James Stephenson (congressman)

American politician (1764–1833)

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| (1764-03-20)March 20, 1764
Gettysburg, Province of Pennsylvania, British America
Died| August 7, 1833(1833-08-07) (aged 69)
Harpers Ferry, Virginia, U.S. (now West Virginia)
Resting place| Edge Hill Cemetery, Charles Town, Virginia, US
Political party| Federalist
Occupation| lawyer
Military service
Branch/service| Virginia militia
Rank| Major
Battles/wars| Northwest Indian War
St. Clair's Defeat
Whisky Rebellion

James Stephenson (March 20, 1764 - August 7, 1833) was an American politician and soldier who, as a Federalist, served in the Virginia House of Delegates as well as in the United States House of Representatives.[1]

## Early and family life

[edit]

Born in Gettysburg in the Province of Pennsylvania to the former Maria Reed and her husband (also) James Stephenson, the family moved to Martinsburg, Berkeley County, Virginia (now West Virginia) by 1790. His elder brother William Stephenson would move to Knoxville, Tennessee, as would their mother and sisters after their father's death in 1804. 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.

On May 17, 1792, Stephenson married Ann Cunningham in Berkeley County, but records remain only of their youngest children, who remained in the area: George Benjamin Stephenson (a physician, who inherited the farm and moved to Washington D.C. during or after the American Civil War) and his sister Anne Stephenson Beckham (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

[edit]

Young James Stephenson volunteered to serve in Virginia's militia, and he 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 was a farmer and slaveholder. He owned two slaves in 1810,[2] six slaves in 1820 (half of them children),[3] and four slaves in the 1830 census (all adults, one male and one female older than 55 years).[4] 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

[edit]

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.

## References

[edit]

1. ^ United States Congress. "James Stephenson (id: S000864)". Biographical Directory of the United States Congress.
2. ^ 1810 U.S. Federal Census for Charles Town, Jefferson County, Virginia p. 4 of 5, available on ancestry.com
3. ^ 1820 U.S. Federal Census for Martinsburg, Berkeley County, Virginia p. 1 of 4 available on ancestry.com
4. ^ 1830 U.S. Federal Census for Harpers Ferry, Jefferson County, Virginia p. 15 of 18, available on ancestry.com

This article incorporates public domain material from the Biographical Directory of the United States Congress

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

* v
* t
* e

Members of the U.S. House of Representatives from Virginia's 2nd congressional district

* Brown
* Moore
* Holmes
* Stephenson
* Morrow
* Stephenson
* Baker
* White
* Tate
* Colston
* Van Swearingen
* Stephenson
* Smith
* Trezvant
* Mason
* Rives
* Cary
* Dromgoole
* Meade
* Millson
* Platt
* Goode
* Dezendorf
* Libbey
* Bowden
* Lawson
* Tyler
* Young
* Wise
* Young
* Wise
* Maynard
* Holland
* Deal
* Lankford
* Darden
* Hamilton
* Darden
* Harris
* Daughton
* Hardy
* Whitehurst
* Pickett
* Schrock
* Drake
* Nye
* Rigell
* Taylor
* Luria
* Kiggans

* v
* t
* e

Members of the U.S. House of Representatives from Virginia's 16th congressional district

* New
* Eppes
* Pleasants
* Eppes
* Randolph
* Austin
* Randolph
* Stephenson
* Armstrong
* Beale
* Pennybacker
* Samuels
* Harris
* (inactive 1843–present)

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