John Clement Stocker was a "prominent
Philadelphia
merchant." He lived from August 30,1786 to 1829, when he died at a young age, leaving a widow and 9 children. During his life in
Philadelphia
, he served as Treasurer of the The Green Tree, otherwise known as the Mutual Assurance Co, was an Alderman under the Mayor, and also ran for Mayor for the 67th Mayorial Administration against Matthew Lawler, but did not win the title. He also served as a bank board member in 1798. More about Stocker can be found in Colonial Homes of Philadelphia & its Neighborhood, by Harold D. Eberlein & Horace M. Lippincott, 1912 .
Though the Stocker owned this piece of rural land at
Federal St.
and
Irish Tract Lane
, the family resided at
402 S Front St
in the City of
Philadelphia
. A description of the home is also included in Colonial Homes, above. The house was built from 1791-95. A HABS survey was conducted on the house in 1961, making available a wealth of information.
Upon Stocker’s death, his widow Caroline Stocker was the legal owner of his real property. She and his heirs retained the land until she sold it in the early 1870s.
