Squanto
(or
Tisquantum
, 1580? ? November 1622) was a
Native American
who helped the
Pilgrims
survive in the
New World
. He learned to speak English and was hired as a guide and interpreter. He taught the Pilgrims to plant corn. Squanto had much power among the Native Americans and the
Pilgrims
. He abused it, and barely escaped an Indian execution. He died in 1622 while making a trip around
Cape Cod
.
Squanto was born around 1580 in the area of present day
Plymouth, Massachusetts
. He was a member of the Paxutet people. Little is known about his early life. Squanto is thought to have been
kidnapped
as a young boy along the coast of
Maine
, and taken to England in 1605. He was taught English. He was hired as a
guide
and
interpreter
. He returned to his homeland with
John Smith
in 1614.
[1]
In 1614, Squanto and 23 other Indians were
kidnapped
by a
lieutenant
under Smith. This lieutenant sold him and the rest of the Indians as slaves in
Malaga
,
Spain
. Many historians have disputed what happened in this period of his life, as there is no written record. One theory is that once the Spanish found out these slaves were from the New World, Spanish
friars
rescued the remaining Indians, including Squanto, by purchasing them. They sent him on his way to England. It is not known what happened to the others. This is where he was taught English and the ways of the white man. He was employed by John Slaney of the Newfoundland Company, and was sent to
Newfoundland
around 1617, as an
interpreter
. He returned to his homeland in North America in 1619.
[2]
Upon Squanto's arrival, he discovered his people had been wiped out by disease; he was the sole survivor of the Paxutet people. The
Wampanoag
people adopted him, although not without hesitation. The chief, Massasoit was suspicious of Squanto due to his exposure with the white man and his new ability to speak their language. He knew Squanto's knowledge of English would help with trade, so he kept him.
In the spring of 1620, the
Mayflower
made landfall in
Cape Cod
, then mainland. They set camp on the same grounds of Squanto's people?they called this colony,
Plymouth
. After the harsh conditions of winter, about half of the colonists died. In the spring of 1621, an Indian who made friend with the English settlers, Samoset took Squanto to the
Pilgrim
settlement of Plymouth. Samoset could only speak broken English, while Squanto was seen as a master. Squanto was soon living with the people of Plymouth.
[3]
He joined them in meeting with Indian tribes. He helped to keep the peace. Tradition says he taught the Pilgrims to catch
eels
.
[4]
William Bradford
wrote that Squanto was of great help in the first year's spring planting of
corn
. He showed the Pilgrims both how to plant it and how to tend it. He showed them how to use fish as a
fertilizer
.
[5]
Over the year, Squanto's power went to his head. He told the natives that he had the power to send the white man's plague or to make them attack. This was one of many shady deals he conducted with both the Pilgrims and the natives. He was found out, and barely escaped an Indian
execution
.
[6]
In November 1622, Squanto fell ill with a
fever
while on a trip around
Cape Cod
with William Bradford.
[3]
He may have been
poisoned
by the Wampanoag.
[7]
He bled at the nose, and said it was a certain sign of death. He asked Bradford to pray to the
Christian
god so he might enter
Heaven
. He gave some gifts to others. He died a few days later in what is now Chatham, Massachusetts.
[6]
A Disney movie loosely based on Squanto's Life,
Squanto: A Warrior's Tale
, was released a year before
Pocahontas
.
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General
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Native Americans
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