James Stevenson (Pennsylvania politician)
James Stevenson | |
|---|---|
| Member of the Pennsylvania House of Representatives from Washington County | |
| In office 1814–1816 | |
| In office 1806–1808 | |
| Member of the Pennsylvania Senate from the 18th district | |
| In office 1808–1810 | |
| Preceded by | William McArthur Sr. |
| Succeeded by | Isaac Weaver Jr. |
| Personal details | |
| Born | 1740 Frederick County, Virginia (today Berkeley County, West Virginia) |
| Died | 1813 (aged 72–73) Cross Creek, Pennsylvania |
| Political party | Democratic-Republican |
| Spouse(s) | Rachel McKeevers Stephenson (d. December 14, 1789) Martha Barr Stephenson |
| Children | 8 |
| Military service | |
| Branch/service |  United States |
| Years of service | American Revolutionary War |
| Rank | Captain |
James Stevenson (1740–1813) (also spelled Stephenson) was an American politician from Virginia that would go on to represent the 18th district in the Pennsylvania State Senate, as well as representing Washington County in the Pennsylvania House of Representatives as a Democratic-Republican.[1] Stevenson was one of the close childhood friends of George Washington and served as a Captain during the American Revolutionary War for the Continental Army.[2]
Biography[edit]
James Stephenson was born in Frederick County, Virginia, in what is now Berkeley County, West Virginia, in 1740 to Richard and Honora Stephenson née Grymes.[2][1] In 1767 Stephenson married Rachel Stephenson née McKeevers and the couple had two sons, Moses, and William, and a daughter Theodosia.[1] Stephenson was a veteran of the American Revolutionary War serving as a Captain and paymaster of the 13th Virginia Regiment. James also had a brother, William Stephenson, who served as a Lieutenant during the Illinois campaign under George Rogers Clark.[3] Stephenson also had a half brother, William Crawford a war-hero from the French and Indian War who led the ill-fated Crawford expedition, resulting in his defeat at the Sandusky and subsequent capture by the Delaware Nation who tortured him for two hours before burning him at a stake.[2] Crawford was the son of Honora to her earlier husband, Hugh Crawford, an Indian trader.[2] Prior to Crawford's death, a young George Washington would often visit the Stephenson household, and would become a childhood friend of James.[2]
In 1781 Stephenson left Virginia for Western Pennsylvania due to the vast abundance of cheap land taking with him his only slave named "Fortune" who was previously owned by George Washington and was given to Stephenson as a gift.[2] Stephenson and Fortune traveled on foot the entire distance and established a 500-acre farm and built a cabin on the property before leaving Fortune in charge of the estate by himself and returned to Virginia to make the trip again but with his family.[2] On December 14, 1789, Stephenson's wife Rachel died and he remarried to one Martha née Barr, the couple had four sons, Benjamin "James", Richard, Joseph, and John, as well as a daughter Achsah.[2]
Stephenson's first entry into politics was an unsuccessful bid for Washington County commissioner in 1792.[1] He would be elected as a Conventionalist Democratic-Republican to the Pennsylvania State House of Representatives from 1806 to 1808 when he was elected to the Pennsylvania state senate for the 18th district for a single term from 1808 to 1810. After a brief hiatus he returned to the house from 1814 to 1816. After-which he would unsuccessfully run for Sheriff of Washington county in 1820.[1]
There is a discrepancy in Stephenson's death, as he was reported dead in May 1813, however, he would stand for four subsequent elections from 1814 to 1820. Stephenson is buried in the Cross Creek cemetery.[1] Stephenson's second wife Martha would die in 1816.[2]
Electoral history[edit]
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Independent | Robert Officer | 1,779 | 25.24% | |
| Independent | Jacob Weirich Jr. | 726 | 10.30% | |
| Independent | Samuel Hill | 694 | 9.85% | |
| Independent | Thomas Ringland | 672 | 9.53% | |
| Independent | James Dunlap | 633 | 8.98% | |
| Independent | John Marshel | 536 | 7.60% | |
| Independent | John Morgan | 434 | 6.16% | |
| Independent | William Hoge | 415 | 5.89% | |
| Independent | John Greer | 361 | 5.12% | |
| Independent | James Stephenson | 228 | 3.23% | |
| Independent | Moses Lyle | 172 | 2.44% | |
| Independent | William Carter | 142 | 2.02% | |
| Independent | James Lattimer | 136 | 1.94% | |
| Independent | Robert Forsyth | 67 | 0.95% | |
| Independent | James Ashbrook | 54 | 0.75% | |
| Total votes | 7,049 | 100.0% | ||
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Independent | John Hamilton | |||
| Independent | Thomas Morgan | |||
| Independent | James Stephenson | |||
| Independent | William Vance | |||
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Independent | Thomas Officer | 1,603 | 40.02% | |
| Independent | Dickerson Roberts | 1,267 | 31.63% | |
| Independent | Thomas Hopkins | 628 | 15.67% | |
| Independent | James Stephenson | 508 | 12.68% | |
| Total votes | 4,006 | 100.0% | ||
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Independent | Joshua Dickerson | 3,018 | 24.58% | |
| Independent | James Stephenson | 2,330 | 18.98% | |
| Independent | Thomas Morgan | 2,126 | 17.31% | |
| Independent | Andrew Sutton | 2,065 | 16.82% | |
| Independent | James Kerr | 1,086 | 8.85% | |
| Independent | Robert Anderson | 1,020 | 8.30% | |
| Independent | Robert Boland | 634 | 5.16% | |
| Total votes | 12,279 | 100.0% | ||
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Democratic-Republican | Joshua Dickerson | |||
| Democratic-Republican | Thomas MacCall | |||
| Democratic-Republican | James Kerr | |||
| Democratic-Republican | James Stevenson | |||
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Democratic-Republican | Isaac Weaver, Jr. | 4,886 | 41.45% | |
| Democratic-Republican | James Stevenson | 4,415 | 37.46% | |
| Federalist | John Marshall | 1,404 | 11.91% | |
| Federalist | John Flanagan | 1,082 | 9.18% | |
| Total votes | 11,787 | 100% | ||
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Democratic-Republican | James Kerr | 1,897 | 24.11% | |
| Democratic-Republican | Abel MacFarland | 1,058 | 13.44% | |
| Democratic-Republican | James Stevenson | 1,053 | 13.38% | |
| Democratic-Republican | Ebenezer Jennings | 1,025 | 13.02% | |
| Federalist | John Marshall | 962 | 12.22% | |
| Federalist | John Lyle | 944 | 12.00% | |
| Federalist | Robert Machan | 931 | 11.83% | |
| Total votes | 7,870 | 100% | ||
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Democratic-Republican | James Stevenson | 1,804 | 25.52% | |
| Democratic-Republican | Abel MacFarland | 1,735 | 24.53% | |
| Democratic-Republican | Ebenezer Jennings | 1,497 | 21.17% | |
| Democratic-Republican | James Kerr | 1,453 | 20.55% | |
| Federalist | Thomas Hopkins | 582 | 8.23% | |
| Total votes | 7,071 | 100% | ||
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Democratic-Republican | John Marshall | 2,281 | 17.55% | |
| Democratic-Republican | Aaron Lyle | 2,166 | 16.66% | |
| Democratic-Republican | James Stephenson | 2,152 | 16.55% | |
| Democratic-Republican | Samuel Agnew | 2,126 | 16.36% | |
| Federalist | William MacFarland | 1,002 | 7.71% | |
| Federalist | John Hoge | 923 | 7.10% | |
| Federalist | James Mitchell | 903 | 6.95% | |
| Federalist | Thomas Patterson | 878 | 6.75% | |
| Federalist | Samuel Black | 568 | 4.37% | |
| Total votes | 12,999 | 100% | ||
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Democratic-Republican | John Marshall | |||
| Democratic-Republican | Samuel Agnew | |||
| Democratic-Republican | James Stephenson | |||
| Democratic-Republican | David Atcheson | |||
Notes[edit]
- ^ a b c d Despite Stephenson death being recorded in 1813, he is still listed as a candidate in this election
- ^ Top four candidates elected to the State House. All candidates elected unopposed. Votes and party affiliation not recorded
- ^ Top four candidates elected to the State House. Party affiliation not recorded
- ^ a b Top four candidates elected to the State House. All members elected unopposed, vote counts not recorded
- ^ Top two candidates elected to State Senate
- ^ a b c Top four candidates elected to the State House
References[edit]
- ^ a b c d e f "James Stevenson". Pennsylvania State Senate. Retrieved 16 February 2024.
- ^ a b c d e f g h i Commemorative biographical record of Washington county,. Chicago: J. H. Beers & Co. 1893. pp. 878–879. Retrieved 16 February 2024.
- ^ "BROTHERS OF GREAT GRANDFATHER JOHN STEPHENSON" (PDF). Fort Vance Historical Society. Retrieved 16 February 2024.
- ^ "Pennsylvania 1820 Sheriff, Washington County". Tufts University. Retrieved 16 February 2024.
- ^ "Pennsylvania 1815 House of Representatives, Washington County". Tufts University. Retrieved 16 February 2024.
- ^ "Pennsylvania 1814 Sheriff, Washington County". Tufts University. Retrieved 16 February 2024.
- ^ "Pennsylvania 1814 House of Representatives, Washington County". Tufts University. Retrieved 16 February 2024.
- ^ "Pennsylvania 1813 House of Representatives, Washington County". Tufts University. Retrieved 16 February 2024.
- ^ "Pennsylvania 1808 State Senate, District 18". Tufts University. Retrieved 16 February 2024.
- ^ "Pennsylvania 1807 House of Representatives, Washington County". Tufts University. Retrieved 16 February 2024.
- ^ "Pennsylvania 1806 House of Representatives, Washington County". Tufts University. Retrieved 16 February 2024.
- ^ "Pennsylvania 1805 House of Representatives, Washington County". Tufts University. Retrieved 16 February 2024.
- ^ "Pennsylvania 1804 House of Representatives, Washington County". Tufts University. Retrieved 16 February 2024.