Governor William Bradford

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Governor William Bradford called him "a special instrument sent of God."


Of 102 Pilgrims that landed November 1620, only half survived till spring - then appeared Squanto.

William Bradford wrote: "Squanto was a native of these parts...one of the few survivors of the plague...

He was carried away with others by one Hunt, a captain of a ship, who intended to sell them for slaves in Spain; but he got away for England, and was received by a merchant in London, employed in Newfoundland... and lastly brought into these parts by a Captain Dermer."

Bradford continued "Squanto stayed with them and was their interpreter...

He showed them how to plant corn, where to take fish and other commodities, and guided them to unknown places....Nor was there a man among them who had ever seen a beaver skin till they were instructed by Squanto."

Bradford wrote that in LATE SEPTEMBER 1622: 

"Winds drove their boat in...they could not get round the shoals of Cape Cod...so they put into Manamoick Bay...Here Squanto fell ill of Indian fever, bleeding much at the nose, which the Indians take for a symptom of death...

He begged the Governor to pray for him, that he might go to the Englishmen's God in Heaven...

His death was a great loss."

 
 
This is a great story for our children.  So much is written about how badly we treated the Indians and how awful we were to them.  This story is one of mutual trust and respect.  I hope this Thanksgiving you will remind your children that Americans and Indians did have good history as well as bad.  Since I have a heritage of Native Indian blood...I am grateful for this type of history.
 
God loves you,
 
Debbie