What is Squanto?
[[File:Squantohowwellthecornprospered.png|thumb|Squanto in the corn]] '''Squanto''' (or '''Tisquantum''', 1580? – November 1622) was a [[Native American]] who helped the [[Pilgrims]] survive in the [[New World]]. He learned to speak English and was hired as a guide and interpreter. He taught the Pilgrims to plant corn. Squanto had much power among the Native Americans and the [[Pilgrims]]. He abused it, and barely escaped an Indian execution. He died in 1622 while making a trip around [[Cape Cod]]. ==Early life== Squanto was born around 1580 in the area of present day [[Plymouth, Massachusetts]]. He was a member of the Paxutet people. Little is known about his early life. Squanto is thought to have been [[kidnapping|kidnapped]] as a young boy along the coast of [[Maine]], and taken to England in 1605. He was taught English. He was hired as a [[guide]] and [[interpreter]]. He returned to his homeland with [[John Smith (explorer)|John Smith]] in 1614.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.biography.com/people/squanto-9491327 |title=Squanto biography |publisher=A+E Networks |accessdate=2013-10-10}}</ref> ==Kidnapping== In 1614, Squanto and 23 other Indians were [[kidnapping|kidnapped]] by a [[lieutenant]] under Smith. This lieutenant sold him and the rest of the Indians as slaves in [[Malaga]], [[Spain]]. Many historians have disputed what happened in this period of his life, as there is no written record. One theory is that once the Spanish found out these slaves were from the New World, Spanish [[friar]]s rescued the remaining Indians, including Squanto, by purchasing them. They sent him on his way to England. It is not known what happened to the others. This is where he was taught English and the ways of the white man. He was employed by John Slaney of the Newfoundland Company, and was sent to [[Newfoundland]] around 1617, as an [[interpreter]]. He returned to his homeland in North America in 1619.<ref>[http://www.biography.com/people/squanto-9491327 Biography: Squanto]</ref> ==Plymouth Colony== [[File:Squantoteachi