In Lord of the Rings, they do give a pretty in-depth account of Gollum's life, if you recall. I believe it was in "FotR" that it is explained. Gollum (as Smeagol) did not live IN the Shire I did not think. He lived in the woods near a river.
Anyway: if you don't know the story, just read the book...and let me go find where it is for you in the book...
Okay: it is in chapter two...in my book page 62 it starts...it starts with:
Quote:
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Long after, but still very long ago...
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Gandalf is telling Frodo the story of the ring. They lived on the banks of the Great River on the edge of Wilderland...near the Gladden Fields apparently. For the rest of the chapter, they tell the story of Gollum (broken up by other conversation and information). It tells basically Smeagol's whole life story. Happy reading!