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Mary Vansant Stockton

Mary Vansant (VanZandt) Stockton 

1774-1851Mary Vansant Stockton

Mary Vansant Stockton was born in LMT in 1774 to Joyce Brelsford  & Gabriel Vansant.  Her family was originally from the Netherlands before coming to the US via NY in the 1600s. Mary’s grandparents, Isaiah Vansant and Geertje Charity VanHorn, owned the property where Shady Brook Farm and Wegman’s are currently located.

Gabriel, her father, owned upwards of 300 acres of land in Upper Makefield. Gabriel was 1st Lieutenant and Private, 3rd Associated Co. of Lower Makefield, Bucks County, Pa, in Captain Peter VanSant’s Company, Colonel Joseph Kirk. 

Mary spent her entire life in Bucks County.  

Mary was a Quaker and was active in her meeting.

  • Mary married John Stockton in 1794 at the age of 20. 
    • John loved horses and was a veterinary surgeon. 
    • John’s father, Joseph Stockton, was a Loyalist and died in 1777 while leading a foraging party for the British. The Americans confiscated his 500 acres in Princeton. 
    • Joseph’s first cousin Richard was the only NJ signer of the Declaration of Independence.
    • John and Mary lived in a nicely constructed farmhouse in Floral Vale, which her father Gabriel built for them. The house is still standing and remained in the family until the late 1900s.
    • John died in 1844, and Mary passed in 1851. They are buried at Slate Hill Cemetery along with several of their descendants.

  • John and Mary had 11 children, all born in Lower Makefield Township. Their children were
  • Nancy Ann Stockton Leedom 1793-1883 (Buried in Ohio)
  • Joseph Stockton 1796-1871 (Buried in Ohio) – Named after John’s father.
  • Eliza Stockton 1804-1886 (Buried in Ewing)
  • Sarah Stockton 1810-1888 (Buried at Slate Hill)
  • Mary Ann stayed in LMT
  • John B. Stockton 1812-1882 (Buried in Ewing)
  • Charity (?)
  • Ellen (?)
  • Elijah (?)
  • Isaiah Vansant Stockton 1817-1891 (Buried in Slate Hill) 
    • Isaiah married Sarah Thackery. They stayed in LMT and had two children: John B. & Lendrum. Lendrum was quite involved in the LMT community as a School Director.
  • Eleanor Stockton Hough 1820-1891 (Buried in Ewing)

Read more about the Stockton Family: Story from Slate Hill: Revolutionary War divided families, tested loyalties | Heralding Our History | buckscountyherald.com