The Plymouth Colony had survived its first grueling winter, and the pilgrims struggled to find their rhythm. They made it through harsh days by looking forward to the harvest season, living a delicate balance between hunger, hope, and hard-won survival.
Among them was William Brewster, who had crossed the Atlantic with his family, seeking religious freedom and a new life in the New World. William had been tasked with the responsibility of properly dividing the land so the settlers could live in harmony with their new neighbors.
The neighboring Wampanoag people, led by Chief Massasoit, had been the colony’s first allies, but tensions often lurked just below the surface. The pilgrims, after all, had arrived with plans to build a new colony from the ground up, while the Wampanoag had long called this land their own.
As fall drew near, the settlers found themselves at odds over a plot of fertile soil near the riverbank, with both the pilgrims and the Wampanoag wanting it for different reasons. The pilgrims hoped to expand their crops, while the Wampanoag had long used the river for fishing and gathering. As the harvest loomed, these discussions had grown more heated.
Knowing the fragile peace could be shattered without an agreement over this land, William and Massasoit agreed to meet at the riverbank. Massasoit greeted him by acknowledging the pilgrims had taken to planting along the river, but he emphasized that the land belonged to the Wampanoag.
Attempting to show respect to the chief, Brewster replied by acknowledging they did not own the land. But he stressed that the pilgrims needed more space to grow, to feed their children, and to survive. He expressed a desire to share the land. If the Wampanoag allowed them to expand their crops there, he promised to leave the river itself untouched and to respect the rights of the Native people.
Massasoit was doubtful that such an agreement could survive on spoken words alone.
While searching for a solution, William noticed a narrow path that led from the river to the settlement—a trail that the Wampanoag often used. He proposed the following idea to Massasoit: What if they created a path of sorts, an easement? A mutual agreement that the pilgrims could access and used the fertile planting area while leaving the riverbank and the fishing grounds untouched.
Brewster continued to describe the easement as a way for them to use the land without claiming ownership. They would use it in good faith, and in return, the Wampanoag would still claim it as theirs, and they could continue to use the river. It was a way to respect the natural boundaries between their needs.
The Chief agreed but insisted that it be in writing. William agreed to do so to make it official. He worked with other leaders of the Colony to formalize the agreement, which would be in both English and Wampanoag and, despite imperfections, would serve as the first official easement in that part of the New World.
The two groups gathered in thanksgiving to celebrate the harvest. They shared a hearty feast as well as mutual respect. They recognized that, despite their differences, they had survived another season together.
Later that day, William Brewster stood at the edge of the river, looking at the land his people now shared with the Natives. He was reminded that even a small, symbolic agreement could pave the way for a lasting peace. He recognized that Thanksgiving was about more than the food and the harvest. It was about respect, understanding, and a shared commitment to find common ground, even if it was just for a small parcel of land.
NB: This story is fictional, but the principles remain true 400 years after that first Thanksgiving. To make your present-day easement official, contact us at Dalton & Tomich today. Happy Thanksgiving.
