William was born in Liverpool, England to Ann McNally (1850-1886) and John J. Slocum (1846-1885), a child displaced by the Irish potato famine of 1845-1850.
His father, John was born in Cork County, Ireland and his mother was born in England. At the age of 2, William sailed with his mother aboard the ship "City of Berlin" from Liverpool to New York. His father followed with William's brothers John Joseph and George James. Shortly after their arrival in America, William's father (a longshoreman) and mother were unable to care for the boys and placed them in the Catholic Orphanage at Gravesend, New York. Eighteen months later the boys were released to their parents, but their father John died suddenly, and their mother took ill. The boys were again placed in the orphanage. Their mother, Ann died four days later. Orphanages were to become a significant focus in the lives of Will's children, grandchildren, and great grandchildren. (Read: "Charla's Children," Angel Award winning story of her life among the orphans of Mexico).
William and his brothers remained in the orphanage until 1888, when a horse racing promoter recognized William as particularly small for his age, a result of malnourishment as a baby, and arranged for Will's release under a bond plan, where William was to ride as a jockey for four years, after which he would receive a new suit of clothes and $18.00.
William continued to race as a jockey throughout America and in 1901, he married Orpha Reynolds, a well to do Michigan girl in Sandwich, Windsor, Ontario, Canada. In 1903, Orpha gave birth to a son in the stable of an unknown racetrack in New York, likely Saratoga Springs, and shortly thereafter she abandoned the child and her jockey husband, unable to deal with the rigors of life on the horse racing circuit.
The baby, Charles Edward Slocum was carted from racetrack to racetrack throughout his childhood, staying in fine hotels when the horses were fast, and slipping out the back door of rooming houses when luck was not in Will's favor. In 1911, Orpha divorced William and young Charles Edward was placed in his father's custody. William and his young son Charles continued to travel the racing circuit until about 1919 when Charles went to live with his mother and step-father.
By 1920, William was no longer riding as a jockey and went to work for the Ford Motor Company in Detroit where he worked for the next 15 years. In 1938, diagnosed with cancer, William moved in with his son Charles Edward and daughter-in-law Olive Hannah Warren at their home on Manning St in Detroit, Michigan. He died in his sleep 21 April 1938. A lifelong Roman Catholic, his last written note said, "My confession was heard on April 5 1938 by Rev Father Crest."
See links to his son, Charles Edward Slocum Davis and daughter in law, Olive Hannah Warren Davis Thayer.
His father, John was born in Cork County, Ireland and his mother was born in England. At the age of 2, William sailed with his mother aboard the ship "City of Berlin" from Liverpool to New York. His father followed with William's brothers John Joseph and George James. Shortly after their arrival in America, William's father (a longshoreman) and mother were unable to care for the boys and placed them in the Catholic Orphanage at Gravesend, New York. Eighteen months later the boys were released to their parents, but their father John died suddenly, and their mother took ill. The boys were again placed in the orphanage. Their mother, Ann died four days later. Orphanages were to become a significant focus in the lives of Will's children, grandchildren, and great grandchildren. (Read: "Charla's Children," Angel Award winning story of her life among the orphans of Mexico).
William and his brothers remained in the orphanage until 1888, when a horse racing promoter recognized William as particularly small for his age, a result of malnourishment as a baby, and arranged for Will's release under a bond plan, where William was to ride as a jockey for four years, after which he would receive a new suit of clothes and $18.00.
William continued to race as a jockey throughout America and in 1901, he married Orpha Reynolds, a well to do Michigan girl in Sandwich, Windsor, Ontario, Canada. In 1903, Orpha gave birth to a son in the stable of an unknown racetrack in New York, likely Saratoga Springs, and shortly thereafter she abandoned the child and her jockey husband, unable to deal with the rigors of life on the horse racing circuit.
The baby, Charles Edward Slocum was carted from racetrack to racetrack throughout his childhood, staying in fine hotels when the horses were fast, and slipping out the back door of rooming houses when luck was not in Will's favor. In 1911, Orpha divorced William and young Charles Edward was placed in his father's custody. William and his young son Charles continued to travel the racing circuit until about 1919 when Charles went to live with his mother and step-father.
By 1920, William was no longer riding as a jockey and went to work for the Ford Motor Company in Detroit where he worked for the next 15 years. In 1938, diagnosed with cancer, William moved in with his son Charles Edward and daughter-in-law Olive Hannah Warren at their home on Manning St in Detroit, Michigan. He died in his sleep 21 April 1938. A lifelong Roman Catholic, his last written note said, "My confession was heard on April 5 1938 by Rev Father Crest."
See links to his son, Charles Edward Slocum Davis and daughter in law, Olive Hannah Warren Davis Thayer.
William was born in Liverpool, England to Ann McNally (1850-1886) and John J. Slocum (1846-1885), a child displaced by the Irish potato famine of 1845-1850.
His father, John was born in Cork County, Ireland and his mother was born in England. At the age of 2, William sailed with his mother aboard the ship "City of Berlin" from Liverpool to New York. His father followed with William's brothers John Joseph and George James. Shortly after their arrival in America, William's father (a longshoreman) and mother were unable to care for the boys and placed them in the Catholic Orphanage at Gravesend, New York. Eighteen months later the boys were released to their parents, but their father John died suddenly, and their mother took ill. The boys were again placed in the orphanage. Their mother, Ann died four days later. Orphanages were to become a significant focus in the lives of Will's children, grandchildren, and great grandchildren. (Read: "Charla's Children," Angel Award winning story of her life among the orphans of Mexico).
William and his brothers remained in the orphanage until 1888, when a horse racing promoter recognized William as particularly small for his age, a result of malnourishment as a baby, and arranged for Will's release under a bond plan, where William was to ride as a jockey for four years, after which he would receive a new suit of clothes and $18.00.
William continued to race as a jockey throughout America and in 1901, he married Orpha Reynolds, a well to do Michigan girl in Sandwich, Windsor, Ontario, Canada. In 1903, Orpha gave birth to a son in the stable of an unknown racetrack in New York, likely Saratoga Springs, and shortly thereafter she abandoned the child and her jockey husband, unable to deal with the rigors of life on the horse racing circuit.
The baby, Charles Edward Slocum was carted from racetrack to racetrack throughout his childhood, staying in fine hotels when the horses were fast, and slipping out the back door of rooming houses when luck was not in Will's favor. In 1911, Orpha divorced William and young Charles Edward was placed in his father's custody. William and his young son Charles continued to travel the racing circuit until about 1919 when Charles went to live with his mother and step-father.
By 1920, William was no longer riding as a jockey and went to work for the Ford Motor Company in Detroit where he worked for the next 15 years. In 1938, diagnosed with cancer, William moved in with his son Charles Edward and daughter-in-law Olive Hannah Warren at their home on Manning St in Detroit, Michigan. He died in his sleep 21 April 1938. A lifelong Roman Catholic, his last written note said, "My confession was heard on April 5 1938 by Rev Father Crest."
See links to his son, Charles Edward Slocum Davis and daughter in law, Olive Hannah Warren Davis Thayer.
His father, John was born in Cork County, Ireland and his mother was born in England. At the age of 2, William sailed with his mother aboard the ship "City of Berlin" from Liverpool to New York. His father followed with William's brothers John Joseph and George James. Shortly after their arrival in America, William's father (a longshoreman) and mother were unable to care for the boys and placed them in the Catholic Orphanage at Gravesend, New York. Eighteen months later the boys were released to their parents, but their father John died suddenly, and their mother took ill. The boys were again placed in the orphanage. Their mother, Ann died four days later. Orphanages were to become a significant focus in the lives of Will's children, grandchildren, and great grandchildren. (Read: "Charla's Children," Angel Award winning story of her life among the orphans of Mexico).
William and his brothers remained in the orphanage until 1888, when a horse racing promoter recognized William as particularly small for his age, a result of malnourishment as a baby, and arranged for Will's release under a bond plan, where William was to ride as a jockey for four years, after which he would receive a new suit of clothes and $18.00.
William continued to race as a jockey throughout America and in 1901, he married Orpha Reynolds, a well to do Michigan girl in Sandwich, Windsor, Ontario, Canada. In 1903, Orpha gave birth to a son in the stable of an unknown racetrack in New York, likely Saratoga Springs, and shortly thereafter she abandoned the child and her jockey husband, unable to deal with the rigors of life on the horse racing circuit.
The baby, Charles Edward Slocum was carted from racetrack to racetrack throughout his childhood, staying in fine hotels when the horses were fast, and slipping out the back door of rooming houses when luck was not in Will's favor. In 1911, Orpha divorced William and young Charles Edward was placed in his father's custody. William and his young son Charles continued to travel the racing circuit until about 1919 when Charles went to live with his mother and step-father.
By 1920, William was no longer riding as a jockey and went to work for the Ford Motor Company in Detroit where he worked for the next 15 years. In 1938, diagnosed with cancer, William moved in with his son Charles Edward and daughter-in-law Olive Hannah Warren at their home on Manning St in Detroit, Michigan. He died in his sleep 21 April 1938. A lifelong Roman Catholic, his last written note said, "My confession was heard on April 5 1938 by Rev Father Crest."
See links to his son, Charles Edward Slocum Davis and daughter in law, Olive Hannah Warren Davis Thayer.
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