Dictionary of National Biography, 1885-1900/Stanwix, Richard
STANWIX, RICHARD (1608–1656), divine, born in 1608, was son of James Stanwix of Carlisle, who was fourth son of James Stanwix, head of an ancient family which had their origin at Stanwix, near Carlisle. Richard was educated at the free school in Carlisle under Thomas Robson, formerly of Queen's College, Oxford. He was admitted a servitor of the college under the tuition of Charles Robson [q. v.], son of his old schoolmaster, and matriculated on 21 Nov. 1628, according to Foster. He afterwards became a tabarder, graduating B.A. on 12 May 1629, and proceeding M.A. on 24 Jan. 1631–2. He was made a fellow about the same time, and on 4 July 1639 obtained the degree of B.D. In 1640 he was incorporated at Cambridge. Entering into holy orders, he was appointed chaplain to the lord keeper, Thomas Coventry [q. v.], through the recommendation of the provost, Christopher Potter [q. v.], and, after Coventry's death, to his successor, Sir John Finch, baron Finch of Fordwich [q. v.] When Finch was impeached by the Long parliament in 1640, and took refuge in Holland, Stanwix returned to Oxford, and was appointed rector of Chipping Warden, Northamptonshire, in 1643, by Sir Richard Saltonstall, of Queen's College. He remained undisturbed in his living during the Commonwealth, and died at Chipping Warden on 8 April 1656.
He was the author of ‘A Holy Life here the only Way to Eternal Life hereafter. Wherein this truth is especially asserted, that a Holy Life, or the Habitual Observing of the Laws of Christ, is indispensably necessary to Salvation,’ London, 1652, 8vo.
[Wood's Athenæ Oxon. ed. Bliss, iii. 427; Foster's Alumni Oxon. 1500–1714; Bridges's Northamptonshire, ed. Whalley, i. 116; Foster's Visitations of Cumberland and Westmoreland, p. 128.]