THOMAS STOCKTON is a representative of one of the oldest families of Franklin township. Thomas Stockton, the ancestor of the family in Pennsylvania, was a native of Virginia, and at an early age came to Chambersburgh, Franklin Co., Penn. He was for many years a member and elder in the Presbyterian Church. He died May 31, 1795, aged eighty-six years, of whooping-cough, at the house of his son-in-law, William Waddell, in Mercersburgh, Penn. (William Waddell was a brother of Rev. James Waddell, of Virginia, whose daughter, Jeanette, was married to Rev. Archibald Alexander, D.D.). Mr. Stockton reared the following children: Thomas, John, David, Robert, Elizabeth (Mrs. Waddell), Isabella (Mrs. Neilson), Mary (Mrs. Bard), and Margaret (Mrs. Johnston). Robert Stockton was born October 19, 1737, in eastern Pennsylvania, near Chambersburgh, and on December 22, 1761, he was married to Mary McKennie. Mr. Stockton served in the Revolutionary war, taking part in the battles of Trenton and Monmouth. He moved to Washington county in 1782, and in the following July purchased a farm of Peter Jolly, which was named in the survey "Beaver Dam." It is situated three and a half miles west of Washington borough, in Franklin township, and is still in the possession of the family. To Mr. and Mrs. Robert (McKennie) Stockton were born the following children: Thomas, Col. Robert, Margaret (wife of Col. John Cotton, of Meadville, Penn.), Frances (Mrs. Charles Stewart), Jane (wife of Rev. John Brice), John (married to Margaret McCombs), Rev. Joseph (married to Esther Clark) and Elizabeth (wife of Rev. James Cunningham, of Ohio). Col. John Cotton and Col. Robert Stockton were both elders of the Presbyterian Church at Meadville, Penn. Thomas Stockton inherited the old Stockton place together with his brother John, who afterward died, when Thomas purchased the remainder of the farm. He was united in marriage with Miss Sarah Graham, and the children born to them were as follows: Robert, Thomas, John, Mary and Sarah. Mr. Stockton was a Whig in politics, and in religious belief was for many years a member of the First Presbyterian Church of Washington, in which he was an elder. Robert Stockton, son of Thomas and Sarah (Graham) Stockton, passed his youth on the home farm, and was united in marriage with Rebecca, daughter of John and Sarah Wilson. To their union were born children as follows: Thomas V., John Wilson, Emma O'Ella (Mrs. C.C. Cozad) and Maggie (Mrs. A.R. Gayhort). Mr. Stockton was a leading member of the Presbyterian Church at Washington. In politics he was a Whig and Republican. He died in October, 1864, aged sixty-seven years. Thomas V. Stockton, son of Robert and Rebecca (Wilson) Stockton, is unmarried, and has managed the home farm since the death of his father. He is an enterprising young citizen of Franklin township, and a member of the Republican party. Dr. John Wilson Stockton graduated in the scientific department of Washington and Jefferson College in 1868; he graduated from the Eclectic Medical College, Cincinnati, Ohio, in 1877. He was married August 8, 1890, to Romayne Wade McKown, of Allegheny county. He is located at present at Washington, Penn., where he is engaged in the practice of his chosen profession.

Text taken from page 751 of: Beers, J. H. and Co., Commemorative Biographical Record of Washington County, Pennsylvania (Chicago: J. H. Beers & Co., 1893). Transcribed April 1997 by Jack McNatt of Valrico, FL as part of the Beers Project. Published April 1997 on the Washington County, PA USGenWeb pages at http://www.chartiers.com/.

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