Richard Stockton, son of Richard and Abigail Stockton, was born in England and removed with his parents to Flushing. He also accompanied them to New Jersey, but settled first at Piscataway in Middlesex County. In August 1696, he purchased from Dr. John Gordon a tract of 400 acres of land on the North side of Stony Brook, bounded on the East by Washington road and the land of John Horner, on the west by the Olden tract and on the North and South by Main Street and Stony Brook. This land includes all of what is now the campus of Princeton University and the grounds of the Theological Seminary.

In 1701, he purchased from William Penn, for the sum of 900 pounds, an estate of about 6,000 acres on Stony Brook, of which the present town of Princeton is nearly the center.

By reason of his large possessions, as well as his character, Richard Stockton held an important place among the settlers. He and a number of his associates who formed a settlement upon this tract were the first white or European settlers in the district. A portion of his estate called "Morven" remained in the family for 250 years. Between the years 1701-1709 he built a fine home that remained in the family. It is the oldest house in Princeton with the possible exception of "The Barracks" and has some history. The house suffered considerably at the hands of the British soldiers during the Revolutionary War. Many visitors had been entertained at the house, including George Washington, who was a frequent visitor.

On Nov. 8, 1691, he married Sussana Witham Robinson who was born Nov. 29, 1668. She was the daughter of Robert and Ann Witham and the widow of Thomas Robinson. Richard died in July 1709, while his children were all under age. His widow married a third time to Judge Thomas Leonard of Princeton but they had no issue. She died April 1749.

Richard's will, dated June 25, 1709, divided his estate in the following manner: Gave his sons equal amounts of land, 500 acres, except for his fifth son John, which he gave the family home. It is unusual, for in those days the home was usually left to the principal heir. The reason given is that John was born in August 1701, the year the house was partly finished (the main part of it). Having been born in August of 1701, John was left the house because he was the first child to have been born in the house.