24 Anniversary Address. 



Ephraim Armorer, of Belford, the second son, married Ann, 

 daughter and heir of Greorge Middleham, of Alnmouth, a 

 family of long standing there, and the chief proprietor of that 

 place. They had two children, — 



Ephraim, son and heir, aged 1 year in 1615. 

 Margaret {Harl. Mss. 1448, fo. 4.5.) 



Soon after this, Belford came into the possession of the 

 ancient family of Forster ; but I do not know how, probably 

 by purchase, for in 1639, the manor of Belford belonged to 

 John Forster, of Bamburgh Castle. 



In 1663 it was worth ^300 a year, and was then the pro- 

 perty of Lady Forster. 



It became in more recent times the estate of Abraham 

 Dixon, Esq., to whom was granted a weekly market on 

 Tuesdays, and two fairs yearly, (14 Geo. II. part 2. m. 18) ; 

 from him it descended to his son, of the same name. His 

 only sister married Mainwaring Ellerker, Esq., and Mr. 

 Dixon deyised it to Mr. Onslow, his sister's grand-child. 



By this means it became part of the possessions of Lord 

 Onslow, by whom it was sold to some gentleman in Scotland ; 

 and ultimately it was purchased by the late William Clark, 

 Esq., of Benton, near Newcastle-upon-Tyne. He very much 

 improved the estate, the house and grounds, and left it to his 

 eldest son, the late William Brown Clark, Esq. , and his issue 

 male. Here the latter lived from 1837 to 1840, as owner; 

 but dying in 1840 without such issue, it passed under the 

 entail to the Rev. John Dixon Clark, his Brother, the present 

 resident owner thereof, our excellent host upon the present 

 occasion, and one who takes much interest in the prosperity 

 of our Club. 



I may add, that on the 23rd of May, 1722, David Graham, 

 the eldest son of the Duke of Montrose, was created Earl and 

 Baron Graham of Belford, no doubt from some old con- 

 nection with this manor, in the persons of the abovenamed 

 Nicholas de Graham, John, his son, and Alice de Graham, 

 his daughter. 



The second meeting was held at Chatton, on Thursday, the 

 28th of May, 1857. The members present were, R. C. 



