Sir Roger Salkeld

Source:

History of Parliament: British Political, Social & Local History

http://www.historyofparliamentonline.org/volume/1386-1421/member/cr...

John Crackenthorpe, Knight

Biography

John’s ancestors acquired the manor of Newbiggin in the 13th century, although they probably came originally from the nearby village of Crackenthorpe, where they also owned property. They occupied other farmland and tenements in Brougham, Kirkby Thore, Knock and Maulds Meaburn in Westmorland, together with less extensive holdings in Culgaith and Blencarn, Cumberland, so it is hardly surprising that they achieved prominence in the local community. John’s father, William, served briefly as coroner of Westmorland and may well have been a lawyer. We cannot now tell what sort of legal training John himself received, but it seems unlikely that the Cliffords, who were feudal overlords of Newbiggin, would have employed him so regularly had he not been well-qualified in the law. He was evidently still very young at the time of his marriage to Alice, the second daughter and coheir of Roger Salkeld, whose estates lay exclusively in Cumberland. On Salkeld’s death, in December 1378, the customary third of his property was assigned as dower to his widow Joan, while Alice and her sister, Margaret, divided the rest equally. John took immediate possession of his wife’s inheritance in Ousby, Great Salkeld, Penrith and Skirwith; and since Margaret left no children, her share eventually passed into his hands as well. It was not, however, until Joan’s death, in 1415, that the Crackenthorpes gained control of all Roger Salkeld’s estates, which were duly entailed upon their eldest son, William II.