Sir Philip Stapleton, MP

Sir Philip Stapleton (1603–1647), of Warter-on-the Wolds in Yorkshire, was an English Member of Parliament, a supporter of the Parliamentary cause during the English Civil War. His surname is also sometimes spelt Stapylton or Stapilton.

biographical notes

Stapleton's cavalry played a significant role at the battle of Edgehill in October 1642, where he fought in the Parliamentarian reserve under Sir William Balfour. Stapleton was present at Chalgrove Field, where John Hampden was mortally wounded, and he marched with Essex to the relief of Gloucester. He commanded the right wing of horse at the first battle of Newbury in September 1643 and is reported to have fired point-blank in Prince Rupert's face. Fortunately for Rupert, Stapleton's pistol misfired.

In February 1644, Stapleton was appointed to the Committee for Both Kingdoms. He was a friend and political ally of the Earl of Essex and became associated with the "peace party" in Parliament, which sought a negotiated settlement with the King. Stapleton was involved in the plot between Presbyterians and the Scottish commissioners to have Oliver Cromwell impeached in December 1644 but he was obliged to resign his military commissions under the Self-Denying Ordinance of April 1645.

As a close associate of Denzil Holles, Stapleton became involved in the Presbyterian political opposition to the Independents and the New Model Army during 1647. He was denounced by the Army for assaulting Major Tulidah, who tried to present an Army petition to Parliament. In June 1647, Stapleton was one of the Eleven Members impeached by the Army for attempting to provoke another civil war. The Eleven Members withdrew from Parliament rather than face the charges against them. Although passes were issued to allow them to go overseas, the Eleven returned to Parliament when anti-Army riots broke out in London. However, Presbyterian support collapsed when General Fairfax and the New Model Army occupied London in August. Stapleton and five of the other impeached MPs took ship for France. Although intercepted by Parliamentarian warships, the Presbyterian sympathiser Vice-Admiral William Batten allowed them to continue on their way.

Stapleton became feverish during the voyage. He died at an inn in Calais on 18 August 1647. His illness was thought to be the plague, so he was buried immediately at the Protestant cemetery in Calais.

Family

Stapleton married twice, first in 1627 to Frances Hotham (daughter of Sir John Hotham), by whom he had four children:

1. John Stapleton of Warter (d. 1697)
2. Robert Stapleton of Wighill (d. 1675)
3. Mary, who married The Viscount FitzWilliam (d. 1704)
4. another daughter

His second wife was Barbara Lennard, daughter of The Lord Dacre. Their five children were:

1. Henry Stapleton of Wighill (d. 1723)
2. Philip Stapleton of Wighill (d. 1729)
3. Frances Stapleton
4. and two other daughters.

Sources:

1. Andrew J. Hopper, Sir Philip Stapleton, Oxford DNB, 2004
2. G. Ridsdill Smith & M. Toynbee, Leaders of the Civil Wars 1642-48 (Kineton 1977)

Links

• Wikipedia
• British Civil Wars

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From a Memoir in the King’s Pamphlets we get some account of his character and personal appearance. The writer again seems to be his friend, Denzil Holles. Like his illustrious kinsman, Lord Fair-fax, "Sir Philip was of a thin body and weak constitution, but full of spirit, which was too soon spent (if God had seen it good) with the manifold endeavour and excessive pains he day and night underwent for the service of this poor kingdom, and yet he exposed himself to the greatest hazards in the war, daring as much and going as far in that service as any mortal ever did; witness those eminent engagements of his in the two great battles of Keinton [Edgehill] and Newbury, in which he was in a very high degree instrumental to the gaining of the day in both . . . For his parts they were very eminent; he was quick of apprehension, sound of judgment, of clear and good elocution, and in things wherein the just rights of the Kingdom . . . was concerned . . . he ever spoke freely and with great abilities . . . For his Religion, he was a true and zealous Protestant, though not in any way new-fangled; yet abun-dently careful, and curious enough to discover the saving truths in fundamentals of faith and knowledge . . . He was a religious lover of both his wives and all his children, without partiality; breeding them up in the fear of God, giving life unto his admonitions and counsels, by his holy, humble, and affectionate carriage and conversation towards them." Of: , Warter, Yorkshire, England He was educated in 1617 in , Cambridge, England, Queens College Member of Parliament: Apr 1640, Hedon Member of Parliament: Boroughbridge He resided at St. Martin’s Lane, London, , England after 1646. He signed a will on 5 Jun Philip married Frances HOTHAM, daughter of Sir John HOTHAM Bart., in 1627.1 Philip also married Barbara LENNARD, daughter of Henry LENNARD 12th Lord Dacre and Chrysogona BAKER, on 6 Feb 1638 in Blackfriars, London , , England, St. Anne’s, Church Entry.1 (Barbara LENNARD was born on 1 Apr 1604 in , Hurstmonceaux, Sussex, England.)