Abigail Bloomfield

Abigail Bloomfield (1640–1716) was identified in family-tree notes as the wife of Richard Stockton and, with him, as a founder of the New Jersey branch of the Stockton family. The notes associate the couple with land at An-na-nicken, later described as being in Springfield Township, Burlington County, New Jersey.

Abigail Bloomfield was born in 1640 and died in 1716. Family-tree notes identify her as the wife of Richard Stockton, who was reportedly born about 1635, probably in England. The same notes describe Richard and Abigail as founders of the New Jersey branch of the Stockton family.

The notes state that Richard Stockton purchased property from George Hutchinson on Annaricken Brook in what is identified as Springfield Township, Burlington County, New Jersey. The place was known by several spellings, including Annaricken, Annaniken, Oneanickon, Oneakiekon, and An-na-nicken. According to the family-tree notes, Richard and Abigail were buried on this property.

J. W. Stockton's History of the Stockton Family described the West Jersey tract purchased by Richard Stockton as originally known by the Indian name An-na-nicken. It was said to have measured more than two miles in length and one mile in width. The work further stated that the mansion house of the late James Shreve stood on the site of the house built and occupied by Richard Stockton until his death.

Records quoted in the family-tree notes place Richard Stockton in New York military service during the 1660s. At Flushing on 22 April 1665, Governor Col. Nicolls, also spelled Nichols, commissioned him a Lieutenant of Horse. On 9 April 1669, Governor Francis Lovelace wrote that although he had approved Richard Stockton as Lieutenant of a Company of Foot, Stockton had previously enlisted in the Horse service and was therefore released from the Foot service, whether as an officer or otherwise.

The supplied material does not provide further direct details of Abigail Bloomfield's own life, apart from her dates, her identification as Richard Stockton's wife, and the family tradition connecting the couple with the New Jersey Stockton branch and the An-na-nicken property.

Historical context

The supplied notes connect Abigail Bloomfield and Richard Stockton with a West Jersey land tract known as An-na-nicken and with New York colonial military records concerning Richard Stockton in 1665 and 1669. The variant spellings of Annaricken and related names reflect the different forms preserved in the notes.

Sources & research

History of the Stockton Family, J. W. Stockton. Quoted in the supplied notes: “that the tract of land purchased by Richard Stockton in West Jersey was originally known by the Indian name of An-na-nicken; that it was over two miles in length and one in width; and that the mansion house of the late James Shreve is on the site of the house built and occupied by Mr. Stockton until his death.”

Governor Col. Nicolls (Nichols), commission at Flushing, 22 April 1665, appointing Richard Stockton Lieutenant of Horse, as quoted in the supplied notes.

Governor Francis Lovelace, statement dated 9 April 1669 concerning Richard Stockton's Foot and Horse service, as quoted in the supplied notes.

Original Family Tree Maker Notes, supplied in the request.