Page 17 - Heavenly Signs III by Mel Gable

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Patuxet to the Wampanoag people, was abandoned about three years earlier following a plague that killed all of
its residents. Because the disease involved hemorrhaging, the “Indian fever” is assumed to have been smallpox
introduced by European traders. The outbreak had been severe enough that the colonists discovered unburied
13
skeletons in abandoned dwellings in the area.

Settlement Map:

The pilgrims
encountered the
harbor formed by
the Duxbury and
Plymouth barrier
beaches. This 1720
map of New
England shows the
Cape Cod area with
some names added
for reference. The
white circle is the
approximate
location of the 1620
pilgrims landing.

1720 Map of Cape Cod (I Clark R Ford and R. Cruttenson - 1720)

With the local population in such a weakened state, the colonists faced no resistance to settling there. The
exploratory party returned to the Mayflower, which was then brought into the harbor in late December. Only
nearby sites were evaluated, with a hill in Plymouth chosen. There was no Christmas celebration on December
25, 1620. This Christmas Day was devoted to hard labor. The Pilgrims utilized all their holiday energies cutting
trees in order to avoid wasting any time. The Pilgrims interpreted the Bible literally and nothing in the Scriptures
mentioned having a good time at Christmas. While the rest of the Christian world celebrated the Lord's birthday,
the Pilgrims chopped wood.

Mr. Pelton writes in his article on this subject: “Although we think of Pilgrims as ideal Americans, actually they were a
cantankerous group of fervent believers who had little or no tolerance for those who had different opinions or ideas.” Construction
commenced immediately, with the first “Common House” nearly completed by early January. Each extended family
was assigned a plot and built its own dwelling. Supplies were brought ashore, and the settlement was mostly
complete by early February. 13

Between the period of landing and March, only 47 colonists had survived the diseases they contracted on the
ship. During the worst of the sickness, only six or seven of the group were able and willing to feed and care for
the rest. By the spring of 1621, half of the Pilgrims including as well a half of the Mayflower crew had died and
were buried. The doctor had run out of medicines. It was not until the Pilgrims were able to plant and harvest
their herbs that medicines were available again. Finally in March an Indian came to the settlement to make
friends. He spoke English and his name was Samoset. Gradually more Indians came to visit. One of the Indians
named Squanto ended up staying and helping the Pilgrims to catch fish and hunt for meat He also showed them,
which wild plants were safe to eat and which were not. Squanto even told them when it was time to plant corn.

13 "Brewster, William". Encyclopædia Britannica (11 ed.). Cambridge University Press. 1911.