Peleg Slocum

Peleg Slocum (1654–1732/1733) was a Quaker from Portsmouth, Rhode Island, he was a proprietor of Dartmouth, Massachusetts and sole owner of Cuttyhunk Island.

Life

Illicit activity Despite being known as an “honest publick [sic.] 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 seized for refusing to contribute, and pay a tax, to build a Presbyterian Church at Chilmark. John Tucker was also punished for refusing to pay the tax. He had a horse and heifer 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, daughter of Christopher Holder a Quaker evangelist, in 1681. Slocum purchased the island from the combined holdings of Ralph Earle Jr., his brother William, and Peleg Sanford. He reportedly used Cuttyhunk to graze sheep, since he didn't need walls to confine the flock.

At a man's meeting in the town of Dartmouth the sixth day of the eleventh month, 1698, at the house of John Lapham, we, underwriters, Peleg Slocum, Jacob Mott, Abraham Tucker and John Tucker, undertake to build a meeting house for the people of God in scorn called Quakers, (35 foot long, 30 foot wide and 14 foot stud) to worship and serve the true and living God in according as they are persuaded in conscience they out to do, and for no other use, intent or purpose. We subscribe our names with our own hands, and for the use of the said society of people toward the building of said house of our free will contribute as followeth. — 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 was built. The first in Old Dartmouth, where the Apponegansett Meeting House is now located. He would also routinely meet with Quakers in high regard. Including Thomas Story, and John Richardson. 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. Slocum also owned a watering stop on Horseneck Road.