Person:Philip Stapleton (2)

the text in this section is copied from an article in Wikipedia

Sir Philip Stapleton of Wighill and of Warter-on-the-Wolds, Yorkshire (1603 – 18 August 1647) 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.

He was the second son of Henry Stapleton of Wighill (d. 1630). He was admitted as a fellow-commoner of Queens' College, Cambridge in 1617. In 1630 he was knighted. He served as MP for Boroughbridge in the Long Parliament. In 1642 he was appointed parliamentary commissioner in Yorkshire. When the civil war broke out he was made a colonel of horse and commander of the Earl of Essex's bodyguard. He commanded a brigade of cavalry at the Battle of Edgehill, one of two held in reserve until late in the day and whose charge against the flanks and rear of the Royal infantry almost secured a parliamentary victory but proved ultimately inconclusive. He also saw action at the Battle of Chalgrove Field and at the First Battle of Newbury. He was a member of the Committee of Safety appointed in 1642 and of the Committee of Both Kingdoms which replaced it in 1643.

However, he fell out of favour when he opposed the Self-Denying Ordinance and the advancement of Oliver Cromwell. In 1647 he was one of the eleven MPs impeached by the army, but managed to escape to Calais, and died there later the same year.

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

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

22:36, 7 September 2007 (EDT)~

Sir Philip's Last Will and Testament was proved at London(2nd Oct. 1649), by his widow and his sister Lady Margaret Wildgoose, executors.

To his widow he gave the lease of his house in St. Martin's Lane, and all his plates, jewels, and household stuff; with half the income arising from 1,500 pounds, which is to be laid out in land.

John, his eldest son, is to have the manor of Warter, with the land and tithes, and the lands at Blanch purchased from the Bethells. William Gee is to have the care of him till he is twenty years of age.

Robert and Philip are to have 300 pounds apiece, and 40 pounds a year out of Blanch.

All the horses are to be sold, and the money applied for the use of the younger children. Robert is commended to the care of his grandmother at Wighill.

1,000 pounds apiece to daughters Katheryn, Mary, and Frances. Lady Wildgoose is to have the "table diamond" and Mother is to have the clock that I wear in my pocket.

To William Gee my black horse, and my first wife's picture.

To my noble friends, Mr. Holles, Sir W. Lewis, and Sir John Clotworthy, three cases of my best pistolles.

To Chaplain, Mr. Cole, 20 pounds.

22:36, 7 September 2007 (EDT)~

FROM a MEMOIR in the KING'S PAMPHLETS:

The writer seems to be Sir Philip's 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; 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 abundently 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."

1. ↑ ^1.0 1.1 Philip Stapleton, in Wikipedia: The Free Encyclopedia.