Richard Stockton
Richard Stock was born in 1730. His great grandfather of the same name came from England in 1670 and purchased some 7000 acres of land near Princeton and in 1682 effected the first European settlement made in that part of the Province. On this estate, the Stockton family continued to reside happily until driven off by the Army of Lord Howe.Under the instruction of the celebrated Rev. Dr. Samuel Finley, Principal of West Nottingham Academy in Maryland, Richard Stockton graduated from Princeton College in 1748. At eighteen, he commenced the study of law under David Ogden, then at the head of the New Jersey bar.
Paternal Home of Richard Stockton, Signer of the Declaration of Independence
Mr. Stockton opened an office at his paternal mansion and rose rapidly to the zenith of professional eminence. His fame expanded so widely that he was frequently employed to try necessary suits in other colonies. In 1763, he was honored with the degree of Sergeant at Law. In 1766, he closed his professional career, richly rewarded for his faithful and arduous labors. He committed the settlement of his business and practice to Elias Boudinot, who had married his sister and was well qualified to follow in the steps of his illustrious predecessor.
Anxious to further enrich his mind, he embarked for Europe in June of that year and arrived safely in London. He was presented at the Court of St. James by one of the Cabinet members and delivered to the King an address from the College of New Jersey, expressive of their joy at repealing the peace, and the disturbing Stamp Act.
In February following, he visited Edinburgh and Dublin. After over a year of absence, he embarked for home and arrived in September 1767, where his fellow citizens greeted him. Due to the high opinion of his talents entertained by the King, he appointed him to a seat in the Supreme Judiciary and Executive Council in 1769. In 1774, he was appointed an associate judge of the Supreme Court with David Ogden, his law preceptor.
The Revolutionary War: the Northern Army
Mr. Stockton became a member of Congress. In the autumn of 1776, he was sent with George Clymer to inspect the Northern Army, with the power to supply its wants and correct existing abuses. In the discharge of this duty, they had the approbation of Congress and the army.Richard Stockton taken Prisoner by the British
Soon after his return, Mr. Stockton rushed to save his wife and children from the brutality of the approaching enemy. The British caught him and most inhumanly imprisoned him in New York. He was deprived of every comfort, kept twenty-four hours without any provision and then received a coarse and scanty supply, and, the British violating the laws of humanity of nations and all rules of civilized warfare. This base treatment impaired his health and laid the foundation of disease that hastened his death. His capture happened when a Tory betrayed him.George Washington persuaded British General Howe to Release Stockton
This abuse of one of its members roused the indignation of Congress. General Washington was directed to send a flag of truce to General Howe and, through great exertions, finally obtained the release of Mr. Stockton. Simultaneous with his capture, the demoniac enemy committed to the flames his extensive library, papers, and everything combustible, leaving his highly ornamented plantation a blackened waste.Richard Stockton was unable again to take his seat in Congress but continued to be a consulted counselor in public affairs at his residence near Princeton and died February 28, 1781.