SQUANTO BIOGRAPHY
(Folk hero c.1850-c.1622) • A native American of Patuxet tribe
• Also known as Tisquantum and also been referred to as Squantum throughout the history
• Was born in circa 1580 near Plymouth, Massachusetts
• Because of being kidnapped several times in his life, Squanto traveled extensively through Europe, Newfoundland and the northeast coast of the United States.
• In an expedition sponsored by Sir Ferdinando Gorges, an English explorer named Captain Weymouth kidnapped Squanto along with 4 other Indians. In 1605, he returned to England with the Indians, thinking Sir Ferdinando Gorges would appreciate the opportunity to see natives from the region in person.
• It is believed that all of the Indians kidnapped by Weymouth were treated well in England before they were all eventually returned to their homeland. It …show more content…
He captured 20 Indians in total and sold them off as slaves in Spain.
• Spanish friars, looking to spread the Christian faith, rescued Squanto from captivity. He then traveled from Spain to England where he met and lived with John Slaney, a wealthy merchant.
• As a likely indentured servant for John Slaney, Squanto traveled to Newfoundland on an expedition. Squanto thought he would be able to return home but ended up returning to England again in 1618.
• In 1619, Squanto finally makes it home only to discover that his tribe was wiped out by disease.
• Just over a year after his return home in 1619, Squanto settled in Plymouth with Pilgrims that were sick and dying from a difficult journey to the New World. They lacked food and needed help. Squanto helped the Pilgrims during this difficult time. He taught them how to farm, introduced them to local tribes, and acted as an interpreter to enable trade between the local tribes and Pilgrims.
• In 1621, Squanto was instrumental in negotiating a peace treaty between the Pilgrims and the Wampanoag by acting as an interpreter and