(Jody Gray) Another “work-in-progress”... changes will most likely occur before I finish… even as I began to collect and organize my material for this Blog Post, I ran across contradictory information, e.g. there are people (with the same ‘’given name” - such as, John Stephens) listed differently in various Family Trees and historical books… For this Blog Post, I’m researching the Stephens Family members holding important positions, involved in and affected by the English Civil War (1642-1651); which resulted in the execution and beheading of King Charles I. and the creation of the Commonwealth of England with Oliver Cromwell installed as Lord Protector.
English Civil War and Pride’s Purge
Background: in 1648, King Charles I. was in captivity and the first stage of the English Civil War was over; the Long Parliament issued a set of demands for the future government of the Kingdom… the leaders of the New Model Army had previously tried to negotiate with the King themselves in 1647, shortly after the end of the 1st Civil War -he escaped captivity, leading to the 2nd civil war [1647-1649]; he was recaptured and eventually executed…
Dec. 1648, during the 2nd English Civil War, troops of the New Model Army forcibly removed from the Long Parliament all those who were not supporters of the Grandees… There were three public houses [prisons] next to the Palace in 1648, called Heaven, Purgatory, and Hell; the imprisoned members were taken to Hell where they spent the night; the next day they were moved to two inns… by Dec. 12, the first of the imprisoned members was allowed home; many more were released on Dec. 20… The Rump Parliament [left over from the actual legitimate parliament -the vast majority of the Rumpers were transferred from the Long Parliament -there were family allegiances, local allegiances -there were lawyers; there were members concerned with commercial regulations]... now they had a majority that would establish a Republic… The King was executed and beheaded on Jan. 30, 1648. On Feb 6, the House of Lords (and the monarchy) was abolished; Feb 14, a Council of State established - (It was a time of great uncertainty and divided loyalties -what would be the end results and consequences?) between the purge and the King’s trial and execution only about 70 attended the Commons and attendance in the Lords rarely reached a dozen.
Aftermath: Pride’s Purge was reversed in 1660 and all the surviving barred members were restored to the Long Parliament, which voted for its own dissolution; it was followed by the Convention Parliament which proclaimed Charles II King [“of the Scots”] and restored the monarchy.
Noteworthy: during the time of the Commonwealth of England (1649-1663), the Rump passed a number of acts in the area of religion, law, and finance… most wanted to promote “godliness”, but also to restrict the more extreme puritan sects like the Quakers… An Adultery Act of May 1650 imposed the death penalty for incest and adultery and three months imprisonment for fornication, the Blasphemy Act of Aug. 1650 was aimed at curbing extreme religious “enthusiasm”. To stop extreme evangelicals from preaching, they formed a Committee for the Propagation of the Gospel, which issued licenses to preach. To allow Puritans freedom of worship, they repealed the Elizabethan requirement of compulsory attendance at an Anglican Church. The Rump raised revenue through the sale of Crown lands and Church property.
Oliver Cromwell: April 20, 1653, he attended a sitting of Parliament… he cleared the House and locked it up… within a month of the Rump’s dismissal, Cromwell sent a request to Congregational churches in every county to nominate those they considered fit to take part in the new government. On July 4 [1653] a Nominated Assembly, nicknamed the “Assembly of Saints” or Barebone’s Parliament took the role of more traditional English Parliaments.
End of the Rump Parliament: [Monck] allowed the Presbyterian members, ‘secluded’ in Pride’s Purge of 1648, to re-enter parliament on Feb. 21, 1660 on the condition that the restored Long Parliament would agree to dissolve themselves once general elections had been held… which they did on Mar 16, 1660, after preparing legislation for the Convention Parliament that formally invited King Charles II to be the English monarch in what has become known as the Restoration (of the House of Stuart).
The English Civil War - some events which involved members of The Stephens Family of Gloucestershire
- 1/1/1645, the house [Lypiatt] was captured and burnt by Royalist troops evicting a Parliamentary garrison, but it was later repaired and reoccupied -John Stephens b. 1585, was living at Lypiatt
- 6/14/1645, Cromwell’s “new modeled” army experienced a major victory in the Battle of Naseby -Nicholas Stephen b. 1620 was there as a Captain serving under Cromwell
- 1/30/1648, King Charles I. was executed and beheaded -Nathaniel Stephens b. 1589 was one of the Parliamentarians who signed
- Dec. 1648, “Pride’s Purge”; troops of the New Model Army forcibly removed from the Long Parliament all those who were not supporters of the Grandees -Edward Stephens b. 1583, was one of them
- 1660, the Restoration of the Stuart Monarchy; Charles II anointed King of the Scots; after which, began the persecution of the supporters of Cromwell; many removed to America and lived under assumed names -Nicholas Stephens b. 1620, was one of them
1649
Jan. 30, Execution of Charles I.
Mar 17, The Rump Parliament abolishes the Monarchy
Mar 19, Abolition of the House of Lords
Feb 17, Council of State appointed.
May 19, England declared a “Commonwealth and free state”, with the House of Commons as supreme authority in the land.
Apr 19, Parliament passes an Act enforcing strict observance of the Lord’s day
Sep 27, Toleration Act passed: compulsory attendance at parish churches abolished
Oct 3, Act prohibiting trade with the Royalist colonies of Virginia, Bermuda, Barbados and Antigua.
1651
Jan 1, Charles II crowned at Scone; the Commonwealth recognises him only as “the King of Scots”
Mar 12, The colony of Virginia submits to the Commonwealth
Mar 29, The colony of Maryland submits to the Commonwealth
Aug 2, Petition of Army officers calls for religious and financial reforms, the dissolution of the present Parliament and elections for a new representative
1653
Apr 20, Cromwell dissolves the Rump Parliament
Dec 12, The Nominated Assembly surrenders its powers to Cromwell
Dec 16, Oliver Cromwell installed as Lord Protector
Note (Jody Gray): “ancient” history was mostly recorded by “staff” of the Kings and the Church… and leans towards “heralding” them and “scorning” their adversaries… Genealogies and Family Histories were most often written by family members… or their families had biographical sketches in social (“class”) publications, e.g. Gentleman’s Magazine…
The most reliable records are those of government officials, e.g. Members of Parliament and staff of the King, etc. (which provide dates of service -verifying, at least, that they “lived” at this time)...
INTRODUCTION http://historicalandmisc.blogspot.com/2016/05/airard-fitzstephen-of-england-1066.html Blog Post (Historical Misc): Airard FitzStephen of England 1066; SOME OF THE NORMAN STEPHENS FAMILY IN ENGLAND
INTRODUCTION http://historicalandmisc.blogspot.com/2016/05/airard-fitzstephen-of-england-1066.html Blog Post (Historical Misc): Airard FitzStephen of England 1066; SOME OF THE NORMAN STEPHENS FAMILY IN ENGLAND
I begin with Ralph FitzStephens as High Sheriff of Gloucestershire in 1171; he’s a good representation of the importance of “royal connections” and appointments acquired thereof; positions of power and grants of land…
Ralph Fitz-Stephen, Baron of Wapley -High Sheriff of Gloucestershire in 1171 -who looked after the interests of the King -the office was of such power as to be held only by persons of rank, high in the King’s favor -in matters of administration its responsibilities necessitated that the sheriff be at the head of a body of knights and armed retainers. Ralph possessed the landed estates of Gloucestershire, [grants of land began with Airard FitzStephen after William the Conqueror became King of England] and in the later part of the reign of Henry II, he received the barony of Wapley. He bestowed the manor upon the Abbey of Stanley in Wiltshire, its income to be devoted to payment for masses for the repose of the soul of the late King. This Norman baron died 1190. His son, Fitz Ralph Fitz Stephen accompanied Richard the Lion in the Third Crusade… family alliances: John FitzStephen m: de Bradstone, heiress, he held the lordship of Winterbourne with Lord Bradestone… the prefix “Fitz” is dropped… acquiring of Lewynsuede through marriage, as Baron of Lewynsuede, a feudal tenure, was a Member of Parliament for Bristol… traditionally, the Stephen’s Barons continue to be Members of Parliament… 16. Henry Stephens b. 1497 of Frocester, Gloucestershire, father of 17. Edward Stephen b. 1523 m: Joan Fowler… acquired the manors of Eastington and Alkerton (1573 -my date is different); he erected a manor house on the Eastington Estate, which was destroyed by fire in 1778 (I have that it was demolished due to deterioration)... church altar tomb effigies of Edward Stephens and his wife Joan… in 1557 Edward built Chavenage Hall in his manor of Horsely, near Tetbury, Gloucestershire not far distant from Eastington (the family began to reside at Chavenage and had overseers manage the Eastington and Alkerton estates); the date and his initials and those of his wife are carved over the entrance doorway; he d. 1857 and was buried in Eastington church… 18. Richard Stephens b. 1554 m: Margarett St. Leo… 19. Thomas Stephens b. 1558 m: Elizabeth Stone…Stephens Family, before the Civil War
17. Thomas Stephens b. 1558, A lawyer who practiced in London; appointed by King James as Attorney General for Prince Henry and Prince Charles. Thomas acquired extensive estates; in 1610, he purchased Lypiatt, in Gloucestershire. Thomas married Elizabeth Stone; he d. 1613, twenty-nine years before the Civil War began.
- This web page https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_Stephens_(politician) lists John Stephens as born 1603; 2nd son of Thomas Stephens [b. 1558]... inherited Lypiatt... married four times... everything matches what I have except that I have John Stephens, 2nd son of Thomas Stephens as being born 1585. I explain my reasons below (there is much contradiction, among records and Family Trees).
Note (Jody Gray): there is much contradiction, among records and Family Trees, regarding Edward Stephens b. 1583 m: Anne Crewe and John Stephens b. 1585 m; four times and John Stevens b. 1603 m: Mary Moulson, immigrant to Guilford, CT in 1639. After spending MANY hours researching them, I've decided John b. 1585 is the 2nd son of Thomas Stephens b. 1558 m: Elizabeth Stone; John b. 1603 is the son of Edward b. 1583 m: Anne Crewe -chosen mainly on the associations of John b. 1603 in Guilford, CT.
- Edward b. 1583 and John b. 1585 are both sons of Thomas b. 1558 Lord of Little Sodbury and Lypiatt b. 1558; his 1st son, Edward b. 1583 is heir of Little Sodbury; 2nd son John b. 1585 is heir of Lypiatt (purchased in 1610 by his father).
[2nd son of Thomas Stephens] John b. 1585, Lord of Lypiatt; which he inherited in 1613 when his father died. John married four times: 1m: Elizabeth Ram aft 1600; no children; 2m: Grace Brown bef 1625; daughter, Grace; 3m: Anne Moulson; their 1st son and heir to Lypiatt, Thomas b. 1639; m4: Hester Barnes; daughter, Hester.
Sources:
Research, later, Matthew Hale, colleague of Edward Stephens b. 1583; connected through marriage: Matthew’s daughter, Mary Hale b. 1632 m1: Edward Alderly b. 1635 m2: Edward Stephens b. 1654 *making him 22 yrs older than Mary Hale; hard to believe, yet understandable in the days of marriages based on family alliances... [reminder, to myself, filed PC/Doc: Surnames, Hale]
Other members of the Stephens Family involved in and affected by the English Civil War https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nathaniel_Stephens Nathaniel Stephens (1589-1660), Biography: son of Richard Stephens [b. 1554] Lord of Eastington and Margarett St Leo; he inherited Chavenage House in 1599 when his father died; he was only 10 years old; the estates were farmed by Daniel and Henry Fowler until he "came of age" in 1611. Nathaniel married Catherine, daughter of Robert Beale of Barnes, Surrey. He d. 1660; his son Richard Stephens b. 1620 succeeded him.
Nathaniel sat in the House of Commons at various times between 1628 and 1653. In 1628, he was elected Member of Parliament for Gloucestershire and sat until 1629 when King Charles I. decided to rule without parliament for eleven years. In Nov. 1640, he was re-elected Member of Parliament for Gloucestershire in the Long Parliament.
Nathaniel supported the Parliamentarian cause in the English Civil War. He was Colonel of a regiment of horse which he raised in support of Parliament in the Civil War. In 1644 he was sent to Gloucester to secure the town… In 1645 he was granted a commission to investigate the spoils of Forest of Dean. He acquiesced [signed] in the trial and execution of Charles I. in 1648. A few months later he was struck down with a fatal sickness; he never fully recovered; he died and was buried 5/30/1660 - "The Legend of Chavenage" - it 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, and thereupon the ghost of Stephens rose from the coffin and paid deep reverence. Noteworthy: Nathaniel was related to Oliver Cromwell through marriage.
http://wc.rootsweb.ancestry.com/cgi-bin/igm.cgi?op=GET&db=don4736&id=I33251 Nicholas Stephens b. 1620, Little Sodbury, Gloucestershire, England. d. 1670
Sources: English Civil War
Sources - List of Members of Parliament not excluded from Parliament [during the English Civil War:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_MPs_not_excluded_from_the_English_parliament_in_1648
Nathaniel Stephens, Gloucestershire; John Stephens, Tewkesbury.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_Parliaments_of_England List of Parliaments of England (e.g Parliaments of Henry II)...
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Regicide Regicide: the deliberate killing of a monarch, or the person responsible for the killing of a person of royality. In the British tradition, it refers to the judicial execution of a king after a trial. More broadly, it can also refer to the killing of an emperor or any other reigning sovereign. [The regicide of Mary, Queen of Scots; The regicide of Charles I. of England.
http://www.fulltextarchive.com/page/A-Child-s-History-of-England7/#p105 A Child’s History of England. Note: on Dec 16, 1653, Cromwell publicly accepted the office of Lord Protector… called ‘the Instrument,’ to summon a Parliament, consisting of between four and five hundred member, in the election of which neither Royalists nor the Catholics were to have any share…
On 1/1/1645, the house [Lypiatt] was captured and burnt by Royalist troops evicting a Parliamentary garrison, but it was later repaired and reoccupied.
Parliamentary history of the county of county of Gloucestershire.
Edward Stephens of Little Sodbury... Member of Parliament for Tewkesbury, Oct. 1640 till voided, and Oct 1641, till secluded and imprisoned Dec. 1648, and was the eldest son and heir of [John -error, should be Thomas Stephens of Over Lypiatt (the Prince's Attorney General, who died 1613)... He m: Anne, daughter of Sir Thomas Crewe Knight of Stene, Northants, was knighted 7/11/1660, and is said to have died in or about 1670. He... was one of the Sequestration Commissioners, and Commissioners to punish Scandalous Ministers etc. in Gloucester 1654.
John Stephens of Upper Lypiatt, 2nd son of [Edward Stephens of Little Sodbury -error, should be Thomas Stephens]... entered Middle Temple 1640, where he was called to the bar, and practiced in Elm Court. He was Member of Parliament Tewkesbury Oct. 1645-8, county Gloucester; Jan. to Apr. 1659, Bristol; Apr. to Dec. 1660, Counsel to the Commissioners for Compounding. 1652; and Recorder of Bristol Mar. 1659-63. He was of course a staunch Parliamentary man, and was appointed a Militia Commissioner for Bristol, Aug. 9, 1659. He d. 8/4/1679, aged 76, having married four wives: Elizabeth Ram of Essex; Grace, daughter of John Brown of Frampton, Dorset; Anne, daughter of John and sister and co-heir of Thomas Moulson of Hargrave, Cheshire; Hester, daughter and co-heir of (?) Barnes of Alborough Hatch in Barking, Essex... 1660, John Stephens is said to have "had 1000 pounds given to him out of Lord Astley's composition," and this was probably correct, for by Order of Parliament 12/28/1647, John Stephens of Over Lypiatt, in recompense for losses received by Sir Jacob Astley, late of Melton Constable, Norfolk, (a royalist general), by burning his house etc, was to enjoy all Sir Jacob's lands in Maidstone.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Edward_Stephens_(MP_for_Tewkesbury_and_Gloucestershire) Edward Stephens (1597 [1583]-1670). He was the eldest son of Thomas Stephens [b. 1558] of Over Lypiatt; brother of John Stephens [b. 1585]... he m: Anne Crewe, daughter of Sir Thomas Crewe of Stene, Northamptonshire. He lived at Little Sodbury and died in or around 1670. Note (Jody Gray): I list his birth as 1583; if he were born in 1597 he would have been 2 years old when he married Anne Crewe... I am also concerned about the accuracy of the following information: He was succeeded by his son Thomas. His daughter Temperance m: Robert Packer, Member of Parliament.
Another Source for information about Edward Stephens b. 1583: http://wc.rootsweb.ancestry.com/cgi-bin/igm.cgi?op=GET&db=don4736&id=I32224 from Some Descendants of the Fitz Stephen Family, pub 1904. Edward Stephens [b. 1583], Lypiatt Park, Little Sodbury, Gloucestershire, England; eldest son of Thomas 1558-1613, m: Anne Crewe, he d. 1670... Knight of Lypiatt Park, and the manor of Little Sodbury, eldest son and heir of Attorney General Thomas Stephens [b. 1558], and grandson in the line of eventual heirship of this house of Edward Stephens [b. 1523], first lord of the manors of Eastington and Chavenage, was ancestor of the only authenticated male line of the family that has survived to the present male line of the family that has survived to present day [1904].
The manor of Little Sodbury [1904]: is in less satisfactory preservation… The present squire who purchased the manor from an heiress of the Stephens family has removed much of historic interest to his new house “Lygrove”... on the old estate [Little Sodbury], Sir Edward Stephens [b. 1583] took an active part in the political turmoil [English Civil War] in which he lived. He sided with the Parliamentary party in the controversy as long as the conflict remained confined to what might… be called a constitutional struggle, and was not aimed against the royal person of King Charles I. He was an earnest lover of old English liberty. But when, after a close relation to public affairs, he became convinced that the Parliamentary leaders had gone to too great lengths and had become themselves a menace to the constitution, he, with the vast body of conservative men of the nation, selected to suffer rather than share in radical measures. He therefore, having been energetic as a Member of the Long parliament, refused membership in the Rump Parliament, and was one of those violently ejected from the House of Commons by Col. Pride, in the revolutionary proceedings commonly called "Pride's Purge". This indignity at the hands of the revolutionists was later regarded as an honor by those who had suffered it. He and Sir Matthew Hale, who was a neighbor in Gloucestershire, and a connection of the Stephens family by marriage, as has been seen, were elected by all Gloucestershire as the two representatives, or Knights of the Shire, to the Restoration Parliament; and they favored the overwhelming wish of the English people for the restoration of the ancient line of kings. Sir Edward had been Member of Parliament for Tewkesbury, 1640, 1641. He was secluded, and confined as a prisoner of state by the Parliamentary party in 1648 when he had deliberately and firmly turned against their excesses. He received recognition for his patriotic position from King Charles II, who conferred upon him the honor of Knighthood, July 11, 1660, within a few days after the restoration had taken place, and who conferred the same honor upon his celebrated colleague, Matthew Hale, in the following autumn. Sir Edward died about 1670...
Lypiatt: During the stormy days of the Commonwealth the castle was garrisoned by those in favor of the Parliamentary interest, with which at that time all the members of the Stephens family sided. In 1642 [other sources list the date 1/1/11645] it was besieged by a military force of the royalists in command of Sir Jacob Astley, and after a severe contest was captured, with the loss of fifty-one men. This was felt at the time to be a serious blow; but the family influence in public affairs increased, and the damages of the siege were eventually repaired.Another Source for information about Edward Stephens b. 1583: http://wc.rootsweb.ancestry.com/cgi-bin/igm.cgi?op=GET&db=don4736&id=I32224 from Some Descendants of the Fitz Stephen Family, pub 1904. Edward Stephens [b. 1583], Lypiatt Park, Little Sodbury, Gloucestershire, England; eldest son of Thomas 1558-1613, m: Anne Crewe, he d. 1670... Knight of Lypiatt Park, and the manor of Little Sodbury, eldest son and heir of Attorney General Thomas Stephens [b. 1558], and grandson in the line of eventual heirship of this house of Edward Stephens [b. 1523], first lord of the manors of Eastington and Chavenage, was ancestor of the only authenticated male line of the family that has survived to the present male line of the family that has survived to present day [1904].
The manor of Little Sodbury [1904]: is in less satisfactory preservation… The present squire who purchased the manor from an heiress of the Stephens family has removed much of historic interest to his new house “Lygrove”... on the old estate [Little Sodbury], Sir Edward Stephens [b. 1583] took an active part in the political turmoil [English Civil War] in which he lived. He sided with the Parliamentary party in the controversy as long as the conflict remained confined to what might… be called a constitutional struggle, and was not aimed against the royal person of King Charles I. He was an earnest lover of old English liberty. But when, after a close relation to public affairs, he became convinced that the Parliamentary leaders had gone to too great lengths and had become themselves a menace to the constitution, he, with the vast body of conservative men of the nation, selected to suffer rather than share in radical measures. He therefore, having been energetic as a Member of the Long parliament, refused membership in the Rump Parliament, and was one of those violently ejected from the House of Commons by Col. Pride, in the revolutionary proceedings commonly called "Pride's Purge". This indignity at the hands of the revolutionists was later regarded as an honor by those who had suffered it. He and Sir Matthew Hale, who was a neighbor in Gloucestershire, and a connection of the Stephens family by marriage, as has been seen, were elected by all Gloucestershire as the two representatives, or Knights of the Shire, to the Restoration Parliament; and they favored the overwhelming wish of the English people for the restoration of the ancient line of kings. Sir Edward had been Member of Parliament for Tewkesbury, 1640, 1641. He was secluded, and confined as a prisoner of state by the Parliamentary party in 1648 when he had deliberately and firmly turned against their excesses. He received recognition for his patriotic position from King Charles II, who conferred upon him the honor of Knighthood, July 11, 1660, within a few days after the restoration had taken place, and who conferred the same honor upon his celebrated colleague, Matthew Hale, in the following autumn. Sir Edward died about 1670...
Research, later, Matthew Hale, colleague of Edward Stephens b. 1583; connected through marriage: Matthew’s daughter, Mary Hale b. 1632 m1: Edward Alderly b. 1635 m2: Edward Stephens b. 1654 *making him 22 yrs older than Mary Hale; hard to believe, yet understandable in the days of marriages based on family alliances... [reminder, to myself, filed PC/Doc: Surnames, Hale]
Other members of the Stephens Family involved in and affected by the English Civil War https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nathaniel_Stephens Nathaniel Stephens (1589-1660), Biography: son of Richard Stephens [b. 1554] Lord of Eastington and Margarett St Leo; he inherited Chavenage House in 1599 when his father died; he was only 10 years old; the estates were farmed by Daniel and Henry Fowler until he "came of age" in 1611. Nathaniel married Catherine, daughter of Robert Beale of Barnes, Surrey. He d. 1660; his son Richard Stephens b. 1620 succeeded him.
Nathaniel sat in the House of Commons at various times between 1628 and 1653. In 1628, he was elected Member of Parliament for Gloucestershire and sat until 1629 when King Charles I. decided to rule without parliament for eleven years. In Nov. 1640, he was re-elected Member of Parliament for Gloucestershire in the Long Parliament.
Nathaniel supported the Parliamentarian cause in the English Civil War. He was Colonel of a regiment of horse which he raised in support of Parliament in the Civil War. In 1644 he was sent to Gloucester to secure the town… In 1645 he was granted a commission to investigate the spoils of Forest of Dean. He acquiesced [signed] in the trial and execution of Charles I. in 1648. A few months later he was struck down with a fatal sickness; he never fully recovered; he died and was buried 5/30/1660 - "The Legend of Chavenage" - it 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, and thereupon the ghost of Stephens rose from the coffin and paid deep reverence. Noteworthy: Nathaniel was related to Oliver Cromwell through marriage.
http://wc.rootsweb.ancestry.com/cgi-bin/igm.cgi?op=GET&db=don4736&id=I33251 Nicholas Stephens b. 1620, Little Sodbury, Gloucestershire, England. d. 1670
Nicholas Stevens was b. 1620, eldest son of Thomas Stephens and Mary Walle; in 1641, he married Elizabeth Starkey in St. Peters Church in Cornhill, London; near Tower Ward where he lived.
He came to America in 1660 under an assumed name because of the persecutions in England. He was in Taunton, MA. in 1660, then he and his brother went to Jamestown Colony. His heirs could not receive any of his wealth [in England, said to be wealthy, owning three shires in Wales] because he had changed the spelling of his name to Stevens. He died 9/27/1670 in Albemarle, now North Carolina [KarenMcGlynn.GED.FTW]
Note: Two of the judges, at least, Colonels Whalley and Goffe, spent their last years in MA. under assumed names… Nicholas is on the list of those present in 1670 at a hearing in regard to the estate of Gov. Samuel Stevens (his 1st cousin, nephew of his father). He entered the English Civil War in 1642, on the side variously called Republican, Round Heads, Independents or Puritan. At first he apparently had organized a company or “trained band” of citizen-soldiers for the defense of London… [joined] the “new modelled army” under Crowwell and Fairfax [4/18/1645, titled Captain]… [he has] distinction... that he was an officer under Cromwell, in an army never defeated although often outnumbered… several references have been found to Capt. Stevens… Capt. Nicholas Stevens and his men had just joined this “new-modelled army” in time to be in the great Republican victory at Nasby, 6/14/1645. [ratedt by many] as one of the fifteen decisive battles of the world. (the author provides a description, and, provides quotes from Oliver Cromwell)... In church register his name is spelled “Stevens or Steuens”.
Source for Nicholas (includes biographical information “About”): https://www.geni.com/people/Thomas-Stephens/6000000030777867336?through=6000000041073542245 Sources: English Civil War
Sources - List of Members of Parliament not excluded from Parliament [during the English Civil War:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_MPs_not_excluded_from_the_English_parliament_in_1648
Nathaniel Stephens, Gloucestershire; John Stephens, Tewkesbury.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_Parliaments_of_England List of Parliaments of England (e.g Parliaments of Henry II)...
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Regicide Regicide: the deliberate killing of a monarch, or the person responsible for the killing of a person of royality. In the British tradition, it refers to the judicial execution of a king after a trial. More broadly, it can also refer to the killing of an emperor or any other reigning sovereign. [The regicide of Mary, Queen of Scots; The regicide of Charles I. of England.
http://www.fulltextarchive.com/page/A-Child-s-History-of-England7/#p105 A Child’s History of England. Note: on Dec 16, 1653, Cromwell publicly accepted the office of Lord Protector… called ‘the Instrument,’ to summon a Parliament, consisting of between four and five hundred member, in the election of which neither Royalists nor the Catholics were to have any share…
1st Stephens to immigrate to America: sons of Anthony Stephens b. 1560
1st son, Thomas b. 1585, arrived in Virginia Colony in 1622…his wife, Mary [Walle] arrived in 1633, after the birth of their son, Thomas II, in Devonshire, England… Their 1st son, Nicholas b. 1620, arrived in 1660; under an assumed name, and settled in Taunton, Bristol, MA. He had been a Capt. under Cromwell during the English Civil War; when the monarchy was restored in 1660, there was persecution of those who had supported Cromwell. Their 2nd son, Thomas II. b. 1621, also arrived in 1660; he settled first in Boston, MA; later he removed to Lancaster, when it was newly formed.
2nd son, Richard b. 1600, arrived in Jamestown, VA in 1623…
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-Anthony b. 1560, 4th son of Edward b. 1523 had two sons: Thomas b. 1585 and Richard b. 1600. Note: Anthony b. 1560 lived in Gloucestershire -nothing is known of his “activities” or offices held…
http://wc.rootsweb.ancestry.com/cgi-bin/igm.cgi?op=GET&db=don4736&id=I33208 Anthony Stephens m: Catherine Broke; they had two sons: 1st Thomas b. 1585; 2nd Richard b. 1600
1st son of Anthony, Thomas [b. 1585]: was a haberdasher in London; his sons were born in England; his daughter in the Virginia Colony; he arrived 1622, Virginia Colony; died 1634, Jamestown, VA -his wife, Mary [Walle] arrived in 1623, daughter Mary Stephens b. 1625, Virginia Colony; Mary [Walle] d. 1639. https://www.geni.com/people/Thomas-Stephens/6000000030777867336? Thomas b. 1585 -This information is different than what I have / use in my Family Tree.
https://www.geni.com/people/Thomas-Stephens/600000003017193089http://www.wikitree.com/wiki/Stevens-2055 Thomas b. 1621
*Their 2nd son, Thomas II. b. 1621 m: Elizabeth Storkey; All children born in England and died America; not much is known about them, except for Cyprian, who as one of the first settlers of Lancaster, MA -he has a biographical sketch: He was born in London (family originally from Devonshire). Came to New England *Arrived 1660 (age 13) and settled first at Rumney Marsh, Boston, MA; then removed to Lancaster, MA. m: 1/22/1672, Mary Willard (daughter of valiant Simon Willard, one of the founders of Lancaster) *Biographical Sketch of Cyprian of Lancaster…
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2nd son of Anthony; Richard b. 1600; arrived in Jamestown, VA. in 1623 on the ship “George”; he had four servants with him. Richard was a paynter-stayner in the first London Company’s Charter of Virginia; a Burgess and a member of the governor’s council. At the time of his death he owned over 2000 acres of land in the colony. He married Elizabeth Piersey, 1626, in Jamestown Virginia; daughter of Abraham Piersey and Elizabeth Draper. Thier sons: 1st John b. 1627; 2nd Samuel b. 1629; 3rd William b. 1630.
*1st son, John Stephens b. 1627, Jamestown, Virginia d. 1700, Albermarle Colony; m: Anne Wade in 1644.
*2nd son, Samuel Stephens b. 1629, Jamestown, VA became the 2nd Governor of Albemarle Colony; married Francis Culpepper on 1/1/1652, daughter of Thomas Culpeper and Katherine St. Leger, sister of Lord John Culpeper; they had no children. Noteworthy: 1662, Commander of the Southern Plantation for the Colony of Virginia; before King Charles II. established the Province of Carolina; he served until 1664. He owned the Boldrup Plantation. In 1667, Samuel Stephens was appointed Governor of Albemarle Colony by Lords Proprietor (he was the first governor of any colony to be born in America); he served until his death in 1669.
*3rd son, William b. 1630 d. 12/23/1687, Somerset County, Maryland. Noteworthy: 22 years Judge of Somerset County Court, Deputy Lieutenant. Province of Maryland. He operated three plantations, kept a store, and speculated land.
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The English overseas possessions were involved during the period of the English Civil War and the Restoration.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/English_Civil_War#Second_English_Civil_War_.281648.E2.80.9349.29 English Civil War
During the period of the English Civil War, the English overseas possessions were highly involved. In the Channel Islands, the island of Jersey and Castle Cornet in Guernsey supported the King until in December 1651 they surrendered with honour. Although the newer, Puritan settlements in North America, most notably Massachusetts, were dominated by Parliamentarians, the older colonies sided with the Crown. The Virginia Company's settlements, Bermuda and Virginia, as well as Antigua and Barbados were conspicuous in their loyalty to the Crown. Bermuda's Independent Puritans were expelled, settling the Bahamas under William Sayle as the Eleutheran Adventurers. Parliament passed An Act for prohibiting Trade with the Barbadoes, Virginia, Bermuda and Antego in October, 1650, which stated that due punishment [be] inflicted upon the said Delinquents, do Declare all and every the said persons in Barbada's, Antego, Bermuda's and Virginia, that have contrived, abetted, aided or assisted those horrid Rebellions, or have since willingly joined with them, to be notorious Robbers and Traitors, and such as by the Law of Nations are not to be permitted any maner of Commerce or Traffique with any people whatsoever; and do forbid to all manner of persons, Foreigners, and others, all maner of Commerce, Traffique and Correspondence whatsoever, to be used or held with the said Rebels in the Barbada's, Bermuda's, Virginia and Antego, or either of them.
Virginia's population swelled with Cavaliers during and after the English Civil War. Even so, Virginia Puritan Richard Bennett was made Governor answering to Cromwell in 1652, followed by two more nominal "Commonwealth Governors". The loyalty of Virginia's Cavaliers to the Crown was rewarded after the 1660 Restoration of the Monarchy when King Charles II. dubbed it the Old Dominion.
Aftermath: The wars left England, Scotland, and Ireland among the few countries in Europe without a monarch. In the wake of victory, many of the ideals (and many of the idealists) became sidelined. The republican government of the Commonwealth of England ruled England (and later all of Scotland and Ireland) from 1649 to 1653 and from 1659 to 1660. Between the two periods, and due to infighting amongst various factions in Parliament, Oliver Cromwell ruled over the Protectorate as Lord Protector (effectively a military dictator) until his death in 1658.
On 8 May 1660, it declared that King Charles II. had reigned as the lawful monarch since the execution of Charles I in January 1649. Charles returned from exile on 23 May 1660. On 29 May 1660, the populace in London acclaimed him as king. His coronation took place at Westminster Abbey on 23 April 1661. These events became known as the Restoration.
Although the monarchy was restored, it was still only with the consent of Parliament; therefore, the civil wars effectively set England and Scotland on course to adopt a parliamentary monarchy form of government. This system would result in the outcome that the future Kingdom of Great Britain, formed in 1707 under the Acts of Union, would manage to forestall the kind of often-bloody revolution, typical of European republican movements that followed the Jacobin revolution in 18th century France and the later success of Napoleon, which generally resulted in the total abolition of monarchy. It was no coincidence that the United Kingdom was spared the wave of revolutions that occurred in Europe in the 1840s. Specifically, future monarchs became wary of pushing Parliament too hard, and Parliament effectively chose the line of royal succession in 1688 with the Glorious Revolution and in the 1701 Act of Settlement. After the Restoration, Parliament's factions became political parties (later becoming the Tories and Whigs) with competing views and varying abilities to influence the decisions of their monarchs.
Other Sources:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Virginia_Cavaliers_(historical) Virginia Cavaliers were royalist supporters in the Royal Colony of Virginia at various time during the era of the English Civil War and Restoration.
Blog Posts for Stephens/Stevens Family: https://gray-piperfamily.blogspot.com/2016/07/blog-posts-for-stephensstevens-family.html (Jody Gray) created this Blog Post to provide links to all Blog Posts related to the Stephens/Stevens Family. The Gray-Piper Family Tree Trunk - The Stevens Family is connected to the Piper Family.
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