The First Winter and Squanto's Corn
- Written
- events of the winter and spring of 1620–1621; written about 1630–1650
- Place
- New Plymouth (Patuxet)
- Language
- English
- Kind of source
- history
- Reading time
- 5 minutes
- Difficulty
- Moderate
- Intensity
- Medium
Northeast WoodlandsColonies and settlementsFood, farming and hungerEpidemics in the Americas after 1492
In the worst weeks of the first winter, only six or seven of the English at Plymouth were well enough to fetch wood, cook, and wash for the rest. That spring, a man who had been kidnapped from this very shore to be sold in Spain, and who had come home by way of London and Newfoundland, became their interpreter and showed them how to plant corn.
William Bradford sailed on the Mayflower in 1620 with a group of English Separatists, Protestants who had broken with the Church of England. Their pastor stayed behind in Leiden, in the Netherlands, with most of the congregation. The settlers began building at Plymouth, on the shore of Plymouth Bay, at the end of that year. Bradford was chosen governor in the spring of 1621, after the first governor died. He began writing this history about 1630 and kept at it until about 1650. The manuscript was first printed in full in 1856.
Bradford lived through this winter, though he came near death himself, and in spring he was still not recovered. He depended on interpreters such as Squanto. He says only that hardly anyone from Squanto's town was left alive. An epidemic had emptied much of this coast between about 1616 and 1619, while Squanto was away.
Bradford wrote as a believer who saw God's hand in the colony's survival, and as its leader looking back more than twenty years later. He gives the treaty from the English side; another early English account, Mourt's Relation, words two of its terms differently. He tells Squanto's story briefly, and as it served the colony.
Notice how the Wampanoag test the English before their leader comes. Watch the six terms of the treaty and ask who is bound by each.
The edited translation, in simplified modern English. Bracketed words were added for clarity; [...] marks a cut. Tap a note number to read the note.
But what was most sad and lamentable was that in two or three months half of their company died, especially in January and February, the depth of winter. They lacked houses and other comforts, and were infected with scurvy1 and other diseases, which this long voyage and their poor condition had brought upon them. So at that time sometimes two or three died in a day, so that of a hundred and some persons, scarcely fifty remained. And of these, in the time of worst distress, there were only six or seven healthy persons. To their great credit be it said, they spared no pains, night or day. With great toil and risk to their own health, they fetched wood for the sick, made them fires, cooked their food, made their beds, washed their loathsome clothes, and dressed and undressed them. In a word, they did all the humble and necessary tasks for them that dainty and queasy stomachs cannot bear to hear named. And they did all this willingly and cheerfully, without the least grudging, showing in this their true love for their friends and brothers. It was a rare example, and worthy to be remembered. Two of these seven were Mr. William Brewster, their reverend elder, and Myles Standish, their captain and military commander.2 I myself and many others were much indebted to them in our low and sick condition. And yet the Lord so upheld these persons that in this general calamity they were not at all infected with either sickness or lameness. And what I have said of these I may say of many others who died in this general visitation, and of others still living. While they had health, or indeed any strength left, they did not fail anyone who needed them. And I do not doubt that their reward is with the Lord.
[...] All this while the Indians came skulking about them, and would sometimes show themselves at a distance, but when anyone approached them, they would run away. And once they stole away their tools where they had been at work and had gone to dinner. But about March 163 a certain Indian came boldly among them and spoke to them in broken English, which they could well understand, though they marveled at it. At length they understood by talking with him that he was not from these parts, but belonged to the eastern parts,4 where some English ships came to fish. He was acquainted with them, and could name several of them by their names. Among them he had picked up his language. He became useful to them by telling them many things about the state of the country in the eastern parts where he lived, which was useful to them afterward. He told them also of the people here: their names, numbers, and strength, where they lived and how far from this place, and who was chief among them. His name was Samoset.5 He told them also of another Indian, whose name was Squanto,6 a native of this place, who had been in England and could speak better English than he could. After some time of welcome and gifts, he was sent off. A while after he came again, with five more, and they brought back all the tools that had been stolen before. They prepared the way for the coming of their great sachem, called Massasoit.7 He came about four or five days later with the chief of his friends and other attendants, and with Squanto. After a friendly welcome and some gifts given him, they made a peace with him (which has now lasted these twenty-four years)8 on these terms.
1. That neither he nor any of his people should injure or harm any of their people. 2. That if any of his people did any harm to any of theirs, he should send the offender, so that they might punish him. 3. That if anything were taken from any of theirs, he should have it returned, and they should do the same for his. 4. If anyone made unjust war on him, they would help him; if anyone made war on them, he should help them. 5. He should send word to his neighboring allies to inform them of this, so that they would not wrong them, but might likewise be included in the conditions of peace. 6. That when their men came to them, they should leave their bows and arrows behind them.
After these things he returned to his place, called Sowams,9 some forty miles from here. But Squanto stayed with them and was their interpreter, and he was a special instrument sent by God for their good, beyond their expectation. He showed them how to plant their corn,10 where to catch fish, and how to get other useful goods. He was also their guide, to bring them to unknown places for their profit, and he never left them till he died. He was a native of this place, and hardly anyone was left alive besides himself. He had been carried away with several others by one Hunt, a ship's master, who meant to sell them as slaves in Spain.11 But he got away to England, was taken in by a merchant in London, and was employed in Newfoundland and other parts. At last he was brought back here by one Mr. Dermer, a gentleman employed by Sir Ferdinando Gorges and others for exploration and other plans in these parts.
Notes
- Scurvy, a disease of long sea voyages, which came from a lack of fresh food on a diet of salted provisions. Bradford does not name the other diseases. back
- William Brewster was the congregation's elder; its pastor, John Robinson, had stayed in Leiden. Myles Standish was the colony's military captain. back
- March 16, 1620/21, in the Old Style calendar the English then used, ten days behind ours, with the year beginning on March 25; March 26, 1621, in ours. back
- The coast of Maine, where English and other European ships came to fish. back
- Samoset came from the coast of Maine near Monhegan Island and Pemaquid, and had learned some English from the fishermen there. back
- Tisquantum, called Squanto by the English, a native of Patuxet, the town that had stood where Plymouth now stood. back
- The great sachem (leader) of the Wampanoag, also known as Ousamequin. Some historians hold that Massasoit was his title, not his name. back
- Bradford wrote this about twenty-four years after 1621, in the mid-1640s. back
- Sowams, Massasoit's town, at present-day Barrington or Warren, Rhode Island; historians have disagreed on which. back
- Maize (Indian corn), which these English had not grown before. In April 1621 by Bradford's calendar (April 11 to May 10 in ours), Squanto showed them how to plant and tend it, with fish set in the ground. back
- In 1614 Thomas Hunt, master of an English ship, kidnapped about twenty-four Native people from this coast and took them to Málaga, Spain, to sell. Squanto came back with Thomas Dermer, an English explorer, in 1619. back
But that which was most sadd & lamentable was, that in 2. or 3. moneths time halfe of their company dyed, espetialy in Jan: & February, being ye depth of winter, and wanting houses & other comforts; being infected with ye scurvie & other diseases, which this long vioage & their inacomodate condition had brought upon them; so as ther dyed some times 2. or 3. of a day, in ye foresaid time; that of 100. & odd persons, scarce 50. remained.
But what was most sad and lamentable was that in two or three months half of their company died, especially in January and February, the depth of winter. They lacked houses and other comforts, and were infected with scurvy and other diseases, which this long voyage and their poor condition had brought upon them. So at that time sometimes two or three died in a day, so that of a hundred and some persons, scarcely fifty remained.
- Scurvy, a disease of long sea voyages, which came from a lack of fresh food on a diet of salted provisions. Bradford does not name the other diseases.
And of these in ye time of most distres, ther was but 6. or 7. sound persons, who, to their great comendations be it spoken, spared no pains, night nor day, but with abundance of toyle and hazard of their owne health, fetched them woode, made them fires, drest them meat, made their beads, washed their lothsome cloaths, cloathed & uncloathed them; in a word, did all ye homly & necessarie offices for them wch dainty & quesie stomacks cannot endure to hear named; and all this willingly & cherfully, without any grudging in ye least, shewing herein their true love unto their freinds & bretheren. A rare example & worthy to be remembred. Tow of these 7. were Mr. William Brewster, ther reverend Elder, & Myles Standish, ther Captein & military comander, unto whom my selfe, & many others, were much beholden in our low & sicke condition. And yet the Lord so upheld these persons, as in this generall calamity they were not at all infected either with sicknes, or lamnes. And what I have said of these, I may say of many others who dyed in this generall vissitation, & others yet living, that whilst they had health, yea, or any strength continuing, they were not wanting to any that had need of them. And I doute not but their recompence is with ye Lord.
And of these, in the time of worst distress, there were only six or seven healthy persons. To their great credit be it said, they spared no pains, night or day. With great toil and risk to their own health, they fetched wood for the sick, made them fires, cooked their food, made their beds, washed their loathsome clothes, and dressed and undressed them. In a word, they did all the humble and necessary tasks for them that dainty and queasy stomachs cannot bear to hear named. And they did all this willingly and cheerfully, without the least grudging, showing in this their true love for their friends and brothers. It was a rare example, and worthy to be remembered. Two of these seven were Mr. William Brewster, their reverend elder, and Myles Standish, their captain and military commander. I myself and many others were much indebted to them in our low and sick condition. And yet the Lord so upheld these persons that in this general calamity they were not at all infected with either sickness or lameness. And what I have said of these I may say of many others who died in this general visitation, and of others still living. While they had health, or indeed any strength left, they did not fail anyone who needed them. And I do not doubt that their reward is with the Lord.
- William Brewster was the congregation's elder; its pastor, John Robinson, had stayed in Leiden. Myles Standish was the colony's military captain.
Left out of this excerpt.
All this while ye Indians came skulking about them, and would sometimes show them selves aloofe of, but when any aproached near them, they would rune away. And once they stoale away their tools wher they had been at worke, & were gone to diner. But about ye 16. of March a certaine Indian came bouldly amongst them, and spoke to them in broken English, which they could well understand, but marvelled at it. At length they understood by discourse with him, that he was not of these parts, but belonged to ye eastrene parts, wher some English-ships came to fhish, with whom he was aquainted, & could name sundrie of them by their names, amongst whom he had gott his language.
All this while the Indians came skulking about them, and would sometimes show themselves at a distance, but when anyone approached them, they would run away. And once they stole away their tools where they had been at work and had gone to dinner. But about March 16 a certain Indian came boldly among them and spoke to them in broken English, which they could well understand, though they marveled at it. At length they understood by talking with him that he was not from these parts, but belonged to the eastern parts, where some English ships came to fish. He was acquainted with them, and could name several of them by their names. Among them he had picked up his language.
- March 16, 1620/21, in the Old Style calendar the English then used, ten days behind ours, with the year beginning on March 25; March 26, 1621, in ours.
- The coast of Maine, where English and other European ships came to fish.
He became proftable to them in aquainting them with many things concerning ye state of ye cuntry in ye east-parts wher he lived, which was afterwards profitable unto them; as also of ye people hear, of their names, number, & strength; of their situation & distance from this place, and who was cheefe amongst them. His name was Samaset; he tould them also of another Indian whos name was Squanto, a native of this place, who had been in England & could speake better English then him selfe.
He became useful to them by telling them many things about the state of the country in the eastern parts where he lived, which was useful to them afterward. He told them also of the people here: their names, numbers, and strength, where they lived and how far from this place, and who was chief among them. His name was Samoset. He told them also of another Indian, whose name was Squanto, a native of this place, who had been in England and could speak better English than he could.
- Samoset came from the coast of Maine near Monhegan Island and Pemaquid, and had learned some English from the fishermen there.
- Tisquantum, called Squanto by the English, a native of Patuxet, the town that had stood where Plymouth now stood.
Being, after some time of entertaininente & gifts, dismist, a while after he came againe, & 5. more with him, & they brought againe all ye tooles that were stolen away before, and made way for ye coming of their great Sachem, called Massasoyt; who, about 4. or 5. days after, came with the cheefe of his freinds & other attendance, with the aforesaid Squanto. With whom, after frendly entertainment, & some gifts given him, they made a peace with him (which hath now continued this 24. years) in these terms.
After some time of welcome and gifts, he was sent off. A while after he came again, with five more, and they brought back all the tools that had been stolen before. They prepared the way for the coming of their great sachem, called Massasoit. He came about four or five days later with the chief of his friends and other attendants, and with Squanto. After a friendly welcome and some gifts given him, they made a peace with him (which has now lasted these twenty-four years) on these terms.
- The great sachem (leader) of the Wampanoag, also known as Ousamequin. Some historians hold that Massasoit was his title, not his name.
- Bradford wrote this about twenty-four years after 1621, in the mid-1640s.
1. That neither he nor any of his, should injurie or doe hurte to any of their peopl. 2. That if any of his did any hurte to any of theirs, he should send ye offender, that they might punish him. 3. That if any thing were taken away from any of theirs, he should cause it to be restored; and they should doe ye like to his. 4. If any did unjustly warr against him, they would aide him; if any did warr against them, he should aide them. 5. He should send to his neighbours confederats, to certifie them of this, that they might not wrong them, but might be likewise comprised in ye conditions of peace. 6. That when ther men came to them, they should leave their bows & arrows behind them.
1. That neither he nor any of his people should injure or harm any of their people. 2. That if any of his people did any harm to any of theirs, he should send the offender, so that they might punish him. 3. That if anything were taken from any of theirs, he should have it returned, and they should do the same for his. 4. If anyone made unjust war on him, they would help him; if anyone made war on them, he should help them. 5. He should send word to his neighboring allies to inform them of this, so that they would not wrong them, but might likewise be included in the conditions of peace. 6. That when their men came to them, they should leave their bows and arrows behind them.
After these things he returned to his place caled Sowams, some 40. mile from this place, but Squanto contiũed with them, and was their interpreter, and was a spetiall instrument sent of God for their good beyond their expectation. He directed them how to set their corne, wher to take fish, and to procure other comodities, and was also their pilott to bring them to unknowne places for their profitt, and never left them till he dyed.
After these things he returned to his place, called Sowams, some forty miles from here. But Squanto stayed with them and was their interpreter, and he was a special instrument sent by God for their good, beyond their expectation. He showed them how to plant their corn, where to catch fish, and how to get other useful goods. He was also their guide, to bring them to unknown places for their profit, and he never left them till he died.
- Sowams, Massasoit's town, at present-day Barrington or Warren, Rhode Island; historians have disagreed on which.
- Maize (Indian corn), which these English had not grown before. In April 1621 by Bradford's calendar (April 11 to May 10 in ours), Squanto showed them how to plant and tend it, with fish set in the ground.
He was a native of this place, & scarce any left alive besids him selfe. He was caried away with diverce others by one Hunt, a mr. of a ship, who thought to sell them for slaves in Spaine; but he got away for England, and was entertained by a marchante in London, & imployed to New-found-land & other parts, & lastly brought hither into these parts by one Mr. Dermer, a gentle-man imployed by Sr. Ferdinando Gorges & others, for discovery, & other designes in these parts.
He was a native of this place, and hardly anyone was left alive besides himself. He had been carried away with several others by one Hunt, a ship's master, who meant to sell them as slaves in Spain. But he got away to England, was taken in by a merchant in London, and was employed in Newfoundland and other parts. At last he was brought back here by one Mr. Dermer, a gentleman employed by Sir Ferdinando Gorges and others for exploration and other plans in these parts.
- In 1614 Thomas Hunt, master of an English ship, kidnapped about twenty-four Native people from this coast and took them to Málaga, Spain, to sell. Squanto came back with Thomas Dermer, an English explorer, in 1619.
Page images of the original object or of the printed edition, from the libraries and archives that hold them. The pages shown are copied here where the holder marks them public domain; titles link to the holder's own viewer. Click a page to see it full size.
Bradford's History “Of Plimoth Plantation,” Boston 1898
Internet Archive (University of Toronto Libraries). pp. 111–116. Public domain (published 1898).
The printed edition our text follows. It also reproduces pages of the manuscript in facsimile.
Bradford wrote in English; this is the text of his manuscript history as printed by the Commonwealth of Massachusetts (Boston, 1898), pages 111–116. About 900 words, with one passage cut (marked [...]).
Spelling, capitals and punctuation are modernized and long sentences are split; Bradford's words and word order are kept. The abbreviations “ye” (the) and “wch” (which) are written out. A few words are given their modern equivalents: “homly … offices” (humble tasks), “dismist” (sent off), “entertainment” (welcome), “certifie” (inform), “comodities” (useful goods). His words “Indians” and “Sachem” are kept. His date is kept as he gave it, in the Old Style calendar, and a footnote gives it in ours.
- Original
- Text as printed in the named edition or on the object, read from page images. Edition: William Bradford, Bradford's History “Of Plimoth Plantation,” from the original manuscript (Boston: Wright & Potter, printers to the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, 1898), pp. 111–116. The text follows the Massachusetts Historical Society edition of 1856, compared word for word with the photographic facsimile of the manuscript (1896). Digital text: Internet Archive item historyofplimoth00braduoft (University of Toronto copy), OCR text, extracted by code and read against the page images. Bradford's text only.
- Editor’s review
- Not yet.
- Specialist review
- Not yet. Readings a specialist should confirm are listed for later review.
- Rights
- Original: public domain. Edition: public domain.
Sources for the notes
- Bradford, William. Bradford's History “Of Plimoth Plantation,” from the Original Manuscript. Boston: Wright & Potter, 1898. Internet Archive. https://archive.org/details/historyofplimoth00braduoft. Introduction and pp. 110–117.
- Bradford, William. History of Plymouth Plantation, 1620–1647. Edited by Worthington Chauncey Ford. Vol. 1. Boston: Massachusetts Historical Society, 1912. Internet Archive. https://archive.org/details/historyofplymout01brad. Introduction (on the years of writing) and pp. 193–206 and 221–224, with the editor's notes on the first sickness, Samoset, Massasoit, the treaty, Sowams, Squanto, Hunt, Dermer and the epidemic of 1616–1619.