This isn't the first time some faculty members at Stockton State University have tried to change the school's name. A task force created by these faculty members has just sent a survey to students to see how many of them would agree with the idea. The educators claim Stockton was associated with slavery and his loyalty to patriot's cause was questionable. Let's hope the students have been educated well enough to reject their professor's idea. Here's a fairer look at the story of Richard Stockton. For starters, he was the first signer of the Declaration of Independence from New Jersey. He owned Morven in Princeton. Which once served as New Jersey's Governor's mansion. Now it's a museum.
Stockton was made to suffer serious consequences for his decision to sign the declaration. He was captured during the Revolutionary War. His family managed to find safety. General Cornwallis and British troops then occupied, ransacked and burned Morven. According to ushistory.org All of Stockton's furniture, belongings, crops and livestock were destroyed. Stockton was imprisoned by the British in Perth Amboy and New York City. For more than five weeks he was tortured. His captors subjected him to starvation and bitter cold temperatures. He was eventually released on parole after signing an oath of loyalty to the crown.
Stockton's health never fully returned. He came home to what was left of Morven and returned to teaching and practicing law when he could. A few years later he developed lip cancer. After two more years of suffering he died in 1781. The truth is his life was destroyed because he was a patriot.
The current President of Stockton State does not support the proposed name change.
Source: NJ.COM
Photo: Getty Images