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 byJohn Randolph
Succeeded byWilliam Armstrong
Member of the U.S. House of Representatives
from Virginia's 2nd district
In office
October 28, 1822  March 3, 1823
Preceded byThomas Van Swearingen
Succeeded byArthur Smith
In office
March 4, 1809  March 3, 1811
Preceded byJohn Morrow
Succeeded byJohn Baker
In office
March 4, 1803  March 3, 1805
Preceded byDavid Holmes
Succeeded byJohn 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(1764-03-20)March 20, 1764
Gettysburg, Province of Pennsylvania, British America
DiedAugust 7, 1833(1833-08-07) (aged 69)
Harpers Ferry, Virginia, U.S. (now West Virginia)
Resting placeEdge Hill Cemetery, Charles Town, Jefferson County, Virginia
Political partyFederalist
Occupationlawyer
Military service
Branch/serviceVirginia militia
RankMajor
Battles/warsNorthwest 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

  1. https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/41642630/maria-stephenson
  2. https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/55688793 citing James Stephenson will in Will Book 3, Berkeley County, Virginia
  3. https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/21400076
  4. 1810 U.S. Federal Census for Charles Town, Jefferson County, Virginia p. 4 of 5, available on ancestry.com
  5. 1820 U.S. Federal Census for Martinsburg, Berkeley County, Virginia p. 1 of 4 available on ancestry.com
  6. 1830 U.S. Federal Census for Harpers Ferry, Jefferson County, Virginia p. 15 of 18, available on ancestry.com
  7. 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
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