Collection

Thomas B.W. Stockton Papers

• 1800 - 1947 (Création/Production)

1 linear foot.

The records contained in this collection span over two centuries. Their media compose correspondence (with envelopes in some instances), military manuals, a marriage certificate between Louisa Smith and Chauncey S. Payne, a document detailing the estate of Jacob Smith, banking records, a reunion roster for the 16th Michigan Infantry, and newspaper clippings. The majority of the records focus on the early military career and Civil War service of Thomas B.W. Stockton. The records are limited to correspondence and orders received for various assignments after he graduated from West Point in 1827. He initially saw service in the Western Department of the US Army, which oversaw territory between the Mississippi River to California. He later transferred to Washington, D.C. to serve as an assistant quartermaster.

Later service saw him transferred to Detroit to participate in what correspondence describes as construction of the Sagana Road. Stockton resigned in 1837 to assume a civilian post with the Army as an engineer. He left in 1840 and returned in 1844. He sought a commission in the army to raise regiments for the coming Mexican-American War. From there a gap exists until orders were received for him to remove the 16th Michigan to Washington, D.C. in late 1861. Correspondence details his time as a prisoner of war before being paroled and a request to assistance Andrew Johnson in raising three regiments to participate in operations in Tennessee.

Personal aspects of his life remain absent from the records. Other records focus on Jacob Smith, which include correspondence between him and family members. Related to these are correspondence from his children. Later records represent children and other descendants of Stockton and their efforts to carry on his legacy. These are documented in correspondence and newspaper clippings.

Past practices described the contents of this collection individually. Each item received an object ID number and was treated as a distinct artifact. Records have been reunited, but their original order has been lost.

No restrictions. Contact the Collections Department to arrange use for research.

A single legal-length full Hollinger box and folders in it house the records. It is unknown if these folders are acid-free or not. Mylar sleeves also housed some of the records. The majority of records are paper-based with some photographs present. Photocopies of records exist in the collection. Issues of old newspapers are encapsulated in Mylar.

Records in this collection are generally more than 150 years old and, in some instances, more than two centuries. Their overall condition of the collection is considered fair. Records housed in Mylar will remained in it due to fragility. Concern about friction leading to flaking when records rub against each other led to this decision. This is especially the case for the old newspapers. Some of the newspaper clippings are glued to the cardstock. Despite yellowing and age, these clippings remain fitted to the cardstock with no signs of brittleness from the glue.

No restrictions. Reproductions are done and charged in accordance with Sloan Museum Archives Fee Service Policy.

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A downloadable PDF finding aid is available.

Elizabeth Stockton donated the collection in 1959. Roger VanBolt received them. Colonel Thomas B.W. Stockton largely accumulated and created them over the course of his military career. Ancestors such as Jacob Smith and descendants of both men also accumulated and created other records in this collection.

DACS, 2nd edition

Jonathan Kirkwood, Archivist, 2/1/2024

• Military
• Manuals
• Genealogy
• Letters

• Gains Mill, Virginia
• Meadow Bridge, Virginia
• Owosso, Michigan
• Virginia

• Blair, Austin (Sujet)
• Campau, Louis (Sujet)
• Carroll, Elizabeth C. (Sujet)
• Cass, Lewis (Sujet)
• Cranch, William (Sujet)
• Curtis, Frank E. (Sujet)
• Curwood, James O. (Sujet)
• Decker, Grant (Sujet)
• Doyle, John M. (Sujet)
• Ewings, Ezekiel R. (Sujet)
• Garland, Daniel (Sujet)
• Garland, John S. (Sujet)
• Gibney, Abbott M. (Sujet)
• Hough, James (Sujet)
• Lancaster, Edward O. (Sujet)
• Lawrence, Mildred E. (Sujet)
• McCormick, James (Sujet)
• Payne, Chauncey S. (Sujet)
• Reed, Mary (Sujet)
• Robertson, William (Sujet)
• Smith, Albert J. (Sujet)
• Smith, Caroline (Sujet)
• Smith, Harriet M. (Sujet)
• Smith, Hiram (Sujet)
• Smith, Jacob (Sujet)
• Smith, Louisa (Sujet)
• Stockton, Baylies G. (Sujet)
• Stockton, Elizabeth C. (Sujet)
• Stockton, Maria (Sujet)
• Stockton, Mary (Sujet)
• Stockton, Thomas B.W. (Sujet)
• Stockton, Thomas F. (Sujet)
• Stowe, Lyman (Sujet)
• Watson, David (Sujet)
• Watson, Polly Maria (Sujet)
• Welch, Norval E. (Sujet)