The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1896-05-14
FRANCES SLOCUM.
"The Lost Child Of Wyoming"

"The Lost Child Of Wyoming"
The most romantic character In the
history Of Pennsylvania Is that OF
Frances SlOcum, who was stolen by the
Indians when but five years Of age.
With them she lived until her death.
suffering many vicissitudes. and final
ly becoming queen of a tribe of Indians.
1t Is not known in what year. nor In
what ship the adventurous Slocums OF
Somersetshire. first left England for
America, but there Is record OF An
thony Slocum buying land in Cohannet,
New Plymouth, now known as Taunton
Massachusetts,, In 1881.
Giles SlOcum. son of Anthony, was a
member of the society OF Friends In
Portsmouth. Rhode Island, in 1858.
From him are descended the Slocums
whose American lineage dates from the
seventeenth century. Giles had son
whose name was Samuel, grandson
Giles, a great-grandson Joseph, whose
son Jonathan, was the father of Fran
ces Slocum. the subject of this sketch.
After the terrible massacre of the
Connecticut settlers Of the Wyoming
valley by the Indians. July 3. 177S, the
greater number of the survivors fled
through the wilderness toward the
Delaware river.
A few settlers had the hardihood to
remain; among them was Jonathan
Slocum, whose home was several miles
from the battlefield, which was from
Forty Fort northward to near West
Pittston.
To this home came two boys. sons Of
Nathan Kingsley, who had been taken
prisoners by the Indians. The second
day of November four months after
Ln tNalnx IRA md a v
approached the house. which stood in
the edge Of the woods.
Mr.. Slocum ana his father-in-law,
Isaac TTipp, were absent. The Kings
ley boys stood before the door grinding
q knife, one of them wore a soldier $
coat, him the Indians shot and scalped.
Mrs. Slocum snatching her baby fled to
the woods. Mary slocum, aged ten,
caught up little Joseph, aged two. The
Indians shouted loudly and laughed
derisively at her as she wildly darted
after her mother
Little Frances, in her terror, had hid
den under the stairway, but her tiny
bare feet were thrust out far enough
for the keen eye of the savage to detect
them. She was dragged forth.
Ebenezer Slocum, twelve years Of age.
and the surviving Kingsley lad were
seized.
Mrs. Slocum ran back. with tears
streaming down her face and begged
for the children.
They scofred at her with heartless
malignity.
Pointing to Ebenezer. she cried, 1.-THE
child Is lame: he can do thee no good!''
The Indian loosed his hold upon Eb-
= enezer. and throwing little Frances
over his shoulder. followed the others.
The child stretched out one hand i'm
ploringly toward her mother, with the
other brushed back her heavy auburn
Curls; with tears running down her
face, she frantically besought her
mother for help, which the poor, heart
broken woman was unable to give.
The father returned to find bloody
corpse at the door and his child gone.
Parties were organized, who secured
the country in the direction taken by
the sava-es but there was no trace of
the lost child. Six weeks later Jona-
than Slocum ana Isaac Trip were
killed and scalped by the Indians.
Thus Ruth Slocum, in little more
than q month. was bereft of father
husband and child by the merciless In
dams.
The cruel uncertainty Of the fate OF
Frances was more bitter than the
knowledge Of death to the grief-strick-
en- mother. Forced to see her child
torn from her by the bloodthirsty foe
she never forgot that terror-stricken
face; that agonized cry of Mamma
mammal" rang through her brain
She thought of the tender, little bare
feet, perhaps compelled to walk over
snow. and would piteously moan-"Oh
II the poor little creature only had her
Shoes" This idea haunted her fol
many years, racking her heart with
poignant anguish.
At the close of the war. in 1854, two
Of the SONS travelled as far as Niagara
in search OF their lost sister, offering
one hundred guineas for the recovery
Of the child: the attempt was futile
and after an absence OF several weeks
discouraged. they returned home. This
was a sad blow to the mother but she
still had faith that Frances would bs
found.
In 1888 the brothers again visited the
Indian country, penetrating as far a.
the wilderness Of Ohio, offering hvs
hundred dollars for Information Of theil
lost sister but in vain.
In 1889 Indians were required by The
government to assemble at Tioga Poln
to restore captured children.
Mrs. Slocum, with difficulty, made thu
toilsome journey to ascertain If Franco.
were among the captives, but she wa.
again disappointed. Still her hear
clung to the hope that she would agail
Zee her beloved chlld.
In 1897 four Of the brothers started
from Wyoming valley with a drove o
cattle Ito conceal the object Of thei
visit), three went by boat from Senec;
lake, Isaac driving the cattle to Queens
ton where they met continuing thei
Journey together as far as Chippewa
p, again separating in order that q larg
field might be searched. Isaac drov
the cattle through Canada to Detroit
arriving without shoes, almost destl
tute Of clothing and nearly famished.
To appreciate the trials and suffer
ings Of these brothers in search Of thei
sister, 1t must be remembered tina
Canada and many of the states wer
an unbroken wilderness inhabited b.
wild beasts and savage tribes, witt
al occasional trading post or fort.
The following year another trip wa
made to the North and West, as barrel
Of result as the former trips.
In 1907 the brave mother, VIII
mourned the loss Of her child to tn
last, died leaving with her sons tn
solemn charge-"Never to give up tn
search for Frances" For more thai
half century. these faithful childrel
were constantly on the alert to obtail
some clue to their lost sister.
In 1925 word was sent that a chief O
the Wyandotte Indians had for his wifi
white woman, and Mr.. Joseph Slocur
with his nephew, made the journey t
Upper Sandusky, but they were con
vinced that the woman whom the
sound was not Frances.
In 1885, Colonel George Ewing. an In
lian trader, stopped over night at til
Deaf Mans village, on the Mississene
wa, a few miles above its junction wit
he Wabash, IN Indiana. He was grant
ID the hospitality OF an Indian cabi
lnA yas received with kindness BY