5 IS Low Buston. By J. C. Hodgson. 



successful sons, afterwards acquired Buston Barns and greatly 

 improved his property by high farming. 



He enlarged and improved the old mansion of the Bells, 

 planted the ornamental timber, and laid out the gardens and 

 pleasure grounds. 



Dying in 1873, he was succeeded by his eldest son, Fred. A. 

 Thew, who died in early manhood, and by whose trustees both 

 estates have recently been sold. 



Forster's Estate of 490 acres, estimated 7 farms. 



The MS. pedigrees of the Forster family say that lands in 

 Nether Buston were purchased by Florence Forster, youngest son 

 of Thomas Forster of Adderston, who died about 1589, and whose 

 will dated 1587 has been printed by the Surtees' Society. Un- 

 fortunately this will makes no mention of Florence Forster, who 

 is further stated to have married his cousin Jane, daughter of 

 Cuthbert Forster of Brunton, by whom he had at least two sons, 

 Francis his heir and Lawrence Forster of Amble. Be this as it 

 may, there is evidence that about 1607 Low Buston was acquired 

 by a cadet branch of the widely spread Northumbrian house of 

 Forster. 



In 1638, Francis Forster of Buston, gentleman, 1 was a free- 

 holder in the county, and in 1663 Francis Forster possessed lands 

 in Low Buston to the value of £30 per annum. His will dated 

 26th March 1677, 2 deals with his personal property which lie 

 leaves to his son George, and refers to a settlement of his estate 

 under which his eldest son Francis was to pay a portion of £200 

 each to the younger sons, George and Robert. He makes no 



1 Arch. ML, vol. u., p. 325. 



2 1677, 26th March. Will of Francis Forster, senior, of Nether Buston : 

 " My Body to be decently buried in the parish church of Warkworth ; my 

 son Francis Forster of Nether Buston ; my son Robert Forster, deceased ; 

 to my loving son George Forster of Nether Buston, all my personal estate 

 whatsoever, and ' all my stock and cropp with all my leases by which 

 I hold my lands and Tenements.' Attached is an ' Inventoried of goods 

 and chattels taken by Robt. Davison, Win. Milbonrne, T. Bell, 2nd March 

 167|. His purse and apparel, £5 ; Five Oxen, £20 ; Six Kine and 

 three calves, £900; Five young Boasts, £5 134; Sixty Eight Ewes, 

 £22 13 4; Thirteene Wedders, £410; Thirteene Dinmonds, £3180; 

 Twenty Hogges, £400; Oats in the Barno and Stackgarth, £7 10 ; Bigg 

 in the Stackgarth, £110 0; By sowen on the ground, £015 0; Two horses 

 £2 10 0; Implements of Husbandry, £200; Snma Total. £8S 10 8." 



