His Capture as a Slave
1614-1617
On his way back to his village, Squantum encountered Captain Thomas Hunt who had stayed to catch more fish to bring back to Spain. Hunt persuaded Squantum to go on his ship. It turned out that Hunt only wanted to trick Native Americans on board his ship. He wanted to capture them and to sell them as slaves in Malaga, Spain. Squantum was imprisoned along with 27 other young Indians.
Once again Squantum was imprisoned aboard a British merchant ship. Conditions on these ships were dismal for everyone, but especially for slaves. Rats scampered across the damp hold where the Indians were chained. Scarce provisions, a stormy trip, and continual seasickness took their toll. Many slaves died and were buried at sea.
On arrival in the Spanish slave port of Malaga, all the Indians were sold as slaves. Several reputable sources1 assert that nothing is known about his life in Malaga except that after two years he escaped and was able to find passage back to England. They point out that his ability to speak English probably gained him sympathy with English sailors who brought him back to England.
William Bradford who was governor of Plymouth while Squantum was there describes the events as follows:
He was carried away with divers others by one Hunt, a master of a ship, who thought to sell them for slaves in Spain. But he got away for England and was entertained by a merchant in London, and employed to Newfoundland and other parts, and lastly brought hither into these parts by one Mr. Dermer, a gentleman employed by Sir Ferdinando Gorges and others for discovery and other designs in these parts. 2
Some Internet sources maintain that Squantum was fortunate enough to have been purchased by a group of Spanish Franciscan friars in Malaga. The friars offered Squantum his freedom. Some historians contend that he converted to Christianity at that time, because the Friars treated him with care and respect. Those sources assert that after a period of time, the Franciscans helped him to board a ship back to England. Sir Ferdinando Gorges, who knew Squantum very well asserts:
Some local Friars, however, discovered what was happening and took the remaining Indians from Hunt in order to instruct them in the Chirstian faith, thus "disappointing this unworthy fellow of the hopes of gain he conceived to make by this new & devilish project".Tisquantum lived with the Friars until 1618...3
Once again Squantum was imprisoned aboard a British merchant ship. Conditions on these ships were dismal for everyone, but especially for slaves. Rats scampered across the damp hold where the Indians were chained. Scarce provisions, a stormy trip, and continual seasickness took their toll. Many slaves died and were buried at sea.
On arrival in the Spanish slave port of Malaga, all the Indians were sold as slaves. Several reputable sources1 assert that nothing is known about his life in Malaga except that after two years he escaped and was able to find passage back to England. They point out that his ability to speak English probably gained him sympathy with English sailors who brought him back to England.
William Bradford who was governor of Plymouth while Squantum was there describes the events as follows:
He was carried away with divers others by one Hunt, a master of a ship, who thought to sell them for slaves in Spain. But he got away for England and was entertained by a merchant in London, and employed to Newfoundland and other parts, and lastly brought hither into these parts by one Mr. Dermer, a gentleman employed by Sir Ferdinando Gorges and others for discovery and other designs in these parts. 2
Some Internet sources maintain that Squantum was fortunate enough to have been purchased by a group of Spanish Franciscan friars in Malaga. The friars offered Squantum his freedom. Some historians contend that he converted to Christianity at that time, because the Friars treated him with care and respect. Those sources assert that after a period of time, the Franciscans helped him to board a ship back to England. Sir Ferdinando Gorges, who knew Squantum very well asserts:
Some local Friars, however, discovered what was happening and took the remaining Indians from Hunt in order to instruct them in the Chirstian faith, thus "disappointing this unworthy fellow of the hopes of gain he conceived to make by this new & devilish project".Tisquantum lived with the Friars until 1618...3
