The Jersey City news. (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1889-1906, 1893-12-08
The Stocktons and Fre1ing-
huysens Prominent in
the Republics
History.
RICHARD STOCKTON TIE FIRST.
Signed the Declaration o. Independ-.
dence--Frederick FrelInghuy-
sen in the Revolution.

class distinction ara -unrscognized, and
where the Ron can only suecead to the
fathers honors by reason of personal
worth, it is a SON what remarkable fact
that there are five instances in the Ma
tion's h~istory-and only ~fiya-whers q
seat In the Continental Congress or the
United States Senate has passed In one
family from generation to generation.
The families so honored are the Gamer
ons. the Bayards, the Colquitts, the
Stocktons aud the Frelinghuyssns.
New Jersey may we'll be proud of the
fact that in every one of these instances
all the members who received academic
training acquired it within the borders of
this State-al at PrlHcetop College but
one, who graduated from Rntgers-and
prouder still that the Stock oHS and Free
linghuysens. the most prominent iu-
stances of this desceat were Senators
from New Jersey. The Bsyards repre-
scented Delaware, the CoiQuttts Georgia
and the CamsrouR Pannsylvania.
or the five iuFtaucss the most striking
is that of the Stockton family, where the
honor was held Tor four generations. de-
sceuuing from Richard. the famous
signer OF the Declaration of %Iudepend-
enee and q msmeer OF the Continental
Congress, to his son Richard, his grand
son, Commodore Robert f. Stockton,
and his great-2randsou, John 2. Stock
ton, the. present Attornsy-General of
this State.
THE sToCKToNs.
The first Richard was in every way a
man 10 command the confidence and es-
TEEN of his fellows. He WAS graduated
from the College of New jersey. taau
located in Newark. in 174S, and. according
10 an old and quantity worded sketch
n1..FzA rl.4 4xor - ~ Gwar 1890
commencement of Nassau Hall. which
WAS then celebrated in the First Church
OF that ancient town, under the AUSPICES
of the eminent aud learned divine, Presi-
deaf Burr Gather of the brilliant but
unfortunate Vics-Prssident.)
He also studied law in Newark, and
when he md received the degree OF ''ser>
geant at law" ne mads y visit TO London
rs was the cuItom In wealthy families Of
that time. He was presented at the Csur
of ST. James, aud delivered to tbs King,
George ILL.,, an sddrass from the trustees
of his alma mater. He seems to have
been a man Of marked social accomplish
ments, for he was entertained by the
Marquis Of Rockingham, thsa Prime
Minister. and the Earl OF Chauham-shs
famous elder Pitt, aud was on friendly
terms with the great Lord Caestsrdeld
Burke, Barre anG other noted gentlemen.
1t Is gatifying to learn. however, that
he was not turned away from his loTs of
his native country by this fsttsring rs-
eeptton. did not become an a-ngto-maaiac,
but frankly communicated to these
gentlemen his decided opinion against
the policy which had originated the
Stamp act, and assured them OF his firm
copviciion that the colonists would never
submit to be taxel by the British Par.
1iament.o
On his return to this country hs en-
joyed the highest confidence of the Royal
Governors, being appointed Judgs of the
Supreme court aud member of the
Executive Council. He did not hesltsts,
however, in 1776 on which sids to array
himself, and in his owa words "exerted
himself on all proper occasions anon &
primary assemblies of the people TO pro-
cure the organization OF a prudent aud
well-directed opposition to the arbitrary
measures Of the British Mi iistry"
ELECTED TO THE COLONIAL CONGRESS.
He was elected in that year to ths
Colonial Congress, aud as a represents.
tive of his own State affixed his name to
the ever famous Declaration, making "a
short but piQuant speech in its favor"
He was reelected for another term in
Con sress aud was one of its leaders, not
only by reason OF his legal ability but be.
cause OF his powers for org snizirg troops
and drumming up" supplies.
When the Legislature met to elect the
first State Governor the vote was q tie
between Stockton and William Livin zs-
ton, but Stockton withdrew his name,
aud declined likewise the unanimous
election to the Chief Justicsshtp. During
the course vf the war he was captured by
the English army aud con6ned in New
York in q commGn gaol with extfeme
barbsrity." Although he was exchanged
owing TO the personal Intervention OF
Washington he never. recovered from the
shock aud died 10 1881 after u long Illness.
His son, Richard, closely followed in the
footsteps OF his father; was graduated
like him from Princeton in the class Of
177o) aud like him admitted to the bar
,fter studying Law in Ne wark. He vas a
Presidential elector ia 1922, aud now that
the necessity for closest uuion among the
COLONIES had gone aud parties began 60
be formed, ne be anne n Federalist, Voting
for Washington and Adams. He seems
to have been a man of hlgn temper aud
rather arrogant disposition. aud received
the soubriquet of 1.-The Duke" which
chung to him through life. Ia 1895 the
iogs of his father descended on his
shoulders and du lug his term Of service
he WAS an ardent supporter of the ex-
treme Federalist party ami an intimate
FREUD of Alexander Hamilton. The
Sentinel OF Freelom, then tue organ of
tue Jsfersonian party had little to saY iu
his favor, and in 1899 wisely appreaiatIng
the strong auti-Federalist COMPLEXION of
the Legislature be declined to be u can
didate for reelection.
ne WAS d A6mOcI w buC I1OuS0 vi IGcP~
resentatives, however. from 1918 TO 1915
and distinguished himself 10 a bitter con-
troversy with Charles j. Ingersoll of
Pennsylvania, on free trade. which he
condemned as "uu-American aud sui
cidai." He dird in 1928.
THE HIR RICHARD.
His son, Robert Field Stockton, entered
Princeton as his father and grandfather
had zone, but left before the completion
of his course to cutter the Navy during
the War of 1912, and served with marked
bravery throughout, that war. and in tue
operations against the pirates OF the
Mediterranean. He was a vigorous sup
porter of Harrison aud Tyler during the
campaign of 1910. and declined the lat
ter's offer of tue Navy portfolio. he be-
came captain of the Ill fated steamer
PRINCETON, on whose trial trip the Secre-
taries of Sta 9 and Navy were KILLED by
q bursting gun, THE Peace maker" aud
iook q prominent part In tns Mexican
War.
In 1851 the Senatorial chair again came
into the possession of this distinguished
family on his election bnereti. he re-