The Stocktons of America By James E. Stockton (jestock@mail.utexas.edu) The first recorded Stockton to arrive in America was Rev. Jonas Stockton, son of Rev. William Stockton of Barkenwell, County Warwick, England. He sailed to America on the ship Bona Nova, in 1620, with his son Timothy. The record lists Jonas' age as 40 and Timothy's as 14. They were both recorded as living in Elizabeth City by the Virginia Company in February 1624. Jonas' will was probated in February 1649. In their book, Johnson and Smith state: "He (Jonas) was for many years incumbent of the parishes of Elizabeth City, (N. C.) and Bermuda Hundred (Va.) and became the founder of a numerous family of descendants, many of whom have become distinguished. His Cousin, Prudence, daughter of Rev John Stockton, rector of Alchester and Kingholt, married, June 18, 1612, Edward Holyoke and became founder of the Holyoke family in America".     The next immigrant, in order of time, was Thomas Stockton, age 21, who sailed from London, 19 September 1635, in the ship True Love. There is no further record of him in America. So, it is assumed that he either died soon after arriving or returned to England after a short stay.     It has been reported that, a Richard Stockton appears in the New England records beginning in 1635 (no actual record has been found of this) with the last mention of him being at Charlestown (Massachusetts?) in 1649. There is a record of a Richard Stockton listed as a witness to a deed in the town of Charleston, Massachusetts in 1649. This same or another Richard Stockton, who either moved or immigrated to Long Island sometime prior to 1656, appears on a petition requesting the release of William Wickenden. Wickenden had been imprisoned for preaching without a license in Flushing, Long Island, now in the state of New York.     This Richard purchased land and settled at Flushing around 1660. His descendants went on to become very prominent citizens in the early colonies of New York and New Jersey and later in Maryland, Pennsylvania, Virginia, and Canada. Richard Stockton (son of John Stockton, and grandson of Richard Stockton the immigrant) was a member of the Continental Congress representing New Jersey and as such was one of the signers of the Declaration of Independence. For further information on this family, reference is made to Dr. Stockton's book, the book by J. W. Stockton, and the Internet Web Page "A Brief History of 11 Generations of the Stocktons in Princeton, New Jersey". (http://http://www.stockton-law.com/genealogy/sgen.html)     It has been reported, that this family was descended from the John Stockton and Owen Stockton of the Malpas Area of England. However, it takes a stretch of the available information to make a plausible connection. The Richard Stockton, that was reportedly the son of John Stockton and grandson of Owen Stockton and reportedly baptized in the church at Malpas in 1606, apparently died before 1613; as stated above. It has been speculated in some of the publications, that the Richard Stockton that immigrated to Flushing with his wife Abigail and a son Richard was that same Richard Stockton. If so, he would have been 74 years old when his daughter Elizabeth was born in 1680 and 101 years old when he died in 1707. Also, there is some confusion about Richard "the Immigrant's" first child, the Richard mentioned above. He was reported to have been born in England. If so, he would have had to been born prior to 1656 or possibly even 1649. Therefore, if Abigail Stockton was his mother she would have had her first child prior to 1656 or 1649 and the second one, John born in America in 1674, twenty to twenty five years later, and produced six more children after that.     It has also been speculated, that Abigail was not Richard "the Immigrant's" first wife. Thus, not the mother of Richard the first child. It is possible that Richard Stockton "the Immigrant" was the son of the Thomas Stockton listed above and that he was born in London, England circa 1627. He may have married in England circa 1646 and had a son Richard by this wife who may have died in childbirth or shortly thereafter. Richard "the Immigrant" may then have remarried in England and emigrated to America circa 1649-1656. Or his first wife may have accompanied him to America as reported and died sometime after arriving. Richard "the Immigrant" may have then married Abigail in America sometime later and had a second family by her. Unfortunately, there is no proof of this one way or the other. While Richard Stockton, "the Immigrant", may well have been a descendant of the Malpas Stockton's, it appears that there is probably a missing link that has not been found and reported - - except as speculated earlier.     Another possibility is that this Richard Stockton may well have been the son of the Richard Stockton and the grandson of the Randall Stockton, of London, England, mentioned above. Thus, he would have been a nephew of Owen Stockton and cousin to John Stockton of Malpas. Other Stocktons that were recorded during later years wife: "Philip Stockton of Clayton, Lancashire, aged 14, apprenticed in Liverpool to Mr. John Smallwood for 7 years, to go by the Lamb (to Virginia), 1703." "Edmund Stockton of St. James, Westminster, baker, aged 22, bound to Nathaniel Wilson to serve 4 years in Jamaica, 1738." Nothing further has been found concerning these immigrants. Home Page   |   Family Data