The (Almost) Forgotten Hero of the Mayflower Pilgrims
We rarely hear about him anymore. I don't know why that is.
His name was Squanto. He was about 12 years old in 1608 when he and some of his friends, all from the Patuxet Indian tribe in Massachusetts, were fishing and exploring along the coast.
Suddenly their view was obstructed by a huge ship that sailed in. The boys thought it might be traders, who had come to that area occasionally. They were excited and raced down to see what the traders had brought.
At first the strangers were friendly, but then they suddenly attacked the boys, tying them and dragging them to their giant ship and then throwing them into the dark hold beneath the deck, where they stayed for several weeks as the ship headed back to Spain.
The men were slave traders, who kidnapped and transported young Indians boys back to Spain to be sold into slavery. It was a cruel and terrifying life, and Squanto watched as his friends were auctioned off to the jeering crowd.
But God had a different plan for Squanto. On the dock where the boys were being auctioned off there was a group of men standing apart. They were monks, who served God.
When Squanto was pushed forward to be sold, one of the monks held up a small bag of heavy coins and signaled for the lad to be brought to him. The monks took him with them, fed him and treated him kindly, and taught him that he could trust God. "God will take care of you," they told him.
The monks knew Squanto missed his family and agreed to find him a way to get back to his home. But they needed to get him to England, where trading sips sometimes sailed to that area. They secured him passage to London, England.
So about 5 years after Squanto arrived in Spain he embraced the monks, said goodbye, and set sail for London.
The monks had sent Squanto to the home of a godly merchant, who welcomed him into his home, taught him English and promised to find him transportation back to his family in North America. But it would take a while to arrange this, he told Squanto.
And it did take a whole - in fact it was 5 more years before it could be arranged, but finally in about 1618, Squanto, now about 22 years old, set sail to go back to his home!
The journey took many days, but finally, he heard the call, "Land ho!" and Squanto went ashore. He knew exactly where he was and headed home! How surprised his family would be to see him!
But was he neared his village, he knew something was wrong. No one was around. The fields were bare and no one came out to greet him.
He walked to a neighboring tribe some miles away and learned the terrible news. While he was gone, an illness had struck his village and all became sick. No one survived!
Squanto stayed with this neighboring tribe for a time, and then went to live in the woods by himself. Then one day a tribesman, named Samoset, from another village, came to visit him, and told him an amazing story: The year before, a shipload of families had come and settled in Patuxet village - in the very place where Squanto had lived as a boy. They were from across the great ocean and were strangers. Samoset urged Squanto go meet them, and he agreed.
When Squanto arrived, imagine his shock - they were English people! They spoke and dressed just like those who had been so kind to him in London. And they were just as shocked to see the young Indian coming toward them and greeting them in English!
He told his new friends all about his life, how the monks had saved him from slavery, how the English had helped him get back home. And the new settlers explained that they too, were looking for a home! And they described how hard the last year had been for them - poor shelters, little food and disease...and that about one half of their group had died!
William Bradford, the governor, spoke, saying, "It is like the story of Joseph from our sacred Scriptures.
Like you, Joseph was also taken from his home and sold as a slave. But God had a plan for him. Through Joseph, God was able o save many people from starving. What man had intended for evil, God worked out for good. Perhaps God has sent you to be our Joseph," he finished.
And that's what happened. In the weeks that followed, Squanto rejoiced to see his abandoned village filled with people again.
The Pilgrims worked hard to learn ways to live in their new home. Squanto showed them how to plant corn by burying three kernels along with a fish for fertilizer. He taught them how to find and catch eels in the muddy streams. and he showed them the best places to look for lobsters among the sea rocks.
When fall came, the Pilgrims decided to set aside a time to thank God for His merciful blessings. They invited Squanto and the other braves from Samoset's tribe to join them.
When the great day came, ninety warriors appeared from the forest, carrying deer, wild turkeys, and lots of fresh vegetables. This would be a great feast!
Governor Bradford prayed, "Thank you, Lord, for sending Squanto to us. We know Your hand has been on him through all his trials and that You prepared him to be our guide and friend in our time of need. Squanto is Your living answer to our tears and prayers."
And in his heart, Squanto thanked God for the pilgrims, for they had shown him that God had used him in His great plan, just as the Spanish monks had said so many years ago.
And that is the story of our first Thanksgiving!
[This material is part of Eric Metaxas' book, Squanto and the Miracle of Thanksgiving. Be sure to get a copy for your family.]
Here is Eric Metaxas' last paragraph:
Hallelujah! Who but the glorious God of heaven could so miraculously weave together the wandering lives of a lonely Patuxet brave and a struggling band of English Pilgrims in such a way that would bless the world world for centuries to come?
Yes, who but our God could (or would) do that!!!!!
