Thanksgiving is one of my favorite holidays. It has it all! Food, family, faith, and history. Join me, Linda Lacour Hobar, author of The Mystery of History, for the true story of the First Thanksgiving, which bridged the Old World to the New – through courage, prayer, and the heroic gestures of Squanto who helped the Pilgrims survive in a time of great need.
Full Transcript
Ron Hobar 0:02
Welcome to the Mystery of History podcast with the author Linda Lacour Hobar. The Mystery of History is an award-winning world history curriculum for all ages. This pre-recorded podcast is designed for parents and teachers seeking direction, encouragement, and inspiration for home and education from a biblical worldview. And now your hostess, Linda Lacour Hobar.
The Pilgrim’s First Thanksgiving and the Story of Squanto, 1620 to 1623
Linda Lacour Hobar 0:36
Are we there yet? I wonder how many times the pilgrim children on board the famous Mayflower asked this question. Their voyage across the Atlantic Ocean was as expected, smooth at times and rough at others. When bad storms hit, the ship was tossed to and fro. In one such storm, lightning struck the crossbeam of the mast. There were lots of days and nights when the children were forced below deck along with the other passengers. The stench was awful, but it was far too dangerous to be outside on those bad days. I’m describing the historic migration of the pilgrims from Europe to North America. This famous American story has several layers. We will start with the pilgrims and add the story of Squanto, who had something to do with the first Thanksgiving. Families with young students may want to divide this lesson into two parts, saving the story of Squanto for another day.
Background of the Pilgrims
Linda Lacour Hobar 1:32
The story of the pilgrims really begins in the early 1600s when a group of separatists started their own congregation in Scrooby, England. Separatists were those wanting to separate from the Church of England for differing opinions on theology and the proper handling of God’s Word. Members included William Brewster, a postmaster and tavern keeper, William Bradford, a 12-year-old orphan, and John Robinson, who later became a pastor. At that time in history, James I was the King of England. Under his reign, there was a great deal of hostility toward anyone opposed to the Church of England. It led to persecution of the Separatists and others. To escape the oppression, about 100 members of the Scrooby congregation fled to Leiden, a city in Holland, which is a province of the Netherlands. Linda Lacour Hobar 2:26
The Separatists might have stayed in Leiden, but after 11 years, things weren’t going as well as they hoped. In England, the Separatists farmed. In the Netherlands, they were forced to work in factories. It was so difficult to make a living that even the children were working in the factories and falling behind in their schoolwork. Furthermore, the young people were forgetting their English customs. They were forgetting the English language, and they were forgetting their manners and morals. William Bradford wrote this of the youth, and I quote, of all sorrows most heavy to be born was that many of their children were drawn away by evil examples into extravagant and dangerous courses, getting the reins off their necks and departing from their parents. Linda Lacour Hobar 3:14
In the midst of these numerous trials, the separatists felt the Lord calling them to relocate. But where? Well, as difficult as things had been for the settlers of Jamestown, stories of the New World were still inviting. The land was ripe, abundant, and perceived to be wide open. Yes, there were reports of conflict with Native Americans, but some had proven to be friendly. The Separatists were eager to settle, share Christ, and to spread out in a new land. After all the trials, the bloodshed, and the persecution of the Reformation in Europe, the Separatists were willing to move again for the sake of religious freedom. Linda Lacour Hobar 3:55
William Brewster was one of the leaders who arranged the voyage across the Atlantic Ocean. London merchants agreed to finance the trip using an old ship named the Speedwell. Brewster and members of his church boarded the Speedwell and sailed first to England. Pastor John Robinson stayed behind with the rest of the church, hoping to join them later. I wonder what it was like when these brothers and sisters in Christ said goodbye. Did they exchange gifts and goods for the trip? Did they exchange hugs and prayers? William Bradford wrote in his account, and I quote, Truly doleful was the sight of that sad and mournful parting, to see what sighs and sobs and prayers did sound amongst them. What tears did gush from every eye, and pithy speeches pierced each heart. End quote. Linda Lacour Hobar 4:45
There were many uncertainties ahead for the travelers, not to mention great danger. John Robinson led church members in a day of prayer and fasting before they divided the church in two. For inspiration, he read Ezra 821, asking the Lord for the right way for us and our little ones and all our possessions. Linda Lacour Hobar 5:07
Once they made it to England, the Separatists were joined by strangers. That’s what William Bradford called them. He may have been referencing Hebrews 11.13, which speaks of people as strangers and pilgrims on the earth. Those strangers were a mix of Englishmen seeking adventure and profit. According to William Bradford, and I quote, they left that goodly and pleasant city, which had been their resting place near twelve years, but they knew they were pilgrims when they first left Holland. End quote. He was referring to the Separatists who were on a pilgrimage to the New World, but over time the entire group, separatists and strangers, have commonly been called the Pilgrims. Linda Lacour Hobar 5:51
In England, the pilgrims filled the old speedwell and the Mayflower, which was the larger of the two ships. Unfortunately, the speedwell was unstable on the sea and was finally abandoned. When at last a Mayflower was boarded, it carried about thirty sailors and one hundred and two pilgrims. Only thirty five of the pilgrims were separatists from Leiden. Most of the pilgrims were traveling as families, so there were thirty-two children on board, if you can imagine. Linda Lacour Hobar 6:21
As high as that number was, it changed when two babies were born on the Mayflower. One named Oceanus Hopkins was born at sea and cleverly named after the event. Another baby, named Peregrine White, was born while the ship was anchored in the harbor of the New World. With everyone’s belongings and supplies, a few favorite pets and crying newborns, the ship was far more cramped than planned. Linda Lacour Hobar 6:48
After 65 days at sea, land was finally in sight. I imagined the children shrieking with delight. The first obstacle the pilgrims faced was where to set ashore. You see, they had been granted passage to the territory of Virginia, but they didn’t exactly land there. The storms in the Atlantic drove them farther north than Jamestown. They were at Cape Cod in present-day Massachusetts. The pilgrims tried to turn the Mayflower south, but the rocky shoreline and strong curtains wouldn’t allow for it. A historic decision was then made. Linda Lacour Hobar 7:23
The pilgrim men gathered on board the Mayflower to sign the Mayflower Compact. It was an agreement among all of them that they were to be self-governed. Since they weren’t in Virginia, they weren’t under its British laws and needed to make their own. The Mayflower Compact stated that each man would do his best according to God’s will and would protect the rights of others. This would help prevent any one man from ruling over all the rest and restricting freedom, the precious condition they were striving for. At this time, John Carver was elected the first governor. Linda Lacour Hobar 7:59
Now, the signing of the Mayflower Compact may not seem like a big deal, but it was. You see, the Thirty Years’ War was raging between Protestants and Catholics in Europe at that time, while power shifted from one heavy-handed king or queen to another. The pilgrims didn’t want the same problems in the New World. So the Separatists did not impose their faith and religion on the strangers among them, nor did the strangers restrict the worship of the separatists. All the men sought to be represented and protected under this newly formed charter. The women did not vote at that time, as it was assumed they would vote the same as their husbands. You could say that the Mayflower Compact represented baby steps toward democracy in the New World. Linda Lacour Hobar 8:49
Before I tell you about making landfall, let me introduce you to one of the heroes of the pilgrims. His name was Miles Standish. His wife was named Rose. Miles was a short, stout redhead with a fiery temper. Miles Standish met the Separatists back in Leiden. He never joined the Church of the Separatists, but he had great respect for these God-fearing people. The Separatists voted him in as the first captain of the colony. They knew that to tame the land they needed his bravery and expertise. Unfortunately, Myles had hostile encounters with the Native Americans that ended in bloodshed. The Native Americans quickly learned to leave the short redhead alone.
New Plymouth
Linda Lacour Hobar 9:33
After scouting the area for five weeks, Miles Standish and others found a place with a clearing, good water, and a high hill for scouting. The area had been home to a Native American tribe that had since died out. The pilgrims named their settlement New Plymouth after a city in England. The official date of their landing was December 26, 1620. There sits a rock at Plymouth today that marks the spot where the pilgrims supposedly stepped from their ship to the shore. All I can picture are the children hitting the beach and running after their long and dreary confinement. Legend says that a young girl named Mary Chilton was first to deboard the small boat that ferried the pilgrims from the Mayflower to the shore. We don’t know for sure, but I like the idea of an innocent girl stepping ashore to call it home. Linda Lacour Hobar 10:26
William Bradford describes the scene for us this way, and I quote, being thus arrived in a good harbor and brought safe to land, they fell upon their knees and blessed the God of heaven who had brought them from all the perils and miseries thereof again to set their feet on the firm and stable earth, their proper element. End quote. Linda Lacour Hobar 10:48
The pilgrims were hard workers. They immediately went about their chores of building, hunting, and gathering wood. The women had loads of foul laundry to wash, but even with all their hard work, the pilgrims’ first winter in Plymouth was miserable. Clothes froze on their bodies, food was scarce, and disease raged. The pilgrims called the winter of 1620 to 1621 the Great Sickness. Indeed, many were sick because they spent weeks sleeping in tight, germ-infested quarters on the Mayflower before their huts were ready. Linda Lacour Hobar 11:26
At one time only seven pilgrims were healthy enough to attend to all the others. One of the healthy pilgrims was Miles Standish. He cooked, nursed the sick, and did laundry. Despite the efforts of everyone, by springtime forty-two pilgrims were dead, including Rose Standish. This means that half the pilgrims perished their first winter in Plymouth. Linda Lacour Hobar 11:52
In mid-March of 1621, the pilgrims were startled to hear in broken English, welcome Englishman, welcome, Englishman. These words were spoken by a Native American named Samoset. According to the pilgrims, Samoset was a gift from God. He spoke some English and introduced them to two very important people. First, he brought them Squanto, a Native American who spoke almost perfect English. Second, Samoset brought them Chief Massasoit. Massasoit was a kind Native American chief who was visiting in the region. He was the leader of the Poconoket Indians who lived in southeastern Massachusetts. They were also called the Wampanoag, which means people of the early light. On the east coast of North America, they were the first people to see the sunrise each morning. Let’s turn our full attention now to Squanto, who played a significant role in early American history while traveling from the New World to the Old World multiple times.
The Travels of Squanto
Linda Lacour Hobar 13:01
The first historical reference to Squanto is found in 1605. That was a couple of years before Jamestown was founded by English settlers. As one story goes, a ship captain by the name of George Wymeth was sent to the New World under the leadership of Sir Ferdinando Gorgias. Captain Wymeth captured five Native Americans on his voyage to the New World. They were Manaida, Skidwarz, Nahanada, Asakumit, and Tisquantum. Although they may be difficult names for English speakers to pronounce, I like listing them out to remind us that these young men were not just part of a tale, they were real, and they were captive. The last one, Tisquantum, is the one who later became known as Squanto. He was probably about twenty the first time he was captured by Europeans. Linda Lacour Hobar 14:00
Captain Whitemouth promptly delivered his five captives to Ferdinando Gorgias in England. The Native Americans were used for promotional purposes and trained as guides. Supposedly, Gorgias treated the Indians well. Two were returned home on the next voyage back to North America. Squanto, however, was not one of them. He remained under the care of Gorgias for nine years in England. In that time, Squanto learned to speak very good English. It would affect the rest of his life. Linda Lacour Hobar 14:33
In 1614, Squanto met someone you likely know. It was John Smith, the captain who helped establish Jamestown. John Smith was recovering from wounds in England. He was always hoping to return to North America and made plans for it. He invited Squanto to go with him with a promise that he would be returned home. Linda Lacour Hobar 14:55
Now, you may know the reputation of John Smith. He wasn’t the most trustworthy guy. I don’t know if he ever planned on setting Squanto free or not, but this is what happened in the New World. Squanto and John Smith spent a lot of time together in the New England area, including the area of Squanto’s original home. Squanto continued to serve as an interpreter for Smith and helped him maneuver around his homeland. But at the end of the trip, John Smith’s associate captain, Thomas Hunt, lured Squanto and 20 of his tribesmen aboard his ship and then took off. Squanto was being kidnapped a second time, stolen from his homeland, and sent across the ocean. I can’t imagine how his heart sank when the wind caught the sails and swept him away again. Linda Lacour Hobar 15:47
Thomas Hunt wasn’t kind to his prisoners. He took his cargo of Indians to Spain with the intention of selling every one of them into slavery for 20 pounds apiece. His plan would have made him some extra money, except that some kindly monks found out about it. The monks intervened and took the Indians into their custody. Squanto spent about two years living with these monks in Spain. Linda Lacour Hobar 16:13
In 1616, Squanto was befriended by an Englishman who took him to London. For about a year, Squanto lived with Sir John Slaney, who happened to be the treasurer of the Newfoundland Company, a trading company to North America. It was beginning to look like Squanto might have a chance to get back to his home in North America. Linda Lacour Hobar 16:36
As hoped, Squanto was invited to accompany a ship that sailed to Newfoundland in 1617. At last, he was back on his home continent. But unexpectedly, Squanto was recognized by a sea captain who used to work for his old master, Ferdinando Gorges. The sea captain’s name was Thomas Dermer. Dermer wasn’t a cruel man, but he wrote to Gorgis back in England to say that he had found his Indian and asked what Gorgis would like him to do with the man. Apparently, Ferdinando Gorges was thrilled to hear of Squanto’s whereabouts and told Dermer to bring him back to England. And so he did. Linda Lacour Hobar 17:18
It is not clear whether Squanto returned to England by his own free will or not. If you remember, Ferdinando Gorges, his first master, had treated him well. Maybe Squanto wanted to go back. Maybe he didn’t. Regardless, if you add up the years, Squanto had spent more time in Europe than in North America. It is no wonder that the pilgrims later found his English to be nearly perfect. Linda Lacour Hobar 17:45
In 1619, Squanto was given another chance to cross the ocean and return home. Let’s see, in my count, he had already made the trip five times. This would be his sixth and last voyage across the Atlantic Ocean. This time he was traveling with Thomas Dermer, the captain who recognized him in Newfoundland. Squanto and Dermer were sent to scout the area of Plymouth, which happened to be Squanto’s original home. He was from the Pawtuxic tribe. It was the Pawtuxic who first occupied the hill in the clearing of Plymouth before the pilgrims arrived. Linda Lacour Hobar 18:23
What Squanto learned in 1619 was devastating. After 14 years away from his own people, he came home only to learn that every man, woman, and child of his tribe died or disappeared following a mysterious plague. One theory is that leptospirosis killed the Indians, which is a bacterial disease from animals. Whatever the illness that hit the area in and around 1617, it wiped out thousands of Native Americans in a few short years, including the Pawtexic. Oddly, the same plague never affected the Europeans. Linda Lacour Hobar 19:01
I don’t know exactly what Squanto felt, but if I found nobody at home, I think I would feel angry, empty, and lost. Squanto was the only pawtexic known to be alive. No aunts or uncles, no brothers or sisters, no parents or grandparents. If some had survived, they were assimilated into other tribes and lost all contact with Squanto. Linda Lacour Hobar 19:27
Do you remember Samos said? He was the Indian who spoke broken English to the pilgrims. He befriended Squanto and invited him to live among the Wampanoag. With few other choices, Squanto said yes. For a year he stayed among the Wampanoag Indians who were under Chief Massasoit. Linda Lacour Hobar 19:47
As a footnote to this paragraph, Somoset was not Wampanoag. He was of the Abenaki who inhabited Maine. However, he was visiting the Wampanoag when he invited Squanto to join them. Linda Lacour Hobar 20:01
Getting back to our story, you can probably connect the dots now to the story of the pilgrims. After Somoset met the friendly pilgrims, he introduced them to Squanto, who spoke the white man’s language better than he did. It must have been a delightful encounter on both sides, because once Squanto met the pilgrims, he never left them. Linda Lacour Hobar 20:24
Do you remember the first terrible winter for the pilgrims in 1620 to 1621? That’s when nearly half of them died from the Great Sickness. Well, it was in the spring of 1621 that Squanto came to join them. Squanto taught them a lot, like how to find eel and clams and how to sneak up on deer, turkey, and bear. He taught the pilgrim children where to find wild berries and nuts. It was probably something he grew up doing as an Indian boy. Linda Lacour Hobar 20:54
But probably the most famous gesture by Squanto was teaching the pilgrims how to improve their crops of corn, beans, and pumpkins. Squanto taught the settlers to fertilize the ground with fish. Yes, fish. Squanto showed them that every seed or kernel planted should be surrounded by three small alewives, which are tiny fish in the herring family. The decomposing fish nourish the ground and help the crops grow stronger. I loved this story as a kid.
The First Thanksgiving
Linda Lacour Hobar 21:26
Squanto’s tips and tricks would pay off, and the prayers of the pilgrims were answered. That fall in 1621, the pilgrims had an extremely bountiful harvest. Governor Bradford declared it a time of Thanksgiving. The feast lasted three days and included worship, Bible readings, and games. The pilgrims invited Chief Massasoit, who brought about 90 Native Americans with him to the first Thanksgiving. They in turn brought more deer to eat and affirmed their trust in one another. In fact, after getting to know the pilgrims, Chief Massasoit agreed to sign a peace treaty with them that lasted 50 years. Linda Lacour Hobar 22:12
Fortunately, we have written accounts of that first Thanksgiving, so we don’t have to use our imagination to picture the games and feasting. Edward Winslow wrote a letter to a friend in England describing the historic event. He wrote, and I quote: Linda Lacour Hobar 22:27
Our harvest being gotten in, our governor sent four men on fowling, that so we might rejoice together after we had gathered in the fruits of our labours. They four in one day killed as many fowl as served the company for almost a week, at which time, amongst our recreations, we exercised our arms, many of the Indians coming amongst us, and amongst the rest of their great king the Massasoit, with some ninety men, whom for three days we entertained and feasted. End Quote. Linda Lacour Hobar 23:01
I wish I could end the story here and say that all lived happily ever after. But that is not the case. The next winter and spring were terribly difficult. Once again the pilgrims were short of food, in part from a severe drought that hurt their crops. Ships from the New World arrived with hungry settlers and few supplies. There just wasn’t enough to go around. At one time each pilgrim was allotted no more than five kernels of corn to eat per day. Regardless, the pilgrims continued to pray and place their faith in God. They would survive to celebrate more thanksgivings, but it wasn’t without hardship. Linda Lacour Hobar 23:44
As for Squanto, in the fall of 1623, he fell ill with a high fever and nosebleed. He knew he was dying. Squanto asked William Bradford to pray for him that he would be taken to heaven by the god who the Europeans followed. He then gave his few belongings to the pilgrims. Squanto died at about age 38. William Bradford wrote a lot about how much Squanto had meant to them. I’ll end this long story of an exceptional friendship between two worlds with one of Bradford’s excerpts, and I quote: Linda Lacour Hobar 24:19
But Squanto continued with them and was their interpreter and was a special instrument sent of God for their good beyond their expectation. He directed them how to set their corn, where to take fish, and also was their pilot to bring them to unknown places for their profit, and never left them till he died. End Quote.Ron Hobar 24:41
Thank you for listening to the Mystery of History podcast with Linda Lacour Hobar. For more information on our curriculum or for additional resources like games, video lectures, and self-paced courses, visit themysteryofhistory.com, a one-stop shop for chronological, Christian, complete world history for all ages.
