Samoset was the first Native American 'Indian' to make contact with the Pilgrims. They were more than surprised when one day while they were busy building the settlement, he strolled straight through the middle of the encampment and greeted them in English. It is alleged that he said, "Welcome."

He was a member of an Abenaki sachem tribe that resided at that time in Maine. He was a sagamore of his tribe, a subordinate chief, and was visiting Chief Massasoit.

He had learned his broken English from the English fishermen that came to fish off Monhegan Island .

After spending the night with the Pilgrims, he came back two days later with Squanto.