Samoset

Samoset (ca. 1590–1653) was the first Native American to speak with the Pilgrims in Plymouth Colony. On March 16, 1621, the people were very surprised when Samoset walked straight into Plymouth Colony where the people were living.  He greeted them in English. Samoset said he had learned some of the language from some English fishermen that came to Maine.Edward Winslow; William Bradford (1865) [1622]. Henry Martyn Dexter. ed. Mourt's Relation or Journal of the Plantation at Plymouth Boston: John Kimball Wiggin. pp. 83–84.

Samoset was member of the Wampanoag tribe that lived in Maine.  He was an important man within his tribe. Samoset talked with the leaders of Plymouth Colony.  A few days later he came back with Squanto, an native  leader who also spoke  English.

Samoset is also sometimes called Somerset. The name Somerset may have been given by the English men who came from Somerset in England.(Of course, by that time Levett himself was residing in the West of England, and was married to a woman from Somersetshire.) Capt. Levett met Samoset, along with other Native American leaders, in 1624 in the harbor of present-day Portland, Maine.

 Samoset Comes to Plymouth Colony - From Mourt's Relation (1622) 
This is part of an account of the first meeting with Samoset by the people of Plymouth Colony:

Fictional representation

This story was adapted for an episode of "The Mayflower Voyagers", of the Peanuts television miniseries This is America, Charlie Brown.

Samoset appeared in William Bradford: The First Thanksgiving, 1992 direct-to-video episode of Animated Hero Classics. He was voiced by Michael Howard.

Namesakes

The Samoset Council of the Boy Scouts of America (located in northern Wisconsin) is named after Samoset.

References

Category:1590 births
Category:1653 deaths
Category:Native American people
Category:Plymouth Colony