American Minute with Bill Federer Feb. 28 - Richard Stockton, Signer of the Declaration

American Minute with Bill Federer Feb. 28 - Richard Stockton, Signer of the Declaration Elias Boudinot, Signer of the Treaty of Paris His brother-in-law, Elias Boudinot, served a term as President of the Continental Congress, signed the Treaty of Paris, and founded the American Bible Society. His son, Richard, was a U.S. Senator from New Jersey. His grandson, Robert, a U.S. Navy Commodore, was a hero of the War of 1812; helped freed slaves found Liberia, West Africa; and in 1846, defeated the Mexican army and captured California, being its first military governor. The city of Stockton, California, was named for him. Commodore Robert F. Stockton His name was Richard Stockton. In 1767, Richard Stockton traveled to England, where he met with Edmund Burke, the Marquis of Rockingham, the Earl of Chatham, and even King George III, acknowledging the repeal of the Stamp Act. Stockton traveled to Scotland, where, as a trustee of Princeton College, he met up with a young Princeton graduate attending medical Dr, Benjamin Rush school there, Benjamin Rush, and together they persuaded Rev. John Witherspoon to be Princeton's new President. Benjamin Rush later married Richard Stockton's daughter, Julia. In 1776, Richard Stockton, Benjamin Rush and John Witherspoon all signed the Declaration of Independence. Rev. John Witherspoon When the British invaded New Jersey, Richard Stockton and his family had to flee for their lives. Richard was betrayed, dragged from his bed at night and imprisoned in New York. His farm was pillaged and his library, one of the best in the country, was burned. Richrd Stockton, statue in U.S. Capitol With his health broken from over a year in the British prison, Richard Stockton died bankrupt at age 51 on FEBRUARY 28, 1781. New Jersey placed statue of Richard Stockton in the U.S. Capitol's Statuary Hall. Richard Stockton wrote in his Will: "As my children...may be peculiarly impressed with the last words of their father, I think proper here, not only to subscribe to the entire belief of the great leading doctrine of the Christian religion... but also in the heart of a father's affection, to exhort them to remember 'that the fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom.'" News from AmericanMinute.com Invite Bill Federer to speak - contact wjfederer@gmail.com or call 1-888-USA-WORD  www.AmericanMinute.com Get the book:Prayers & Presidents-Inspiring Faith from Leaders of the Past Watch Federer's "Faith in History" program. Receive the daily minute on your Facebook wall, Twitter feed, or RSS reader. Visit the American Minute archive Visit our website to download an MP3 version of the American Minute suitable as a radio PSA. Please visit the store today to order William J. Federer's books and DVDs. Use the Send to a Colleague link below to tell others about the American Minute or click Join Our Mailing List to sign up. Daily Reading: http://www.biblegateway.com/resources/readingplans/index.php/2012/02/28 Please consider a donation at http://www.americanminute.com/donate.php American Minute is a registered trademark. Permission is granted to forward and/or duplicate with acknowledgement to www.AmericanMinute.com