Samuel SLOCUM

Family/Spouse: ? UNKNOWN. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

1. Giles SLOCUM was born in Near Newport, Rhode; died before 1724 in Newport, Newport Co., Rhode Island.

Notes:

Name:
Giles Slocombe, the common ancestor of all the Slocums whose American lineage has been found to date fro the seventeenth century, was born in Somersetshire, (?) England, and, coming to America, he settled in what is now the Township of Portsmouth, in Newport County, Rhode Island, probably in the year 1638. His name does not appear in the list of the nineteen persons who were the first to settle there the "7th of First month, commonly called March, 1637/8," but additions were made to that number previous to the 13th of Third month when the first town-meeting was held. The township was given the name of Pocasset at this meeting, and "it was voted that none should be received as inhabitants, or freemen, to build or plant upon the island (then called Acquidneck) but as should be received in the consent of the body and submit to the government that was, or should be, established." The first year was one of great enterprise and advancement in the new settlement. A number withdrew from the compact, however,- perhaps on account of the shallowness of the water at the landing,- and were the first to form a settlement at Newport, about six miles south, the 28th day of Second month, 1639. Twenty-nine persons remained in Pocasset, reorganized the government, and, July 1st, 1639, changed the name of the township to "Portsmouth" which it has since retained....

He made purchases and sales of land in addition to those here mentioned but enough have been cited to show that he was a very energetic and prosperous man, and that he was possessed of the characteristic English desire for a large landed estate.

Giles Slocombe and his wife were early members of the Society of Friends. The Friends' records for Portsmouth, R.I., show that "Joan Slocom the wife of old Giles she Dyed at Portsmouth the 31st 6 mo 1679." No record has been found to inform us of her maiden name or the time and place of their marriage. He died in the year 1682...

Giles married Joan COOK. Joan was born in 1620; died on 31 Aug 1679 in Portsmouth, Newport Co., Rhode Island ; was buried in Portsmouth Friends Churchyard, Portsmouth, Newport Co., Rhode Island. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Notes:

Name:
wife of Giles;
W/O GILES "OLD GILES"
Cemetery Number
PO010
Cemetery Name
PORTSMOUTH FRIENDS' CHURCHYARD


Her death may have been June 30, 1679; but I've listed it as it is on the Rhode Island Cemetery Database.

Her maiden name may have been Cooke as Thomas Cooke was supposed to have been Giles Slocum's brother-in-law. "When Cooke wrote his will in 1674, he devised to his grandson John Cooke, land that was bounded on one side by Brother Giles Slocum."

Source: Giles Slocum by Bertha W. Clark, 1955, p. 1 and Early Records of Portsmouth, p. 276.