© Mark Ollig
In September 1620, one-hundred-two Separatist English Protestants and a crew of 30 left England on a 66-day journey to cross the Atlantic Ocean aboard the 100-foot-long ship named the Mayflower.
In command of the Mayflower was Captain Christopher Jones.
The adventurous pilgrims aboard the four-deck, 180-ton ship, sailed with a vision of establishing a settlement in the Colony of Virginia and starting a new life for themselves.
The Mayflower ended up near the eastern tip of Cape Cod in modern-day Massachusetts, where they explored and then sailed west to what is present-day Plymouth, MA, and named after Plymouth England, where the Mayflower’s voyage originated.
Upon their arrival, the seasonally cold wintery weather forced the travelers to stay sheltered on the ship.
Sadly, nearly one-half of the people on board the Mayflower died from malnutrition and sickness.
By spring 1621, the weather changed to moderate temperatures, allowing the people to leave the Mayflower to establish their settlement on the new land.
Members of an indigenous Native American tribe assisted the pilgrims. One of the natives spoke English, which, no doubt, surprised the new settlers.
Tisquantum (known as Squanto) was a Pawtuxet and member of the Native American band of the Wampanoag tribe living near where the pilgrims had settled.
Years before the Mayflower landed, he was taken to England by Sir Ferdinando Gorges, who was exploring the coast where Squanto lived. While in England, he learned to speak English.
Squanto returned to his native land in 1614.
A short time later, Thomas Hunt, a British explorer, took Squanto to Spain and sold him into slavery.
He was able to escape and lived with monks for a time before returning to his homeland in 1619.
Squanto helped the Pilgrims by serving as a territorial guide, assisting them with fishing and planting crops, and acting as an interpreter with Wampanoag Chief Massasoit.
In 1621, the pilgrims saw their first successful corn harvest of some 20 acres, in addition to six acres of barley and peas. The Pilgrim’s leader, Governor William Bradford, celebrated this milestone by having a great feast.
Bradford invited members from the local Native American tribes to celebrate with the Pilgrims.
Edward Winslow was one of the Separatist leaders who traveled on the Mayflower and was at this celebration.
In a letter dated Dec. 11, 1621, Winslow wrote about the celebration.
Winslow’s references to the first Thanksgiving include, “. . . our governor [William Bradford] sent four men on fowling that so we might, after a more special manner, rejoice together after we had gathered the fruit of our labors.”
He also remarked: “there was [a] great store of wild turkeys, of which they took many, besides venison.”
Winslow wrote about the Native Americans attending the feast, “. . . many of the Indians coming amongst us, and among the rest [is] their greatest King Massasoit [leader of the Wampanoag tribe], with some 90 men, whom for three days we entertained and feasted.”
“We have found the Indians very faithful in their covenant of peace with us,” Winslow added.
The following year, Squanto reportedly helped the Pilgrims find a lost boy.
In November 1622, while acting as a guide for Governor Bradford, Squanto died in Chatham, MA of a fever. He was 42 years old.
Captain Christopher Jones died at age 52 March 5, 1622.
Governor William Bradford passed away May 9, 1657, aged 67.
Edward Winslow was 59 years old when he died, May 8, 1655.
The 1,580-word letter Winslow wrote Dec. 11, 1621, can be read at https://bit.ly/2QwJ31Z.
This Thanksgiving Day, we can be grateful for our blessings, family, friends, and life’s good harvest.
Let us also remember the story of the indigenous Native Americans who helped the Pilgrims upon their arrival into their new world.
In September 1620, one-hundred-two Separatist English Protestants and a crew of 30 left England on a 66-day journey to cross the Atlantic Ocean aboard the 100-foot-long ship named the Mayflower.
In command of the Mayflower was Captain Christopher Jones.
The adventurous pilgrims aboard the four-deck, 180-ton ship, sailed with a vision of establishing a settlement in the Colony of Virginia and starting a new life for themselves.
The Mayflower ended up near the eastern tip of Cape Cod in modern-day Massachusetts, where they explored and then sailed west to what is present-day Plymouth, MA, and named after Plymouth England, where the Mayflower’s voyage originated.
Upon their arrival, the seasonally cold wintery weather forced the travelers to stay sheltered on the ship.
Sadly, nearly one-half of the people on board the Mayflower died from malnutrition and sickness.
By spring 1621, the weather changed to moderate temperatures, allowing the people to leave the Mayflower to establish their settlement on the new land.
Members of an indigenous Native American tribe assisted the pilgrims. One of the natives spoke English, which, no doubt, surprised the new settlers.
Tisquantum (known as Squanto) was a Pawtuxet and member of the Native American band of the Wampanoag tribe living near where the pilgrims had settled.
Years before the Mayflower landed, he was taken to England by Sir Ferdinando Gorges, who was exploring the coast where Squanto lived. While in England, he learned to speak English.
Squanto returned to his native land in 1614.
A short time later, Thomas Hunt, a British explorer, took Squanto to Spain and sold him into slavery.
He was able to escape and lived with monks for a time before returning to his homeland in 1619.
Squanto helped the Pilgrims by serving as a territorial guide, assisting them with fishing and planting crops, and acting as an interpreter with Wampanoag Chief Massasoit.
In 1621, the pilgrims saw their first successful corn harvest of some 20 acres, in addition to six acres of barley and peas. The Pilgrim’s leader, Governor William Bradford, celebrated this milestone by having a great feast.
Bradford invited members from the local Native American tribes to celebrate with the Pilgrims.
Edward Winslow was one of the Separatist leaders who traveled on the Mayflower and was at this celebration.
In a letter dated Dec. 11, 1621, Winslow wrote about the celebration.
Winslow’s references to the first Thanksgiving include, “. . . our governor [William Bradford] sent four men on fowling that so we might, after a more special manner, rejoice together after we had gathered the fruit of our labors.”
He also remarked: “there was [a] great store of wild turkeys, of which they took many, besides venison.”
Winslow wrote about the Native Americans attending the feast, “. . . many of the Indians coming amongst us, and among the rest [is] their greatest King Massasoit [leader of the Wampanoag tribe], with some 90 men, whom for three days we entertained and feasted.”
“We have found the Indians very faithful in their covenant of peace with us,” Winslow added.
The following year, Squanto reportedly helped the Pilgrims find a lost boy.
In November 1622, while acting as a guide for Governor Bradford, Squanto died in Chatham, MA of a fever. He was 42 years old.
Captain Christopher Jones died at age 52 March 5, 1622.
Governor William Bradford passed away May 9, 1657, aged 67.
Edward Winslow was 59 years old when he died, May 8, 1655.
The 1,580-word letter Winslow wrote Dec. 11, 1621, can be read at https://bit.ly/2QwJ31Z.
This Thanksgiving Day, we can be grateful for our blessings, family, friends, and life’s good harvest.
Let us also remember the story of the indigenous Native Americans who helped the Pilgrims upon their arrival into their new world.
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| Model of Mayflower ship at Pilgrim Hall, Plymouth, Mass, circa 1905 |
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| Squanto, also known as Tisquantum |
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| The first Thanksgiving |
