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Many of the characters in Child's novel,
Hobomok, are based, at least in part, on historical
records.
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You may have seen this statue when you've
visited Salem, although you may not have realized that it was a sculpture
of Roger Conant.
If you're not familiar with Puritan beliefs, you may find it useful
to read this brief summary of Puritanism,
and then view the c. 1680 self-portrait
of Thomas Smith (in the collection of the Worcester Art Museum)
to see the ways that painting gives expression to puritan values.
Hobomok, the American Indian who plays a central role in the novel is
also based on a historical figure. Mayflowerhistory.com.offers
what it describes as
The Story of the Real Hobomok. In addition,
The
Chronicles of the Puritan Fathers contains several
references to a Native American named Hobamak, who, along with Tisquantum
(often referred to as Squanto), provided the settlers with valuable
assistance. In fact, the Chronicles describes an incident
which seems similar to the scene in the novel in which Hobomok is
attacked by another from his tribe:
Thus their peace being well established with the
natives about them, which was much furthered by an Indian named
Hobamak,3 who came to live amongst the English, he being a proper
lusty young man, and one that was in account amongst the Indians
in those parts for his valour, continued faithful and constant to
the English until his death. He, with the said Squanto, being sent
amongst the Indians about business for the English, were surprised
by an Indian Sachem named Corbitant, who was no friend to the English;
he met with him at Namassaket, and began to quarrel with him, and
offered to stab Hobamak, who, being a strong man, soon cleared himself
of him; and with speed came and gave intelligence to the Governor
of Plimouth, saying he feared that Squanto was slain, for they were
both threatened, and for no other cause, but that they were friends
to the English, and serviceable to them. On which it was thought
meet to vindicate their messengers, and not to suffer them to be
thus wronged, and it was concluded to send some men to Namassaket
well armed, and to fall upon them; whereupon fourteen men being
well prepared, were sent, under the conduct of Capt. Miles Standish,
who, when they came thither, beset the house, and the said captain
entered into the same to look for the said Corbitant, but he was
fled, and so they missed of him; but understood that Squanto was
alive; so they withheld and did no hurt, save three of the natives,
pressing out of the house when it was beset, were sorely wounded;
which they brought home to their town with them, and were dressed
by their surgeon and cured.
In history as in the novel, Hobamak warned the settlers when they
might be in danger of indian attacks.
At the spring of this year, the English having certified the Indians
of the Massachusetts, that they would come again unto them, they
accordingly prepared to go thither; but upon some rumours which
they heard from Hobamak their friend forenamed, who feared that
the Massachusetts were joined with the Narragansets, and might betray
them if they were not careful; and intimated also his jealousies
of Squanto, by what he gathered from some private whisperings between
him and other Indians, that he was not really cordial to the English
in what he pretended, made them cautious. Notwithstanding, they
sent out their boat, with ten of their principal men, about the
beginning of April, and both Squanto and Hobamak with them, in regard
of the jealousy between them; but they had not been gone long, ere
that an Indian belonging to Squanto’s family came running,
seeming to be in great fear, and told them that many of the Narragansets,
with Corbitant (and he thought Massasoit), was coming against them;
at which they betook themselves to their arms, and supposing that
the boat was not yet out of call, they caused a piece of ordnance
to be discharged, to call them in again; but this proved otherwise,
for no Indians came. After this they went to the Massachusetts,
and had good trade, and returned in safety, God be praised.
The Englishman Charles Brown, Mary Conant's true love, is based on not
one but two historical figures as is explained in this excerpt
from Our Country, a history published in the late 1800s.
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