How did Squanto help the pilgrims?

Answer 1

Squanto was trained to be a guide and interpreter for the sea captains who were exploring the New England coasts. It is possible Squanto accompanied some of the expeditions to New England prior to 1614, but we have no specific references. Squanto met Capt. John Smith through some uncertain connections (probably contacts with the Newfoundland Company or the Plymouth Company for New England), and was promised a return to his people at Pautuxet (now Plymouth, MA). Two ships left the Downs in March of 1614 with Capt. Smith in charge of one ship, and Capt. Thomas Hunt in command of the other. Squanto was a passenger on Smith's ship. While the men were fishing, Smith began to explore and map the region. Smith then explored southward where he visited the Cape Cod region and landed Squanto at Patuxet which was his native home. Then Smith turned northeastward, intent on completing a cargo. Capt. Hunt remained behind to cure a load of dried fish. He was under instructions to sail for England as soon as he had loaded his cargo of fish and traded for a cargo of beaver skins with the Indians. Apparently, Squanto had remained with Hunt as an interpreter. Through the promise of trade, Hunt lured a number of Indians aboard and they were promptly captured and bound. Squanto was among the twenty Patuxets kidnapped. Squanto, himself, confirmed the fact that he was one of several Indians who were kidnapped by Capt. Thomas Hunt and sold into slavery in the year 1614. The story is also confirmed by statements found in Sir Ferdinando Gorges' report: A Brief Relation of the Discovery and Planatation of New England. Seven of the Nauset were also kidnapped, thus incensing the warlike Nauset tribe of Cape Cod. The captives were carried off to Malaga, Spain, where Hunt tried to sell them as slaves at 20 pounds each. Some of the local monks discovered what was happening and took the remaining Indians from Hunt in order "to instruct them in the Christian faith." thus "disappointing this unworthy fellow of the hopes of gain he conceived to make by this new and devilish plot." Apparently, Squanto had lived with the monks a year or two when he attached himself to an Englishman who was traveling back to Bristol or London. While in London, Squanto met and lived with Sir John Slaney in Cornhill. Sir John Slaney was a wealthy merchant and Treasurer of the Newfoundland Company. In 1617 John Slaney sent Squanto to Newfoundland, probably as an interpreter and guide on one of the expeditions. There he was recognized by Capt. Thomas Dermer who had worked for Sir Ferdinando Gorges in the past. Capt. Dermer wrote a letter to Gorges, stating he had found "his Indian" in Newfoundland and asked what he should do with him. The reply must have been a request for Squanto's return because Dermer took Squanto back to England. Once again, Sir Ferdinando Gorges organized an expedition to explore the Natural Resources of New England. On that voyage Capt. Dermer and Squanto were to explore the natural resources of New England and to re-initiate trade with the Indians along that coast. At the end of this expedition, Squanto was to be returned to his home at Patuxet. In 1619 Squanto sailed with Capt. Dermer, landing at Monhegan, one of the more important fishing stations in Maine waters. There, Samoset was taken on board. Together they set sail southward and dropped anchor in Plymouth Harbor about one year before the Pilgrims arrived. Squanto found that every man, woman and child at his home of Patuxet had been wiped out by the plague since he had visited in 1614. Squanto was the only Patuxet known to be alive.

Answer 2

Squanto, a Native American from the Patuxet tribe, helped the Pilgrims by teaching them how to cultivate corn, fish, and trap beavers. He also acted as an interpreter between the Pilgrims and other Native American tribes, aiding in establishing peaceful relations and trade.