He was the eldest son of Edward Stephens (d. 1587) and his wife Joan (D. 1587), the daughter of Richard Fowler of Stonehouse.
[3] His father subsequently inherited the manor of Eastington from his brother Richard Stephens (d.
[5] He subsequently married Anne Kirby (d. 1606), a widow, daughter and co-heir of John Stone of London.
[1] He presumably owed his seat to his standing as a Middle Temple lawyer and possibly also connections at court, since he had no other known association with Cornwall.
[1] Following his support for Peter Wentworth's attempt to raise the question of the royal succession, he was imprisoned in the Fleet prison.