Many people at High School South are familiar with "Old Indian Tom," the iconic song that is played the band during every football game. It is a tune that is not only a staple of South pride and tradition, but something that makes High School South the greatest high school in the world. And while many know of the song, many don’t of the history of "Old Indian Tom" and the myths that surround the man whose name we know today.
Who was Old Indian Tom? That question may not have a definite answer, but there are several possibilities as to who the man who founded Toms River could be.
In 1644 a man named William Tom arrived in America supposedly to inherit the land that would become Toms River from King Charles II. However,
there is no concrete proof he ever actually went to Toms River.
In 1785 there was allegedly a man who went by the name “Old Indian Tom” who worked as a spy for the British; however, records show that Toms River was founded around 1700, thus the timelines don’t match.
One final theory shows an Englishman named Thomas Luker who travelled to Toms River in 1700 and was welcomed into the Lenape Tribe. He grew to be beloved by the tribe, marrying the chief’s daughter and creating his own ferry system along what would be called Toms River. But, while we may not know the true origins of who founded Toms River, Old Indian Tom remains a cornerstone of a tradition and culture at High School South and will continue to do so for years to come.
