Person Sheet
NameFrances “Maconaquah” Slocum
Birth4 Mar 1773, Warwick, RI
Death9 Mar 1847, Peru, IN
FatherJonathan Slocum (1733-1778)
MotherRuth Tripp (1736-1807)
Misc. Notes
Was abducted by Indians when she was 5 and not found for 60 years. Was given the Indian name Maconaguah. She was found near Peru, IN in September 1837.
Frances Slocum was born on 4 March 1773 in Warwick, Rhode Island, the daughter of Jonathan and Ruth Tripp Slocum, a Quaker family. She was from Wilkes-Barre, Wyoming Valley, Luzerne County, PA. when she was taken from her home in 1778 by Delaware Indians at the age of five. She was given the Indian name Maconaquah and raised as an native, marrying a young Deleware named Little Turtle (who was not Chief Little Turtle) of the Miamis. He was reported to have been abusive to her and she left him with the help of her adoptive parents.[1]
Before her father's death, she was given to Shepoconah for his wife. He later became Chief of the Miami Indians in the Peru area. Maconaquah gave birth to two girls, Kekesequah and Osawshequah. She also had two boys who died at a young age. Maconaquah lived the rest of her life in this area. [2]
In Jan 1835 Col. George W. Ewing, a white man and visiting fur trader, happened upon her village and learned of her abduction as a child. Telling her story when he went back east her family was located and they went to visit her in May of 1838. They wanted her to return with them, but she refused, not wanting leave the people who had been her family for over 60 years. [3]
Frances Slocum was a significant historical figure because of her life as a white woman living in an Indian culture and being accepted by them. A treaty made in 1840 with the United States Government stated that the Miami Indians had to leave their home along the Wabash River within five years. Frances's brothers helped her appeal to Congress asking to be exempted from the treaty so that she and her descendants be allowed to reside on the reservation in Indiana. A petition was drawn up and signed by 21 of her relatives on January 17, 1845. Frances was allowed to stay and not be subjected to what became known as the Trail of Tears that her fellow Miami Indians endured. [4][5]
Frances died of pneumonia on March 9, 1847 in Peru, Miami County, Indiana. She was given a Christian burial at Slocum Cemetery in Wabash County, Indiana. [6]
Frances Slocum was born on 4 March 1773 in Warwick, Rhode Island, the daughter of Jonathan and Ruth Tripp Slocum, a Quaker family. She was from Wilkes-Barre, Wyoming Valley, Luzerne County, PA. when she was taken from her home in 1778 by Delaware Indians at the age of five. She was given the Indian name Maconaquah and raised as an native, marrying a young Deleware named Little Turtle (who was not Chief Little Turtle) of the Miamis. He was reported to have been abusive to her and she left him with the help of her adoptive parents.[1]
Before her father's death, she was given to Shepoconah for his wife. He later became Chief of the Miami Indians in the Peru area. Maconaquah gave birth to two girls, Kekesequah and Osawshequah. She also had two boys who died at a young age. Maconaquah lived the rest of her life in this area. [2]
In Jan 1835 Col. George W. Ewing, a white man and visiting fur trader, happened upon her village and learned of her abduction as a child. Telling her story when he went back east her family was located and they went to visit her in May of 1838. They wanted her to return with them, but she refused, not wanting leave the people who had been her family for over 60 years. [3]
Frances Slocum was a significant historical figure because of her life as a white woman living in an Indian culture and being accepted by them. A treaty made in 1840 with the United States Government stated that the Miami Indians had to leave their home along the Wabash River within five years. Frances's brothers helped her appeal to Congress asking to be exempted from the treaty so that she and her descendants be allowed to reside on the reservation in Indiana. A petition was drawn up and signed by 21 of her relatives on January 17, 1845. Frances was allowed to stay and not be subjected to what became known as the Trail of Tears that her fellow Miami Indians endured. [4][5]
Frances died of pneumonia on March 9, 1847 in Peru, Miami County, Indiana. She was given a Christian burial at Slocum Cemetery in Wabash County, Indiana. [6]