Nathaniel Stephens

Nathaniel Stephens (1589 – May 1660) was an English politician who sat in the House of Commons at various times between 1628 and 1653. He supported the Parliamentarian cause in the English Civil War.

Stephens was the son of Richard Stephens of Eastington^{[disambiguation needed ]}.^[1] He inherited Chavenage House and enhanced the house which had been reconstructed by his father.^[2] He was elected Member of Parliament for Gloucestershire in 1628 and sat until 1629 when King Charles decided to rule without parliament for eleven years.^[3]

In November 1640, Stephens was re-elected MP for Gloucestershire in the Long Parliament.^[3] He was Colonel of a regiment of horse which he raised in support of Parliament in the Civil War.^[2] In 1644 he was sent to Gloucester to secure the town and relieve Colonel Massie for other duties. In 1645 he was granted a commission to investigate the spoils of Dean Forest.

Chavenage House.

A few months after the execution of the king, to which Stephens had acquiesced, he was struck down with a fatal sickness, which gave rise to the legend of Chavenage.^[1] Ireton was sent to visit Stephens at Christmas time to persuade him to acquiesce in the execution of the King. Stephens, known as a mild man, was wavering but it is said the Ireton sat up all night and persuaded him. In the New Year, Stephens' daughter Abigail returned home and angrily laid a curse on her father for bringing the family name into disrepute. The story goes thatafter being taken terminally ill, he never rose from his bed again.^[2]

Stephens died at the age of 71 and was buried at Eastington on 30 May 1660.^[1] Its was said that at his funeral, a hearse drew up at the door of the manor house driven by the figure of a headless man upon which the ghost of Stephens rose from the coffin and paid deep reverence.^[2]

Stephens married Catherine Beale, daughter of Robert Beale of Prior's Marston Warwickshire.^[1] .

References

1. ^ ^{a b c d} W R Williams Parliamentary History of Gloucester
2. ^ ^{a b c d} Chavenage History
3. ^ ^{a b} Browne Willis Notitia parliamentaria, or, An history of the counties, cities, and boroughs in England and Wales: ... The whole extracted from mss. and printed evidences 1750 pp229-239

Parliament of England
Preceded by Sir Robert Tracy Sir Robert Pointz	Member of Parliament for Gloucestershire 1628-1629 With: Sir Robert Pointz	Succeeded by Parliament suspended until 1640
Preceded by Sir Robert Tracy Sir Robert Cooke	Member of Parliament for Gloucestershire 1640-1653 With: John Dutton 1640-1644 Sir John Seymour 1645-1648	Succeeded by John Crofts William Neast Robert Holmes

Persondata
Name	Stephens, Nathaniel
Alternative names
Short description
Date of birth	1589
Place of birth
Date of death	1660
Place of death