Background
Vachell was the son of John Vachell of Warfield and his wife Mary Vincent, daughter of Clement Vincent of Peckleton, Leicestershire.
Vachell was the son of John Vachell of Warfield and his wife Mary Vincent, daughter of Clement Vincent of Peckleton, Leicestershire.
He was educated at Exeter College, Oxford, taking Bachelor in 1622.
He was baptised Gayton, Northamptonshire on 27 December 1602. Vachell was therefore persuaded to marry and after the uncle’s death in 1638, Vachell inherited the estates. He was High Sheriff of Berkshire in 1641.
Vachell was also influenced by his uncle"s widow, Lady Letitia (née Knollys) Vachell who married John Hampden, and supported the Parliamentary cause during the Civil War.
On 1 November 1642, the King gave instructions for Vachell to escort him through the county, but as this had previously been an excuse to disband local militia, Vachell refused to obey. Vachell was more concerned with arts than politics and built a collection of rare pictures, books and curios.
His portrait was painted by Sir Peter Lely. In around 1651, he restored Coley Park.
Vachell died at Reading in May 1658 and was buried in Street Mary"s Church in Reading on 1 June 1658.
Vachell married firstly Anne Cox, daughter of Richard Cox, an alderman of London. She died childless in 1651 and was buried in the chancel of Saint Mary Woolnoth in London. She survived him, but he had no issue by either wife.
After the Lord Chief Justice, the Lord Chief Baron and various civilians became involved, the case was eventually decided in favour of his heir.
lieutenant is still a leading case — Vachell v. Leman. The Coley estate passed, upon his death to Thomas Vatchell, the son of his kinsman Thomas who had refused his uncle"s request to marry.
The suburb of Coley Park was built largely on the lands of the estate.
In 1645, Vachell was elected Member of Parliament for Reading in a disputed election to the Long Parliament.