JOSHUA SLOCUM, U.E.

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When the name of Joshua Slocum from Nova Scotia is mentioned, it is most commonly in the context of the first person to sail solo around the world.  However,  land and church records indicate that he was also descended from a prominent United Empire Loyalist.

In 1789, construction began of the oldest substantially unchanged church in Canada built by United Empire Loyalists.  It was the Old Holy Trinity Anglican Church in Middleton,  Nova Scotia, which is still standing and is a Provincial Heritage Site.  Among the five names on the deed to the land was John Slocumb (as it was spelled on the Indenture), the great grandfather of Joshua Slocum.

Recently, on September 17, 2026, I attended a presentation by Kristina Inrig of the Joshua Slocum Society at the Admiral Digby Museum in Digby, which reminded me of the first Slocum to settle in the province.


Kristina Inrig speaking about Joshua Slocum

The Society has purchased the old Slocum Boot Shop in Westport, Digby County, Nova Scotia, and opened it as a museum that describes the life of the famous mariner. It is a Provincial Heritage Site.  Mrs. Inrig is one of the founding directors of the Joshua Slocum Society that was incorporated earlier this year.   

During her presentation, Mrs.  Inrig described how she has managed, through research and inquiries, to acquire original letters of Slocum as well as other items that would have appeared in a boot shop of that era.

Joshua Slocum worked in the shop for his father until he departed at the age of 16.  He was born closer to Middleton on Mount Hanley in Annapolis County, where his great grandfather established a home. His parents moved to Westport when he was eight. His grandparents' graves, as well as other relatives, are in the Slocumb Cemetery on Mount Hanley as appear in the video I prepared below. 



One of the Slocum family, an Aunt of Joshua, Lavenia (Slocumb) Miller, is buried in the cemetery adjacent to Old Holy Trinity in Middleton. 


Old Holy Trinity Church, Middleton, NS 


The Deed which conveyed the land, upon which Old Holy Trinity was built, was recorded on July 23, 1790.  It was from Benjamin Chesley to  Timothy Ruggles  , Thomas Barclay ,   Samuel Bayard , John Ruggles (son of Timothy), and John Slocumb, all well known United Empire Loyalists. The first three were very prominent for their military service to the British Crown during the American Revolution. 

At a parish meeting in Old Holy Trinity Church,  on September 29, 1795, John Slocumb was elected to serve as an  officer.  He was chosen as one of two Wardens.



Further Reference:

Joshua Slocum Society accessed on September 18, 2026

Old Holy Trinity and the Loyalists by Brian McConnell,  U.E., published 2022

The First Church, Old Holy Trinity in Middleton, Nova Scotia by Brian McConnell,  published in 2023



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