Virtual Museum of Art | Virtual Museum of History | Virtual Public Library | Virtual Science Center | Virtual Museum of Natural History | Virtual War Museum
   You are in: Museum of History >> Hall of USA >> Declaration of Independence >> Richard Stockton





The Seven Flags of the New Orleans Tri-Centennial

For More Information go to New Orleans 300th Birthday


 


Richard Stockton

Signer of the Declaration of Independence

RICHARD STOCKTON was born October 1, 1730 near Princeton, New Jersey. His family was ancient and respectable. His great grandfather, of the same name, came from England around 1670, and after residing a few years on Long Island, moved with a number of associates to an extensive tract of land, of which present day Princeton is nearly the center. This tract consisted of 6,400 acres. Richard Stockton was the eldest son of John, who had inherited the family estate "Morven" and was for years chief judge of the court of common pleas of Somerset county. His early education was highly respectable and he entered the college of New Jersey, graduating in 1748.

After leaving college, he studied law with the honorable 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, both as a counselor and an advocate. He avoided politics and rendered important service to the College, afterward known as Princeton, 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 husbands taking the position but her objections were overcome with the aid of 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. He struggled at first towards reconciliation between the colonies and Britain and in December 1774 he sent Lord Dartmouth a proposal for colonial self-government. However, he soon became active in efforts to organize opposition to the crown and on June 21, 1776, he was chosen by the provincial congress to be a member of the continental congress.

Stockton married Annis Boudinot, a poet in her own right and sister of Elias Boudinot, who married Stockton's sister. The Stockton's had six children, their son Richard became an eminent lawyer and prominent Federalist leader, and his daughter Julia married Dr. Benjamin Rush, also a Signer of the Declaration of Independence.

Although quiet during the opening debates for independence, by the close of the discussion he expressed his agreement in the final vote with a short but energetic speech. He was reelected to congress, where he was an active member and in September 1776, he became a candidate for governor of New Jersey under the state's new constitution. On the first ballot Stockton and William Livingston received an equal number of votes, but Livingston won by one vote on the next ballot. Stockton was then chosen chief justice of the state, but he declined in order to remain in congress. 

Stockton's political career was unhappily shortened by military developments in New Jersey. On September 26, 1776, he and George Clymer were appointed to a committee to inspect the northern army. On his return home, he found the British advancing and Stockton moved his family to Monmouth, to the home of John Covenhoven. Stockton was betrayed to the enemy and on November 30, both Stockton and Covenhoven were dragged from their beds at night and taken to the common prison in New York. Stockton was treated with unusual severity and brutality that seriously affected his health. His home was pillaged, his library, which was one of the best in the country, had been burned by the British, and his lands were laid to waste. Stockton's treatment in the New York prison prompted congress to pass a resolution directing George Washington to inquire into the circumstances and not long afterward, Stockton was exchanged. However, he never regained his health and his fortune was so greatly diminished by the devastation of his property, that he was forced to accept the temporary aid of his friends. The indignities and suffering left him a broken, humiliated man. He remained an invalid until he died at Morven on February 28, 1781.





Source: Centennial Book of Signers

For a High-resolution version of the Stone Engraving  

For a High-resolution version of the Original Declaration of Independence

We invite you to read a transcription of the complete text of the Declaration as presented by the National Archives.

&

 

The article "The Declaration of Independence: A History," which provides a detailed account of the Declaration, from its drafting through its preservation today at the National Archives.  

   

Virtualology  welcomes the addition of web pages with historical documents and/or scholarly papers on this subject.  To submit a web link to this page  CLICK HERE.  Please be sure to include the above name, your name, address, and any information you deem appropriate with your submission.

 


Start your search on Richard Stockton.


The Congressional Evolution of the United States Henry Middleton


Unauthorized Site: This site and its contents are not affiliated, connected, associated with or authorized by the individual, family, friends, or trademarked entities utilizing any part or the subject's entire name. Any official or affiliated sites that are related to this subject will be hyper linked below upon submission and Evisum, Inc. review.

Copyright© 2000 by Evisum Inc.TM. All rights reserved.
Evisum Inc.TM Privacy Policy

Search:

About Us

 

 

Image Use

Please join us in our mission to incorporate The Congressional Evolution of the United States of America discovery-based curriculum into the classroom of every primary and secondary school in the United States of America by July 2, 2026, the nation’s 250th birthday. , the United States of America: We The People Click Here

 

Historic Documents

Articles of Association

Articles of Confederation 1775

Articles of Confederation

Article the First

Coin Act

Declaration of Independence

Declaration of Independence

Emancipation Proclamation

Gettysburg Address

Monroe Doctrine

Northwest Ordinance

No Taxation Without Representation

Thanksgiving Proclamations

Mayflower Compact

Treaty of Paris 1763

Treaty of Paris 1783

Treaty of Versailles

United Nations Charter

United States In Congress Assembled

US Bill of Rights

United States Constitution

US Continental Congress

US Constitution of 1777

US Constitution of 1787

Virginia Declaration of Rights

 

Historic Events

Battle of New Orleans

Battle of Yorktown

Cabinet Room

Civil Rights Movement

Federalist Papers

Fort Duquesne

Fort Necessity

Fort Pitt

French and Indian War

Jumonville Glen

Manhattan Project

Stamp Act Congress

Underground Railroad

US Hospitality

US Presidency

Vietnam War

War of 1812

West Virginia Statehood

Woman Suffrage

World War I

World War II

 

Is it Real?



Declaration of
Independence

Digital Authentication
Click Here

 

America’s Four Republics
The More or Less United States

 
Continental Congress
U.C. Presidents

Peyton Randolph

Henry Middleton

Peyton Randolph

John Hancock

  

Continental Congress
U.S. Presidents

John Hancock

Henry Laurens

John Jay

Samuel Huntington

  

Constitution of 1777
U.S. Presidents

Samuel Huntington

Samuel Johnston
Elected but declined the office

Thomas McKean

John Hanson

Elias Boudinot

Thomas Mifflin

Richard Henry Lee

John Hancock
[
Chairman David Ramsay]

Nathaniel Gorham

Arthur St. Clair

Cyrus Griffin

  

Constitution of 1787
U.S. Presidents

George Washington 

John Adams
Federalist Party


Thomas Jefferson
Republican* Party

James Madison 
Republican* Party

James Monroe
Republican* Party

John Quincy Adams
Republican* Party
Whig Party

Andrew Jackson
Republican* Party
Democratic Party


Martin Van Buren
Democratic Party

William H. Harrison
Whig Party

John Tyler
Whig Party

James K. Polk
Democratic Party

David Atchison**
Democratic Party

Zachary Taylor
Whig Party

Millard Fillmore
Whig Party

Franklin Pierce
Democratic Party

James Buchanan
Democratic Party


Abraham Lincoln 
Republican Party

Jefferson Davis***
Democratic Party

Andrew Johnson
Republican Party

Ulysses S. Grant 
Republican Party

Rutherford B. Hayes
Republican Party

James A. Garfield
Republican Party

Chester Arthur 
Republican Party

Grover Cleveland
Democratic Party

Benjamin Harrison
Republican Party

Grover Cleveland 
Democratic Party

William McKinley
Republican Party

Theodore Roosevelt
Republican Party

William H. Taft 
Republican Party

Woodrow Wilson
Democratic Party

Warren G. Harding 
Republican Party

Calvin Coolidge
Republican Party

Herbert C. Hoover
Republican Party

Franklin D. Roosevelt
Democratic Party

Harry S. Truman
Democratic Party

Dwight D. Eisenhower
Republican Party

John F. Kennedy
Democratic Party

Lyndon B. Johnson 
Democratic Party 

Richard M. Nixon 
Republican Party

Gerald R. Ford 
Republican Party

James Earl Carter, Jr. 
Democratic Party

Ronald Wilson Reagan 
Republican Party

George H. W. Bush
Republican Party 

William Jefferson Clinton
Democratic Party

George W. Bush 
Republican Party

Barack H. Obama
Democratic Party

Please Visit

Forgotten Founders
Norwich, CT

Annapolis Continental
Congress Society


U.S. Presidency
& Hospitality

© Stan Klos

 

 

 

 


Virtual Museum of Art | Virtual Museum of History | Virtual Public Library | Virtual Science Center | Virtual Museum of Natural History | Virtual War Museum