According to Lingard, King Henry VI, took refuge in John MAUCHELL's house at Crackenthorpe after the battle of Hexham.
John married Catherine HUDDLESTONE, and had three sons, John of Crackenthorpe, Henry and William.
He died sometime after 1446.
Bellasis supposes that this John Mauchell was the son of William. However, perhaps William was the younger brother of another John Mauchell.
It would appear that this John Machell was born before 1410, because "in December 1428, John Mauchayle of Crackenthorpe, senior , grants his estate there and at Duston, Lazonby and Kirk Oswald to Roger Crackenthorpe, rector of Kirkby Thore, and William de Langton, rector of Long Marton." [1] It would make sense that "John Mauchayle, senior" of Crackenthorpe was the father of this John Mauchell, and furthermore that this John Mauchell was of age in 1428, as seen by the term "senior" being applied to his presumed father.
However, perhaps there is another generation in here. There was a John Machell who died 4 Apr., 1 Edward IV [1461], "seised of the under-mentioned manor in fee. John Mawchell, aged at the time of his father’s death —, is his son and heir. From the time of his father’s death the said John, the son, took, and still takes, the issues and profits of the said manor and now occupies it. Henry, lord de Clyfford, after the death of the said John, the father, took from the said John, the son, rent, homage and relief, by reason of the said manor, inasmuch as the said lord de Clyfford claims the manor aforesaid to be held of him, unjustly and without any title, by usurpation upon the king’s title therein: Manor of Cabargh, worth 10l., held of the king in chief by knight-service, 6s. 10d. rent yearly to the cornage of the king, at Easter and Michaelmas, and service of suit to the king’s county of Westmorland from month to month at the king’s castle of Appulby in the said county to be held. [2]
"John Mawchell armiger receives acknowledgement of 53s, 4d, good money of England, 6 July, 1448, from Robert Hertforth prior to the cell of Wetherall, while on St. Andrews Day 1448 'our most dear John Machell and Katherine his consort' receive a grateful communication from the Franciscan chapter at Carlisle. Lingard mentions that Henry VI 'was frequently concealed in the house of John Machell, of Crackenthorpe, after the Battle of Hexham,' and John Machell is noted in memoranda as receiving a pardon from Edward IV." [3] [4]
John Machell the elder , and John Machell the younger, appear as witnesses in a land transaction of 18 June 1475 (12 Edward IV) in Westmorland County, in which lands and tenements in the old town of Amotbrig were granted by "by Master Richard Morgan, vicar of Crosthwayte, and Thomas Mathewson, chaplain, to Lancelot Threlkeld, esq. son and heir of Lancelot Threlkeld, knt., and to Ellen, his wife, daughter of Thomas Radcliff, esq.... to hold to the said Lancelot and Ellen his wife and their issue male, with remainder in default to the said Lancelot Threlkeld, knt. and his heirs male for ever." [5]
