The Real Story of Plymouth

For months during the long winter of 1620-21, the Wampanoag people watched uneasily as the strangers settled on their land. First, these white people dug into some graves, probably looking for objects of value. Then they unearthed a big stockpile of corn that was being saved for planting in the spring. Finally, they began building a settlement on the former site of an Indigenous village on the coast of what is now Massachusetts. The village was empty because its inhabitants had recently been wiped out by a disease brought by people on a previous European ship.

The Wampanoag name for that place was Patuxet. The newcomers, who were from England, called it Plymouth. They’re known to history as the Pilgrims. Their journey on a ship called the Mayflower, their settlement in today’s New England, and their so-called “first Thanksgiving” are part of one of the most famous legends in American history.

It was the long winter of 1620-21. For months, the Wampanoag people watched as the strangers settled on their land. It made them uneasy. First, these white people turned over some graves, probably looking for valuable objects. Then they dug up a big stash of corn that was being saved for planting in the spring. Finally, they began building a settlement on the coast of what is now Massachusetts. Their new home was on the former site of an Indigenous village. The village had been empty for some time. Its residents had recently been wiped out by a disease brought by people on a previous European ship.

The Wampanoag name for that place was Patuxet. The newcomers called it Plymouth. These settlers were from England. They’re known to history as the Pilgrims. Their journey on a ship called the Mayflower, their settlement in today’s New England, and their so-called “first Thanksgiving” are part of one of the most famous legends in American history.

When the Pilgrims settled in Plymouth in 1620, about 144,000 Indigenous people already inhabited what is now southeastern New England—including tens of thousands of Wampanoag people, who lived in dozens of independent but connected communities. During the spring and summer, most of them resided in coastal villages or along waterways, fishing and farming. In the winter, they moved inland, living off their harvest. The thriving communities shared the resources around them.

“As a people, we never believed in the ownership of land,” Coombs says.

By the 1600s, European ships had been sailing the upper Atlantic coast for about a century. Many of the men on those ships were primarily interested in fishing or trading. But others sought to enslave Native people.

In 1614, six years before the Pilgrims arrived, an English captain anchored off the coast of Patuxet and took 20 Native villagers captive. Ordinarily, such victims were never heard from again. But one of them, a Wampanoag man named Tisquantum,* was a survivor and went on to play an important role in American history.

The Pilgrims settled in Plymouth in 1620. At that time, about 144,000 Indigenous people already lived there. They inhabited what is now southeastern New England. Among them were tens of thousands of Wampanoag people. They lived in dozens of independent but connected communities. During the spring and summer, most of them stayed in coastal villages or along waterways. They spent that time fishing and farming. In the winter, they moved inland. During that season, they lived off their harvest. The thriving communities shared the resources around them.

“As a people, we never believed in the ownership of land,” Coombs says.

By the 1600s, European ships had been sailing the upper Atlantic coast for about a century. Many of the men on those ships were mostly interested in fishing or trading. But others sought to enslave Native people.

In 1614, an English captain anchored off the coast of Patuxet. It was just six years before the Pilgrims arrived. After settling in, the captain took 20 Native villagers captive. Ordinarily, such victims were never heard from again. But one of them, a Wampanoag man named Tisquantum, survived. He went on to play an important role in American history.

In a stroke of luck, when the ship reached a Spanish port, Tisquantum was set free, and he eventually made it to London, where he learned English. With this skill, he found work on a fishing ship sailing back across the Atlantic.

When he returned to his homeland in May 1619, he was stunned by what he found. Village after village, including his own, was empty—the result of an epidemic brought on board a European ship in 1616. Within a year, Tisquantum was living in Pokanoket, home base for Ousamequin (ooh-SAM-uh-kwin), the main sachem, or Wampanoag leader. The sachem would soon find a good use for Tisquantum: communicating with the strangers who had come to their land.

In a stroke of luck, Tisquantum was set free when the ship reached a Spanish port. He eventually made it to London, where he learned English. With this skill, he found work on a fishing ship sailing back across the Atlantic.

He returned to his homeland in May 1619. What he found when he arrived stunned him. Village after village was empty. That included his own. It was the result of an epidemic brought on board a European ship in 1616. Within a year, Tisquantum was living in Pokanoket. It was the home base for Ousamequin (ooh-SAM-uh-kwin), the main sachem, or Wampanoag leader. The sachem would soon find a good use for Tisquantum. He was tasked with communicating with the strangers who had come to their land.

The English newcomers were Christians who had broken off from the Church of England and hoped that in America they could freely practice their religious beliefs. Some of them referred to their group as pilgrims—those who go on a long journey for spiritual purposes.

In September 1620, 102 people had set off on the Mayflower from Plymouth, England. After a grueling two-month voyage, they had settled on the site of Patuxet. Left empty because of the epidemic, it became their Plymouth.

The Pilgrims almost didn’t make it through their first winter. Half of them died of malnutrition and disease.

Ousamequin closely followed what was happening at Plymouth from his headquarters at Pokanoket, about 40 miles west. Sachems from other Wampanoag communities wanted to chase the strangers off or kill them, pointing to the violence and disease that other Europeans had brought before. But Ousamequin thought these people might be different, because they included women and children. Also, he hoped they could be an ally against the nearby Narragansett tribe, his longtime enemy. This was especially necessary because the epidemic had killed thousands of Wampanoag people, weakening their defenses. Ousamequin decided to reach out to this group of about 50 settlers.

One day in March of 1621, Tisquantum arrived at Plymouth. The settlers were astounded that he spoke English. In fact, he was there to translate for Ousamequin, who an hour later appeared dramatically on a nearby hill, accompanied by 60 armed men.

After some tense moments, the two groups formed an alliance. The partnership was key to the Pilgrims’ survival. With Wampanoag help, they learned to live off the land. Tisquantum showed them how to grow corn, fertilizing it with fish. The alliance with Ousamequin also protected the newcomers from other sachems. And the Wampanoag people traded furs in exchange for coats, blankets, and tools.

As the year progressed, the two peoples collaborated more and more, says Richard Pickering, a director of a living history museum at the site of the Pilgrims’ settlement.

According to the legend of the “first Thanksgiving,” the Pilgrims invited the Wampanoag people to a celebration in the fall of 1621 as a show of gratitude for their help.

The English newcomers were Christians who had broken off from the Church of England. They hoped that in America they could freely practice their religious beliefs. Some of them called their group pilgrims. That term refers to those who go on a long journey for spiritual purposes.

In September 1620, 102 people had set off on the Mayflower from Plymouth, England. After a difficult two-month voyage, they had settled on the site of Patuxet. Left empty because of the epidemic, it became their Plymouth.

The Pilgrims almost didn’t make it through their first winter. Half of them died of hunger and disease.

Ousamequin’s headquarters at Pokanoket were about 40 miles west. From there, he closely followed what was happening at Plymouth. Sachems from other Wampanoag communities wanted to chase the strangers off or kill them. They noted the violence and disease that other Europeans had brought before. But Ousamequin thought these people might be different. That’s because these travelers included women and children. Also, he hoped they could be an ally against the nearby Narragansett tribe, his longtime enemy. This was especially necessary because the epidemic had killed thousands of Wampanoag people. That weakened their defenses. Ousamequin decided to reach out to this group of about 50 settlers.

One day in March of 1621, Tisquantum arrived at Plymouth. The settlers were surprised that he spoke English. In fact, he was there to translate. An hour later, Ousamequin and 60 armed men appeared dramatically on a nearby hill.

After some tense moments, the two groups formed an alliance. The partnership was key to the Pilgrims’ survival. With Wampanoag help, they learned to live off the land. Tisquantum showed them how to grow corn, enriching it with fish. The alliance with Ousamequin also protected the newcomers from other sachems. And the Wampanoag people traded furs in exchange for coats, blankets, and tools.

As the year progressed, the two peoples collaborated more and more, says Richard Pickering, a director of a living history museum at the site of the Pilgrims’ settlement.

According to the legend of the “first Thanksgiving,” the Pilgrims invited the Wampanoag people to a celebration in the fall of 1621. It was a show of gratitude for their help.

The alliance between Ousamequin’s people and the people of Plymouth went on for 50 years. But it didn’t last. The main reason: New settlers began flocking to the region. By 1670, as many as 70,000 English colonists lived in New England.

Ousamequin expected the newcomers to live beside his people as guests and share the land. But the colonists didn’t respect the sachem’s wishes. Soon, Wampanoag people couldn’t fish or plant in the best areas. More and more old forest was cut down for new settlements or livestock.

Ousamequin’s death in 1660, along with that of Plymouth’s original leaders, ended an era of cooperation. In 1675, Ousamequin’s son Metacomet, who was known as King Philip to the English, attempted to take back control before it was too late. He formed an alliance with other tribes—including his people’s former rivals, the Narragansett—and began attacking English settlements. The colonists fought back, aided by their own Indigenous allies, including the Pequot tribe and even some Wampanoag groups who had converted to Christianity.

The alliance between Ousamequin’s people and the people of Plymouth went on for 50 years. But it didn’t last. That‘s because new settlers began flocking to the region. By 1670, as many as 70,000 English colonists lived in New England.

Ousamequin expected the newcomers to live beside his people as guests and share the land. But the colonists didn’t respect the sachem’s wishes. Soon, Wampanoag people couldn’t fish or plant in the best areas. More and more old forest was cut down for new settlements or livestock.

Ousamequin died in 1660. By then, Plymouth’s original leaders had also died. Their deaths ended an era of cooperation. In 1675, Ousamequin’s son Metacomet tried to take back control before it was too late. The English called him King Philip. He formed an alliance with other tribes. That included his people’s former rivals, the Narragansett. The allied tribes began attacking English settlements. The colonists fought back. They were aided by their own Indigenous allies. Among them were members of the Pequot tribe and even some Wampanoag groups who had converted to Christianity.

The conflict, called King Philip’s War, was brutal. Thousands of Native people were killed, along with hundreds of colonial soldiers. Without access to their farming and fishing lands, Metacomet’s fighters starved. They had few guns and little gunpowder. By the summer of 1676, the colonists had crushed the uprising and now had almost complete control of the land they’d only recently set foot on.

As the U.S. took shape, Indigenous groups across the country lost more of their land, culture, and even language (see timeline). By the 1900s, almost no one in Wampanoag communities could speak their native tongue.

The conflict, called King Philip’s War, was brutal. Thousands of Native people were killed, along with hundreds of colonial soldiers. Without access to their farming and fishing lands, Metacomet’s fighters starved. They had few guns and little gunpowder. By the summer of 1676, the colonists had crushed the uprising. That gave them almost complete control of the land they’d only recently set foot on.

The U.S. continued to take shape. As it grew, Indigenous groups across the country lost more of their land, culture, and even language (see timeline). By the 1900s, almost no one in Wampanoag communities could speak their native tongue.

But unlike the members of most other Native American nations, the Wampanoag people were never forced by the U.S. government to relocate far from their ancestral homes, though they were pushed onto smaller and smaller portions of land. Today, five Wampanoag communities are recognized by the federal or Massachusetts state government as tribes, and most Wampanoag people still live near the areas they inhabited 400 years ago.

In recent years, historians have written fuller accounts of the Wampanoag place in the American story. And on the 400th anniversary of the Pilgrims’ arrival, the living museum formerly called Plimoth Plantation is changing its name to Plimoth Patuxet museum to reflect its complex history.

The Wampanoag people have been reviving traditional ways, including their language. In the 1990s, Jessie Little Doe Baird of the Mashpee Wampanoag began reconstructing the language from old sources, such as letters and a 1663 Bible translated into Wampanoag. For the first time in many decades, a generation of young Wampanoag people is now speaking its native tongue.

For Coombs, the Wampanoag historian, these are hopeful signs of a recovery of his ancestors’ culture.

“Kids are learning their language, learning their culture, being proud of who they are,” he says. “We’re still here.”

But the fate of the Wampanoag people wasn’t like that of most other Native American nations. They were never forced by the U.S. government to move far from their ancestral homes. Instead, they were pushed onto smaller and smaller portions of land. Today, five Wampanoag communities are recognized by the federal or Massachusetts state government as tribes. Most Wampanoag people still live near the areas they inhabited 400 years ago.

In recent years, historians have written fuller accounts of the Wampanoag place in the American story. And on the 400th anniversary of the Pilgrims’ arrival, the living museum formerly called Plimoth Plantation is changing its name to Plimoth Patuxet Museum. The change will help reflect its complex history.

The Wampanoag people have been bringing back traditional ways, including their language. In the 1990s, Jessie Little Doe Baird of the Mashpee Wampanoag began reconstructing the language from old sources. That included searching through letters and a 1663 Bible translated into Wampanoag. For the first time in many decades, a generation of young Wampanoag people is now speaking its native tongue.

For Coombs, the Wampanoag historian, these are hopeful signs of a recovery of his ancestors’ culture.

“Kids are learning their language, learning their culture, being proud of who they are,” he says. “We’re still here.”

^{*Commonly known as Squanto. But today, historians prefer to use what they consider his full name, Tisquantum.}

^{*Commonly known as Squanto. But today, historians prefer to use what they consider his full name, Tisquantum.}