Eleazer SLOCUM

Notes:

Name:
Eliezer was born in Portsmouth township, now in Newport Co., Rhode Island, the 25th day of Tenth month, 1664, and became a resident of Dartmouth Township, New Plymouth, in the year 1684, or before. He married Elephel Fitzgerald and resided in Dartmouth as a yeoman. In the confirmatory deed of Governor William Bradford, 13 November, 1694, Eliezer Slocum and his brothers Giles and Peleg, were named among the proprietors of Dartmouth which then included the present Townships of Dartmouth, New Bedford, Westport, and Fairhaven. He dealt quite extensively in lands, and was very successful in the accumulation of property considering the newness of the country and the various unfavorable circumstances of his time.

The oppressions of the New Plymouth and Massachusetts governments show a marked contrast between the civil standing of these brothers, and all other members of the Society of Friends, who settled in Dartmouth and those who resided in Rhode Island. The former were excluded from the rights of citizenship and the privilege of holding office, though they were obliged to bear their proportion of the governmental burden; while the presence and counsel of the latter were much sought in directing public affairs.

Eliezer Slocum's will was proved 30 july, 1727 and his estate was appraised at L5,790. 18s 11d - personal L665. 18s 11d; real L5,125 - exclusive of the former gifts to his children. "Elephel Slocum, widow and relict of Eliezer Slocum," made a will the 19th day of 1st mo. called March, 1745-6" in which she devised a considerable estate. Her will was proved 4 October, 1748.

Family/Spouse: Elephel FITZGERALD. Elephel died before 4 Oct 1748. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

1. Eliezer SLOCUM was born on 20 Jan 1693/4 in Dartmouth, Bristol Co., Massachusetts; died in bet. 18 Jan 1738/9 and 20 Mar 1738/9.

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.

Notes:

Name:
Anthony Slocombe is recorded (as "Anthony Slocum") as one of the forty-six "first and ancient purchasers," A.D. 1637, of the territory of Cohannet which was incorporated 3 March, 1639, with the name of Taunton in new Plymouth, now Massachusetts, and from which the present Townships of Taunton, Raynham, and Berkley have been organized. The interests of the several purchasers were in the ratio of six, eight, and twelve, - the subject of this sketch purchasing eight shares....

Jun 3, 1662-- As one of the two "Surveyors of the Highwaies" for Taunton.
This is the last date at which his name appears as a resident of Taunton. We are informed by Baylies (The Ministry of Taunton) and Ricketson (The History of New Bedford), that he disposed of his rights in Taunton to Richard Williams and removed, probably about the year 1662, to that part of New Plymouth which was incorporated in 1664 with the name of Dartmouth Township, and of which he and one Ralph Russell were the first settlers. The subject of this sketch settled near Pascamanset River which has since been more generally known as Slocum's River. His subsequent history has not been ascertained. His name does not appear in any of the "exact lists of all freemen in Dartmouth' made from time to time and dating certainly as early as 29 May, 1670. This exclusion from the rights of citizenship was probably a result of his union with the Society of Friends.

There has been preserved a fragment of a letter written by him in Dartmouth to his "brother-in-law, Wiliam harvey, in Taunton," as follows, date not preserved:-
"To the Church of Christ in Taunton, and Mr. Shove (the pastor) and yourself in particular, I desire to be remembered, whose prayers I doubt not I and mine are the better for, and whose welfare I earnestly wish and pray for. Myself, wife, and sons, and daughter Gilbert who hath four sons, remember our respects and loves, and my sons are all married,&c"

It is inferred from this letter that he married a sister of William harvey who was also one of the first purchasers of Taunton in equal interest with him. William harvey remained in Taunton where he became a prominent citizen and for several successive years was chosen Deputy to the General Court - being evidence conclusive that he was not a member of the Society of Friends. The Court records for New Plymouth contain the information that "At a Court of Assistants, William harvey and Joane Hucker of Cohannett were marryed the second of Aprill, 1639." No record of Anthony Slocombe's marriage having been found, it is presumed that he was married before his arrival in the colonies....

Anthony Slocombe's household of six heads recorded in Taunton 28 December, 1659, may have been composed of himself and wife, their daughter and her husband John (?) Gilbert, and two grand-sons; or, one, two, or three servants may have been counted to make up the number six. If Anthony had own sons living in Dartmouth they probably died young - perhaps were with him, killed in Philip's War in 1675. No further mention has been found of them, and no one has been identified as descendants of theirs.

Anthony married ? HARVEY. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]