Changes

== Betrayal and Capture ==

== Betrayal and Capture ==

In September 1776 he was re-elected to Congress, and was detailed on a fact-finding mission to the Army of the North, then under the command of General Schuyler.<ref name=Lives/><ref name=Signers/> After returning from that mission, he had to hurry to get his family to safety after General [[George Washington|Washington]] was defeated in New York and had to run from [[Lord Howe]] across New Jersey. He managed to get his family to safety,<ref name=Signers/> but on November 30, 1776, American loyalists betrayed Stockton, captured him in the middle of the night, and turned him over to the British.<ref name=Lives/><ref name=Signers/>

In September 1776 he was re-elected to Congress, and was detailed on a fact-finding mission to the Army of the North, then under the command of General Schuyler.<ref name=Lives/><ref name=Signers/> After returning from that mission, he had to hurry to get his family to safety after General [[George Washington|Washington]] was defeated in New York and had to run from [[Lord Howe]] across New Jersey. He managed to get his family to safety,<ref name=Signers/> but on November 30, 1776, American loyalists betrayed Stockton, captured him in the middle of the night, and turned him over to the British.<ref name=Signers/> During his time as a prisoner of the British, he was taken to [[Perth Amboy]], New Jersey, and subjected to cruel treatment.<ref name=Lives/>

== Imprisonment and Death ==

== Imprisonment and Death ==

Stockton refused an offer of [[amnesty]] based on swearing allegiance to the [[King]]. The British then took Stockton to [[Perth Amboy]], New Jersey, and subjected him to cruel treatment.<ref name=Lives/> The British also destroyed his farm and burned his library, which was one of the best in America. Stockton was later transferred to the Provost [[prison]] in [[New York]].

Being unwavering in his belief in the cause of Liberty, Stockton refused an offer of [[amnesty]] based on swearing allegiance to the [[King]]. As a result, The British destroyed his farm and burned his library, which was one of the best in America. Stockton was later transferred to the Provost [[prison]] in [[New York]].

After six weeks of lack of food (including twenty-four hours without feeding) and freezing cold weather in prison in New York, Stockton was finally released, this after the Continental Congress threatened Lord Howe with retaliation against British prisoners. Sadly, his health had already been ruined.<ref name=Lives/> He was, furthermore, penniless, because of both the destruction of his estate and the severe devaluation of the [[Continental currency]]. He also suffered from a [[cancer]] in his neck. On February 28, 1781, Richard Stockton died at the age of 51.<ref name=Lives/>  He was laid to rest at the Friends' Burying Ground at Stony Brook, Princeton.<ref>[https://www.google.com/books/edition/National_Year_Book/Ul8_AQAAMAAJ?hl=en&gbpv=1&pg=PA162 National Year Book], SAR</ref>

After six weeks of lack of food (including twenty-four hours without feeding) and freezing cold weather in prison in New York, Stockton was finally released, this after the Continental Congress threatened Lord Howe with retaliation against British prisoners. Sadly, his health had already been ruined.<ref name=Lives/> He was, furthermore, penniless, because of both the destruction of his estate and the severe devaluation of the [[Continental currency]]. He also suffered from a [[cancer]] in his neck. On February 28, 1781, Richard Stockton died at the age of 51.<ref name=Lives/>  He was laid to rest at the Friends' Burying Ground at Stony Brook, Princeton.<ref>[https://www.google.com/books/edition/National_Year_Book/Ul8_AQAAMAAJ?hl=en&gbpv=1&pg=PA162 National Year Book], SAR</ref>