The Welcoming Hand of Massasoit
The other most popular native name familiar in the story of the Pilgrims belongs to the chief of chiefs, Massasoit. Indeed, he was the highest authority in the area of the many neighboring tribes, each with their own leader. He was what they called a “sachem.” Upon the arrival of the Pilgrims to the area, one order from Massasoit would have annihilated the sick and weary travelers. Such native commands had been the cause of much death in former attempts in colonization by the Europeans along the coastline. Why didn’t Massasoit use his power to once again obliterate the threat to the established native affairs? Once again, William Bradford recognized the exception as an act of God’s grace towards the Pilgrims.
Early on, Massasoit met the leaders of the Pilgrims and
began a relationship that lasted for a remarkable 50 peaceful years. The alliance took work, and at times it was
complicated. However, it was a true and
upheld treaty between the people of Massasoit and the first generation of
Pilgrims, largely under Bradford’s leadership.
Both parties held up their end of the treaty. There were times when the Pilgrims went to
battle for Massasoit when he was threatened by outside tribes, and Massasoit
led his tribe to do the same for the Pilgrims.
Their relationship grew into much more than a political arrangement,
they became lifelong friends.
One of the most touching and indicative examples is that of
true charity shown during a time of crisis.
When the Pilgrims learned that Massasoit lay on his death bed and that
his people had given up hope for his life, one Pilgrim, Edward Winslow, hoped otherwise. He gathered supplies of easily digestible food,
preserved fruit, and made a day-long hike to the village of Massasoit. Indeed, Winslow found a nearly dead
Massasoit. For several days, Winslow stayed
by Massasoit’s bed, feeding him the preserves and scraping from Massasoit’s
mouth and tongue the furry and poisonous bacteria growing there. Miraculously, Massasoit made a full recovery
and graciously recognized the love and care of Winslow and the English, vowing
to never forget the kindness.
Though there are horrendous accounts on both sides of
destruction and death between newcomers to American soil and its native people,
they are not the stories of the original pilgrims and their native
neighbors. Sadly, after Massasoit’s
death, his son Philip took his place.
Thereafter, King Philip’s War ensued and the friendship that had last
for 50 ceased.
We cannot overlook what did exist for an unprecedented 50
years because of what didn’t exist before and after. Bradford and the Pilgrims, and Massasoit and
his tribe, inspire us to believe that very different people can not just exist
together, but thrive together. It was
Massasoit’s welcoming hand that began a beautiful period of our history.
Sources:
Ballard, Timothy. The Pilgrim Hypothesis. Covenant Communications, Utah. 2020.
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