Massasoit

Massasoit

Massasoit was the leader of the Pokanoket branch of the Wampanoag Tribe. His friendship and generosity saved the settlers of the Plymouth Colony from starvation in the early days of the colony and the two groups signed a peace treaty that prevented other native tribes from attacking the settlers.

Fast Facts

Born in 1581
Also known as: Osamequin
Massasoit means Great Sachum (leader)
Signed a peace treaty with the Pilgrims in 1621
Died in 1661
His two sons, Wamsutta and Metacomet became the tribe's next two leaders respectively

Consequences of Peace

After the Pilgrims provided medicine that helped Massasoit recover from a serious illness, he sold increasing amounts of Wampanoag land to the settlers to prove his gratitude and return their kindness. After Massasoit's death, the fragile peace between the two groups quickly disintegrated and disillusionment over lost lands led to King Philip's War, the most devastating war in American history.

Categories

History | U.S. History | Native American History

| View Note History

The Mahalo Top 7

Wikipedia: Massasoit
The Pilgrims and Plymouth Colony: 1620: Massasoit
Mayflower Families: Massasoit (Ousamequin) Sachem
New England Indians: Indian History, Biography, and Genealogy,...Good Sachem Massasoit
Sail1620.org: Pilgrims and Wampanoag: The Prudence of Bradford and Massasoit
PDF: Good News from New England By Edward Winslow (135 KB)
MayflowerHistory.com: A Journey to Pokanoket | A Journey to the Kingdom of Nemasket

Massasoit Background and Profiles

MayflowerHistory.com: Massasoit
Native American Rhymes: Massasoit
Indian Tribal Records: Wampanoag Indian Tribe History
Native American Nations: Massasoit of the Wampanoags

Massasoit and the Pilgrims

Pilgrim Hall Museum: 1649 Deed to Myles Standish
The Pilgrims and Plymouth Colony: 1620: Their Native American Friends
MayflowerHistory.com: The 1621 Thanksgiving

Massasoit Images and Articles

Library of Congress: Massasoit Going to Meet the Pilgrims Portrait | Statue of Massasoit
Google Image Search: Massasoit Images
MSN Live Search: Massasoit Image Search
Wikipedia: Profile Rock | Massasoit and John Carver

Articles

Smithsonian.com: "Native Intelligence" (2005)
History News Network: Richard B. Speed: Review of Nathaniel Philbrick's Mayflower, (Viking, 2006)
Wicked Local: Wampanoags helped the Pilgrims survive (2007)

Massasoit Books and Research

Amazon.com: Massasoit Books
Barnes & Noble: Massasoit Books
Google Book Search: Massasoit Books
JSTOR: "Squanto and Massasoit: A Struggle for Power" (1987)

Massasoit Blogs and Message Boards

Capecodtoday: Wampanoag Chief Massasoit May Grace New Dollar Coin
YIWU: The National Day of Mourning
Biscuit Blog: Happy Thanksgiving
Are You Thoughtful?: Good News and Bad News From the First Thanksgiving
O Ceallaigh's Felloffatruck Publications: Of Pilgrims, Progress, and Men Behind the Curtains

Massasoit Timeline

1581: Massasoit was born in a Pokanoket village called Montaup
1621: Visited The Pilgrims and made a treaty with them
1623: Became very ill; Edward Winslow and others traveled to his village and nursed him back to health
1632: War between Narragansett and Wampanoag
1659: Sold a tract of land to Miles Standish and others
1661: It is unclear as to cause and exact date of death

Massasoit Namesakes

U.S. Naval Historical Center: USS Massasoit | USS Massasoit
Massasoit Community College
Massasoit Historical Association
Mass.gov: Massasoit State Park

Related Pages on Mahalo

Plymouth Colony | Jamestown Colony | Massachusetts Bay Colony | Miles Standish | William Bradford | Squanto | The Pilgrims | Wampanoag Tribe | Pequot War | French and Indian War

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