Massasoit, << MAS uh `soyt` >> (1580?-1661), was a chief of the Wampanoag tribe who lived in what is now southern Massachusetts and Rhode Island. He made a treaty with Governor John Carver of Plymouth Colony in the spring of 1621, shortly after the Pilgrims landed in America.
Massasoit agreed that his people would not harm the Pilgrims as long as he lived. In turn, the Pilgrims guaranteed to protect the tribe and their rights. Massasoit kept the peace all his life.
In the autumn of 1621, the Pilgrims harvested their first crop of corn and invited Massasoit and about 90 of his people to share the first Thanksgiving feast. The Wampanoag brought five deer to add to the feast, which lasted three days.
When Massasoit died, he was succeeded by his elder son, Wamsutta, whom the colonists called Alexander. Massasoit’s younger son, Metacom, called King Philip by the colonists, succeeded Alexander.
See also Philip, King; Plymouth Colony (The first year).
