Richard Stevens (MP)

Richard Stevens (1702–1776) of Winscott in the parish of Peters Marland, Devon, was Member of Parliament for Callington in Cornwall (1761–1768).

The earliest record of the Stevens family in Devon is as follows: He was the chief agent in charge of the estates centred on Heanton Satchville, Petrockstowe belonging to the wealthy heiress Margaret Rolle, suo jure 15th Baroness Clinton (1709–1781).

The Rolle family controlled one of the seats in the rotten borough of Callington in Cornwall, and at the 1761 general election Richard Stevens was returned on her interest as one of its members of Parliament.

Overall is an inescutcheon of pretence of Stevens: Per chevron azure and gules, in chief two falcons rising belled or.

Richard Stevens died on 15 July 1776 aged 74, as is stated on his monument in Peters Marland Church.

Arms of Stevens of Winscott: Per chevron azure and gules, in chief two falcons rising belled or . Detail from 1776 mural monument to Richard Stevens and his wife Elizabeth, St Peter's Church, Peters Marland
Mural monument to Elizabeth Stevens, Peters Marland Church
Stevens of Winscott mural monument in St Peter's Church, Peters Marland