Richard Stockton, son of Richard and Abigail Stockton, was born in England and removed with his parents to Flushing. He also accompanied them to New Jersey, but settled first at Piscataway in Middlesex County. In August 1696, he purchased from Dr. John Gordon a tract of 400 acres of land on the North side of Stony Brook, bounded on the east by Washington Road and the land of John Horner, on the west by the Olden tract and on the north and south by the Main Street and Stony Brook. This land includes all of what is now the campus of Princeton University and the grounds of the Theological Seminary.
In 1701, he purchased from William Penn, for the sum of 900 pounds, an estate of about 6,000 acres on Stony Brook, of which the present town of Princeton is nearly the center.
By reason of his large possessions, as well as by his character, Richard Stockton held an important place among the early settlers. He and a number of his associates who formed a settlement upon this tract were the first white or European settlers in the district. A portion of his estate called "Morven" remained in the family for 250 years. Between the years 1701-1709 he built this fine old house which remained in the family all those years. It is the oldest house in Princeton with the possible exception of "The Barracks" and has an interesting history. The house suffered considerably at the hands of the British soldiers during the Revolution. Many distinguished visitors have been entertained within its hospitable walls, among them General Washington, who was a frequent visitor.
On November 8, 1691, Richard Stockton married Susanna Witham Robinson who was born November 29, 1668. She was the daughter of Robert and Ann Witham and the widow of Thomas Robinson. Richard Stockton died in July 1709, while his children were all under age. His widow was married for the third time to Judge Thomas Leonard of Princeton, but they had no issue. She died in April 1749.
By his will, dated June 25, 1709, Richard Stockton divided his estate in the following manner: to his eldest son, Richard, 300 acres of land; to his second son, Samuel, 500 acres; to the third son, Joseph, 500 acres; to the fourth son, Robert, 500 acres; to the fifth son, John, 500 acres, and to the sixth son, Thomas, 600 acres at Oneanickon which had been left to him by his father, and 140 acres besides. The meadows were to be divided equally among the five elder sons. After providing generously for his mother, Abigail, and his wife, Susanna, he devised the family seat, later named "Morven", to his fifth son, John.
It is interesting to note that Morven was left to the fifth son, unusual as in those days the first son was most always the principal heir. The reason for this departure from the norm was that John was born in August 1701--the year that the house was partly finished (the main part of it). Having been born in August of 1701, John was left the house because he was the first child to have been born in the house.
Richard - b. 1693, d. 1760, m. Esther Smith of Long Island, NY, in 1717. They had two children.
Samuel - b. 1695, d. 1739, m. First Amy Doughty (two children) and Second Ruth Stout (six children). Contact Mr. W. Wayne Stockton, of Stockton Surveys Ltd., 3522 Edinburgh Drive / Regina, Sask. S4V 2G7 Canada to find out about descendants of Samuel Stockton. Mr. Stockton intends to add his line to the WWW, and we will add a link to that information. Why don't you add yours as well. Send email with your URL to Robert Field Stockton.
Joseph - b. May 10, 1697, d. March 15, 1770, m. Elizabeth Doughty (sister of brother Samuel's first wife). They had ten children.
Robert - b. 1699, d. 1744, m. twice; Name of first wife unknown. They had seven children; Name of second wife was Rebecca Phillips, m. 1740, one son.
John - b. August 8, 1701, inherited "Morven".
Thomas - b. 1703, d. unmarried. He inherited considerable property from his father, all of which was sold during his minority.