The Pilgrim Story / Being largely a compilation from the documents of Governor Bradford and Governor Winslow, severally and in collaboration; together with a list of Mayflower passengers.

by William Franklin Atwood

Samoset’s Visit

Fri. Mar. 26

On Friday, Mar. 26, an Indian walked boldly into the settlement. He saluted them in English and bade them “Welcome.” He explained that his home was in Maine where he had learned some English from the captains of fishing vessels that frequented the coast in the vicinity of Monhegan Island, lying half way between the Penobscot and Kennebec Rivers and about twelve miles off the coast. From him they gathered much information. “He discoursed of the whole country and of every province and of their sagamores and their number of men and strength.”

“He told us that the place where we now live is called ‘Patuxet’ and that about four years ago all the inhabitants died of an extraordinary plague and there is neither man, woman nor child remaining, as indeed we have found none; so there is none to hinder our possession, or lay claim unto it.”

The night Samoset stayed at the house of Stephen Hopkins where they “watched him,” being suspicious of the scattering bands previously seen. He had told them of another Indian whose name was Squanto, a native of the place who had been in England and could speak better English than himself and whom he would later bring with him.

Sat. Mar. 27

The following day he returned to the Wampanoags whence he had come. This tribe, with the Nausets, occupied the territory lying between Narragansett Bay and Cape Cod. He also spoke particularly of the Nausets to the southeast who were one hundred strong while the former numbered approximately sixty. Massasoit was the Sachem or overlord of the Indians in the territory stated. It appeared that the Nausets were much provoked against the English, having been deceived by a Captain Hunt who “got them under cover of trucking with them, twenty out of this very place and seven men from the Nausets, and carried them away and sold them for slaves.”

It seems that the Indian Squanto who was one of the number had fortunately made his escape and had been returned through the good offices of certain Englishmen who were friendly to the colonists.

On Sunday, March 28, Samoset again appeared, bringing with him five others. They brought with them a few skins but, it being the Sabbath, no trading was done. However, they accepted the hospitality of the settlement and “did eat liberally of our English victuals.” They also returned the tools which had been taken from the woods during the absence of the settlers. That night they departed with a promise to come again. Samoset, who was reluctant to go, remained until Wednesday, May 31.

Thur. April 1

On April 1, he returned with Squanto. They reported that Massasoit, their great sagamore, with his brother Quadequina was near with all their men. “They could not express well in English what they would, but after an hour the King came to the top of a hill (Watson’s Hill) over against us and had in his train sixty men, that we could well behold them, and they us. We were not willing to send our governor to them and they were unwilling to come to us.”

Squanto was accordingly sent to confer with them and returned with word that they should send one to “parley with him.” Edward Winslow was selected to go that they might “know his mind and signify the mind and will of our governor which was to have trading and peace with him.”

Hostages were exchanged and Captain Standish with a half dozen armed men met them at the brook (Town Brook) whence they were “conducted to a house then in building where we placed a green rug and three or four cushions.” Here they were met by the governor and others and after due felicitations and assurances of friendship were exchanged, a treaty which may well have marked the first diplomatic agreement in New England history. It was faithfully observed by both parties during the reign of Massasoit and was in force thereafter until the breaking out of the King Philip War in 1675.

It seems of interest to state here that this outbreak was instigated by Metacom or Philip as he was called by the English. He was the youngest son of Massasoit and had succeeded his brother Wamsutta or Alexander as head of the Wampanoags. But the recital of that devastating struggle is not within the sphere of this booklet. Suffice it to say that it resulted in the practical extermination of Indians including the Narragansetts, who were hostile to the white settlers and who for some years had been a perpetual and growing menace.