Samuel Slocum, Pvt.

DAR#A105366

Samuel Slocum was born in North Kingston Township, Washington County, Rhode Island 25 July 1756, and was reared there on a farm and as a coasting mariner. He entered the Continental Army and particiapted in the Battle of Bennington, Vermont, 16 August 1777; one report states that he was promoted to a captaincy. He married in the year 1777 Margaret Spike, who was born 29 May 1755. They dwelt on a farm in Bennington Township, Vermont, until about 1796, then removed to the adjoining township of Shaftsbury, and then one year later to Salem Township, Washington County, New York, and thence about 1800 to Northumberland Township, Saratoga County, New York. They returned to Shaftsbury, Vermont in 1804 and there died - he 22 December 1827 - and were buried at Shaftsbury Center. He was a tall muscular man and possessed great decision of character.

Taken from A Short History of Slocums, Slocumbs and Slocombs of America (1882) by Charles Elihu Slocum.

n the later part of October 1776, Samuel served in Captain Samuel Robinson's (1st Bennington) Company, Colonel Moses Robinson's Regiment of Militia that went from the south western part of the New Hampshire Grants (now Vermont) to Mount Independence. This movement of militia was ordered by Colonel Seth Warner, then at Castleton (now in Rutland County, Vermont) upon the earnest plea for reenforcements from General Gates commanding at Fort Ticonderoga. Days earlier the British Fleet had overcome the American Flotilla under the command of Colonel Benedict Arnold in the Battle of Lake Champlain (Valcour Island) and were driving up the Lake towards Crown Point and beyond. On August 16, 1777, Samuel was engage in the Battle of Bennington.