| Richard Stockton | |
|---|---|
| Born | October 1, 1730 near Princeton, New Jersey |
| Died | February 28, 1781 (aged 50) Princeton, New Jersey |
| Known for | signer of the United States Declaration of Independence |
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Richard Stockton (October 1, 1730 – February 28, 1781) was an American lawyer, jurist, legislator, and a signer of the Declaration of Independence.
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A son of John Stockton, he was born near Princeton, New Jersey, attended Samuel Finley's academy at Nottingham, which later became West Nottingham Academy, and the College of New Jersey (now Princeton University), graduating in 1748. He studied law with David Ogden, of Newark, who was at that time the head of the legal profession in the province. Stockton was admitted to the bar in 1754 and soon rose to great distinction. He was a longtime friend of George Washington. His wife was poet Annis Boudinot Stockton, sister of New Jersey statesman Elias Boudinot. The Stocktons had six children. Their son Richard Stockton became an eminent lawyer and prominent Federalist leader. Coincidentally, Elias Boudinot was married to Stockton's sister Hannah Stockton (1736–1808).
Stockton initially showed little interest in politics. He once wrote, "The public is generally unthankful, and I never will become a Servant of it, till I am convinced that by neglecting my own affairs I am doing more acceptable Service to God and Man." Stockton did, however, later take an active role as a trustee of the College of New Jersey.
In 1768, Stockton had his first taste of government service when he was appointed to the governing Council of New Jersey; he was later (1774) appointed to the New Jersey Supreme Court. He first took a moderate stance in the troubles between the colonies and Great Britain. He did not favor separation; rather, he suggested in 1764 that some colonial members be appointed to the Parliament. However, he changed his position a year later when the controversy over the Stamp Act arose. In 1774 he drafted and sent to Lord Dartmouth "with a plan of self-government for America, independent of Parliament, without renouncing the Crown." This Commonwealth approach was not acceptable to the King.
He served the College, afterwards known as Princeton University, as a trustee. In 1766 and 1767, he gave up his practice for the purpose of visiting England, Scotland, and Ireland. While he was in Scotland, his personal efforts resulted in the acceptance of the presidency of the College by the Reverend John Witherspoon.
Witherspoon's wife had opposed her husband's taking the position but her objections were overcome with the aid of his son-in-law Benjamin Rush, who was a medical student in Edinburgh. This was an exceedingly important event in the history of higher education in America. Stockton returned to America and the following year, 1768, he was made a member of the executive council of the province and in 1774 was promoted to the supreme bench of New Jersey.
In 1776, Stockton was elected to the Second Continental Congress, where he took a very active role. That August, when elections were held for the state governments of the new nation, Stockton and William Livingston each received the same number of votes to be the Governor of New Jersey on the first ballot. Although Livingston later won the election by one vote, Stockton was unanimously elected to serve as the Chief Justice of the New Jersey Supreme Court, but he turned down that position to remain in the Congress. Stockton was the first person from New Jersey to sign the Declaration of Independence.
Stockton was appointed by Congress, along with fellow signer George Clymer, to an exhausting two-month journey to Fort Ticonderoga, Saratoga and Albany, New York to assist the Continental Army in the American Revolutionary War. On his return to Princeton, he traveled 30 miles east to the home of a friend, John Covenhoven, to evacuate his family to safety, and away from the path of the British army. While there, on November 30, 1776, he and Covenhoven were captured in the middle of the night, dragged from their beds by loyalists, stripped of their property and marched to Perth Amboy and turned over to the British.[1] Just before Stockton was captured, General William Howe had offered amnesty to those willing to renounce the American "rebellion" and renew their loyalty to the King George III. Although many took the offer of amnesty, Stockton did not and was marched to Perth Amboy where he was put in irons, and brutally treated as a common criminal.[2]
He was then moved to Provost Prison in New York where he was intentionally starved and subjected to freezing cold weather. [3] After nearly five weeks of brutal treatment, Stockton was released, his health ruined.[4] Over 12,000 prisoners died in the prison ships and prisons in New York compared to 4,435 soldiers that died in combat over the six years of war. His estate, Morven, in Princeton was occupied by General Cornwallis during Stockton's imprisonment; his furniture, all household belongings, crops and livestock were taken or destroyed by the British. His library, one of the finest in the colonies, was burned.
Stockton's treatment in the New York prison prompted Continental Congress to pass a resolution directing George Washington to inquire into the circumstances and not long afterward, Stockton was exchanged on January 3, 1777. The U.S. National Archives contains other messages showing that Washington duly contacted Howe in New York regarding the exchange or release of Stockton and others.
While he had been in prison, under torture, he had been forced to sign an "oath of allegiance to King George III". He also gave him "word of honor" that he would no longer be involved in American politics or affairs. In December of 1777 Stockton was forced by Whig leaders to again swear an oath of allegiance to the United States. If he had refused, he would have been banished from Morven.[5][6]
Because of his actions, Stockton is often remembered as the "only signer of the Declaration of Independence who abandoned the American cause". Even after signing a new oath to the emerging United States of America, Stockton remained a "sad and pathetic figure" because of what he went through. His health began declining not long after, until his death at his family's estate in Princeton on February 28, 1781.[5][6] He was then buried at the Stony Brook Meeting House and Cemetery.
In 1888, the state of New Jersey donated a marble statue of Stockton to the National Statuary Hall Collection at the United States Capitol. He is one of only six signers to be honored.
In 1969, the New Jersey Legislature passed legislation establishing a state college which was named after Stockton, to honor the memory of New Jersey's signer of the Declaration of Independence. Richard Stockton College of New Jersey is the current name for this educational institution which was previously known under the names Stockton State College and Richard Stockton State College.
Stockton's name is also well known amongst travelers as well, as one of the southbound rest areas of the New Jersey Turnpike, south of Interstate 195.
Stockton and his wife had six children, four daughters and two sons: Julia Stockton (married to Benjamin Rush, also a signer of the Declaration), Mary, Susan, Richard, Lucius and Abigail.
Stockton's oldest son Richard was an eminent lawyer and later a Senator from New Jersey. His son, Commodore Robert Field Stockton, was a hero of the War of 1812, and in 1846 became the first military governor of California and later a Senator from New Jersey.
Richard was born to John Stockton (born 1701) & Abigail Phillips. John's father was Richard Stockton. Abigail is the daughter of Phillip Phillips and Hannah Stockton. Richard and Hannah were brother & sister, making Richard Stockton's (born 1730) parents 1st cousins. (info from the LDS genealogy website)
4. Glynn, His Sacred Honor Judge Richard Stockton a signer of the Declaration of Independence, 2006, page 197
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