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Peleg Slocum (1654–1732/1733) was a
Quaker Quakers are people who belong to the Religious Society of Friends, a historically Protestant Christian set of denominations. Members refer to each other as Friends after in the Bible, and originally, others referred to them as Quakers ...
from
Portsmouth, Rhode Island Portsmouth is a town in Newport County, Rhode Island, United States. The population was 17,871 at the 2020 United States census, 2020 U.S. census. Portsmouth is the second-oldest municipality in Rhode Island, after Providence Plantations, Provide ...
, he was a proprietor of
Dartmouth, Massachusetts Dartmouth (Massachusett language, Massachusett: ) is a coastal town in Bristol County, Massachusetts, United States. Old Dartmouth was the first area of Southeastern Massachusetts to be settled by Europeans in 1652, primarily English. Dartmouth ...
and sole owner of
Cuttyhunk Island Cuttyhunk Island is the outermost of the Elizabeth Islands in Massachusetts. A small outpost for the harvesting of sassafras was occupied for a few weeks in 1602, arguably making it the first English settlement in New England. Cuttyhunk is loc ...
.


Life


Illicit activity

Despite being known as an “honest publick ic.Friend,” Slocum was also known to be a smuggler and a profitable contraband trader, posing as being on religious missions, Slocum would use his boat to transport felonious goods. Slocum's criminal activity was so great that he was able to, at the age of 23, put up 2000 pounds to purchase a farm. Slocum also found himself on the wrong side of the law in white-collar, and religious situations. He was a defendant against a claim that he and other Dartmouth proprietors refused to divide land. He also had eighty of his sheep, as well as his land on the
Elizabeth Islands The Elizabeth Islands are a chain of over 20 small islands extending southwest from the southern coast of Cape Cod, Massachusetts in the United States. They are located at the outer edge of Buzzards Bay, north of Martha's Vineyard, from whic ...
seized for refusing to contribute, and pay a tax, to build a
Presbyterian Presbyterianism is a historically Reformed Protestant tradition named for its form of church government by representative assemblies of elders, known as "presbyters". Though other Reformed churches are structurally similar, the word ''Pr ...
Church at Chilmark. John Tucker was also punished for refusing to pay the tax. He had a horse and
heifer Heifer may refer to: * Heifer (cow), a young cow before she has had her first calf * Frank Heifer (1854–1893), American outfielder and first baseman * '' The Heifer'' (''La vaquilla''), 1985 Spanish comedy film * Heifer International, a charit ...
seized to pay the rates. He was called before his monthly church meeting for the transgression of being at a "place of dancing and music."


Family

Slocum married his wife
Mary Holder Mary may refer to: People * Mary (name), a female given name (includes a list of people with the name) Religion * New Testament people named Mary, overview article linking to many of those below * Mary, mother of Jesus, also called the Blesse ...
, daughter of
Christopher Holder Christopher Holder (1631–1688) was an early Quaker evangelist who was imprisoned and whipped, had an ear cut off, and was threatened with death for his religious activism in the Massachusetts Bay Colony and in England. A native of Gloucestersh ...
a Quaker evangelist, in 1681. With Mary he had ten children, including Holder Slocum. He was the son of Giles and Joan Slocum.


Cuttyhunk island

In 1693 Slocum obtained Cuttyhunk Island, a small island off of the Massachusetts Southeast coast, as well as the surrounding islands Nashawena and
Penikese Penikese Island is a island off the coast of Massachusetts, United States, in Buzzards Bay. It is one of the Elizabeth Islands, which make up the town of Gosnold, Massachusetts. Penikese is located near the west end of the Elizabeth island ...
. Slocum purchased the island from the combined holdings of Ralph Earle Jr., his brother William, and
Peleg Sanford Peleg Sanford (10 May 1639 – 1701) was an early governor of the Colony of Rhode Island and Providence Plantations, serving three consecutive terms from 1680 to 1683. Biography Family Sanford was the son of John Sanford (governor), John Sanf ...
. He reportedly used Cuttyhunk to graze sheep, since he didn't need walls to confine the flock. During Slocum's ownership period the Island was known as Slocum's Island.


Religion

Slocum was known as a devout Quaker. He routinely held meetings of the local Friends in his Dartmouth home - all the way until 1703. He held every recorded meeting during 1699, 1700, 1702 and during 1703 until the meeting house was finished. The last recorded date being the 24th day of the 3rd month on the Quaker Calendar. In the texts his name was listed as Slocumb, Slocom, and Slocum. Slocum, along with Increes Allin were chosen to "Inspect in to the lives and conversations of friends for the following month" in 1703. In 1703 he was also chosen twice to attend quarterly meetings. In 1704 he was chosen to attend a quarterly meeting, look in to the local Quakers lives, and attended the Quaker yearly meeting in
Salem, Massachusetts Salem ( ) is a historic coastal city in Essex County, Massachusetts, United States, located on the North Shore (Massachusetts), North Shore of Greater Boston. Continuous settlement by Europeans began in 1626 with English colonists. Salem was one ...
with John Tucker. He was also chosen to speak with a Quaker about his disorderly speeches at the town house, and Slocum was chastised for speaking out of turn about a bill. He was then chosen to attend another local monthly meeting and a yearly meeting in
Sandwich, Massachusetts Sandwich is a town in Barnstable County, Massachusetts, United States and is the oldest town on Cape Cod. The town motto is ''Post tot Naufracia Portus'', "after so many shipwrecks, a haven". The population was 20,259 at the 2020 census. Histor ...
. In 1705 he went on a variety of trips to talk to local Quakers on behalf of the congregation. In 1706 he went to
Rochester, Massachusetts Rochester is a town in Plymouth County, Massachusetts, Plymouth County, Massachusetts, United States. The population was 5,717 at the 2020 census. Rochester is a part of the South Coast (Massachusetts), South Coast region of Massachusetts which ...
after not attending a slew of monthly meetings to talk to the Friends there. At the end of the year he attended two more quarterly meetings. In 1707 he attended two quarterly meetings in
Rhode Island Rhode Island ( ) is a state in the New England region of the Northeastern United States. It borders Connecticut to its west; Massachusetts to its north and east; and the Atlantic Ocean to its south via Rhode Island Sound and Block Is ...
. and one other quarterly meeting as well. He was also chosen as an overseer for a Dartmouth Meeting. In 1708 he attended more quarterly meetings and a yearly meeting. He was also asked about renewing his deed on the land the meeting house was built. He was not willing to. This followed a reported clash with other Dartmouth Quakers, including his brother. Slocum refused to stand during an award ceremony, was absent from several meetings, and acted in an aggressive way at other Quaker meetings he attended. Following his disagreement with the Quakers in 1708 his name was absent from all meetings in 1709, and 1710. He then attended 3 meetings over the years 1711,1712, and 1713. In 1714 he attended three meetings. One in 1715. None in 1716. In 1717 he ran in to trouble for refusing to pay a tax at Chilmark. He also helped the church draw up an account for a late act by Walter Newbury. His first recorded action for the Quakers in close to ten years. He then attended another meeting. He was absent from all meetings in 1718. But appeared again in 1719 to announce his daughters upcoming wedding. And then attended two more 1719 meetings. He went to one meeting in 1720. Two in 1721. One in 1724. and one in 1725, which was his last recorder appearance. Slocum was one of the first approved Ministers of the society. Additionally, he was known to travel in his sloop to the island of
Nantucket Nantucket () is an island in the state of Massachusetts in the United States, about south of the Cape Cod peninsula. Together with the small islands of Tuckernuck Island, Tuckernuck and Muskeget Island, Muskeget, it constitutes the Town and Co ...
with the intent of converting locals to his faith. In 1698, along with several other Dartmouth Quakers, Slocum pledged money to help build a meeting house. His was the largest individual donation. £15. He also purchased a lot on which to build the meeting house for one pound, sixteen
shilling The shilling is a historical coin, and the name of a unit of modern currency, currencies formerly used in the United Kingdom, Australia, New Zealand, other British Commonwealth countries and Ireland, where they were generally equivalent to 1 ...
s. The lot he purchased was six acres large and would go on to not just house the meeting house. But also a cemetery. In 1699, the
meeting house A meeting house (also spelled meetinghouse or meeting-house) is a building where religious and sometimes private meetings take place. Terminology Nonconformist (Protestantism), Nonconformist Protestant denominations distinguish between a: * chu ...
was built. The first in
Old Dartmouth Old Dartmouth was the first area of Southeastern Massachusetts settled by Europeans. It was purchased on behalf of the Plymouth Colony in 1652 from the indigenous Wampanoag people. The lands included all of modern-day Dartmouth, New Bedford, ...
, where the Apponegansett Meeting House is now located. He would also routinely meet with Quakers in high regard. Including
Thomas Story Thomas Story (1670?–1742) was an English Quaker convert and friend of William Penn, whose writings were very influential to Quakers. In 1698, he visited colonial America, lectured to Quakers there, and held positions in the Pennsylvania colon ...
, and John Richardson.


Holdings

Slocum's main holdings were in the
Russells Mills Village Historic District The Russells Mills Village Historic District is a historic district on Russells Mills, Rock O' Dundee, Slades Corner, Horseneck and Fisher Roads in Dartmouth, Massachusetts. It encompasses an area that was an early industrial center, flourish ...
. He settled in Slocum's Neck, when he died his homestead contained over one thousand acres. His home on the land was called 'The Mansion,' and was located near the home of Paul Barker and a Native American burial ground near Horseneck Road. In 1751 Slocum's land was divided some 20 years after his death. His son, Holder, received a large portion. His land included an Indian Meeting House which was thought to have been built by Slocum and the Quakers for
Old Dartmouth Old Dartmouth was the first area of Southeastern Massachusetts settled by Europeans. It was purchased on behalf of the Plymouth Colony in 1652 from the indigenous Wampanoag people. The lands included all of modern-day Dartmouth, New Bedford, ...
s Native American population. Slocum also owned a watering stop on Horseneck Road.


References


Sources

* {{refend People from Portsmouth, Rhode Island People from colonial Massachusetts People from colonial Rhode Island 1654 births 1733 deaths