Since his arrival in 2018, Toms River High School South Principal, Michael Citta, has been working to maintain and restore many of the school’s long standing traditions. Homecoming bonfires, victory parades and a place of prominence for the school’s fight song, “Old Indian Tom,” are chief among these legacies that Citta has worked to preserve. Recently, Citta received an unexpected, but very Southish surprise. He is a direct descendant of Thomas “Old Indian Tom” Luker -- the namesake of both our school’s fight song and the Town of Toms River.
With this discovery, Citta’s efforts to preserve the school’s storied heritage have become more personal. This geneological connection was discovered by relatives of Citta while compiling a family history.
A cousin of Mr. Citta, Keith Clayton, organized a compilation of many branches and offshoots and leaves on the Citta-Clayton family tree. Using many resources such as Ancestry.com, family stories, and DNA research, Clayton was able to assemble impressive results, results that came as a big eye-opener to Citta.
The crown jewel of the family tree was the major finding that the beloved mascot, founder of our town, and spiritual inspiration to our school, “Old Indian Tom,” has another title to hold, hidden in history until now, Great Grandfather to Principal Citta.
Most of us have some idea of how our families came to America. A relatively small group of locals can trace a multi-generational family connection to our community; however, very few locals can trace their ancestry back to the indigenous people who populated New Jersey prior to the arrival of Europeans.
Citta, is a member of two families with deep roots in Toms River history -- the Cittas and the Claytons; however, the discovery that he is directly related to “Old Indian Tom” takes this connection to another level.
To understand the significance of our Principal’s history, we have to begin in a place so familiar but so different from today. In 1685, the colony of New Jersey had been part of the British Empire for 21 years. A Royal British subject named Thomas Luker sailed from England to settle in the central part of the colony, Goose Creek. This river, which begins in the Barnegat Bay and eventually thins out to reveal a little hamlet, nestled amongst the cedars and pines, provided a unique opportunity for Luker to run a small trading service using his barge. Luker was also fortunate to share a friendship with the local indigenous tribe, the Lenni Lenape and it’s chief.
Luker settled in the area that we now call Toms River and eventually married the chief’s daughter, Princess Ann. By 1712, Goose Creek was referred to as “Tom’s River” (the apostrophe would eventually disappear), a nod to Luker and his successful business trade. The village that developed and grew in that picturesque hamlet also became known as Toms River and would eventually become incorporated into Dover Township in 1767. In 2006, the residents of Dover Township voted to name the entire Township Toms River.
Thomas Luker would become known as “Old Indian Tom” and stay in local legend and history for the next couple centuries, until Toms River High School adopted him as the school mascot and figurehead in the 20th century.
The Clayton’s connection point to Old Indian Tom is 3 generations down:
Thomas - Princess Ann
“Old Indian Tom” Luker
Luker
Son
Daniel - Hester
Luker Van
Son
Thomas - Elizabeth
Luker Luker
Grover
Daughter
Nancy - William
Ann Clayton
Luker
Grover
Mr. Citta was fond to explain the details of the family tree, including the naming of his 4th Great Grandmother Nancy Ann Luker Grover,
“In those time periods, the women, they start taking on all the names of the generations before them...so look at the name, you have Nancy, the lady’s first name; Ann, after Princess Ann, ‘Old Indian Tom’s’ wife; Luker, the family name; and Grover, the last name of her mother, who married Thomas Luker, the grandson of ‘Old Indian Tom.’”
This news was very exciting for Mr. Citta to learn.
“[It’s] crazy...you fast forward hundreds of years later and I am blessed to be a part of a school and a town … [where] a small percentage of me, is related to its namesake … [it’s] pretty neat,” said Citta.
Our principal is, of course, a member of the Citta family who have a storied history in town. Mr. Citta’s grandfather, Frank Citta, was a pupil at Toms River High School, elected president of his class 4 year in a row and was made the captain of the football team for 4 years and eventually became a realtor and entrepreneur. Frank’s other brother Joseph Citta was a member of a local law firm. Joseph A. Citta Elementary School is named after him. Other South alumni that are members of Mr. Citta’s family include Hugh Clayton, who ran Camp Albocondo, a popular recreational site for local families and families around the state and Citta’s grandmother and father.
Walking the halls of High School South everyday is made all that much more special to Citta knowing those who came before him.
“It’s hard not to walk around with a smile and be very proud,” said Citta. “This is a great place to be.”
Mr. Citta has tried to bring back many of the traditions and activities that his relatives would have experienced back during their time at South,
“There’s many things that have happened in the school over the [129] years that the [it’s] been in existence ... that are non-traditional … from what you get in a normal high school that we would love to bring back,” said Citta.
One thing Mr. Citta values most about these traditions is what it does for the community that raised his family for decades.
“Just to have the community around...the more people we can have together and bring together to support this student body, and to share those experiences within this community, it’s going to make the community stronger,” said Citta.
The traditions and values experienced and taught at High School South are going to ultimately make the students better and thus the community better, Mr. Citta believes.
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