Giles Slocum

Giles Slocum (son of Giles Slocum and Ann Lawton) and his wife Anne Borden settled in Portsmouth where he was made freeman in 1703 and chosen Deput" to the Rhode Island General Assembly in 1704, an office he held for several years. He was chosen "Assistant" in 1722-3. The records of Portsmouth show: Apr. 1st, 1745, "Giles Slocum gave manumission to a negro slave ‘Jack’ and a negro woman ‘Heleno’ they paying him therefor one hundred and fifty pounds in current bills of publick credit of the colony".

His will is an interesting document now owned by William H. Slocum of Brooklyn, N. Y.

NOTE. In "Notes of Rhode Island History" by John Barber it mentions that ‘an Indian was hung near Newport, R. I. in 1712 for the murder of two boys, sons of Giles Slocum’. Tradition says that the boys were drowned by a servant belonging to the family. Probably the Indian referred to.

Interestingly, his great-granddaughter Frances Slocum (/Joseph/Jonathan) was captured by the Indians and not rediscovered by her family for many many years, a great read here:

http://www.rootsweb.com/~scwhite/slocum/frances2.html

From A Short History of the Slocums, Slocumbs and Slocombs of America :

HON. GILES* SLOCUM ( Giles* Giles,* Anthony,1 ) was born in Portsmouth Township, Rhode Island, the 8th day of Tenth month, 1680, and was there married to Anne Borden as shown by the following certificate : — "

Portsmouth, Rhode Island January 15th 1701-2, this may certify all persons whom it doth concern that Giles Slocum the son of Giles Slocum and Anne his wife and Anne Borden the daughter of Matthew Borden and Sarah his wife all belonging to the town of Portsmouth above said (viz) that he the said Giles Slocum Junr and Anne Borden were joined in marriage according to law on the day and year above written Me JOSEPH SHEFFIELD Assistant.

The above is a true Copy

Recorded by WM. SANFORD Town Clerk."

They settled in Portsmouth where he was admitted freeman in the year 1703, and chosen Deputy to the Rhode Island General Assembly in 1704 which office he held for many years. He was chosen Assistant in 1722 and '23 (?) ; see page 44. The records of Portsmouth Township show, under date of I April, 1745, that " Giles Slocum gave an article of manumission to a negro slave Jack

and a negro woman Heleno they paying him therefor one hundred and fifty pounds in good currant bills of publick credit of the Colony."

The Friends' record of his death reads as follows : — "

Giles Slocum of Portsmouth aged 68 Years 9 months and 1 2 Days, and Departed this Life at his own House the 4th day of the week the 2oth of ye 7mo- 1749 and was Buried the 6 day of ye week following by Portsmouth Meeting House. And as he was ZEALOUS for true Church Discipline so he was much made use of by the Church and was serviceable among his neighbours having a Gift beyond some others ; his Death is therefore Lamented by the Church as well as his Neighbors

and his own Family."

His will is an interesting document of its kind and is now treasured by William H. Slocum, Esq., (sketch No. 329) of Brooklyn, N. Y.

Children :

• i. GILES, born the ISt of 9 mo., 1702
• ii. MATTHEW, b. 31st of 10 mo., 1703, deceased together 22d of 4th mo., 1712 John Barber, in his Notes of Rhode Island History, writes that an Indian was hung near Newport in the year 1712 for the murder of two boys, sons of Giles Slocum (Giles and Matthew apparently). He was hung in chains (gibbeted) at " Monotomyny liill " (a hill in the north part of the present City of Newport named from the Indian Wonnamatonna- mee ?), and was left on the gallows until 1715, or until his bones fell apart from decay of the flesh and ligaments. Tradition says the children were killed (drowned ?) by a servant belonging to the family — probably the Indian above referred to. The full entry in the Friends' records concerning the death of the children is given above opposite their names.
• iii. SARAH, b. 12th of 11th mo., 1704; married Barker.
• iv. ANNE, b. 17th of 3rd mo., 1707; married Easton.
• v. MARY, b. 7th of 12 mo., 1708; m. 1st John Cook; 2d — Palmer.
• vi. ELIZABETH, b. 8th of 9th mo., 1711 ; married Preserved Fish.
• vii. GILES, b. i4th of sth mo., 1713; mar. Susannah Brownell.
• viii. MATTHEW, b. 12th of 2d mo., 1715 ; mar. Hannah Tallman.
• ix. RUTH, b. 1st of 4th month, 1717 ; married Edward Easton.
• x. BENJAMIN, b. 29th 7th mo., 1720; d. 11th of 11th mo., 1723.
• xi. JOANNA, twin, b. 30th 10th mo., 1722; d. 1st 6 mo., 1724.
• xii. ABIGAIL, twin, b. 31st of 10th mo., 1722 ; mar. - Brownell.
• xiii. HANNAH, b. 26th of Sth month 1726, in Portsmouth, R. I.

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GEDCOM Note

Category: Portsmouth Friends Churchyard, Portsmouth, Rhode Island

Biography

Births Slocum

Giles of Giles and Ann 1st 9m 1702 d. 22d 4m 1712

Mathew 31st 10m 1703

Sarah 11th 11m 1704-5

Anne 17th 3m. 1707

Mary 7th 12m 1708-9

Elizabeth 8th 9m 1711

Giles 14th 5m 1713

Mathew 12th 2m 1715

Ruth 1st 4m 1717

Benjamin 29th 7m 1720

Joanna 30th 10m 1722

Abigail 31h 10m 1722

Hannah 25th 8m 1726
<ref>Rhode Island, Vital Extracts, 1636-1899 Vol. 04: Newport County: Births, Marriages, Deaths p98</ref>

burial listed in Short History of Slocums

Note

: Note: Subject: Re: [RIGENWEB] Re: Murder of two sons of Giles Slocum
:: SLOCUM52@aol.com writes::: << The two oldest sons of Giles and Anne Bordon Slocum were murdered together on the 22 of the 4th month (June) 1712. John Barber, in his notes of Rhode Island History, writes that an Indian was hung near Newport in the year 1712 for the murder of two boys, sons of Giles Slocum. He was hung in chains:: (gibbeted) at "Monotomyny Hill", a hill in the North part of the city of Newport, named from the Indian Wonnamatonnamee, and was left on the gallows

References

• Rhode Island Roots, Vol.19, #1, March 1999 Author: Jane Fletcher Fiske, F.A.S.G.: Publication: The Family of Giles(2) Slocum of Dartmouth, Mass., andNewport, RI: A corrected Account Based on New Evidence. Abbreviation: Rhode Island Roots, Vol.19, #1, March 1993 Note: NS308493

1. A short history of the Slocums, Slocumbs and Slocombs of America, genealogical and biographical; embracing eleven generations of the first-named family, from 1637 to 1881: with their alliances and the descendants in the female lines as far as ascertained. by Slocum, Charles Elihu, 1841-1915 (Publication date 1882) Page 62. < Archive.Org > Family of person # 14