When the Pilgrims Rescued Squanto

      Comments Off on When the Pilgrims Rescued Squanto

On August 14, 1621, Plymouth colonists embarked on a rescue mission to save Squanto after he had been taken prisoner by a sachem named Corbitant at the nearby village of Nemasket.

Corbitant, who was from a neighboring village called Mattapoisett, was visiting Nemasket in an attempt to gain more political power after the temporary capture of the Wampanoag’s king, Massasoit, by a rival tribe.

"The March of Miles Standish" lithograph by Joseph E Baker circa 1873

“The March of Miles Standish” lithograph by Joseph E Baker circa 1873

According to the book Mayflower: A Story of Courage, Squanto, who was living with the colonists at the time, went to Nemasket to spy on Corbitant, with his companion Hobbamock, at the request of William Bradford.

Bradford feared Corbitant was planning to break the alliance between the colonists and the Wampanoag and attack Plymouth Plantation.

Yet according to Bradford’s journal Of Plymouth Plantation, Bradford only states that Squanto and Hobbamock were in Nemasket “upon bussines amonge ye Indeans” and doesn’t mention any plans to spy on Corbitant.

Corbitant didn’t trust Squanto because of his friendship with the pilgrims and seized both Squanto and Hobbamock after they entered the village.

Hobbamock got away and ran back to Plymouth where he told Bradford of the attack, saying he feared Squanto was dead after he saw one of Corbitant’s men put a knife to his chest.

Bradford, according to his journal, Of Plymouth Plantation, met with the other colonists and decided to travel to Nemasket and rescue Squanto, if he was still alive, or avenge his death if he was not:

“Upon this ye Gove taking counsel, it was conceivd not fit to be borne; for if they should suffer their friends & messengers thus to be wronged, they should have none would cleave on to them, or give them any inteligence, or doe them serviss afterwards, but nexte they would fall upon them selves. Whereupon it was re-solved to send ye Captaine & 14 men well armed, and to goe & fall upon them in ye night; and if they found that Squanto was kild, to cut of Corbitants head, but not to hurt any but those that had a hand in it.”

Around midnight on August 14th, Captain Miles Standish and 14 men entered Corbitant’s wigwam at Nemasket but discovered he had gone back to his village.

Painting of Plymouth colony's military advisor, Miles Standish, circa 1885

Painting of Plymouth colony’s military advisor, Miles Standish, circa 1885

Three members of the tribe were injured trying to escape the wigwam and from them the colonists learned that Squanto was alive and well.

After reuniting with Squanto the next day, the colonists headed home to Plymouth along with three injured tribesmen, to dress their wounds.

The colonists’s bravery that night won them the respect of the Wampanoag. Corbitant later told the pilgrims he no longer wished them harm and peace between the two sides lasted another fifty years.

For more information on Squanto, check out this timeline of Squanto’s life.

Sources:
Philbrick; Nathaniel. Mayflower: A Story of Courage, Community, and War. Penguin Group, 2007
Morton, Nathaniel. New-England’s Memorial. Applewood Books, 1855
Bradford, William. Of Plymouth Plantation. Privately printed, 1856

About Rebecca Beatrice Brooks

Rebecca Beatrice Brooks is the author and publisher of the History of Massachusetts Blog. Rebecca is a freelance journalist and history lover who got her start in journalism working for small-town newspapers in Massachusetts and New Hampshire after she graduated from the University of New Hampshire with a B.A. in journalism. Visit this site's About page to find out more about Rebecca.