Samoset Says Hello

The first famous English-speaking Native visitor to Plymouth was not Tisquantum.

It was Samoset, an Abenaki sachem from farther north who had learned some English through contact with fishermen.

In March 1621, Samoset entered Plymouth and greeted the colonists in English, startling them.

He returned later with Tisquantum and other Native men.

For the colonists, Tisquantum’s fluent English was extraordinary.

Bradford later described him as a “special instrument” for their good, language that reflected the governor’s belief that providence had placed Tisquantum in their path.

From Bradford’s perspective, Tisquantum’s presence could be understood as divine assistance.

From Tisquantum’s perspective, the path that produced his English had included abduction and the destruction of his home community.

Those two interpretations could not be more different.