James Stevenson

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. 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.

Biography

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. In 1767 Stephenson married Rachel Stephenson née McKeevers and the couple had two sons, Moses, and William, and a daughter Theodosia. 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. 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. Crawford was the son of Honora to her earlier husband, Hugh Crawford, an Indian trader. Prior to Crawford's death, a young George Washington would often visit the Stephenson household, and would become a childhood friend of James.