Richard Stockton

Richard Stockton c.1592-1659

Richard Stockton was a son of Randall Stockton, a merchant in London, and Elizabeth (nee Clayton) Stockton. This is confirmed in the wills of Cicely Cleyton, his grandmother, and Elizabeth Stockton, his mother, and by Richard's 1592 baptism record that shows his father as Randall Stockden.

Some researchers show the rich and famous Richard "The Emigrant" Stockton, born about 1635 and died 1707 in New Jersey, as a son of Richard and Dorothy (nee Bridger) Stockton. That theory was put forward in the 1888 book The Stockton Family in England and the United States, by William Francis Cregar. The following will records prove that to be wrong.

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Dorothy Stockton (X) of Godalming, widow, sick and weak 19 Jan 1691/2
to my daughter Elizabeth Bowler all her expenses in caring for me and what she wants for me living with her; residue to my son Thomas Stockton, exec.

Witnesses: John Wilson; Joshua Badger; Peter Monger
Proved: 22 Feb 1691/2 to exec

Source: Surrey & South London Wills & Probate Index, 1470-1856 (findmypast.com)

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Richard Stockton of Dunsfold, gentleman, sick 27 Jun 1665
(to poor of Dunsfold £1; to poor of Godalming £1) to my cousin John Holney of Dunsfold, minister £1 to preach sermon; all my land and all my goods to overseers and to sell my land Rames, Dunsfold (40 acres) and Godsalls, Dunsfold (33 acres) and the meadow called Parsley Mead, Hascombe and cottage called Willmere, Dunsfold Common in the occupation of John Tyler to use of my exec. if living and if not to my daughter Mary Stockton or to child my wife pregnant with and if a son at 18 all land in Dunsfold, Hascombe and Shalford except that to be sold and my wife Mary Stockton to have rents until then and if child dies to my brothers and sisters and if child is son to my daughter Mary £500 at marriage or 21; to mother Dorothy Stockton £12 p.a. for life and also £20; to my brothers Francis, George and John Stockton £5 each; to my brother Thomas £10; to my sister Elizabeth wife of Henry Bowler £5; to my sister Mary Stockton £5; residue to my wife Mary, exec.

Overseers: friend and kinsman Joshua Perrier of Godalming, gentleman and brother in law Henry Bowler of Godalming, mercer (£5 each)
Witnesses: Arthur Brumham; Poynings Stringer
Proved: 2 Dec 1665 to exec.

Source: Surrey & South London Wills & Probate Index, 1470-1856 (findmypast.com)

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The Stockton Family in England and the United States, by William Francis Cregar, 1888, p. 23:

". . . Randall [Stockton], became a merchant, and removed to London, where he died some time prior to 1657, having married his cousin, Elizabeth Clayton, of that city, who survived him, and by whom he had issue Richard, of whom hereafter, Francis, and Cecilia.

Richard proved his mother's will, of which he was executor February 16, 1658, but died a few day afterwards, when his widow, Dorothy, continued the executorship. The compiler [William Francis Cregar] has never been able to trace the descendants of this gentlemen, which is a source of great regret to him, as the evidence, though only circumstantial, seems to point to the conclusion that he was the father of Richard Stockton, of Flushing, Long Island, and afterwards of Springfield Township, Burlington County, New Jersey."

Sources

• London, England, Baptisms, Marriages and Burials, 1538-1812 (ancestry.com), Baptism record for Richard sonne of Randall Stockdon, 3 Sep 1592, St Lawrence Jewry. Image attached to profile.
• Surrey, England, Baptisms, Marriages and Burials, 1538-1812 (ancestry.com) Marriage record for Richard Stokdin & Doraty Bridgar, 9 Oct 1627, Godalming, St Peter and St Paul. Image attached to profile.
• Surrey, England, Baptisms, Marriages and Burials, 1538-1812 (ancestry.com) Burial record for Mr Richard Stocktonn, 24 Mar 1659, Godalming, St Peter and St Paul. Image attached to profile.
• England & Wales, Prerogative Court of Canterbury Wills, 1384-1858 (ancestry.com) Will of Cicely Cleyton, Widow of London, proved 13 May 1624, mentions "my beloved Grandchilde my late husbands God sonne Richard Stockton the sonne of Randall Stockton deceased"
• England & Wales, Prerogative Court of Canterbury Wills, 1384-1858 (ancestry.com) The probate of the Will of Elizabeth Stockton, Widow of Battersea, Surrey, proved 16 February 1658/59 mentions "Dorothy Stockton widdow the relicte, and Administratrix of the goods, chattills, and debts of Richard Stockton who whilest husband was the sonne, and sole Executor and residuary legatary named in the Will of Elizabeth Stockton deceased"
• London, England, Wills and Probate, 1507-1858 (ancestry.com) Will of Richard Stockton of Dunsfold, gentleman, 27 Jun 1665
• London, England, Wills and Probate, 1507-1858 (ancestry.com) Will of Dorothy Stockton of Godalming, widow, 19 Jan 1691/2
• History of the Stockton family, Philadelphia, 1881, by John Wharton Stockton
• Ancestry of Samuel Stockton White, D.D.S., 1888, by William Francis Cregar
• The Stockton Family in England and the United States, 1888, by William Francis Cregar
• The Stockton Family of New Jersey and Other Stocktons, 1911, by Thomas Coates Stockton, M.D.
• Reference: Ancestry Genealogy - SmartCopy: Apr 2 2018, 11:45:37 UTC