MICHELL, John II (1644-1706), of Field Place, Warnham.

Michell’s ancestors were first recorded in West Sussex in 1448, acquiring Field Place and other property in and around Horsham early in the next century. His father was apparently neutral in the Civil War. Michell was returned to the Exclusion Parliaments for Horsham, two miles from his home, after undertaking to serve without wages. Shaftesbury listed him as ‘Capt. Mitchell’, but had no knowledge of his political leanings. He was named to no committees, made no speeches, and did not vote on the first exclusion bill. Nevertheless Lord Huntingdon marked him as a court supporter. In 1688 he was described as ‘very right’ on James II’s religious policy, added to the commission of the peace, and approved as court candidate for Horsham on the Duke of Norfolk’s interest, and also apparently for Midhurst. But there is no evidence that he stood again. He seems to have run into financial difficulties in his later years, and was compelled to alienate Field Place ‘at the full value’ to his step-son, Edward Shelley. He died intestate and was buried at Warnham on 26 Dec. 1706, the only member of the family to enter Parliament.1J. Comber, Suss. Genealogies Horsham, 230, 232, 236; Suss. N. and Q. xiv. 190.