James Stephenson (congressman)

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.

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

Early and family life

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

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, six slaves in 1820 (half of them children), and four slaves in the 1830 census (all adults, one male and one female older than 55 years). 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.

References

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