1690 map of Willingborough, New Jersey.
1675 John Stokes was born. [1] [2] John Stokes was perhaps born in London. [3]
1681 John Stokes, son of Thomas Stokes of ?aptor, cordwainer, and wife Mary, perhaps this one, was baptized on December 18. [4]
1700 John Hilliard sold land to John Stokes. The land had been purchased by John Hilliard from Joseph ? on 5 November 1700 [deed book B-683].
1702 John Antrum, of Northampton Twp, Burlington County, New Jersey, cordwinder, sold land to John Stokes of the same place, planter, on September 25, for one hundred pounds silver money of New Jersey, 280 acres of land near Spring Hill and adjacent to land of Samuel Borden and George Porter and William Biddle and James Anmons. [5] [6]
1703 On 4 of month 9, "John Stoke & Elizabeth Green declared their intention of marriage ye first time but she not having a certificate from whence she came friends were not willing they should pass ye meeting." [7]
1703/1712 John Stokes married Elizabeth Green, but the date is unclear. [8] [9] A biosketch reports [10]:
Lady Green … was the daughter of Sir Thomas Green, of Green's Norton, England. The Green family was wealthy, proud and aristocratic and as Elizabeth had formed an attachment for a young Englishman to whom the father objected, she was sent to the wilderness of West Jersey in care of his friend Dr. Daniel Wills. When the gay Elizabeth arrived in the neighborhod of Rancocas a young man was needed to serve as groom and to accompany her when she rode her horse over the beautiful woodland paths or canoed on the Rancocas. John Stokes, who lived further up the creek with his parents Thomas and Mary Barnard Stokes was employed for this pleasant duty. John was a steady and trustworthy young Quaker and doubtless was regarded as a perfectly safe companion for the young lady. Strange are the ways of Cupid! They soon became warm friends as they rode their horses over the Indian paths or paddled on the Rancocas. Their friendship quickly ripened into love and they were married in 1712 [sic]. Her father disinherited her when he heard of her marriage to her groom but afterwards relented when he found that Stokes blood was just as blue as Green blood.
1690 The land of John Stokes was shown on a map of Willingboro Twp, stretching between the Northampton branch of the Rancocas to the Old Mill Creek. [11] [12] This land is described in surveys of Thomas Revell dated 1695 and 1698. [13]
1703/1712 John Stokes married Elizabeth Green, daughter of Thomas and Elizabeth Green, of Bugbrook parish, Northampton, England. Members of the Stokes family call Elizabeth Green, bride of John Stokes, "Lady Green". Her brother John was sent to look after the family's interests in New Jersey. [14] [15] [16] [17] [18] [19]
1704 Thomas Stokes Jr married Deliverance Horner on October 3, in the Burlington Meeting, Burlington County, New Jersey. Witnessed by John and Elizabeth Stokes and others [20].
Several secondary sources report that John Stokes and Elizabeth Green were married in 1712. We seek further evidence to clarify the date, but suspect that they were married in 1703, soon after their declaration to marry and before John and Elizabeth Stokes witnessed the marriage of brother Thomas to Deliverance Horner. Note that daughter Mary married Edward Mullen in 1724, about 21 years after we suspect that John and Elizabeth were married.
1704 "To all captains & other military officer concerned" ... John Stoaks was listed as a Quaker excused from military duties in Northampton, Burlington County. [21]
1707 John Stokes (perhaps this one), Thomas Stokes, Benjamin Moore, and others signed a letter to New Jersey governor Lord Cornbury disagreeing with the governor's prohibition of warrants in West Jersey. [22]
1708 John Matlack and Hannah Horner were married on May 20, at the house of Isaac Horner. Witnessed by John Stokes and others. [23]
1710 Mary Hudson and John Eves, both of Willingboro Twp, Burlington County, were married on August 17, in Northampton Twp, Burlington County. Witnessed by John Stoakes and others. [24]
1710 Joseph Stokes and Judith Lippincott, both of Burlington County, were married on 9 of month 9, in Evesham Twp. Witnessed by Elizabeth Stoks and others. [25] [26]
John and Elizabeth Green Stokes settled on a plantation located further down the creek which they named "Stokingham." [27]
1719 John Stokes was made sole executor of his father's will. [28]
1723/24 Edward Mullen and Mary Stokes stated, on 2 of month 1 (March), before the Burlington Women's meeting, their intentions of marriage. [29]
1724 Mary Stokes, daughter of John Stokes, and Edward Mullen, all of Wellingboro, Burlington County, were married on April 16, at Northampton Twp, Burlington County. John and Elizabeth were witnesses, as were John's four surviving siblings. [30] [31] [32]
1728 The Quaker members of the grand jury of West New Jersey, held at Burlington, including John Stokes, signed a letter, dated May 7, to the King of England expressing support, especially with regard to the conflict against Spain. [33]
1729 John Stokes was condemned for consenting to the marriage of daughter Sarah. [34]
1732 John Stokes was named as a brother (in-law?) and executor in the will of John Green of Wellingborrow, Burlington County, New Jersey. [35]
1734 Sarah Rodgers, daughter of John Stoaks, was disowned, on month 1, day 3, for marrying out of unity. [36]
1738 [nephew] Joseph Moore, son of Benjamin Moore of Evesham, and Patience Woolman were married on May 17, in Northampton Twp, Burlington County. Witnessed by John and Joseph Stokes and others. [37]
1743 The will of John Stokes, yeoman, date: December 28, 1743 at Burlington County named Wife, Elizabeth. Son, John, my plantation, he paying £5 each unto my grandchildren, Elizabeth and William Blackham. Daughters: Mary Mulling [Mullen] and Sarah Rodgers [Rogers]. Executors: wife, and friend Revel Elton. Witnesses: Thomas Green, Samuel Woolman, John Woolman. Proved Sept. 11, 1749. [38] [39]
1745 Bathsheba Stokes, daughter of Joseph Stokes and Judith, his wife dec'd, in Chester Twp, married Isaac Evans on December 5. Witnessed by Joseph Stokes, Hannah Coles (sister), John Stokes, Elizabeth (Green?) Stokes, Joshua and Rebecca (sister) Roberts, Samuel Stokes, Hannah Stokes, Judith Stokes, Joseph Stokes Jr, Martha (sister) and Mathew Allen, Jacob Stokes, Mary Stokes, and others. [40] [41]
1749 Inventory for the estate of John Stokes, dated Sept. 4, £408.7.9; made by John Deacon and Samuel Cripps. [42]
1750 The will of Elizabeth (Green) Stokes of Willingboro Twp, Burlington County, widow of John Stokes, written September 23, 1750, named children: John Stokes (sole executor), Mary Mullin, Sarah Biddle. Grandchildren: Elizabeth Blackham, William Blackham, Elisabeth Mullins, Isaac Rogers, Rebecca Rogers, and John Rogers (children of Sarah Biddle), Edward Mullin, Sally Mullin, and Patty Mullin, Mary Stokes, and John Stokes. Sister Jane Green. Sarah received the same as her sister Mary--5 pounds and wearing apparel. The Rogers grandchildren received 20 pounds collectively while six other grandchildren received only 5 pounds each. One other grandchild received a bed and furniture. A grandson received 20 pounds. Personal Estate. Witnesses - Joseph Green, James Gaskill, Gabriel Blond. Proved July 20, 1751. [43]
1751 Inventory, dated July 20, £146.10.6, incl. bonds of Joseph Biddle and Edward Mullin, £112.14.6; made by Thomas and John Buzby. [44]
Research Notes:
It is not plausible that Elizabeth Green was the mother of John's daughter, Mary, if dates reported by other secondary sources are correct. In 1704, John and Elizabeth (plausibly his wife) Stokes witnessed the wedding of John's brother Thomas. In 1712, John and Elizabeth Green were reportedly married [45]. John's daughter, Mary, was married to Edward Mullen in 1724. Note that one source [46] incorrectly reports the year of Mary's marriage as 1734, while two original records report the year as 1724. Was John married to an Elizabeth before he married Elizabeth Green, or are the "facts" about John's marriage to Elizabeth Green also in error?
1735 A preliminary "walking survey" was made in the area of Bucks County, Pennsylvania. The survey party passed through "Stokes's Meadow". [47] "These facts prove that this route was laid out through Bedminster Township near the present village of Strawntown, keeping west of the Haycock, or it would not have passed over the head of Perkiomen and through Stokes' Meadow, which is the place lately owned and occupied by General Paul Applebach." [48] Did this John Stokes, or his son, own the Stokes meadow referred to in this survey?
[1] Richard Haines, George Haines, Charles Stokes. Genealogy of the Stokes Family (1903), 8, [HathiTrust], [GoogleBooks].
[2] Francis Bazley Lee, ed., Genealogical and Personal Memorial of Mercer County, New Jersey, Vol. 1 (1907), 206, right, [HathiTrust], [GoogleBooks].
[3] Francis Bazley Lee, ed., Genealogical and Memorial History of the State of New Jersey, Vol. 2 (1910), 580, [HathiTrust], [GoogleBooks].
[4] London, England, Baptisms, Marriages and Burials, 1538-1812, Tower Hamlets, St Dunstan and All Saints, Stepney, left page, [AncestryImage], [AncestryRecord].
[5] Colonial Conveyances East & West New Jersey. Deed (Book-Page), AAA-972.
[6] Colonial Conveyances East & West New Jersey. Deed (Book-Page), AAA-372.
[7] Quaker Meeting Records, 1681-1935, Burlington Monthly Meeting, Women's Minutes, 1747-1799, page 68, [AncestryImage].
[8] Richard Haines, George Haines, Charles Stokes. Genealogy of the Stokes Family (1903), 8, reports date 1712, [HathiTrust], [GoogleBooks].
[9] Joseph Stokes, Notes on my Ancestry (1937), 33, Reports no date, but names son John as the oldest child of four, [FHLBook], [GoogleBooks].
[10] George DeCou, The Historic Rancocas (1949), 234, reports date 1712, [GoogleBooks].
[11] Major E. M. Woodward and John Hageman, History of Burlington and Mercer Counties, New Jersey (Philadelphia: Everts & Peck, 1883), 510, [HathiTrust].
[12] Howard Barclay French, Genealogy of the Descendants of Thomas French, Volume 1 (1909), 100, [HathiTrust].
[13] Howard Barclay French, Genealogy of the Descendants of Thomas French, Volume 1 (1909), 73, [HathiTrust].
[14] Francis Bazley Lee, ed., Genealogical and Memorial History of the State of New Jersey, Vol. 2 (1910), 580, reports date 1712, [HathiTrust], [GoogleBooks].
[15] John Clement, Sketches of the first emigrant settlers in Newton Township, Old Gloucester County, West New Jersey (Camden, NJ: Sinnickson Chew, 1877), 303, no date reported, [HathiTrust], [InternetArchive].
[16] Henry Charlton Beck, The Jersey Midlands (1939, 1984 Rutgers University), 173, no date reported, [GoogleBooks].
[17] Richard Haines, George Haines, Charles Stokes. Genealogy of the Stokes Family (1903), 12, no date reported, [HathiTrust], [GoogleBooks].
[18] Richard Haines, George Haines, Charles Stokes. Genealogy of the Stokes Family (1903), 8, reports date 1712, [HathiTrust], [GoogleBooks].
[19] Francis Bazley Lee, ed., Genealogical and Personal Memorial of Mercer County, New Jersey, Vol. 1 (1907), 206, right, reports date 1712, [HathiTrust], [GoogleBooks].
[20] Quaker Meeting Records, 1681-1935, Burlington Monthly Meeting, Minutes, 1677-1777 (includes many different types of records), [AncestryRecord], [AncestryImage].
[21] U.S., Quaker Meeting Records, 1681-1935, Burlington Monthly Meeting, Minutes, 1678-1737, right column, [AncestryRecord], [AncestryImage].
[22] William A. Whitehead, Documents relating to the Colonial History of the State of New Jersey. Archives Vol. 3. (Administration 1703-1709) (1881), 164, [HathiTrust], [GoogleBooks], [InternetArchive].
[23] Quaker Meeting Records, 1681-1935, Burlington Monthly Meeting, Minutes, 1677-1777 (includes many different types of records), [AncestryRecord], [AncestryImage].
[24] Quaker Meeting Records, 1681-1935, Marriages, Births in Burlington Monthly Meeting (Rancocas and Burlington Monthly Meeting), 1710, [AncestryRecord], [AncestryImage].
[25] Quaker Meeting Records, Haddonfield Monthly Meeting Marriage Certificates, 1681-1741, 44, [AncestryRecord], [AncestryImage].
[26] Quaker Meeting Records, Haddonfield Monthly Meeting Certificates of Removal Marriage Certificates, 1681-1741, 44, [AncestryRecord], [AncestryImage].
[27] Richard Haines, George Haines, Charles Stokes. Genealogy of the Stokes Family (1903), 302, [HathiTrust], [GoogleBooks].
[28] Francis Bazley Lee, ed., Genealogical and Memorial History of the State of New Jersey, Vol. 2 (1910), 580, [HathiTrust], [GoogleBooks].
[29] Quaker Meeting Records, 1681-1935, Burlington Monthly Meeting, Women's Minutes, 1747-1799, [AncestryImage].
[30] Quaker Meeting Records, 1681-1935, Marriages, Births in Burlington Monthly Meeting (Rancocas and Burlington Monthly Meeting), [AncestryRecord], [AncestryImage].
[31] William Wade Hinshaw, Encyclopedia of American Quaker Genealogy, Vol. 2 [NJ and Pennsylvania] (1938), 265, [HathiTrust].
[32] Richard Haines, George Haines, Charles Stokes. Genealogy of the Stokes Family (1903), 12, [HathiTrust], [GoogleBooks].
[33] William A. Whitehead, Documents relating to the Colonial History of the State of New Jersey. Archives Vol. 5. (Administration 1720-1737) (1882), 187, [HathiTrust], [GoogleBooks], [InternetArchive].
[34] William Wade Hinshaw, Encyclopedia of American Quaker Genealogy, Vol. 2 [NJ and Pennsylvania] (1938), 265, [HathiTrust].
[35] A. Van Doren Honeyman, Documents relating to the Colonial History of the State of New Jersey. Archives Vol. 30. (Wills and Administrations 2, 1730-1750) (1918), 205, [GoogleBooks], [HathiTrust].
[36] William Wade Hinshaw, Encyclopedia of American Quaker Genealogy, Vol. 2 [NJ and Pennsylvania] (1938), 255, [HathiTrust].
[37] Quaker Meeting Records, 1681-1935, Burlington Monthly Meeting, Minutes, 1677-1777 (includes many different types of records), [AncestryRecord], [AncestryImage].
[38] Pennsylvania Probate Records, 1683-1994, Bucks, Will 7-72, #3355, [FamilySearchImage].
[39] A. Van Doren Honeyman, Documents relating to the Colonial History of the State of New Jersey. Archives Vol. 30. (Wills and Administrations 2, 1730-1750) (1918), 461, citing Lib. 6, p. 314, [GoogleBooks], [HathiTrust].
[40] Quaker Meeting Records, 1681-1935, Evesham Monthly Meeting, Marriages, 1779-1794, 13, [AncestryRecord], [AncestryImage].
[41] Quaker Meeting Records, 1681-1935, Burlington and Rancocas Monthly Meetings, Births, 1749-1883, 12, [AncestryRecord], [AncestryImage].
[42] A. Van Doren Honeyman, Documents relating to the Colonial History of the State of New Jersey. Archives Vol. 30. (Wills and Administrations 2, 1730-1750) (1918), 461, citing Lib. 6, p. 314, [GoogleBooks], [HathiTrust].
[43] A. Van Doren Honeyman, Documents relating to the Colonial History of the State of New Jersey. Archives Vol. 32. (Wills and Administrations 3, 1751-1760) (1924), 311, citing Burlington Wills, 4085 C, [InternetArchive].
[44] A. Van Doren Honeyman, Documents relating to the Colonial History of the State of New Jersey. Archives Vol. 32. (Wills and Administrations 3, 1751-1760) (1924), 311, citing Burlington Wills, 4085 C, [InternetArchive].
[45] Richard Haines, George Haines, Charles Stokes. Genealogy of the Stokes Family (1903), 12, and many other secondary sources. We have not seen a primary source for this marriage, [HathiTrust], [GoogleBooks].
[46] Richard Haines, George Haines, Charles Stokes. Genealogy of the Stokes Family (1903), 12, [HathiTrust], [GoogleBooks].
[47] William W. H. Davis, with Warren S. Ely and John W. Jordan, ed., History of Bucks County Pennsylvania, 2nd ed,. Vol. I (1905), 472, [GoogleBooks], [HathiTrust].
[48] J. H. Battle, ed., History of Bucks County Pennsylvania (1887), 156, [GoogleBooks], [HathiTrust], [InternetArchive (page approximate)].