I bumped into the obituary of Carolyn Boeri, of Vermont, about a week ago. Ms. Boeri’s mother was a Kierstead, and the previous generation included Stocktons. The obituary, which was a lovely celebration of Boeri’s life, included many genealogical details. One in particular struck me, discussing the return of Ms. Boeri’s family to America:
“Their return [from Canada] to the United States ended a 230 year absence. The Stockton family had split loyalties during the American Revolutionary War. One member, Richard Stockton was a signer of the Declaration of Independence, while his first cousin, also Richard, was a Loyalist, of whom George Washington wrote, “the Major has been very active and mischievous.” At war’s end, this Richard was given a large land grant by the king that included Anagance, New Brunswick, the town where Carolyn was born.”