.htmbrp {color: #333333; text-decoration: none; font-family: Verdana, Arial, Helv, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size : 11px;}.htmbrp:link {color: #0000ff; text-decoration: none; font-family: Verdana, Arial, Helv, Helvetica, sans-serif}.htmbrp:visited {color: #800080;}.htmbrp:hover, .htmbrp:active {text-decoration: underline; }.htdirp { font-size : 12px; font-family: Verdana, Arial, Helv, Helvetica, sans-serif; color: #333333;}.htdira:link { color: #3333CC; }.htdira:visited { color: #990099; }.htdira:hover { color: #0066FF; }.htdirh1 { font-size : 20px; font-family: Verdana, Arial, Helv, Helvetica, sans-serif; color: #333333; font-weight: bold}/* CSS for aol hat - to hide nav use header_nonav.css or use header_nohat.css to hide completely */div#aol_hat {min-width: 728px; font-size:11px; font-weight:bold; z-index:200; height:30px; margin-bottom:8px; background-color:#CFD9E3;}div#aol_hat form {margin:0; }div#aol_hat ul {float:left; padding:4px 0 0 2px; height:16px; margin:0;}div#aol_hat ul li {padding:0 5px 0 0 !important; border-right:solid 1px #2864B4; line-height:11px; display:inline;}div#aol_hat ul li a {height:12px; display:inline; padding-left:5px; }div#aol_hat_form {padding-top:7px; _padding-top:3px; font-weight:normal; font-size:10px;}div#aol_hat_form input.aol_hat_button {font-size:11px; margin-top:-2px; _margin-top:0px;}div#aol_hat_form input.aol_hat_search {margin-top:-2px; _margin-top:0px; }div#aol_hat ul {padding-top:9px;}#aol_hat ul li.aol_hat_last {border:none;}#aol_hat a {color:#2864B4; background-image:none; text-decoration:none;}#aol_hat a:hover {text-decoration: underline;}#aol_hat div div {height:20px; }#aol_hat_sns div {display:inline;}#aol_hat_sns {width:auto; float:right; height:16px; text-align:right; margin:0 8px 0 0; padding:8px 0 0 0; _padding:7px 0 0 0;}#aol_hat_sns a {text-decoration:none;}#aol_hat_form {width: 300px; float:left; padding:0 0 0 12px; color:#666666;}#aol_hat input.aol_hat_search {width: 118px; height:21px; border:solid 1px #56ba24; vertical-align: middle; margin-right: 2px;}#aol_hat input.aol_hat_button {-moz-border-radius:2.5px; border-radius:2.5px; cursor:pointer; width:59px; height:21px; border:solid 1px #58B926; background-color: #D4F4C5; filter:progid:DXImageTransform.Microsoft.Gradient(gradientType=0,startColorStr=#FBFEF9,endColorStr=#BDEEA6); vertical-align: middle; font: 1.0em Tahoma,Arial,Sans-Serif;}#aol_hat input.aol_hat_button:hover {background-color:#83E839; filter:progid:filter:progid:DXImageTransform.Microsoft.Gradient(gradientType=0,startColorStr=#F9FEF7,endColorStr=#7BED46);}#aol_hat input.aol_hat_button:active {background-color:#C6FFA9; filter:progid:DXImageTransform.Microsoft.Gradient(gradientType=0,startColorStr=#99E576,endColorStr=#F5FCF1);}#content {width:auto;}About the Mayflower Web Page if (navigator.userAgent.indexOf("AOL") == -1) { var sitedomain="hometown"; var siteState = "OrigUrl=" + location.href; var _sns_hostname_="my.screenname.aol.com"; // var _sns_hostname_ = "tweb33.web.aol.com"; // var _sns_hostport_ = "8000"; // var _sns_hostport_ssl_="8443"; document.write(''); _109778(); document.write('');} htmlAdWH('93212816', '728', '90');  Main _10423(); _11385(); About the Mayflower Web Page A Factual Rebuttal to a Popular Thanksgiving Lesson Plan: The Fourth World Documentation Project From the New York Times, 26 November 1998: One of his pages, Message to Teachers, refutes much of the information in a contemporary school lesson plan. "I think he has done his homework," said James W. Baker, senior historian at the Plimoth Plantation Museum. Mr. Baker also said he agreed with Mr. Johnson about the lesson plan: "Boy, is it sloppy. It's got all sorts of made-up facts." The author of the "Fourth World Documentation Project" lesson plan onThanksgiving, published all over the internet as well as distributed in printedform, claims to have a strong background in history. But nearly everysentence of the entire lesson plan has a significant factual error, or issimply story-telling (making up stories and details to fit within a set frameworkof given historical facts). It is my purpose here to correct some of the more significant factual errorsmade throughout this lesson plan, which purports to be a "kind and gentlea balance of historic truth and positive inspiration", but which clearlyfails in the "historic truth" department. Please be aware that I amonly pointing out the most blatant errors, there are many other errors whichI have not bothered to comment upon.I will simply go down the lesson plan, pointing out the errors as I go. Quotes from the lesson plan will be in green. My factual correctionsare given in black. The primary sources (and quotes from thosesources) to back up my corrections are given in blue. "In 1605, fifteen years before the Pilgrims came,Squanto went to England with a friendly English explorer named JohnWeymouth." First off, the name of the explorer wasGeorge Weymouth, not John Weymouth. Source: A True Relation of the Most Prosperous Voyage Made this PresentYear 1605 by Captain George Weymouth, by James Rosier(London, 1605).Second, Captain George Weymouth was far from friendly, and he brutally kidnappedfive Indians from the New England coastline. Source: A True Relation of the Most ProsperousVoyage Made this Present Year 1605 by Captain George Weymouth, by JamesRosier (London, 1605) states: "we used little delay, but suddenly laid handsupon them. And it was as much as five or six of us could do to getthem . . . for they were strong and so naked as our best hold was by theirlong hair on their heads." Source: A Brief Relation of the Discovery andPlantation of New England, by Sir Ferdinando Gorges (London, 1658) states:"But falling short of his [Weymouth's] course, happened into a river on thecoast of America called Pemmaquid, from whence he brought five of the Natives,three of whose names were Manida, Skettwarroes, and Tisquantum.It is frankly amazing that this lesson plan, written by a teacher and historianwith Native American ancestry, and published by the Office of Multiculturaland Equity Education, should call Weymouth a friendly explorer! They of all people should know better. Captain Weymouth is infact one of the first kidnappers of Native Americans in England's history.There is some debate as to whether or not Weymouth actually did captureTisquantum, or whether he was captured for the first time in 1614 by ThomasHunt. But that historical debate is better saved for a different forum. Squanto came back to New England with Captain Weymouth.Squanto did not return to New England with Captain Weymouth. Insteadhe was turned over to Sir Ferdinando Gorges of the Plymouth Company, whosent him to America on a New England mapping expedition led by Captain JohnSmith (of Pocahontas fame). Source: A Brief Narrationof the Originall Undertakings of the Advancement of Plantations Into theParts of America, by Sir Ferdinando Gorges (London, 1658) states: "Butthis Savage Tisquantum, being at the time in the Newfound land with CaptainMason, . . . Master Darmer who was there also, and sometimes before employedas we have said by us, together with Captain John Smith . . ."The Generall Historie of Virginia, New England, andthe Summer Isles, by Captain John Smith (London, 1624) states: "The mainassistance next to God I had to this small number, was my acquaintance amongstthe savages, especially with Tahanedo, one of their greatest lords, who hadlived long in England (and another called Tantum [thought to be a shortendform of Tisquantum] carried with me from England, and set on shore at CapeCod)." Later Squanto was captured by a British slaver whoraided the village . . . No British "slaver" ever raided the village of Squanto to kidnap Indians. Squanto was kidnapped by Captain Thomas Hunt, an associate CaptainJohn Smith left behind to continue trading with the Indians after their mappingexpedition in 1614. Hunt betrayed John Smith, and kidnapped 27 Indianswho had been lured aboard his ship to trade beaver skins (somecontemporary sources say 24 were kidnapped, others say 27, but the exactnumber is not relavent to this discussion). TheGenerall Historie of Virginia, New England, and the Summer Isles, byCaptain John Smith (London, 1624). Deposition ofPhineas Pratt, 1662, Plymouth Colony Court Records. CaptainHunt was so totally despised by the English for this act of treachery (hejeopardized English trading relations with the Indians), his sailing careerwas over.. . . and sold Squanto to the Spanish in the CaribbeanIslands.Squanto was not sold to the Spanish in the Caribbean Islands. He andthe other kidnapped Indians were taken directly to Malaga, Spain and soldthere.Deposition of Phineas Pratt, 1662, Plymouth ColonyCourt Records states: ". . . for an Indian called Tisquantum came tothem and spoke English . . . He said that an Englishman called Capt. Huntcame into the harbor pretending trade for beaver and stole 24 men and theirbeaver and carried and sold them in Spain."A Brief Narration of the Originall Undertakings ofthe Advancement of Plantations Into the Parts of America, by Sir FerdinandoGorges, London 1658 states: " . . . there was one of my Savages [Tisquantum]sent into those parts brought from Malaga [Spain] in a ship of Bristol .. ."Of Plymouth Plantation, by William Bradford, written1630-1654 states: "He was carried away with divers others by one Hunt, amaster of a ship, who thought to sell them for slaves in Spain."The General History of New England, by CaptainJohn Smith (London, 1624) states: "But one Thomas Hunt the Master of thisship (when I was gone) thinking to prevent that intent I had to make therea Plantation . . . betrayed four and twenty of those poor salvages aboardhis ship: and most dishonestly, and inhumanely, for their kind usage of meand all our men, carried them with him to Maliga, and there for a littleprivate gain sold those silly salvages for rials of eight; but this wildact kept him ever after from any more employment in those parts." Squanto then found Captain Weymouth, who paid hisway back to his homeland. There is no evidence that Squanto ever met up again with Captain Weymouth. Squanto boarded an English ship from Bristol that happened to be inMalaga, Spain, and it took him to Newfoundland. Thomas Dermer--a captainthat had been on John Smith's mapping expedition--recognized Squanto andwrote a letter to Sir Ferdinando Gorges in 1618 saying he had found "hisIndian", and requested to know what he should do with him. Gorges requestedDermer to bring Tisquantum to England and they would discuss their explorationoptions. Source: A Brief Narration of the OriginallUndertakings of the Advancement of Plantations into the parts of America,by Sir Ferdinando Gorges (London, 1658) states: "About this time I receivedletters from Captain Dermer out of Newfoundland, giving me to understandthat there was one of my Savages sent into those parts brought from Malagain a ship of Bristol, acquainting me with the means which I might recoverhim". While in England, Squanto lived for a time with John Slainey, treasurer ofthe Newfoundland Company, and associate of Sir Ferdinando Gorges. Source: Mourt's Relation: A Journal of the Pilgrimsat Plymouth, by William Bradford and Edward Winslow (London, 1622) states:"Squanto, the only native of Patuxet, where we now inhabit, who was one ofthe twenty captives that by Hunt were carried away, and had been in England,and dwelt in Cornhill with Master John Slainie, a merchant, . . . ". Gorges decided to send the two on an exploring mission to New England, whereDermer was to release Squanto to his homeland at the conclusion. Source: Letter from Thomas Dermer to Samuel Purchas,published in Purchas His Pilgrimmes, by Samuel Purchas (London, 1625). A Brief Relation of the Discovery and Plantation of New England,by Sir Ferdinando Gorges (London, 1622). In England Squanto met Samoset of the Wabanake (WabNAH key) Tribe, who had also left his native home with an Englishexplorer.There is no evidence that Samoset was ever in England. William Bradfordspecifically states on two separate occasions that Samoset learned his Englishfrom fishermen who came each year to fish off the coast of Maine, where Samosetlived. Source: Of Plymouth Plantation, by William Bradford(written 1630-1654) states: "he [Samoset] was not of these parts, but belongedto the eastern parts where some English ships came to fish, with whom hewas acquainted and could name sundry of them by their names, amongst whomhe had got his language." Mourt's Relation: A Journal of the Pilgrims atPlymouth, by William Bradford and Edward Winslow (London, 1622) states:"He [Samoset] saluted us in England and bade us welcome, for he had learnedsome broken English among the Englishmen that came to fish at Monchiggon[Monhegan Island, Maine], . . . He said he was not of these parts, but ofMorattiggon, and one of the sagamores or lords thereof, and had been eightmonths in these parts, it lying hence a day's sail with great wind, and fivedays by land." They both returned together in 1620.Squanto and Captain Dermer did not return in 1620, they returned in 1618. Sources: Letter of Thomas Dermer to WilliamBradford, republished in Of Plymouth Plantation, by William Bradford(written 1630-1654). Letter of Thomas Dermer to Samuel Purchas, republishedin Purchas his Pilgrims, by Samuel Purchas, book IV, page 1778. One year later, in the spring, Squanto and Samosetwere hunting along the beach near Patuxet. They were startled to see peoplefrom England in their deserted village. For several days, they stayed nearbyobserving the newcomers. Finally they decided to approach them. Samoset walkedinto the village and said "welcome," Squanto soon joined him. The Pilgrimswere very surprised to meet two Indians who spoke English. When Samoset first met the Pilgrims on March 16, he was alone. Squantowas not introduced to the Pilgrims until a full week later on March 22. The above paragraph is a complete work of fiction.Source: Of Plymouth Plantation, by William Bradford(written 1630-1654) states: "But about the 16th of March, a certain Indiancame boldy amongst them and spoke to them in broken English, which they wouldwell understand but marveled at it . . . his name was Samoset. He toldthem also of another Indian named Squanto, a native of this place, who hadbeen in England and could speak better English than himself." Mourt's Relation: A Journal of the Pilgrims atPlymouth (London, 1622) states: "Friday, the 16th . . . He very boldlycame all alone and along the houses straight to the rendezvous, where weintercepted him . . . Thursday, the 22nd of March, was a very fair warm day. About noon we met again about our public business, but we had scarcebeen an hour together, but Samoset came again, and Squanto, the only nativeof Patuxet, where we now inhabit, . . ." He taught them how to . . . build Indian-style houses.. . . They were living comfortably in their Indian-style wigwams . . .While Squanto no doubt taught the Pilgrims many things, housing was certainlynot one of them. The Pilgrims were constructing their personal dwellingslong before they met Samoset and Squanto in late March 1621. The Pilgrimsdwellings were simply modeled on English peasant dwellings, but made withNew World materials. . . . and had also managed to build one European-stylebuilding out of squared logs. This was their church. This was their meetinghouse, and not specifically a church. The Pilgrimsnever built a church, and opposed the Catholic idea that a church buildingwas somehow a holy place. The Pilgrims did hold Sunday services inthe meetinghouse, but this building was also the center of secular, governmentaland judicial activities as well (i.e. court trials, town meetings, etc.) The Pilgrims decided to have a thanksgiving feastto celebrate their good fortune. They had observed thanksgiving feastsin November as religious obligations in England for many years before comingto the New World. The "thanksgiving feasts" in England generally occurred on September 29,not in November, and the Pilgrims would not have observed them because theywere Catholic holidays. The Pilgrims did not observe religious holidaysin England, and that is one of the reasons they fled to Holland in the firstplace--the English were trying to force holidays and ceremonies on the Pilgrimswho opposed them. Source: The Works of JohnRobinson [the Pilgrim's pastor]. The Pilgrims did not evencelebrate Christmas or Easter.The Pilgrims "First Thanksgiving" occured sometime in October, and was nota religious holiday or observance, but rather more like a fair or publicfestival. Source: Of Plymouth Plantation,by William Bradford (written 1630-1654). Captain Miles Standish, the leader of the Pilgrims,invited Squanto, Samoset, Massasoit (the leader of the Wampanoags), and theirimmediate families to join them for a celebration, but they had no idea howbig Indian families could be. Since Squanto already lived in the Plymouth Colony, there would have beenno point in inviting him. Samoset was no doubt long gone, returnedto his tribe in southern Maine--there is no mention of Samoset in any Pilgrimwritings after March 1621. Massasoit was invited (although there isno evidence to suggest Standish was the one who made the invitation, thatis just more fictional writing). Massasoit brought with him ninety "men". Source: Mourt's Relation: A Journal ofthe Pilgrims at Plymouth (London, 1622), in a letter written by EdwardWinslow: "Our harvest being gotten in, our governor sent four men on fowling,that so we might after a special manner rejoice together after we had gatheredthe fruits of our labors . . . many of the Indians coming amongst us,and among the rest their greatest king Massasoit, with some ninety men, whomfor three days we entertained and feasted, and they went out and killed fivedeer, which they brought to the plantation and bestowed on our governor,and upon the captain [Myles Standish] and others." The relationship deteriorated and within a few yearsthe children of the people who ate together at the first Thanksgiving werekilling one another in what came to be called King Phillip's War. "A few years" is quite an understatement when you subtract 1676 (King Philip'sWar) from 1621 ("first Thanksgiving") and get fifty-five years of peace betweenthe Pilgrims and Wampanoag! From the "How to Avoid Old Stereotypes" section:Squanto and Samoset spoke excellent English.Politically correct is not always factually correct. Samoset spokebroken English. Source: Mourt's Relation:A Journal of the Pilgrims at Plymouth (London, 1622) states: "He [Samoset]salauted us in English, and bade us welcome, for he had learned some brokenEnglish among the Englishmen that came to fish at Monchiggon."The "old stereotype" here should be that speaking broken English shows alack of intelligence. This is, of course, not true. Speakingbroken English is simply a sign that Samoset had not been around Englishlong enough to learn the language. Samoset knew a lot more Englishthan the Pilgrims knew of his Algonkian language. MayflowerWeb Pages. Caleb Johnson © 1998 |
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