When men signed their John Hancock (one literally did!) on the document declaring independence from despotic leadership in July of 1776, they knew that their lives, fortunes and sacred honor were truly at risk. They knew that a vast ocean would not protect them and their families from the wrath of King George of Great Britain, who demanded absolute allegiance.
Richard Stockton, the first signer from New Jersey of the Declaration of Independence, is the subject of one of the statues representing New Jersey in National Statuary Hall in the US Capitol.
Stockton was a descendant of settlers from England that owned land that would be used to establish the College of New Jersey (later Princeton University). Richard Stockton earned the highest law degree attainable, Sergeant-at-Law and opened a law practice in 1754, at the age of 24. He traveled to England and was welcomed with high praise.
When he returned to New Jersey in 1767, he was placed on the executive council. Within a few years he was on the bench of the Supreme Court of the province. He was held in high esteem by the King’s English court system, so one might think he would remain a loyal subject of the King.
In 1776, Stockton was elected to the General Congress of New Jersey. He listened to the arguments for freedom from the Crown, and John Adams sealed the deal in Stockton’s mind. Richard Stockton placed his signature on the declaration that was to release the colonists from British bondage. Four months later he was imprisoned.
Stockton had been moving his family to safety because the British were following George Washington and his army into New Jersey after the Battle of Long Island, when a treacherous neighbor of the friend whose home he had moved his family to, lead a band of loyalists to Richard Stockton.
They dragged Stockton from his bed and marched him improperly clothed (only a nightshirt and breeches) in freezing weather to a common jail in Perth Amboy, New Jersey. Later he was moved to Provost prison in New York City, which was notorious for its harsh conditions. It is estimated that about three times as many prisoners died in the prisons and prison ships of New York City, as soldiers in combat during the Revolutionary War years.
After five weeks of being locked in irons and nearly starved, Stockton was released. The condition of his release was that he was not to engage in American affairs during the fight for freedom. His health was compromised to such an extent, that it is doubtful he could have contributed much on the battlefield. His home had been plundered of his furniture and livestock. His extensive library had been destroyed. His monetary wealth was also gone as he had donated most of it to the cause.
Some accounts claim that Richard Stockton had recanted his signature on The Declaration of Independence while imprisoned. Others say that claim is based on a private letter, written by an enemy of Stockton. One must wonder why, if Stockton had recanted, the news of such a prominent signer doing so would not have been in newspapers throughout Britain. In fact those who say he never recanted point to a letter written by General Howe to the British Parliament shortly after Stockton’s release which stated that, “at no time had a leading rebel sought pardon.”
Does it really matter? Richard Stockton sacrificed his wealth and his good health in the quest for freedom from tyranny. He and his family had to rely on charity extended to them by friends and relatives. After two years, Stockton regained enough of his health to practice law and provide for his family, but he soon developed cancer and died before the Revolutionary War ended in 1781 at the age of 51. He is among those we should remember for their bravery and great sacrifice that was necessary to attain freedom for America.
Diana Erbio is a freelance writer and author of “Coming to America: A Girl Struggles to Find her Way in a New World”. Read more in her series Statues: The People They Salute visit The Table of Contents and the Facebook Page. (I’ll be adding to the Substack Table of Contents as I transfer the Blog Posts. Please subscribe to this Substack 😊🇺🇸🤓)
Similar sacrifice was made by the other 55 signers as well. Some of the stories are beyond tragic. These stories used to be taught in classrooms to our children. Now it’s amazing if the average person can name more than five signers and tell you about them. What do you know? Research it. It’s beyond heroic and we owe it them. Thanks Diane!
Thanks for sharing this story. I had never heard it. We stand on the shoulders of giants. 🇺🇸🇺🇸🇺🇸