James Stephenson (congressman)
James Stephenson (March 20, 1764 – August 7, 1833) was an American politician, soldier and slaveholder who as a Federalist served in the Virginia House of Delegates as well as in the United States House of Representatives.[1]
James Stephenson | |
|---|---|
| Member of the U.S. House of Representatives from Virginia's 16th district | |
| In office March 4, 1823 – March 3, 1825 | |
| Preceded by | John Randolph |
| Succeeded by | William Armstrong |
| Member of the U.S. House of Representatives from Virginia's 2nd district | |
| In office October 28, 1822 – March 3, 1823 | |
| Preceded by | Thomas Van Swearingen |
| Succeeded by | Arthur Smith |
| In office March 4, 1809 – March 3, 1811 | |
| Preceded by | John Morrow |
| Succeeded by | John Baker |
| In office March 4, 1803 – March 3, 1805 | |
| Preceded by | David Holmes |
| Succeeded by | John Morrow |
| Member of the Virginia House of Delegates from Berkeley County | |
| In office 1806 Alongside Philip C. Pendleton | |
| In office 1800–1802 Alongside Alexander White, Joseph Crane | |
| Personal details | |
| Born | March 20, 1764 Gettysburg, Province of Pennsylvania, British America |
| Died | August 7, 1833 (aged 69) Harpers Ferry, Virginia, U.S. (now West Virginia) |
| Resting place | Edge Hill Cemetery, Charles Town, Jefferson County, Virginia |
| Political party | Federalist |
| Occupation | lawyer |
| Military service | |
| Branch/service | Virginia militia |
| Rank | Major |
| Battles/wars | Northwest Indian War St. Clair's Defeat Whisky Rebellion |
Early and family life
Born in Gettysburg in the Province of Pennsylvania to the former Maria Reed (1742-1928) and her husband (also) James Stephenson (1740-1804), the family moved to Martinsburg, Berkeley County, Virginia (now West Virginia) by 1790; his elder brother William Stephenson (1763-1821) would move to Knoxville, Tennessee, as would their mother and sisters after their father's death in 1804.[2][3] His younger brother Benjamin Stephenson (1769-1822) would move to Kentucky then the Illinois Territory, where he operated a general store and also served as a sheriff and militia leader before becoming a Congressman for the new state,[4]
On May 17, 1792, Stephenson married Ann Cunningham (1778-1865) in Berkeley County, but records remain only remain of their youngest children, who remained in the area: George Benjamin Stephenson (1807-1876, a physician, inherited the farm and moved to Washington DC during or after the American Civil War) and his sister Anne Stephenson Beckham (1808-1843)(her husband, Harpers Ferry mayor Fontaine Beckham died in John Brown's raid and his death as well as the treason conviction led to the resulting executions).
Career
Young James Stephenson volunteered to serve in Virginia's militia, and led a company under General Arthur St. Clair in his expedition against Native Americans in the Ohio River Valley. He survived the ignominious St. Clair's Defeat in 1791, and three years later helped lead forces sent to quell the Whiskey Rebellion. At some point Stephenson rose to the rank of Major, as well as Brigade inspector.
Stephenson served as a local magistrate and farmed. He owned 2 slaves in 1810,[5] 6 slaves in 1820 (half of them children),[6] and four slaves in the 1830 census (all adults, one mail and one female older than 55 years).[7] Voters elected Stephenson as one of their delegates (a part-time position) in the Virginia House of Delegates in 1800–1803, and again in 1806 and 1807.
Between those terms, Stephenson was elected as a Federalist to the Eighth Congress (March 4, 1803 – March 3, 1805) with 53.57% of the vote, defeating Democratic-Republican Osburn Sprigg.
Stephenson was again elected as Federalist to the Eleventh Congress (March 4, 1809 – March 3, 1811) with 57.59% of the vote, defeating Democratic-Republican John Marrow.
Stephenson was elected as a Federalist to the Seventeenth Congress to fill the vacancy caused by the death of Thomas Van Swearingen.
He was reelected as a Crawford Federalist to the Eighteenth Congress and served from October 28, 1822, to March 3, 1825.
Death and legacy
Stephenson died in Harpers Ferry (now West Virginia) on August 27, 1833. He is buried at Edge Hill Cemetery in Charles Town; a memorial was also erected to commemorate his widow, who died on January 1, 1865.[8]
References
-
- United States Congress. "James Stephenson (id: S000864)". Biographical Directory of the United States Congress.
- https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/41642630/maria-stephenson
- https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/55688793 citing James Stephenson will in Will Book 3, Berkeley County, Virginia
- https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/21400076
- 1810 U.S. Federal Census for Charles Town, Jefferson County, Virginia p. 4 of 5, available on ancestry.com
- 1820 U.S. Federal Census for Martinsburg, Berkeley County, Virginia p. 1 of 4 available on ancestry.com
- 1830 U.S. Federal Census for Harpers Ferry, Jefferson County, Virginia p. 15 of 18, available on ancestry.com
- https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/142357161/james-stephenson
This article incorporates public domain material from the Biographical Directory of the United States Congress website http://bioguide.congress.gov.
| U.S. House of Representatives | ||
|---|---|---|
| Preceded by David Holmes |
Member of the U.S. House of Representatives from Virginia's 2nd congressional district 1803–1805 |
Succeeded by John Morrow |
| Preceded by John Morrow |
Member of the U.S. House of Representatives from Virginia's 2nd congressional district 1809–1811 |
Succeeded by John Baker |
| Preceded by Thomas Van Swearingen |
Member of the U.S. House of Representatives from Virginia's 2nd congressional district 1822–1823 |
Succeeded by Arthur Smith |
| Preceded by John Randolph |
Member of the U.S. House of Representatives from Virginia's 16th congressional district 1823–1825 |
Succeeded by John Randolph |
 | ||
Authority control  |
|---|