Contributed by Maine Historical Society
Description
Richard Stockton (1730-1781) was a delegate to the Continental Congress from New Jersey. A wealthy and well educated man, Stockton was a lawyer and a trustee for Princeton University for 26 years. In 1766, he traveled to England to personally meet with King George III to present the university's stance on repealing the Stamp Act. Upon returning to the colonies, Stockton was elected to the New Jersey Provincial Council and later appointed to the province's Supreme Court, a position he held at the time of this letter. During the war, he was captured by the British and suffered greatly while in prison.
The letter's recipient is Elisha Lawrence (1740-1811). Lawrence was the sheriff of Monmouth County, New Jersey from 1772 until the Revolutionary War broke out in 1775. During the war, Lawrence stayed loyal to the king and raised a battalion of loyalists. He was captured by the American army in 1777 and, upon his release, moved to Canada and eventually across the Atlantic to Europe.
This letter, dated September 21, 1774 from Morven, New Jersey (now known as Princeton), is a informative memo from Justice Stockton regarding a court case in Sheriff Lawrence's county. He asks the sheriff to summon a jury and meet with him the following week.
Transcription
About This Item
- Title: Richard Stockton regarding details of a court case, New Jersey, 1774
- Creator: Richard Stockton
- Creation Date: 1774-09-21
- Subject Date: 1774-10-03
-
Locations:
- Morven, Mercer County, NJ
- Monmouth County, NJ
- Media: Ink on paper
- Dimensions: 22 cm x 16.7 cm
- Local Code: Coll. 420, Box 59/22
- Collection: John S. H. Fogg autograph collection
- Object Type: Text
Cross Reference Searches
Standardized Subject Headings
- Declaration Of Independence. United States--Signers
- Founding Fathers of the United States
- Sheriffs
- United States--History--Revolution, 1775-1783
- United States. Continental Congress
People
Other Keywords
For more information about this item, contact:
Maine Historical Society485 Congress Street, Portland, ME 04101
(207) 774-1822 x230
Website
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