Nathaniel Stephens

Who was Nathaniel Stephens?

Nathaniel Stephens 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. He inherited Chavenage House and enhanced the house which had been reconstructed by his father. 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.

In November 1640, Stephens was re-elected MP for Gloucestershire in the Long Parliament. 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 and relieve Colonel Massie for other duties. In 1645 he was granted a commission to investigate the spoils of Dean Forest.

Stephens acquiesced in the execution of the king in 1649, and a few months later he was struck down with a fatal sickness, which gave rise to the legend of Chavenage. Ireton had been sent to visit Stephens at Christmas time in 1648 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 that after being taken terminally ill, he never rose from his bed again.