Robert Field Stockton, "The Commodore", was the eldest surviving son of Richard "The Duke" and Mary (Field)
Stockton. He married Harriet Maria Potter, daughter of John Potter of Charleston, South Carolina in 1823. He
inherited Morven from his father, became a Commodore in the United States Navy, and was elected U.S. Senator
from New Jersey.
He began to study at The College of New Jersey in Princeton when he was only thirteen - but soon afterwards, excited by the pending war with Great Britain, he and his young cousin, Robert Field, left college and entered the Navy. He received a commission as a Midshipman on September 1, 1811, and soon afterwards joined the frigate "President" under Commodore Rogers. On his first cruise of about three months duration, young Stockton shared in the battles and perils of the cruse and by his coolness and military deportment, won the title of "Fighting Bob." He became Commodore Rodgers's aide and shared in the defense of Baltimore with Rodgers. They defended Alexandria, Virginia gallantly, and Stockton, who was then a Master's Mate, was highly commended by Commodore Rodgers. He was promoted to Lieutenant Sept. 9, 1814. He served in the Mediterranean as an executive officer, and returned home in command of the Erie in 1821. The story of his duels are mentioned in the memoirs of Dr. Squibb, founder of Squibb Pharmaceuticals, who was the ship's doctor on the U.S.S. Erie.
The Commodore served with distinction in the Navy until 1826 when he took his first furlough in over ten years of service and returned home to Princeton. He then engaged in a number of political and business activities. He was interested in politics and supported General Jackson to succeed Monroe as President. In December 1838 then Captain Stockton again sailed to the Mediterranean, in command of Commodore Hull's flagship, the "Ohio." The following year he was promoted to a Post-Captain and recalled late in 1839. He took part in the political campaign in 1840 in favor of General Harrison. After Tyler became President, he was offered the position of Secretary of the Navy, which he declined.
The Navy Department permitted him to construct a steamship-of-war. The U.S. Steam Frigate "Princeton", was begun in 1842 and completed in 1844. It was the first Steam Powered Ship in any Navy! Captain Stockton was appointed to command her and brought her to Washington for her "Shake Down" cruise on the Potomac River where she was much admired. On Wednesday, the 28th of February, 1844, the President, Cabinet, many Members of Congress, and other distinguished visitors went on board for an excursion down the Potomac. The large (200 pound) guns upon her deck, the "Peacemaker" and the "Constitution", had been fired so much that Captain Stockton had stopped the firing. He was in the midst of a speech in response to a toast in the cabin, when an officer entered and stated that one of the company wanted the great guns to be fired again. "No more guns tonight," said Captain Stockton but again was interrupted, this time with a message from the Secretary of the Navy, making the same request. This being tantamount to an order, Captain Stockton went on deck and proceeded to fire them again when one of the guns, the "Peacemaker" blew up. It killed the Secretary of State, the Secretary of the Navy, Mr. Gardiner of Gardiner's Island, and several members of the crew, and wounded a large number of people, including Captain Stockton. Captain Stockton requested a Naval Court of Inquiry over the incident, and he was exonerated from blame for the accident.
In October 1845 Captain Stockton was ordered to the Pacific Coast on the frigate "Congress" to act as Commander-in-chief of the Pacific Squadron at the beginning of the Mexican War. Arriving at Monterey, in the California Territory on July 15, 1846, he found Commodore Sloat in possession of that place, and on the 23rd of July, he assumed command. Commodore Sloat then left to return to the United States. Commodore Stockton issued a proclamation to the people of California about General Castro, Commander-in-chief of the military forces of California and his hostile attacks upon United States Army and Navy troops, and against Captain Fremont in particular. Commodore Stockton organized a battalion of mounted riflemen, of about 160 men. Fremont was appointed Major and Lieutenant Gillespie Captain of this battalion. Commodore Stockton sent them on the "Cyane" to San Diego with orders to raise horses and cooperate with the Commodore on his proposed move on Ciudad Los Angeles. After stopping in Santa Barbara and taking possession there, leaving a small detachment for its defense, Commodore Stockton proceeded to San Pedro, arriving there on August 6th.
From that date until late January of 1847 the struggle for the conquest of California continued with Commodore Stockton in command of all U.S. Army and Navy forces, and with most, if not all, of the battles being on land. After defeating General Castro, Commodore Stockton assumed the office of Commander-in-chief and Governor of the territory of California. Since he was leaving California after capturing the City of Los Angeles on January 10, 1847, he transferred the Naval Command to his successor, Commodore William Shubrick, who had arrived at Monterey and appointed Colonel Fremont as Governor of the territory of California. Brigadier General Kearny arrived on December 3, 1846, and immediately started the controversy concerning the respective rights of Kearny and Fremont to the Governorship of California.
Commodore Stockton returned home overland during the summer, with a few guides and companions, making a trip that was reported to be as full of adventure as any of the travels of Carson and Fremont. He was received everywhere with high honors and the Legislature of New Jersey gave him a vote of thanks. The people of California named the city of Stockton after him, one of the principal streets of the city of San Francisco, and there also is a memorial window in his memory in St. Peter's Chapel at Mare Island Naval Yard.
On May 28, 1850, he resigned from the Navy, in order to attend to his private interests and was president of the Delaware and Raritan Canal Company until his death.
He had received a large estate from his father, and a still larger one, perhaps, from his wife. He improved and embellished Morven, and was profuse in the use of money to carry out his purposes, whether public or private. He died at Morven October 7, 1866, his wife having died April 2, 1862. After his death, his son Richard Stockton sold Morven to his cousin, the Commodore's nephew, Lieutenant Samuel Witham Stockton.
Richard Stockton - b. January 2, 1824
John Potter - b. August 2, 1825, d. January 22, 1900, m. Sarah Marks of Philadelphia, 1845. He was a lawyer and United States Minister to Rome in 1857 and served for four years. In 1869 was United States Senator from New Jersey for one full term. In 1877 he became Attorney General of New Jersey and was re-elected in 1882 and 1887. He and his wife had three children, two sons and one daughter.
Catherine Elizabeth - b. March 19, 1827, d. March 20, 1874, m. Rev. William A Dod, Rector of trinity Episcopal Church, Princeton. They had "several children" (no record of them).
Mary - b. April 20, 1830, d. July 10, 1889, m. June 22, 185, Rear Admiral John C. Howell, a distant cousin. No record of children.
Robert Field - b. January 22, 1832, d. May 5, 1898, m. Anna Margaretta Potter (no relation) of Washington, D.C. on September 7, 1852. Was a lawyer, and Adjutant General of New Jersey until 1867. Then was Comptroller of New Jersey from 1877-80, died in Trenton, where he had lived most of his adult life. He and his wife had seven children, three sons and four daughters. Mrs. Stockton died in 1918 in Trenton.
Harriet Maria - b. January 22, 1834, d. January 5, 1901, unmarried.
Julia - b. March 13, 1837, d. August 17, 1887, m. November 27, 1861, Edward McAlister Hopkins of Philadelphia. He was twenty years her senior and there is no record of any issue.
Caroline - b. March 12, 1839, d. July 19, --?, m. Captain William Rawle Brown of Philadelphia. No record of any issue.
Annis - b. October 17, 1843, d. May 10, 1890, m. February 27, 1865, Franklin Davenport Howell, of Philadelphia, brother of sister Mary's husband. There is no record of their children, but, they had a large family. At one point, Charlotte Stockton Warfield Little had the Howell photograph albums which she sent to a Howell descendant in Washington. There could have been some of the records and pictures of the children of Catherine Stockton and Rear Admiral Howell among these pictures and papers.
Note - There is a "Life of Commodore Robert Field Stockton" which was published in 1856 that those interested should, by all means, read.