During the last of July John Billington, Jr., became lost in the woods lying to the south of the settlement and was forced to subsist for several days on berries and whatever nature afforded. He came in contact with an Indian plantation below Manomet whence he was conducted to the Nausets on the Cape. Word reached Massasoit who, in turn, informed the Plymouth company as to his whereabouts. A party of ten men was despatched in the shallop by the Governor and he was located and returned to the colony apparently none the worse for the experience.
Arrival of Hobamack
It was about this time that Hobamack, another Indian, came to live at the settlement. He was a friend of Squanto and “faithful to the English until he died.” During a visit to Nemasket (Middleboro) they came into conflict with a sachem named Corbitant who was a minor sachem under Massasoit and who was held to be deceitful both to his superior and the whites. Hobamack was seized and held against his will by Corbitant but being of great strength he broke away making his escape to Plymouth. Fearing that Squanto might have been killed “it was resolved to send the Captain and 14 men well armed” to investigate and to seek retribution if harm had befallen him. They entered the house of Corbitant who at the moment was away while others in attempting to leave against the Captain’s orders, were injured and were later taken to Plymouth where their injuries were treated to their apparent satisfaction. Squanto was uninjured and made his way back to the settlement. Corbitant later explained that his actions were only in the nature of threats and that he intended no harm. He also sought the mediation of Massasoit to regain the friendship of the whites.
Sept. 28
On September 28th a party of ten men with Squanto for guide and interpreter, set out in the shallop to explore in and around Massachusetts Bay. They made friendly contact with the Indians of the neighborhood and returned with “A good quantity of beaver.”
The Fortune Arrives
Nov. 19
On November 19th the Fortune, a vessel of small tonnage, arrived bringing Robert Cushman and thirty-five others. They brought practically no provisions except some clothing but being mostly able-bodied young men the colony was thus augmented in man power of which it had been much depleted, there remaining but fifty of the original colony at this time. They came to settle permanently and were made welcome.
Pierce’s Attempt Fails
Let us now step ahead a few months. As the patent to the lands they now occupied arrived on the Fortune, it is not irrelevant to mention here the abortive attempt of John Pierce to get control of the Plymouth colony. On April 20, 1622, Pierce obtained another patent, superseding the first, broader in scope and running to himself, his heirs, associates and assigns forever.