PHILIP SLOCUM

• Birth Notes
  • was born in 1597 at Old Cleeve, Somerset, England.1,2 

• General Notes
  • Anthony Slocombe History
    
    The story of Anthony Slocombe began in England in the year of 1590. English records have never revealed to us his parents or place of birth. His first and second marriage also remains a mystery. The ancient records of England and American may give us a clue as to his parents and reason for coming to America at the age of about 45 years.
    
    Dr. Charles E. Slocum described Anthony [Books 1 & 2 - 1880-1908] as a cultured and educated man from a high social standing. He also mentions a Coat of Arms and the family being of Nobility. The family being of Nobility is not written in records but his close relationship to the Harvey Family in North Caroline would certainly suggest that his family line was well connected. In his elder years he was appointed Lord Proprietor Deputy of Albemarle, North Carolina. This appointment would also suggest that he and his family were well connected in England and that he was an intelligent and highly respected man of the community. He would be expected to defend and protect the business interest of one of the eight Lord Proprietors of London and report his findings back to England and sit in court to up hold the Laws set by the Eight Lord proprietors. This would also suggest that he remained loyal to King and country.
    Understanding his high social family standing would suggest only two families in the area of Somerset, England that he would have been born into. The Family of Sir David Slocombe,Esq. of Somerset or Sir Thomas Slocombe, Esq. of Bristol, Gloucester, England. Both of these men were wealthy merchants, shippers and traders of goods, and landholder's in Somerset. Without proven records my research would suggest that he was a member of Sir Thomas Slocombe's family for only one reason, a ship or ships named 'Falcon'. This is only a calculated assumption that could be proven in error with the finding of written records. Both men had later family members with connections to the new American colony.
    
    Thomas Slocombe was listed in the Bristol records as a draper, merchant, Sheriff, Mayor, Alderman and Gent. [A Draper is a dealer in fabric’s chiefly woolen and linen cloth and sewing needs]. He was also a member of the Bristol merchant society that listed him as shipping iron and other commodities. The member's of this society were also responsible for backing the discovery of Newfoundland.
    Gyles Slocombe [AKA: Giles Slocum] is still a mystery. A DNA study conducted by Melville Brown and Judy Slocum has proven that Giles and Anthony Slocombe are related; however their parentage still mystifies us today. Professional research is now being conducted and we hope we can find the answer soon.
    
    The early research by Dr. Charles Slocum assumed Giles was the son of Anthony, however he stated this fact was indecisive. Later research stated that he was the son of Philip and Charity Slocombe of Old Cleeve in Somerset, however this also seems to be in error. Charity Bickham Slocombe did not mention Grandchildren or the wife of Giles in her will. Another record shows that Giles Slocombe of Goathurst [parish where father Philip died] lived and died in Goathurst, Somerset, England many years after 1637, [year Giles arrived in America].
    
    Research: England -www.a2a.org.uk
    North Petherton - ref. DDSASH/47/3
    
    FILE - MARRIAGE SETTLEMENT - ref. DDSASH/47/3/16 - date: 1662
    [from Scope and Content] 13 Chas. II. Jan 20. George Blanchflower of Gotehurst, gentleman, to Oliver Galhampton of Enmore, Clerke, & John Harvey of Bridgwater, gentleman, in trust for Jane, daughter of the said Oliver, OF a messuage with the appurtenances in Sherstone, in the parish of Northpetherton, in the tenure of Alexander Popham, gentleman, & heretofore of Thomas House; 1 garden and orchard near adjoining; 1 Close of land called the crest adjoining the said orchard - all containing three acres; 1 close of land called yeallandes (3 acres); 2 Closes of land called Cort gardens with the old lane thereunto adjoining (6 acres); 3 closes of land called the crestes (9acres); 1 close of Land called Slads (3 acres); 2 Closes of Land called Hedginge Dore or begginge Goale (6 acres); 4 closes of land called Ridons or twenty acres (20 acres); 1 Close of Meadow called Haggettes Poole (6 acres); 1 Close of Meadowe called Modeland (3 acres), 1 close of Meadowe called Slades (5 acres); 2 closes of pasture called Ridons (15 acres) -- all situate in Sherston in the parish of Northpetherton sometime in the tenure of the said Thomas House & now of the said Alexander Popham for a certain number of years if he so long live; with common of pasture eston's & tillage in Horedowne & elsewhere belonging to the said premises; in consideration of the marriage of George & Jane before Feb. 1 next ensuing & of £500, marriage portion of the latter; to the use of the said George until the marriage and after it during his life, upon his decease to the use of the said Jane for her life & upon decease to the heirs of George & Jane. (Reciting (1) Lease 1656, Ap.10, William Bragge of Sadbourrough, Devon, Esq., John Payne of Gotehurst, gentleman, Iohn Buncombe Northpetherton, gentleman, & Mary, his wife Thomas Coward of the City of Wells, gentleman, & Katherine his wife to Francis Webber of Roade in the parish of Northpetherton, gentleman, OF Messuage, 30 acres of land, meadow & pasture & the appurtenances in Andersfeild in Gotehurst then late in the tenure of Giles Slocombe for 99 years from date determinable on the lives of George Blanchflower & Iohn & Phillipp, his brothers, at 20/- p.a. payable at the usual quarters; (2) Assignment, 1658, Oct.18, Francis Webber to Thomas Blanchflower, clerke, deced., father of the said George of said lease; (3) Will of Thomas Blanchflower, 13 Chas. II, [1661], July 17 bequeathing same to the said George conditionally upon payment to Sarah his daughter until her attainment of 21 years £4.0.0. p.a. by quarterly payments of 20/- & appointing his cousin John Payne, gentleman, Phillipp Cornish, his brother-in-law, Mr. John Pratt, his Kinsman, Thomas Musgroue his good friend & the said George, his son, his executors in trust) the said George further assigns the said premises for residue of term conditional on the payment above mentioned in trust for himself for life & subsequently for the said Jane ner exors. & administrators
    
    Quoting Henry Howland Crapo [‘The Slocum House at Barney’s Joy’] "The dates [research dates] relating to Anthony Slocum and Giles Slocum would not indicate that they were father and son. If they were of kin {which DNA has now proven} they were more probably brothers."
    
    As researcher of this article, I agree with Mr. Crapo in his above statement. All of the research found to his date gives us proof that they were not father and son. If Giles went to Taunton with Anthony and family, he left there with the Cooke family and then settled in Rhode Island. It would appear that Anthony had a son named Gile’s who purchased land in Taunton after Giles of Rhode Island left that fair village and also died as did his brother Edward.
    
    Ye Old Grist Mill
    
    Giles Slocombe built a gristmill on Cooke Property in Portsmouth, Rhode Island. In a book written by Judith Hawke, ‘Everyday Life in Early America’ describes a Gristmill and its use. "A Gristmill called for a much larger capital investment and no other colonial enterprise except shipbuilding required more, mainly because the stones needed to grind grain had to be imported from Europe. Once the stones reached a port town they had to be hauled inland which was another heavy expense and then assembled and dressed at the mill site by an expert. Milling was a highly specialized craft. The ideal miller combined the skills of carpenter, cooper, joiner, blacksmith and mason. He needed to be able to judge with eye and hand the quality of the grain, its age, its moisture content, its temperature, and then determine the proper speed to rotate his stones for the particular batch in hand. Every community that fronted on a fast-running stream did all it could to lure a miller into its midst. No one exceeded the miller in practical importance. His presence could mean the difference between a subsistence existence and prosperity. Without him all grain had to be ground by hand and few farmers could produce enough surplus flour by that process to send to market. Flour the miller shipped to port towns returned in the form of pots and pans, axes and hoes, bolts of calico."
    
    Dr. Charles Slocum claimed that Anthony and Giles came from a wealthy prestige family. Research of Somerset and Devon Counties helped eliminate many family groups. There are only two families that might relate (1) Sir Thomas Slocombe, born in Somerset and living as a rich merchant in Bristol. Thomas and his son John Slocombe were connected to two ships named ‘Falcon’ that sailed out of the port of Bristol. The first Falcon was sailed by the pirate Captain, Sir Walter Raleigh in 1575 and the second Falcon sailed and landed in Jamestown, Virginia in 1619. (2) Sir David Slocombe of Somerset, a wealthy merchant who’s next generation could be found in Barbados as a sugar merchant.
    
    
    
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