day, Sarah went on to play a major role in the decision to make Thanksgiving a permanent national holiday.