Richard Stockton (Continental Congressman) and Prince Nayef bin Asem: Difference between pages

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{{unreferenced|date=December 2006}}{{Jordanian Royal Family}}'''Prince Nayef bin Al Asem''' was born in [[Amman]] on [[January 22]], [[1998]]. He is the only son of his father [[Prince Asem bin Al Nayef]] by his second and current wife, [[Princess Sana Asem]].

[[Image:Senator stockton.jpg|thumb|Richard Stockton]]

'''Richard Stockton''' ([[October 1]], [[1730]] – [[February 28]], [[1781]]) was an American lawyer, jurist, legislator, and a signer of the [[United States Declaration of Independence|Declaration of Independence]].

===Early life=Siblings==

Full

A son of [[John Stockton (1674-1758)|John Stockton]], he was born near [[Princeton, New Jersey|Princeton]], [[New Jersey]] attended [[Samuel Finley]]'s academy at [[Nottingham, New Jersey|Nottingham]], which later became [[West Nottingham Academy]], and the College of New Jersey (now [[Princeton University]]), graduating in 1748. He studied law with [[David Ogden]], of [[Newark, New Jersey|Newark]], who was at that time the head of the legal profession in the province. Stockton was admitted to the bar in 1754 and soon rose to great distinction. He was a longtime friend of [[George Washington]]. His wife was poet [[Annis Boudinot Stockton]], sister of [[New Jersey]] Statesman [[Elias Boudinot]]. The Stockton's had six children, their son [[Richard Stockton]] became an eminent lawyer and prominent [[Federalist]] leader. Coincidentally, [[Elias Boudinot]] was married to Stockton's sister Hannah Stockton (1736-1808).

*[[Princess Salha bint Al Asem|Salha]] (born [[June 14]], [[1987]])

Stockton initially showed little interest in politics. He once wrote, "The public is generally unthankful, and I never will become a Servant of it, till I am convinced that by neglecting my own affairs I am doing more acceptable Service to God and Man." Stockton did, however, later take an active role as a trustee of the College of New Jersey.

*[[Princess Nejla bint Asem|Nejla]] (born [[May 9]], [[1988]])

Half

===Political Career===

In 1768, Stockton had his first taste of government service when he was appointed to the governing Council of New Jersey; he was later (17) appointed to the [[New Jersey Supreme Court]]. He first took a moderate stance in the troubles between the colonies and [[Great Britain]]. He did not favor separation; rather, he suggested in 1764 that some colonial members be appointed to the [[Parliament of the United Kingdom|Parliament]]. However, he changed his position a year later when the controversy over the [[Stamp Act 1765|Stamp Act]] arose. In 1774 he drafted and sent to [[William Legge, 2nd Earl of Dartmouth|Lord Dartmouth]] "a plan of self-government for America, independent of Parliament, without renouncing allegiance to [[the Crown]]." This Commonwealth approach was not acceptable to the King.

*[[Princess Yasmine bint Al Asem|Yasmine]] (born [[June 30]], [[1975]])

He served the College, afterward known as [[Princeton University]], as a trustee. In 1766 and 1767, he gave up his practice for the purpose of visiting [[England]], [[Scotland]], and [[Ireland]]. While he was in Scotland, his personal efforts resulted in the acceptance of the presidency of the College by the Reverend [[John Witherspoon]].

*[[Princess Sarah bint Al Asem|Sarah]] (born [[August 12]], [[1978]])

*[[Noor bint Asem bin Nayef|Noor]] (born [[October 6]], [[1982]])

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Witherspoon's wife had opposed her husbands taking the position but her objections were overcome with the aid of his son-in-law [[Benjamin Rush]], who was a medical student in Edinburgh. This was an exceedingly important event in the history of higher education in America. Stockton returned to America and the following year, 1768, he was made a member of the executive council of the province and in 1774 was promoted to the supreme bench of New Jersey.

[[Category:17301998 births|Stockton, Richard]]

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[[Category:People from Amman]]

[[Category:Jordanian people|Prince Nayef bin Al Asem]]

[[Category:Jordanian royalty|Prince Nayef bin Al Asem]]

[[Category:Living people|Prince Nayef bin Al Asem]]

[[Category:Jordanian princes|Prince Nayef bin Al Asem]]

{{Jordan-bio-stub}}

===[[Revolutionary War]]===

In 1776, Stockton was elected to the [[Continental Congress]], where he took a very active role. That August, when elections were held for the state governments of the new nation, Stockton and [[William Livingston]] each received the same number of votes to be the [[Governor of New Jersey]] on the first ballot. Although Livingston later won the election by one vote, Stockton was unanimously elected to serve as the [[Chief Justice]] of the New Jersey Supreme Court, but he turned down that position to remain in [[Congress]].

[[Image:Declaration independence.jpg|thumb|left|300px|In [[John Trumbull]]'s famous painting, Stockton is farthest on the viewer's left among the four figures seated in the background at the far side of the prominent table. The painting in the U.S. Capitol Rotunda is usually incorrectly identified as depicting the signing of the Declaration. What the painting actually depicts is the five-man drafting committee presenting its work to the Congress. Trumbull's painting can also be found on the back of the U.S. [[United States Two dollar bill|$2 bill]].<ref>[http://www.americanrevolution.org/deckey.html americanrevolution.org] Key to Trumbull's picture</ref>]]

Stockton was appointed by Congress, along with fellow signer [[George Clymer]], to an exhausting two-month journey to [[Fort Ticonderoga]], [[Saratoga, New York|Saratoga]] and [[Albany, New York]] to assist the Continental army. On his return to Princeton, he traveled 30 miles east to the home of a friend to move his family to safety, and away from the path of the [[Britain|British]] army. While there, on [[November 30]], [[1776]], he was captured in the middle of the night by his own loyalist countrymen and was marched to [[Perth Amboy, New Jersey|Perth Amboy]] where he was put in irons, and brutally treated as a common criminal.

[[Image:Stockton.jpg|thumb|Richard Stockton, [[National Statuary Hall Collection|NSHC]] statue]]

He was then moved to Provost Prison in New York where he suffered from lack of food and freezing cold weather along with the other prisoners. After nearly six weeks of brutal treatment, Stockton was released, his health ruined. Over 12,000 prisioners died in the prison ships and prisons in New York compared to 4,435 soldiers that died in combat over the six years of war. His estate, [[Morven, Princeton, New Jersey|Morven]], in Princeton was occupied by General [[Charles Cornwallis, 1st Marquess Cornwallis|Cornwallis]] during Stockton's imprisonment; his furniture, all household belongings, crops and livestock were taken or destroyed by the British. His library, one of the finest in the colonies, was burned.

Stockton's treatment in the New York prison prompted Continental Congress to pass a resolution directing George Washington to inquire into the circumstances and not long afterward, Stockton was exchanged on [[January 3]], [[1777]]. The U.S. National Archives contains other messages showing that Washington duly contacted British commander-in-chief Sir [[William Howe, 5th Viscount Howe]] in New York regarding the exchange or release of Stockton and others.

Just before Stockton was captured, Howe had offered amnesty to those willing to renounce the American “rebellion” and renew their loyalty to the King [[George III of the United Kingdom|George III]].

====Declaration of Allegiance====

{{Disputed}}

It was at this point that it is claimed he renounced the revolution and signed a different declaration, a "Declaration of Allegiance" to the King, George III and gave "his word of honor that he would not meddle in the least of American affairs". If true, this would make Stockton the only signer of the Declaration of Independence to betray the cause. Some however, maintain that this is an unsubstantiated rumor, and that Stockton was released after being granted military [[parole]], a common 18th century practice whereby prisoners made a gentleman's agreement to return home and lay down their arms.

<p>

However, a primary source indicates that Stockton did in fact sign the Declaration of Allegiance. [[College of New Jersey]] president [[John Witherspoon]] wrote his son David in March 1777, stating directly that Stockton took the oath:

<p>

''I was at Princeton from Saturday...till Wednesday....Judge Stockton is not very well in health & much spoken against for his Conduct. He Signed Howes declaration & also gave his Word of honour that he would not meddle in the least in American affairs during the War. Mrs. Cochran was sent to the Enemies Lines by a flag of Truce and when Mr. Cochran came out to meet his wife he said to the Officers that went with the flag that Judge Stockton had brought Evidence to General Howe to prove that he was on his way to seek a protection when he was taken. This he denies to be true yet many credit it but Mr. Cochrans known Quarrel with him makes it very doubtful to candid persons." <ref>[http://memory.loc.gov/cgi-bin/query/r?ammem/hlaw:@field(DOCID+@lit(dg006427)) Letter] from John Witherspoon to David Witherspoon.</ref>

<p>

In any case, whether it was due to his destroyed health, an oath to George III, or a parole agreement, Stockton did not again take an active role in the war during the few remaining years of his life.

<p>

===Later days and Legacy===

Stockton and his wife had six children, four daughters and two sons: [[Julia Stockton]] (married to [[Benjamin Rush]], also a signer of the Declaration), Mary, Susan, [[Richard Stockton (1764-1828)|Richard]], Lucius and Abigail.

Stockton died at his family's estate in Princeton on [[February 28]], [[1781]], and was buried at the [[Stony Brook Quaker Meeting House Cemetery, Princeton]].

Stockton's oldest son [[Richard Stockton (1764-1828)|Richard]] was an eminent lawyer and later a [[United States Senate|Senator]] from New Jersey. His son, Commodore [[Robert F. Stockton|Robert Field Stockton]], was a hero of the [[War of 1812]], and in 1846 became the first military governor of [[California]] and later a Senator from New Jersey.

In 1888, the state of New Jersey donated a marble statue of Stockton to the [[U.S. Capitol]]'s [[National Statuary Hall Collection]].

In 1969, the [[New Jersey Legislature]] passed legislation establishing a state college which was named after Stockton, to honor the memory of New Jersey's signer of the Declaration of Independence. [[Richard Stockton College|Richard Stockton College of New Jersey]] is the current name for this educational institution which was previously known under the names Stockton State College and Richard Stockton State College.

== References ==

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==External links==

*[http://www.colonialhall.com/stockton/stockton.php Biography by Rev. Charles A. Goodrich, 1856]

*http://www.aoc.gov/cc/art/nsh/stockton.htm

*http://president.stockton.edu/richard.html

*http://www.rebelswithavision.com/RichardStockton.net/

*American Heritage [http://www.americanheritage.com/articles/magazine/ah/1975/4/1975_4_22.shtml article] on Stockton and the Declaration of Allegiance

[[Category:Continental Congressmen|Stockton, Richard]]

[[Category:Founding Fathers of the United States|Stockton, Richard]]

[[Category:New Jersey Supreme Court justices|Stockton, Richard]]

[[Category:Signers of the U.S. Declaration of Independence|Stockton, Richard]]

[[Category:1730 births|Stockton, Richard]]

[[Category:1781 deaths|Stockton, Richard]]