Squanto or Tisquantum, d. 1622, Native American of the Patuxet (or Pawtuxet) band, part of the Wampanoag confederation. He is sometimes thought to be the Native American taken to England from the Maine coast by George Weymouth (1605) and returned by John Smith in 1615, but it is certain that he was kidnapped by Capt. Thomas Hunt in 1615, lived in England, and returned (1619) to North America with Capt. Thomas Dermer. In 1621 he acted as interpreter in concluding a treaty between the Pilgrim settlers and Massasoit, who had made Squanto a captive. Squanto became friendly with the Plymouth colonists, aiding them particularly in their planting and fishing. He later treacherously sought, and failed, to turn the Pilgrims against Massasoit. While acting as guide and interpreter on William Bradford's expedition around Cape Cod, he fell ill and died.
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