Staff Reports
It is uncommon in history for an individual who was born at such a great distance from the two main developments to ultimately serve as a link between them. Squanto, the Pawtuxet Indian renowned for his participation in the inaugural Thanksgiving in 1621, not only encountered the tumultuous eras that followed the Protestant Reformation and the discovery of the New World, but also successfully overcame them through his conversion to Christianity.
How the Native American Who Made Thanksgiving Possible Accepted Jesus Christ as His Savior https://t.co/IM8tgb83l1
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From a European standpoint, Squanto resided during a period characterized by two crucial occurrences: the prodigious discovery of the New World and the Protestant Reformation. Given that an individual of European descent born during the voyage of Christopher Columbus in 1492 would have turned 25 years old by 1517, the year Martin Luther released his 95 Theses, these two developments were intricately intertwined.
Squanto's early years are largely obscured by legend, but it is possible that he was abducted in 1605 and subsequently transported to England for a duration. However, this particular account of his is contested by some historians. Regardless, it is indisputable that Englishmen abducted Squanto from Jamestown in 1614 and transported him to Spain, where he was subsequently sold into servitude. Because he was enslaved for six weeks, this traumatic experience had a profound impact on Squanto's spiritual development. Amidst this period of obscurity, Squanto, whose cultural upbringing placed significant emphasis on the cyclical nature of death and rebirth, might have experienced an unusual receptiveness towards the Christian doctrine.
When Spanish priests purchased Squanto's freedom in order to extricate him from the slave market, his fortunes began to improve. Afterwards, he was converted to the Catholic faith. Although specifics are scanty, it is known that Squanto arrived in England by 1617, where he labored as a translator and acquired proficiency in the language. Upon his return to North America in 1619, he discovered his village to be completely destroyed by disease.
Squanto encountered the Pilgrims, a group of radical English Protestants seeking a new existence in the New World, while in this devastated state. The Pilgrims, who associated themselves with Congregationalists, encountered malnutrition and unreadiness in their unfamiliar surroundings. During that period, Squanto, who was a member of the Wampanoag tribe, exhibited benevolence by extending his assistance to the Pilgrims and assisting them in the establishment of their settlement while imparting vital survival techniques.
This act of magnanimity and reconciliation exemplified Squanto's practical application of his Christian faith. Notwithstanding the adversities he encountered at the hands of the English colonizers, Squanto made the decision to adopt the teachings of Christ rather than pursue vengeance. His endeavors were critical in ensuring the Pilgrims' survival, and Governor William Bradford went so far as to characterize him as "an extraordinary instrument sent by God for their exceedingly good."
Unfortunately, Squanto's existence was abruptly terminated in 1622 due to an illness-related demise. Bradford asserts that Squanto's final desire was to be interred by the governor in the presence of "the Englishmen's God in Heaven." The lasting impact of Squanto's legacy serves as evidence of how individual efforts can triumph over animosity and promote compassion.
Amidst an era characterized by religious strife and colonization, the narrative of Squanto, a Native American who converted to Christianity and offered assistance to those who had inflicted him suffering, stands as a compelling illustration of benevolence and absolution. It serves as a reminder that genuine transformation commences at the level of the individual and not from within institutions.
