Wampanoag Elders - Samoset

Samoset (c. 1590–c. 1653) of the Abenaki people was the first Native American to greet the English Pilgrims at Plymouth and to introduce them to the Wampanoag chief Massasoit. He learned to speak English from fishermen who visited his coastal territory so it was a surprise to the Pilgrims of Plymouth Plantation when he entered their settlement and announced, "Welcome, Englishmen!" The first Indian to greet the Pilgrims, Samoset fostered goodwill and trade with the Europeans. He introduced the white men to Squanto, an emissary of Massasoit, who facilitated the long-term peace between the Pilgrims and Massasoit. In later years, Samoset signed the first land sale transaction to the colonists.

Samoset, whose name means "He Who Walks over Much," was born circa 1590 in what is today the state of Maine in the New England region of the United States. From Pemaquid Point on the southeast coastline of the state, Samoset was a member of the Abenaki people, which means "People of the Eastern Dawn." Like most of the tribes in New England, the Abenaki spoke the Algonquian language and could easily communicate with the native Nauset and Wampanoag people of the region. Samoset was a sagamore, or lesser chief, of his tribe.

Near Pemaquid Point, between the Kennebec and the Penobscot rivers, colonial Englishmen and Frenchmen vied for fishing and fur rights. Samoset would have had frequent contact with these fishermen, and was able to pick up a moderate understanding of the English language. It is assumed Samoset had the opportunity to ship with Captain Dermer from Monhegan Island to Cape Cod around the time of the English Pilgrims' arrival at Plymouth in what is today Massachusetts and what was then the Patuxet region.

-- from The Encyclopedia of World Biography

"Friday the 16th a fair warm day towards; this morning we determined to conclude of the military orders, which we had begun to consider of before but were interrupted by the savages, as we mentioned formerly; and whilst we were busied hereabout, we were interrupted again, for there presented himself a savage, which caused an alarm. 

He very boldly came all alone and along the houses straight to the rendezvous, where we intercepted him, not suffering him to go in, as undoubtedly he would, out of his boldness. He saluted us in English, and bade us welcome, for he had learned some broken English among the Englishmen that came to fish at Monchiggon, and knew by name the most of the captains, nigers, and masters that usually came. He was a man free in speech, so far as he could express his mind, and of a seemly carriage. We questioned him of many things; he was the first savage we could meet withal. He said he was not of these parts, but of Morattiggon, and one of the sagamores or lords thereof, and had been eight months in these parts, it lying hence a day's sail with a great wind, and five days by land. He discoursed of the whole country, and of every province, and of their sagamores, and their number of men, and strength. 

The wind being to rise a little, we cast a horseman's coat about him, for he was stark naked, only a leather about his waist, with a fringe about a span long, or little more; he had a bow and two arrows, the one headed, and the other unheaded. He was a tall straight man, the hair of his head black, long behind, only short before, none on his face at all; he asked some beer, but we gave him strong water and biscuit, and butter, and cheese, and pudding, and a piece of mallard, all which he liked well, and had been acquainted with such amongst the English. He told us 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 as there is none to hinder our possession, or to lay claim unto it."

-- Samoset's Arrival

from Mourt's Relation (1622)

TIME TRIP ADVENTURE 4

KILLING FOR COUNTRY  

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TIME TRIP ADVENTURE 1

THE JOURNEY TO ANCIENT GREECE 

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TIME TRIP ADVENTURE 2

A RIDE ON THE UNDERGROUND RAILROAD

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TIME TRIP ADVENTURE 3

WITNESS TO THE FIRST THANKSGIVING 

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