MEET ELIZABETH Elizabeth was a teenager when she came over on the Mayflower to the New World. Pilgrim boys and girls worked hard to help their families with the daily chores. Girls were an important part of the family team. They helped their mothers with the sewing, weaving, and cooking. Pounding the corn into cornmeal was a difficult job that took hours. Elizabeth was responsible for helping to make soap and candles for he whole household She learned how to knit at a young age and was quite a pro by her teens. She knitted stockings, or socks, for the whole family. Elizabeth often helped with gathering berries, nuts, and herbs too. Herbs were used as medicine by the Pilgrims. Girls wore red, purple, or blue dresses that reached down to their ankles. They wore long cloaks with hoods to keep warm during winter. They sometimes wore an apron and bonnet while they worked in the kitchen. During the first Thanksgiving celebration, Elizabeth gathered with all the Pilgrims and Native Americans to eat a grand feast, play games, sing songs, dance, and give thanks for a new life.MEET GOVERNOR GARVER John Carver was a wealthy business man in England. It was because of him that the Mayflower was able to make the journey to the New World. He made all the travel arrangements for the voyage and spent a great deal of money to pay for it. He was respected by the pilgrims for his positive attitude and bravery. As g soon as the Mayflower 7 landed in the New World, o cg he was elected the first governor of New Plymouth. That first winter was a very difficult one. Many pilgrims became sick. Governor Carver helped take care of the sick pilgrims. He even became sick himself for a short time. When warm weather returned in the spring, only half of the Pilgrims had survived. Governor Carver was always helping others in their new homeland. He helped build houses, plant crops, trade with the Native Americans, and settle disagreements. Today, John Carver is remembered for making the journey to the New World possible for the pilgrims and for being the first governor of New Plymouth.MEET JOHN John was just a young boy when he first came to New Plymouth. There was no such thing as school back then, instead the Pilgrim children worked hard to help out at home and in the fields. At a very young age, John was taught how to gather nuts and berries. He spent hours in the fields planting, weeding, and harvesting crops. Boys helped their fathers cut down trees for building houses and firewood. They also helped with fishing and hunting. During his free time, John practiced reading, writing, and math. He also carved toys from scraps of wood. John was a curious boy. One day when he was gathering nuts, he got lost in the woods. As the story goes, he lived on herbs and berries for five days. Luckily, he was found by a Native American tribe that took good care of him. The Native American chief gave John a piggyback ride back home to his parents. John's parents were very grateful that their son was safe. They thanked the Native Americans for saving their son.oy SQUANTO Squanto was a Native American. He had spent several years in England and spoke English. Squanto told the pilgrims that Massasoit, the Wampanoag's Chief, wanted to meet with them. Massasoit met with Governor John Carver. They signed a peace treaty agreeing to live together in peace and support each other during times of war. Squanto lived with the Pilgrims and taught them the Native American ways. He taught the Pilgrims how to live off the land by fishing and hunting deer and turkey. He showed them which herbs and berries were safe to eat and how to trade with the Native Americans. Squanto also taught them how to plant Indian corn, squash, and pumpkins. He showed them how to dig up the earth and create small mounds for planting. Then he placed a few seeds into every mound and added a fish on top of the small hill. The fish was used as a natural fertilizer. The pilgrims might not have survived another winter without Squanto's help. They were honored to celebrate the first Thanksgiving with him.