Family and Education

b. 29 Aug. 1600, 2nd but o. surv. s. of Sir John Stawell of Cothelstone by Elizabeth, da. of George, 11th Lord Audley. educ. Queen’s, Oxf. 1616. m. 9 Dec. 1617, Elizabeth (d.1657), da. and h. of Sir Edward Hext^† of Low Ham, wid. of Sir Joseph Killigrew^† of Lothbury, London, 9s. (6 d.v.p.) 2da. suc. fa. 1604; KB 1 Feb. 1626.1

Offices Held

J.p. Som. 1621-46, July 1660-d., dep. lt. c.1625-?46, July 1660-d., sheriff 1628-9, commr. for array 1642, oyer and terminer, Western circuit July 1660, sewers, Som. Aug., Dec. 1660, assessment Aug 1660-d.2

Col. of horse (royalist) 1642-6; gov. Taunton 1643-4.3

Biography

Stawell’s ancestors had been seated at Cothelstone since the 12th century, and first represented the county in 1420. Stawell inherited property in Somerset and Devon valued at £6,000 p.a. An adherent of the Poulett faction before the Civil War, he was the most conspicuous opponent of Parliament in the county. ‘Taken notice of to be a lofty, proud man’, he was denied the benefit of the Exeter articles. His estate was sold, and he was imprisoned in the Tower till 1653. On his release he was ordered not to leave London and granted a pension of £6 a week. Waste on his property was terminated by order of the Convention, though the proviso offered on his behalf to the indemnity bill was rejected. He was again returned as knight of the shire in 1661. Lord Wharton marked him as a friend to be managed by Sir Richard Onslow, but he left no trace on the records of the Cavalier Parliament. He died on 21 Feb. 1662, and was buried with great pomp at Cothelstone.4

Ref Volumes: 1660-1690

Author: Irene Cassidy

Notes

• 1. G. D. Stawell, Quantock Fam. 79-83, 100.
• 2. T. G. Barnes, Som. 316, 317; CJ, ii. 708, 745.
• 3. Stawell, 92; Bellum Civile (Som. Rec. Soc. xviii), 7, 48.
• 4. Collinson, Som. iii. 249-53; Stawell, 82-102; Barnes, 36; Keeler, Long Parl. 349-50; D. Underdown, Som. in the Civil War, 128, 159-60; CSP Dom. 1652-3, p. 351; Cal. Comm. Comp. 1428; CJ, viii. 14, 84; Bowman diary, ff. 60v.-61.