Mayflower Pilgrims, Part 5: Thanksgiving at Plymouth | 1621 | Corbitant, the Massachusett, Nauset

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In late July 1621, one of John Billington's sons becomes lost in the woods. William Bradford sends a party to find him.

The party takes harbor at Cummaquid near Barnstable, Massachusetts. They learn from the sachem Iyanough that the lost boy has gone to Nauset.

The pilgrims continue on to Cape Cod where they Nauset are. They had skirmished at First Encounter with the Nauset the previous year. However, Aspinot the sachem there presents the lost boy to the Pilgrims. The boy is unharmed.

The Narragansett have attacked the Pokanoket. Massasoit has been captured. Corbitant, a renegade sachem, is at Nemasket.

Tokamahamon, Squanto, and Hobbammock go to Nemasket. Corbitant captures Squanto. Hobbammock runs back to Plymouth, fearing Squanto is dead.

Bradford sends Standish to Nemasket to face Corbitant. However, Corbitant has fled. But the natives respect how strongly the English back their allies.

A party is sent north to Massachusetts Bay. The English explore the Mystic River area, meeting with the Massachusett people. They find forts made by the late king there, Nanepashemet. The Pilgrims report back to Plymouth about the bountiful harbor that will one day be Boston.

In October, Plymouth's first harvest time has come to season. It's a harvest festival. Acres of Indian corn, barley, and peas are harvested. Turkeys and duck are gathered. The Pokanoket bring deer. 150 people celebrate the first Thanksgiving.

Music Credits:
Aztec Empire by Jimena Contreras
Dead Forest by Brian Bolger