Bio # 3: Squanto (Tisquantum)

Squanto is best known for helping the Pilgrims after their first winter in America. Historians believe that without Squanto’s assistance, the first colony would have surely failed. Squanto is also known as Tisquantum. Squanto first encountered English explorers in 1605, and was captured by George Weymouth’s company. Weymouth thought that it was necessary to return to Europe with natives as proof of the New World’s existence. Squanto’s tribe (the Pauxets) were in captivity, and Squanto was taught English and served as a translator. On the way back to his tribe, Squanto was captured again, this time by an Englishman by the name of Thomas Hunt. Hunt captured other natives, as well as fish and corn, and planned on traveling to Spain and selling the natives as slaves. Local friars heard about what Hunt was doing, and helped the natives escape. The friars turned the natives over to the Christian religion, and Squanto persuaded them to help him get back home. Squanto eventually arrived home, and his tribe settled near the pilgrims. He is most well known for helping them after the winter by showing them farming techniques and how to gather food. Luckily for the pilgrims, Squanto was a previous English translator, and was the only native in the tribe that could converse with the settlers of the New World. Squanto was a caring native American who was critical to the survival of the first settlers at Plymouth.

Works Cited: "Squanto -." Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia. Web. 07 Dec. 2009. .