Hobbamock

Hobbamock was a Native American who served as a guide, interpreter, and aide to the Pilgrims of Plymouth, Massachusetts. Like Tisquantom, better known as Squanto, Hobbamock was essential to the survival and diplomatic success of the English in New England.

Hobbamock actually played a much larger role in relations with the English than Squanto, although Squanto tends to get most of the attention in history books. Hobbamock was a pneise, a warrior of great courage and wisdom, who served as the sachem's counselor, collected the annual tribute from subject tribes, and advised him on decisions about going to war. In 1621 a peace treaty was negotiated between John Carver, first governor of Plymouth Colony and Wampanoag sachem Ousamequin of Pokanoket, better known as Massasoit. The chief sent his trusted councilor, Hobbamock, who could speak some English, to move his large family to just outside Plymouth's palisade.

Hobbamock converted to Christianity and was beloved by the English until his death in 1642. He died from a European disease that he contracted from his close European friends. Hobbamock was part of the Wampanoag tribe, which, in the Algonquian language, means "People of the Dawn." Other Indians feared Hobomok so much that when they saw him in a battle, they would immediately leave. Hobbamock was specifically asked by Massasoit (the leader of the Wampanoag) to help the Pilgrims. His memory lives on in several place names in modern-day greater Plymouth and surrounding regions.

Hobbamock became the chief interpreter because Massasoit mistrusted Squanto. Squanto died of a quick illness in Chatham Ma on a trip with Gov. Bradford.

Hobbamock's name may have been a pseudonym, as "Hobbamock" was the name of a powerful manitou. According to Quinnipiac tradition, the giant stone spirit Hobbomock, a prominent figure in many stories, became enraged about the mistreatment of his people and stamped his foot down in anger, diverting the course of the Connecticut River (where the river suddenly swings east in Middletown, Connecticut after several hundred miles of running due south). To prevent him from wreaking such havoc in the future, the good spirit Keitan cast a spell on Hobbomock to sleep forever as the prominent of the Sleeping Giant Mountain.

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Wikipedia