* Kidnapped and Sold into Slavery: Around 1614, Squanto was kidnapped by an English explorer named Thomas Hunt and taken to Spain. Hunt planned to sell him and other Native Americans as slaves in the West Indies.
* Escape and Journey to England: Squanto managed to escape captivity and somehow made his way to England, arriving in 1619.
* Living in England: While in England, Squanto likely encountered and interacted with English people on a regular basis. This exposure to the English language allowed him to learn the language.
* Returning to His Homeland: After several years in England, Squanto returned to his home in what is now Massachusetts in 1619. He found his Patuxet community decimated by disease, leaving very few survivors.
Squanto's knowledge of English and his familiarity with both English and Native American cultures made him a crucial figure in the early years of the Plymouth Colony. He facilitated communication between the Pilgrims and the Wampanoag tribe, and his knowledge of agriculture, trade, and the local environment was invaluable to the struggling settlers.