Clanton/Simpson's Email
This may have been shared in the past and I am very sure it contains inaccuracies - so please
read with that awareness. It is a document which was in my grandparents' possession. I am
trying to reproduce most of these documents in my spare time. This particular item was typed
(4pages) and had a hand-sketched rendering of the Stockton coat-of-arms at the top left. I
have tried to type it "as written" with its many commas and run-on sentences. I have no idea
who wrote it. I do know that it must be at least 25 years old. I'm not sure if it is worth sharing,
but there may be some clues to the past for folks (and it may also generate discussion).
THE STOCKTON FAMILY OF VIRGINIA
Which of the two branches of the Stockton family to first set foot on American soil -whether
that of New Jersey, headed by the father of Richard Stockton, the signer of the Declaration of
Independence, prior to 1730, or the Virginia branch, headed by Davis Stockton, who landed
at Williamsburg, VA, and patented lands on Toy creek, in Albemarle, prior to 1739 --can with
difficulty be now determined; yet it seems both pioneers were of the same family, landing at the
same time on the Jersey coast, and Davis Stockton seeking a more southerly location. Certain
it is, both had ample means with them, the first purchasing 6,500 acres in one tract, a part of
which embraces the City of Princeton, with its ancient college, while the Virginian bought nearly
4000 acres along the rich Ivy Creek and Mechum's River section of Albemarle, though it had
not then been formed into a county.
The Stocktons in this county are said to have descended from the celebrated family of that
name, once seated in Chester County, England, of whom one member was Lord Mayor of
London, 1640. Burke, in his English Peerage, recognizes the Stocktons of America as rightful
descendants, and gives the armes they are entitled to, which we produce.
Tracing the Virginia family, which we gather from the "History of Albemarle County", by Rev.
Edgar Woods, the legend goes that many years ago this Davis Stockton, being a leader of a
party prospecting the wild mountains of Albemarle, went ahead more rapidly, leaving them far
behind him. For fear they would miss him, he carved his initials "D.S." on a beach tree standing
on the banks of the creek. The tree has stood there ever since (or until a few years ago), giving
the name to the place, being the farm which is now part of the estate of the late Dr. George B.
Stephens. Near the marked tree was afterwards built a church, which also went by the name,
"D.S." Church, in which the celebrated blind preacher, Mr. Waddell, officiated regularly. The
chimney of this church is still standing to mark the spot. This Davis Stockton here located along
Mechum's River. He died in 1760 leaving four children -- Richard, Samuel, William, and
Thomas. Samuel and William moved to North Carolina. Richard remained on the original tract,
where he died in1775, leaving five sons -- Richard, Thomas, John, Robert, and Davis. John
Stockton's name is signed to the Declaration of Independence made by the citizens of
Albemarle, April 21, 1779, the original of which is now preserved in the Virginia Historical
Society Rooms at Richmond.
Previous to 1791 Richard Stockton moved to Henry County and Robert to Kentucky, where
he died in 1837. There was a John N.C. Stockton in later years, who is said to have come to
the county from Pennsylvania and settled near Charlottesville. He was the first to establish
stage lines through Virginia, running them mainly from Richmond and Alexandria to the Virginia
Springs, by which he acquired a large fortune, which was invested in lands in the county.
William Stockton, a brother of this John N.C., married and moved to Florida, where is now to
be found many of his descendants.
It was while on a visit to this brother in 1837 that John was accidentally drowned by Mobile
Bay, Alabama. He left a son, who bore his name John N.C. Stockton, and inherited most of
his large estate, becoming a prominent farmer and lived on the celebrated Carrsbrook Estate,
made noted by William Wirt.
Turning to the New Jersey branch, Richard Stockton, the first to take uplands, left his large
estate to his son, Richard, who became an accomplished lawyer and unrivaled at the bar; he
traveled with much éclat through Great Britain, and on his return was made judge of the
Supreme Court of New Jersey. He entered early and vehemently into the Revolution, and
while on an excursion was suddenly surprised and put in prison in New York, bur Congress
directed Washington to threaten retaliation and demanded his release, which was s done, but
his health had been so impaired by the long confinement, and with the total devastation of his
large property, he died prematurely from mental as well as bodily suffering at Princeton, in
1781, in his fifty-second year.
His son, Richard Stockton, born 1764, was also a prominent lawyer, being Senator from 1796
to 1799, and also a representative from 1813 to 1815. He died at Princeton in 1828.
One of the most brilliant members of the Stockton family was Robert Field Stockton, son of
the above, born at Princeton, 1795. He entered early the United States Navy, and
commanded the African squadron, founding the colony of Liberia. He was the first to introduce
steam into naval vessels, which was done of the famous sloop of was "Princeton", which he
superintended the building of, and named for his birthplace. At the close of the Mexican War
he was made commodore, and sent to Congress from 1851 to 1857. His last public service
was being a delegate to the Peace Congress 1861. He died at Princeton 1866. The striking
resemblance of features between the late John N.C. Stockton, of Virginia, and those of
Commodore Stockton, leads to the belief that they were nearly related.
The most distinguished member of the family in a literary point of viewwas the late Francis
Richard Stockton, born in Philadelphia, 1834, whose handsome estate "Claymont" near
Charleston, W. Va., has but recently been sold. There has been few more popular novel and
story writers either North or South than this famous humorous author, and of his many
productions it is difficult to say which is the best, perhaps " the Lady and the Tiger".
There were also of the Jersey Stocktons, Thomas Stockton, of the War of1812, afterwards
Governor of Delaware; the Rev. H. Stockton, born in1808; John P. born 1926, and of the
family living in new Jersey 1800, we find recorded L.W. Stockton of Flemington; Richard and
Ezra of Princeton; L.H. Stockton of Trenton and Abraham Stockton of Burlington, all being
prominent men at the day.
The Stockton arms are: "Gules, a chevron, vair, between three mullets, or crest, a lion,
rampant, supporting an Ionic pillar. Motto: Omnia Deo Pendent (All things rest on God).
The significant feature of this escutcheon is that the mullets represent five-pointed spur rowels,
showing that the family were great horsemen and very chivalric. The crest of the lion rampant,
standing on the sinister leg and supporting an Ionic pillar, partakes somewhat of the national
arms of Scotland, from which we judge they were of Scottish descent. In this family is
represented as being strong and always supporting the government.
We received this email from Chester R. Johnson about the "Davis Stockton of Virginia" book
Email
The correct information on the book is given below. My mother was Leona
Irene Smith Johnson and my uncle was Winfred Broadus Smith. I was a
contributor to the book as well but I chose to not be listed as an author.
I told my mother that I would have time to do books later, this one was
theirs. And I have four books now with two more before the end of the year. I
furnished census records and tombstone photos to the Davis Stockton book.
The book was the best they could do at that time. There are many typos as
my uncle was too sick to proof read the printer's work. I was in South Korea
and could not help. The printer would not wait for him to get well. There
was nothing he could do. He could not do it over again.
If we could do it over now it would be tremendous. I live near a regional
archives. The Mormon Family History Centers are wonderful in that you can
order microfilm of most of the county records that they had to look at then
in poor quality xerox copies.
This makes a world of difference in the information available to researchers.
There is a copy in the D.A.R. Library, the Clayton in Houston and the Ft.
Worth Library that I know of. Also, there's probably one in Dallas.
"Davis Stockton of Virginia" by Leona Irene Smith Johnson b. 1898, d. 1977
and Winfred Broadus Smith (1908-1976). [Houston, 1972] It was privately
published by my uncle and only 35 copies were made at his cost. These were sold
prepublication.
Addresses listed in the book:
117 Girrard Blvd. S.E.
Albuquerque, NM 87106
Winfred Broadus Smith
Houston, Texas
(1908- ). [Albuquerque, N.M., 1972]
Also, I see that in the back of the book there is a sticker with the following:
A. V. EMMOTT & SONS
BOOKBINDERS, Inc.
1101 HAMILTON
HOUSTON 3, TEXAS