Davis Stockton (c1685-1761)

The first documented information on Davis Stockton is a Virginia Land Office Patent to Michael Wood (Woods) dated 10 June 1737. "George the Second . . . in Consideration of the Sum of Forty Shillings of good and lawful Money . . . do Give Grant and Confirm unto Michael Wood one certain Tract or Parcel of Land containing four hundred Acres lying and being in the County of Goochland on the heads of Ivy Creek on other Branches of the North River on the South Side of the North River and bounded as followeth (to wit) Beginning at a hiccory on Davis Stockton’s Line . . . crossing a Branch of the North River . . . to Pointers in Davis Stockton's Line . . . the Tenth Day June one thousand seven hundred and thirty seven In the Tenth Year of our Reign. William Gooch”

Michael Woods (Sr.) and Davis Stockton were two of the early settlers in Goochland (now Albemarle) County, Virginia. It is not known when they first arrived in Goochland County, but they were there by 1737. Michael Woods' property on Lickinghole Creek "lay at the mouth of Woods's Gap." This was at the eastern entrance of Woods’ Gap a “gentle defile in the Blue Ridge Mountains”. The property of his son, Michael Woods (Jr.), was at the headwaters of Ivy Creek. This was next to Davis Stockton’s property on Ivy Creek.

It is not known when or where Davis Stockton was born. It appears that he was born about 1685, and maybe in Ireland. It is also not known when or where his children were born. All dates of birth for his children are only approximate. It appears that Davis Stockton's children were born in Ireland, however, no evidence of the Davis Stockton family has been found in Ireland. In the 1730's Davis Stockton settled in the Ivy Creek area. From 1634 until 1728 this area was part of Henrico Shire. In 1728 the Ivy Creek area became part of Goochland County, and in 1744 it became part of the newly formed Albemarle County. Amherst County was formed from the southern portion of Albemarle County in 1761, and the northern portion of Amherst County became Nelson County in 1807.

VIRGINIA LAND OFFICE PATENT BOOK 18, 1738-1739, pp. 536-537, 12 March 1739 "George the Second by the Grace of God of Great Britain France and Ireland . . . in Consideration of the Sum of Forty Shillings of good and lawful Money . . . do Give Grant and Confirm unto Davis Stockdon one certain Tract or Parcel of Land containing Four hundred Acres lying and being in the County of Goochland on both sides of Ivy Creek a branch of the Rivanna and on the South side of the same and bounded as followeth, to wit, Beginning at a white Oak a corner to Capt Charles Hudson . . . Crossing Ivy Creek to a Hiccory . . . the said Davis Stockdon . . . the Twelfth Day of March one thousand seven hundred & thirty nine In the Thirteenth Year of our Reign . . . William Gooch"

Davis Stockton sold this property to his neighbor Michael Woods on 17 Nov 1741 for 30 pounds.

VIRGINIA LAND OFFICE PATENT BOOK NO. 20, 1741-1743, pp. 162-164, 15 March 1741 "George the second . . . in Consideration of the Sum of Forty Shillings of good and Lawful Money . . . do Give Grant and Confirm unto William Whitesides One Certain Tract or Parcel of Land containing Four hundred Acres lying and being in the County of Goochland on both sides the South fork Mechums River . . . said William Whitesides . . . the Fifteenth Day of March One thousand seven hundred and forty one In the Fifteenth Year of our Reign . . . William Gooch"

Elizabeth Stockton, a daughter of Davis Stockton, married William Whiteside or Whitesides. There is a tradition that William Whiteside was born in Ireland, that he met and married Elizabeth Stockton in Ireland, and that three of William and Elizabeth (nee Stockton) Whiteside's children were born in Ireland. It also states that in about 1735 the William and Elizabeth Whiteside family, and the Davis Stockton family, left Ireland and traveled to America together. However, it does not appear that William and Elizabeth Whiteside had any children born by 1735, or even by 1737 when Davis Stockton is known to have been living in Goochland County, Virginia.

William Whiteside was probably living Goochland County before his 15 March 1741 patent. The first children of William and Elizabeth (nee Stockton) Whiteside appear to have been born about 1740 or 1741. It is very possible that William Whiteside and Elizabeth Stockton did not meet and marry in Ireland, but instead met and married in Goochland County, Virginia.

VIRGINIA LAND OFFICE PATENT BOOK 20, 1741-1743, pp. 194-196, 15 March 1741 "George the second . . . in Consideration of the Sum of Forty Shillings of good and Lawful Money . . . unto Davis Stockton One Certain Tract or Parcel of Land containing Four hundred Acres lying and being in the County of Goochland on both sides of Stockton's Branch of Mechum's River and bounded as followeth (to wit) Beginning at Richard Stockton's Corner . . . to a small Pine in Richard Stockton's line . . . unto said Davis Stockton . . . the Fifteenth Day of March One thousand seven hundred and forty one In the Fifteenth Year of our Reign . . . William Gooch."

VIRGINIA LAND OFFICE PATENT BOOK 19, 1739-1741, pp. 1006-1007, 6 July 1741 "George the second . . . in Consideration of the Sum of Forty Shillings of good and Lawful Money . . . do Give Grant and Confirm unto David Stockdon one Certain Tract or Parcel of Land containing four hundred Acres lying and being in the County of Goochland on both sides the South fork of Mechum's River and Bounded as followith (to wit) Beginning at a red Oak and Hiccory Saplin on the North side of the said South fork . . . unto the said David Stockdon . . . the Sixth Day of July One thousand seven hundred and forty one In the Fifteenth Year of our Reign . . . James Blair"

GOOCHLAND COUNTY ROAD ORDERS 1728-1744, by Nathaniel Mason Pawlett, 1975, revised 2004, p. 41 Order Book 5, Goochland County 15 Sept. 1741 O.S., p. 3 "Road to be Clear'd . . . On the Petition of . . . Davis Stockdon . . . Sam. Arnett [Samuel Arnold], Richard Stockdon, Thomas Stockdon . . . Leave is given to Clear a road from Thomas Morrisons to the D.S. tree in Michael Woods road. And that the Petitioners be exempt from working on any other road."

VIRGINIA LAND OFFICE PATENT BOOK 22, 1743-1745, pp. 42-44, 1 March 1743 "George the Second . . . in Consideration of the Sum of Twenty Shillings of good and Lawful Money . . . do Give Grant and Confirm unto Samuel Arnold one certain Tract or Parcel of Land containing two hundred Acres lying and being in the County of Goochland on the Branches of Ivy Creek and bounded as followeth (to wit) Beginning at Captain Hudsons Corner . . . the First Day of March One thousand seven hundred and forty three In the Seventeenth Year of our Reign . . . William Gooch"

Thomas Stockton, a son of Davis Stockton, married Rachel Allen, a daughter of Samuel and Martha (nee Chapman) Allen. After Samuel Allen died Martha (nee Chapman) Allen married Samuel Arnold. The Samuel Arnold family was probably living next to the Davis Stockton family by 1740. It appears that Thomas Stockton met and married Rachel Allen in Goochland County, and their first children appear to have been born in Goochland County in about 1740.

ALBEMARLE COUNTY, VIRGINIA, ORDER BOOK 1, 1744-1748, p. 45, 22 Aug 1745 Mentions Joseph Kinkead, Andrew Wood and a road from Kinkead's house to Davis Stockton's mill. Rev. Edgar Woods wrote that the Stockton family "erected perhaps the first mill in that section of the county." The mill site was later owned by Davis Stockton's sons Samuel and William Stockton. See 12 Mar 1760 deed from Samuel Stockton to William Stockton.

ALBEMARLE COUNTY IN VIRGINIA, by Rev. Edgar Woods, 1901, pp. 362-363 "Ivy Creek, March 29, 1747. Whereas it is agreed or proposed that ye Inhabitants of Ivy Creek and ye Mountain Plain Congregation joyn together with ye Congregation of Rockfish, to call and invite ye Reverend Samuel Black . . . to be our Minister and Pastor . . . do promise and oblige ourselves to pay yearly and every year ye several sums annexed to our names, for ye outward support and Incouragement of ye said Mr. Samuel Black . . . according to ye Rules and Practice of our Orthodox Reformed Presbyterian Church." Among those who promised support for Reverend Samuel Black were: Richard Stockton, 12 shillings; Davis Stockton, 1 pound, no shillings; Adam Gaudylock, 10 shillings; William Whiteside, 10 shillings; Thomas Lockhart, 10 shillings; Michael Woods, 1 pound, 10 shillings; and Michael Woods Jr., 10 shillings.

ALBEMARLE COUNTY, VIRGINIA, SURVEYOR'S PLAT BOOK: Adam Goudelock, 182 acres on Spring Branch, nieghbors Martha Stockton and Sarah Stockton,12 March 1748. Adam Goudelock, 400 acres on south fork of Mechum's River, neighbor Davis Stockton, 19 Mar 1749.

Hannah Stockton, a daughter of Davis Stockton, appears to have met and married Adam Goudelock in Albemarle County, Virginia. The Adam and Hannah (nee Stockton) Goudelock family moved to Union County, South Carolina.

ALBEMARLE COUNTY IN VIRGINIA, by Rev. Edgar Woods, 1901, p. 363 "Albemarle Company of Militia, lately in actual service for the defence and protection of the frontier against the Indians, September, 1758. Hening's Statutes, VII, 203." Samuel Stockton, William Stockton, Adam Gaudylock, William Whiteside and Michael Woods, Jr., were among the 56 names mentioned. Samuel and William Stockton were sons of Davis Stockton. Adam Goudelock and William Whiteside were sons-in-law of Davis Stockton. Adam Goudelock married Hannah Stockton, a daughter of Davis Stockton. William Whiteside married Elizabeth Stockton, also a daughter of Davis Stockton. Michael Woods, Jr., was a neighbor of Davis Stockton.

ALBEMARLE COUNTY IN VIRGINIA, by Rev. Edgar Woods, 1901, pp. 319-320 “Among the earliest settlers in the western part of the county, who came as is said under the leadership of Michael Woods, was a family named Stockton. Though their name has entirely disappeared, they have in a number of ways left their mark behind. They consisted of several branches. They erected perhaps the first mill in that section of the county. The north fork of Mechum's River still bears the name of Stockton's Creek, the south fork in early times was called Stockton's Mill creek, and the first name by which Israel's Gap was known was Stockton's Thoroughfare. The famous abbreviation of D. S. is also ascribed to the head of the family. One story recites that Michael Woods and Davis Stockton landed at Williamsburg, and came to the wilds of Goochland together, that arriving at D. S., they advanced in different directions, Woods continuing straight forward to Woods's Gap, and Stockton bearing to the left along the foot of the mountain towards Batesville, and that as a memorial of the place where they separated, Stockton carved his initials on a tree. . . Woods's home lay at the mouth of Woods's Gap, and the Stocktons were settled along Mecham's River, the south fork as well as the north.”

Rev. Edgar Woods shows a date of death of 1760 for Davis Stockton. It appears that Davis Stockton did not leave a will. The inventory of “the Estate of Davis Stockton Decd.” was dated "January 8th 1762."

ALBEMARLE COUNTY, VIRGINIA, WILL BOOK 2, p. 114 Stockton Appraisal Pursuant to an Order of the Worshipful Court of Albemarle and in obedience to the sd Order We the Subscribers have appraised the Estate of Davis Stockton Decd. as follows Viz To 9 Hogs ₤2..15.. To 1 Horse ₤3 To 4 Cattle ₤6..5. . .  .   ₤12 _____ To 1 Bed and furniture ₤1..10. To 1 Chest 2/6. . .  .  .  .  .  .   1  12   6     To 1 Riding Coat 20/  To 1 Waist Coat 12/6. . .  .  .  .  .  .  .    1  12   6 To Pewter 10/. To 2 Iron Pots 9/1. To Knives and forks 5/. . .  1   4  __ To a Parcel of Wooden Ware 7/. To 2 Books 5/. . .  .  .  .  .        12 __ To 1 Cow sold ₤2..5.. To 1 Churn 1/3. . .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .      2   6    3 To 1 C. weight of Poark 16/8. 1 Bell 3/6 1 Barrl 2/6. . .  .       1   2    8 To Iron Ware ₤2..0..10  To 1 mare and Colt ₤13..10. . .  .      15  10  10                                                                        Totall. . .   36  00   9 Given under our hands January 8th 1762. William Grayson James Coffey Chas Lambert

This appraisment was returned to Albemarle County Court the fourteenth Day of January 1762 and Ordered to be recorded Test John Nicholas Clk

THE STOCKTON FAMILY OF NEW JERSEY AND OTHER STOCKTONS, by Thomas Coates Stockton, M. D., 1911, p. 234 "Davis 1 Stockton is said to have come from the north of Ireland and settled, first, in Lancaster County, Pa., and then in Goochland County (later Albemarle County), Va. He was given a patent for 400 acres of land there, adjoining the land of his son-in-law, Adam Godylouch, March 12, 1739 . . . His wife's name was Sarah.” There is no evidence that Davis Stockton was from the north of Ireland or that he was ever in Pennsylvania.

SKETCHES OF VIRGINIA, HISTORICAL AND BIOGRAPHICAL, by Rev. William Henry Foote, D. D., 1850, pp. 101-102 "Michael Woods, from Ireland came in the year 1734 and settled at Henderson's quarter near Wood's Gap in Albemarle. Three sons and three sons in law came with him and settled near. One of the sons in law, William Wallace, took his residence on Mechums river, in Albemarle . . . These were the founders of Mountain Plain Congregation."

It appears that Davis Stockton might have married about 1710. If he married at age 25, he would have been born about 1685. There is no hard evidence as to when or where Davis Stockton was born, or when or where he married. There is also no hard evidence if Sarah was his only wife, or his first wife or his second wife.

DNA proves that Davis and Robert Stockton are descended from the same male Stockton ancestor. It could be they had the same father, or the same grandfather, or an earlier male Stockton ancestor. Davis and Robert Stockton do not share a Stockton ancestor with the Richard Stockton family of New Jersey. Davis Stockton has not been found in any Pennsylvania records, and Davis Stockton has not been found in New York or New Jersey records. It appears that the first record for Davis Stockton is the 10 June 1737 Goochland County, Virginia, land patent.

ALBEMARLE COUNTY, VIRGINIA, SURVEYOR'S PLAT BOOK, 26 Oct 1748 and 29 Oct 1748 "This is a Plat of 397 Acres of Land in Albemarle County lying on the branches of Metchum River Survd. for Sarah Stockton Octobr. 26 1748 . . . by Thos. Turpin, Asst. Sur." Sarah Stockton's survey of 397 acres is on the same page of the surveyor's book as Davis Stockton's survey for 312 acres. They are both dated "Octobr. 26 1748." On 29 Oct 1748 a survey of 400 acres for Davis Stockton on Branches of Mechams River.

VIRGINIA LAND OFFICE PATENT BOOK NO. 34, 1756-1765, p. 19, 10 March 1756 "George the Second . . . in Consideration of the Sum of Forty Shillings of good and lawful Money . . . Do Give Grant & Confirm unto Sarah Stockton one certain Tract or Parcel of Land containing Three hundred and ninety seven Acres lying and being in the County of Albemarle both Sides the Virgin - Spring - Branch of Mechum River and bounded as followeth to wit Beginning at a Pine in Davis Stockton's Line . . . the tenth day of March one thousand seven hundred and fifty six In the twenty ninth Year of our Reign . . . Robt. Dinwiddie"

VIRGINIA LAND OFFICE PATENT BOOK NO. 41, 1772-1773, pp. 130-131, 1 March 1773 "Whereas by one Patent under the Seal of this our Colony & Dominion of Virginia bearing date the tenth Day of March one thousand seven hundred & fifty six there was granted unto Sarah Stockton one certain Tract or Parcel of Land containing three hundred & ninety seven Acres in the County of Albemarle on both sides the Virgin Spring Branch of Mechum River . . . Whereas Sarah Branton (late Sarah Stockton) hath failed to pay such Quitrents, & Samuel Stockton hath made humble Suit to our, late Lieutenant & Governor General of our said Colony & Dominion & hath obtained a Grant for the same . . . Do Give Grant & Confirm unto the said Samuel Stockton the said Tract . . . Begining at a Pine in Davis Stocktons Line . . . the first day of March one thousand and seven hundred & seventy three, in the thirteenth Year of our Reign . . . Dunmore"

SPOUSE: Davis Stockton's wife is thought to have been Sarah, however, there is no proof that is correct. Although Sarah's maiden name is commonly shown as Goudelock, several other possible maiden names have also been put forward. The other possible maiden names include Anthony, Morgan, Whiteside, Woods and Wooten, all without any evidence that they are correct. Davis Stockton's wife is sometimes shown as Sarah Anthony Goudelock. That is just a combination of two of her possible maiden names. Prevailing law in Virginia in the 1700's would seem to prevent the Sarah Stockton mentioned in the 1748, 1756 and 1773 records from being the wife of Davis Stockton. Although apparently not impossible, it would have been very uncommon for married woman to have been able to buy land in her own name at that time.

CHILDREN: Richard Stockton (1710-1775), maybe in Ireland Thomas Stockton, Sr. (1714-1783), maybe in Ireland Elizabeth (nee Stockton) Whiteside, born about 1715-1725, maybe in Ireland Samuel Stockton (1720-1807), maybe in Ireland William Stockton, born about 1715-1730, maybe in Ireland Hannah (nee Stockton) Goudelock, born about 1720-1730, maybe in Ireland Martha Ann (nee Stockton) Whelchel, born about 1725-1732, maybe in Ireland

SOURCES: VIRGINIA LAND OFFICE PATENT BOOK NO. 17, 1735-1738, pp. 350-351, 10 June 1737 (Michael Woods, 400 acres) VIRGINIA LAND OFFICE PATENT BOOK NO. 18, 1738-1739, pp. 536-537, 12 March 1739 (Davis Stockton, 400 acres) VIRGINIA LAND OFFICE PATENT BOOK NO. 19, 1739-1741, pp. 1006-1007, 6 July 1741 (Davis Stockton, 400 acres) VIRGINIA LAND OFFICE PATENT BOOK NO. 20, 1741-1743, pp. 162-164, 15 March 1741 (William Whitesides, 400 acres) VIRGINIA LAND OFFICE PATENT BOOK NO. 20, 1741-1743, pp. 194-196, 15 March 1741 (Davis Stockton, 400 acres) ALBEMARLE COUNTY, VIRGINIA, 15 Sep 1741 ("Road to be Clear'd . . . Davis Stockdon . . . Richard Stockdon, Thomas Stockdon) ALBEMARLE COUNTY, VIRGINIA, DEED BOOK, 17 Nov 1741,  (Davis Stockton to Michael Woods, 400 acres) VIRGINIA LAND OFFICE PATENT BOOK NO. 22, 1743-1745, pp. 42-44, 1 March 1743  (Samuel Arnold, 200 acres) ALBEMARLE COUNTY, VIRGINIA, ORDER BOOK 1, 1744-1748, p. 45, 22 Aug 1745  ("Kinkead's house to Davis Stockton's mill") ALBEMARLE COUNTY, VIRGINIA, SURVEYOR'S PLAT BOOK, 26 Oct 1748  (Sarah Stockton, 397 acres) ALBEMARLE COUNTY, VIRGINIA, SURVEYOR'S PLAT BOOK, 29 Oct 1748  (Davis Stockton, 400 acres) ALBEMARLE COUNTY, VIRGINIA, SURVEYOR'S PLAT BOOK, 12 March 1749  (Adam Goudelock, 182 acres) ALBEMARLE COUNTY, VIRGINIA, SURVEYOR'S PLAT BOOK, 19 May 1749  (Adam Goudelock, 400 acres) VIRGINIA LAND OFFICE PATENT BOOK NO. 34, 1756-1765, p. 19, 10 March 1756  (Sarah Stockton, 397 acres) ALBEMARLE COUNTY, VIRGINIA, DEED BOOK 3, p. 17, 12 March 1760 (Samuel Stockton to William Stockton, 204 acres) ALBEMARLE COUNTY, VIRGINIA, WILL BOOK 2, p. 114, 8 Jan 1762 (Inventory of Davis Stockton's estate) VIRGINIA LAND OFFICE PATENT BOOK NO. 41, 1772-1773, pp. 130-131, 1 March 1773 (Sarah Stockton's 397 acres to Samuel Stockton) [HENING'S] STATUTES AT LARGE, Volume VII, 1820, by William Waller Hening, p. 203 SKETCHES OF VIRGINIA, HISTORICAL AND BIOGRAPHICAL, by Rev. William Henry Foote, D. D.,1850, pp. 101-102 ALBEMARLE COUNTY IN VIRGINIA, by Rev. Edgar Woods, 1901, pp. 319-320, 362-363 THE STOCKTON FAMILY OF NEW JERSEY AND OTHER STOCKTONS, by Thomas Coates Stockton, M. D., 1911 CHRONICLES OF THE SCOTCH-IRISH SETTLEMENT IN VIRGINIA, by Lyman Chalkley, 1912 DAVIS STOCKTON OF VIRGINIA, by Leona Irene Smith Johnson and Winfred Broadus Smith, First Edition 1972, Second Edition 1975 GOOCHLAND COUNTY ROAD ORDERS 1728-1744, by Nathaniel Mason Pawlett, 1975, revised 2004, p. 41