John Stapley
Encyclopedia
Sir John Stapley, 1st Baronet of Patcham (1628–1701), was a Royalist who plotted with members of the Sealed Knot
to overthrow the Protector Oliver Cromwell and restore Charles II of England
to the throne, but when questioned by Cromwellians he disclosed the plot and betrayed the other members. After the Restoration, Stapley contrived to win the king's favour, and was created a baronet on 28 July 1660. Subsequently he retired into private life in Sussex.
one of the Regicides of Charles I of England
and member of the Council of State under the Commonwealth and Ann, daughter of George Goring of Danny
, and sister of George, Lord Goring
. John was baptised at Patcham
on 29 June 1628.
Stapley represented the county of Sussex in the parliaments of 1654 and 1656 (elected 20 August), and the borough of Lewes in the first Restoration Parliament of 1661 (elected 23 March 1660–1). In January 1655–6 he was appointed deputy lieutenant of the county.
In 1657 Stapley, abandoning the political views of his father, became entangled in a plot for the return of Charles II
. At the house of his grandmother, Lady Champion, he had come under the influence of Dr. John Hewett
and Lord Mordaunt
. Ostensibly with a view to "the expiation of his father's crime", he professed himself anxious to "venture his life and his fortune for his majesty's restoration". In June 1657, through the instrumentality of Hewett, he had received from the exiled king a commission for the raising of a troop of horse and six colonels' commissions, to be distributed at his discretion. His interest in the county was considered to be great, and his promises of support to the royalist party were confident. Doubts were, however, thrown upon his ability to carry out all his plans. Through the treachery of a subordinate he fell into the hands of Cromwell in the spring of 1658, when he disclosed such particulars of the plot as led to the arrest of Hewett, Mordaunt, and Sir Henry Slingsby. Cromwell, however, dismissed him with a reproof, presumably on account of his friendship with his father. Stapley appeared as a witness against Mordaunt at his trial on 2 July 1658, but, according to Clarendon, answered "in so disorderly and confused a manner that it appeared that he had much rather not have said it". His younger brother Anthony was also concerned in the plot, and made full disclosures when examined by Colonel William Goffe
and Henry Scobell
in April 1658.
At the Restoration Stapley contrived to win the king's favour, and was created a baronet on 28 July 1660. Subsequently he appears to have retired into private life in Sussex. He died in 1701, when the baronetcy became extinct. He married Mary (born 1634), eldest daughter and coheiress of Sir Herbert Springett of Broyle Place, Ringwood, Sussex, by whom he had two sons, who predeceased him, and several daughters. His widow lived till 1708.
Sealed Knot
The Sealed Knot was a secret Royalist association which plotted for the Restoration of the Monarchy during the English Interregnum.Its original founder members were:* John Belasyse, 1st Baron Belasyse...
to overthrow the Protector Oliver Cromwell and restore Charles II of England
Charles II of England
Charles II was monarch of the three kingdoms of England, Scotland, and Ireland.Charles II's father, King Charles I, was executed at Whitehall on 30 January 1649, at the climax of the English Civil War...
to the throne, but when questioned by Cromwellians he disclosed the plot and betrayed the other members. After the Restoration, Stapley contrived to win the king's favour, and was created a baronet on 28 July 1660. Subsequently he retired into private life in Sussex.
Biography
John Stapley was the second but eldest surviving son, of Anthony StapleyAnthony Stapley
Anthony Stapley was one of the regicides of King Charles I of England.Stapley was M.P. for New Shoreham , Lewes , Sussex . He was colonel and governor of Chichester and signed the death-warrant of Charles I...
one of the Regicides of Charles I of England
Charles I of England
Charles I was King of England, King of Scotland, and King of Ireland from 27 March 1625 until his execution in 1649. Charles engaged in a struggle for power with the Parliament of England, attempting to obtain royal revenue whilst Parliament sought to curb his Royal prerogative which Charles...
and member of the Council of State under the Commonwealth and Ann, daughter of George Goring of Danny
George Goring, 1st Earl of Norwich
George Goring, 1st Earl of Norwich was an English soldier.He was the son of George Goring of Hurstpierpoint and Ovingdean, Sussex, and of Anne Denny, sister of Edward Denny, 1st Earl of Norwich. He matriculated from Sidney Sussex College, Cambridge in 1600, and may subsequently have spent some...
, and sister of George, Lord Goring
George Goring, Lord Goring
George Goring, Lord Goring was an English Royalist soldier. He was known by the courtesy title Lord Goring as the eldest son of the 1st Earl of Norwich.- The Goring family :...
. John was baptised at Patcham
Patcham
Patcham is an area of the city of Brighton and Hove. It is approximately north of the city centre, bounded by the A27 to the north, Hollingbury to the east and southeast, Withdean to the south and the Brighton Main Line to the west...
on 29 June 1628.
Stapley represented the county of Sussex in the parliaments of 1654 and 1656 (elected 20 August), and the borough of Lewes in the first Restoration Parliament of 1661 (elected 23 March 1660–1). In January 1655–6 he was appointed deputy lieutenant of the county.
In 1657 Stapley, abandoning the political views of his father, became entangled in a plot for the return of Charles II
Charles II of England
Charles II was monarch of the three kingdoms of England, Scotland, and Ireland.Charles II's father, King Charles I, was executed at Whitehall on 30 January 1649, at the climax of the English Civil War...
. At the house of his grandmother, Lady Champion, he had come under the influence of Dr. John Hewett
John Hewett (chaplain)
Revd Dr John Hewett was chaplain to Charles I and executed for treason as a Royalist.He was born in Eccles, Lancashire, the son of clothworker Thomas Hewett and educated in nearby Bolton...
and Lord Mordaunt
John Mordaunt, 1st Viscount Mordaunt
John Mordaunt, 1st Viscount Mordaunt was an English royalist.He was born in Lowick, the second son of John Mordaunt, 1st Earl of Peterborough and Elizabeth Howard John Mordaunt, 1st Viscount Mordaunt (18 June 1626 – 5 June 1675) was an English royalist.He was born in Lowick, the second son of John...
. Ostensibly with a view to "the expiation of his father's crime", he professed himself anxious to "venture his life and his fortune for his majesty's restoration". In June 1657, through the instrumentality of Hewett, he had received from the exiled king a commission for the raising of a troop of horse and six colonels' commissions, to be distributed at his discretion. His interest in the county was considered to be great, and his promises of support to the royalist party were confident. Doubts were, however, thrown upon his ability to carry out all his plans. Through the treachery of a subordinate he fell into the hands of Cromwell in the spring of 1658, when he disclosed such particulars of the plot as led to the arrest of Hewett, Mordaunt, and Sir Henry Slingsby. Cromwell, however, dismissed him with a reproof, presumably on account of his friendship with his father. Stapley appeared as a witness against Mordaunt at his trial on 2 July 1658, but, according to Clarendon, answered "in so disorderly and confused a manner that it appeared that he had much rather not have said it". His younger brother Anthony was also concerned in the plot, and made full disclosures when examined by Colonel William Goffe
William Goffe
William Goffe was an English Roundhead politician and soldier, perhaps best known for his role in the execution of King Charles I and later flight to America.-Early life:...
and Henry Scobell
Henry Scobell
Henry Scobell was an English Parliamentary official, and editor of official publications. He was clerk to the Long Parliament, and wrote on parliamentary procedure and precedents.-Life:...
in April 1658.
At the Restoration Stapley contrived to win the king's favour, and was created a baronet on 28 July 1660. Subsequently he appears to have retired into private life in Sussex. He died in 1701, when the baronetcy became extinct. He married Mary (born 1634), eldest daughter and coheiress of Sir Herbert Springett of Broyle Place, Ringwood, Sussex, by whom he had two sons, who predeceased him, and several daughters. His widow lived till 1708.