Happy Thanksgiving

from Benning's Holiday Home

Massasoit was the Sachem of the Wampanoag, "People of the Dawn", who inhabited the Area of Plymouth Plantation. They continue to live in the area today.

THE TREATY WITH MASSASOIT

"... the coming of their great Sachem, called Massasoiet.
Who, about four or five days after,
came with the chief of his friends and other attendance,
with the aforesaid Squanto.
With whom, after friendly entertainment
and some gifts given him, they made a peace with him
(which hath now continued this 24 years) in these terms :

I. That neither he nor any of his, should injure or
do hurt to any of their people.

II. That if any of his did any hurt to any of theirs,
he should send the offender that they might punish him.

III. That if any thing were taken away from any of theirs,
he should cause it to be restored;
and they should do the like to his.

IV. That if any did unjustly war against him,
they would aid him; and if any did war against them,
he should aid them.

V. That he should send to his neighbours confederates
to certify them of this, that they might not wrong them,
but might be likewise comprised in the conditions of peace.

VI. That when their men came to them,
they should leave their bows and arrows behind them.

From : Of Plymouth Plantation
by William Bradford,
edited by Samuel Eliot Morison
(New York : Alfred A. Knopf, 1984),
p. 80-81.

The above excerpt is from one of the two only primary sources regarding the first Thanksgiving in what was to become the United States of America.
Thanks to "The Pilgrim Hall Museum"
for this information.