13 Facts About Samoset

Samoset was an Abenaki sagamore and the first Native American to make contact with the Pilgrims of Plymouth Colony.

Samoset was a sagamore of an Eastern Abenaki tribe that resided in what now is Maine.

An English fishing camp had been established in the Gulf of Maine, where Samoset learned some English from fishermen who came to fish off Monhegan Island, coming to know most local ship captains by name.

Abenaki language is an Algonquian language related to the Massachusett language of the Nauset and Wampanoag people of the area around Plymouth Colony, and Samoset was visiting Wampanoag chief Massasoit at the time of the historic event.

Samoset spent the night with the Pilgrims on that occasion, then returned at another time with five other Indians who brought deer skins to trade.

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Samoset is believed to have died around 1653 in Pemaquid, Plymouth Colony.

Samoset appeared as Samoset in some accounts and as Somerset in others.

Samoset saluted us in English, and bade us welcome, for he had learned some broken English among the Englishmen that came to fish at Monchiggon, and knew by name the most of the captains, commanders, and masters that usually come.

Samoset was a man free in speech, so far as he could express his mind, and of a seemly carriage.

Samoset said he was not of these parts, but of Morattiggon, and one of the sagamores or lords thereof, and had been eight months in these parts, it lying hence a day's sail with a great wind, and five days by land.

Samoset discoursed of the whole country, and of every province, and of their sagamores, and their number of men, and strength.

Samoset was a tall straight man, the hair of his head black, long behind, only short before, none on his face at all; he asked some beer, but we gave him strong water and biscuit, and butter, and cheese, and pudding, and a piece of mallard, all which he liked well, and had been acquainted with such amongst the English.

Samoset told us the place where we now live is called Patuxet, and that about four years ago all the inhabitants died of an extraordinary plague, and there is neither man, woman, nor child remaining, as indeed we have found none, so as there is none to hinder our possession, or to lay claim unto it.