Slocum Family Genealogy & History

The PS General Slocum was a prominent American sidewheel passenger steamboat built in Brooklyn, New York, in 1891 and operated by the Knickerbocker Steamboat Company. Known for her service in the New York City area, she was involved in several mishaps, including groundings and collisions. The most tragic event occurred on June 15, 1904, when she caught fire and sank in the East River, resulting in the death of an estimated 1,021 out of 1,342 passengers. This disaster, primarily affecting German Americans from Manhattan's Little Germany, was the deadliest maritime disaster in New York City's history and remained the worst on U.S. waterways until 1912.

Joshua Slocum, born on February 20, 1844, in Nova Scotia, was the first person to sail solo around the world, a remarkable achievement that he chronicled in his best-selling book, "Sailing Alone Around the World." A naturalized American, Slocum was a seasoned seaman and adventurer who commanded several vessels in his career, including the Spray, on which he completed his historic voyage. His expertise and passion for maritime exploration made him a notable figure in nautical history.

Joshua Slocum was the fifth of eleven children born to John Slocomb and Sarah Jane Slocombe née Southern in Mount Hanley, Nova Scotia. His ancestry traces back to a Quaker ancestor, "John the Exile," who relocated to Nova Scotia as part of the Loyalist migration after opposing the American War for Independence.

R. C. Slocum, born Richard Copeland Slocum on November 7, 1944, is a distinguished American football figure known for his tenure as head coach at Texas A&M University from 1989 to 2002. Slocum is celebrated for being the winningest coach in Texas A&M Aggies football history with 123 victories. Inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame in 2012, he earned accolades such as SWC Coach of the Year three times and led the Aggies to multiple conference championships. His leadership style emphasized integrity and sportsmanship, significantly impacting the program's reputation and success. Slocum also held roles as interim athletics director and special assistant to the president at Texas A&M.

Raised in Orange, Texas, R. C. Slocum graduated from Stark High School in 1963 and furthered his education at McNeese State University in Lake Charles, Louisiana, earning both a B.S. and M.S. He has two sons, including Shawn Slocum, who followed in his father's footsteps into football coaching. Family connections have played a significant role in Slocum's life and career.

Matt Slocum, born on December 27, 1972, is a renowned guitarist, cellist, pianist, and composer, primarily celebrated as the principal songwriter and lead guitarist of the band Sixpence None the Richer. Known for his diverse musical talents, Slocum has collaborated with various artists, including Leigh Bingham Nash, with whom he co-wrote "Nervous In the Light of Dawn." Beyond Sixpence None the Richer, he has played with bands such as The Choir and Over the Rhine, and contributed to albums by artists like Switchfoot and Julie Miller. His discography includes works like "The Fatherless and the Widow" and "Lost in Transition." In 2023, Slocum expanded his musical journey by joining 10,000 Maniacs.

Matt Slocum was born in Rhode Island to parents Joseph and Hildegard Slocum. His family moved to New Braunfels, Texas, when he was an infant, where they opened a bookstore. This move marked the beginning of his upbringing and eventual musical career.