Rev. R. W. Bosanquet, A.M., on Rock Hall 69 



of August, when the principle gentry of the county were 

 assembled at Newcastle, John Fenwick of Rock, in the 

 County of Northumberland, killed Ferdinand Forster, one of 



the Members in Parliament, and youngest son of 



Forster, of Bamborough.* It appeared that Fenwick had long 

 had an inveterate enmity against Forster relative to some 

 family matters, and while the latter was at a late dinner or 

 supper at the principle inn of the town, the Black Horse in 

 Newgate Street, John Hall, of Otterburn called Forster out. 

 Forster returning said, Hall has just brought a challenge 

 from that villain Fenwick who thirsts after my blood : I may 

 as well meet him now, which he did, and the company fol- 

 lowing (by the light of the moon) saw Fenwick standing 

 near the White Cross, about half way between that and a 

 thorn tree which grew in the said street. He drew his sword 

 and Forster the same, but slipping his foot he fell on his 

 back, and Fenwick stabbed him through the heart when 

 lying on the ground. Fenwick made off, but was soon taken, 

 for which there was an order of the Common Council, 1701, 

 to pay 40 shillings to the officers that apprehended him. He 

 was tried, and was executed at the White Cross for the 

 crime on the 25th of September following. During the exe- 

 cution all the gates of the town were shut, for fear of a rescue 

 from the people of the North, with whom the name of Fen- 

 wick was held in great veneration. Mrs. Fenwick, wife of 

 T. Fenwick, was in court at the trial ; though great Avith 

 child, she threw herself at the judge's feet begging her 

 husband's life. The judge raised her up saying, ' Madam, I 

 am sorry for you, but it cannot be granted; we are not to 

 have our members of Parliament murdered in our streets 

 unnoticed.' " 



There is an entry in St. Andrew's register concerning this 

 unfortunate business ; and Brand in his History of Newcastle, 

 Vol. II. p. 104, mentions it. 



Amongst the papers connected with the business of the 

 estate in the course of the last century, there are a few which 

 may possess some interest, either to the geologist or to the 

 general observer of habits and manners. Amongst the first 

 may be placed a " Report on lord Jersey's lead mine at Rock, 

 dated August 22nd, 1767." A colliery had been worked for 



* No Christian name is given in the manuscript note, but it appears from the 

 pedigree of Forsters, in Eaine's tiistory, that he was the third son of Sir William 

 Forster, of Bamborough and Blanchland. 



