USA HISTORY

Detailed explanation-1: -Samoset (also Somerset, c. 1590 – c. 1653) was an Abenaki sagamore and the first Native American to make contact with the Pilgrims of Plymouth Colony . He startled the colonists on March 16, 1621, by walking into Plymouth Colony and greeting them in English, saying “Welcome, Englishmen."

Detailed explanation-2: -In summary, while not widely credited in history books for his role in helping the Pilgrims following the harsh winter of 1620/21, on 16 Mar 1621, our Council’s namesake, Samoset, an Abenaki sagamore, was the first Native American to contact the Pilgrims.

Detailed explanation-3: -Squanto and Samoset helped the Pilgrims by trading skins and food with them. Squanto also taught the Pilgrims how plant and harvest native crops. Both Squanto and Samoset spoke English. Samoset learned rudimentary English through his trading with fishermen off the New England coast.

Detailed explanation-4: -Though there are varying versions of Squanto’s story, historians seem to agree that prior to the pilgrims’ settling in 1620, Squanto was captured by English explorers in 1614 and sold into slavery in Europe. He spent a number of years in England where he learned English.

Detailed explanation-5: -So when the colonists landed at the abandoned Patuxet village where Plymouth now stands, it was empty because Hunt and other English had sowed disease and, as an American first act, enslaved the others. Nonetheless, shortly after they landed, they met Squanto-who greeted them, in English, by saying “Hello Englishmen.”