Aspinet

Aspinet was the chief sachem of the Nausets.  At around 5:00 AM on 8 December 1620, as the Pilgrims were just waking up on the shores of Cape Cod, preparing for another day of exploring to try and find a place to settle, they were attacked by the Nausets, led by Aspinet.  Aspinet stood at a tree, and shot several arrows nearly missing several of the Pilgrims hiding behind a makeshift barracade.  One of the Pilgrims shot at Aspinet, and the tree which he was hiding behind splintered as the bullet passed just a few inches from Aspinet's ear.  He called off the attack with a large scream and the Indians retreated.

The Nausets had every right to be hostile towards Europeans.  In 1614, about twenty Nausets were lured aboard Capt. Thomas Hunt's trading ship and were taken as slaves and sold in Spain.  Later, Frenchman would kill some of the Nausets--and in return the Nausets killed some French.  Then the Nausets killed a crew of English in 1618, who had been set out by Sir Ferdinando Gorges.  They had no reason to think the Pilgrims came in peace--in fact, they thought the Pilgrims were a party sent out to avange the deaths of the previous crews. Not to mention the fact the Pilgrims had opened some of the Nausets graves in a desperate search for buried corn.

In the Spring of 1621, after the Pilgrims had survived the winter, one of the children--John Billington, got lost in the forest.  It would be the Nausets that found him, and they took him in.  So on 11 June 1621, after the Pilgrims had learned where the boy was thanks to information given to them by Massasoit, they sent out an expedition to the Nausets to attempt to gain the boy's release.  The Pilgrims first arrived on shore where they met Iyanough, of the Cummaquids.  He guided them to the Nausets, and introduced them to Aspinet.  The meeting was very stressful for both sides, but went well.  The Pilgrims payed back their debts in the way of the corn they had taken, and exchanged gifts as was the custom.  Then Aspinet led a group of Indians with the young John Billington who was "behung with beads".  They made peace with one another, exchanged gifts, and then the Pilgrims left for home.

Aspinet died before March 1623 of a disease which swept Cape Cod early that year.