Hiyh Buston. By J. C. Hodgson. 341 



convoyed his estate in High Buston to Joseph Forster of Shil- 

 bottle Woodhouse, gent. The MIS. pedigree of the Forsters 

 makes him to be a descendant of Edward Forster of Brink- 

 burn, and of Nicholas Forster, High Sheriff, 4 1 Queen Eliz. In 

 1662 Sir Wm. Fenwick of Wailington,*- and Dame Jane Fenwick, 

 his wife, released to Joseph Forster*'^ of Woodhouse for £1250, 

 Elford and the tithes predial and personal parcel of the cell of 

 Balmborough. Thos. Burrell of Broompark was the attorney 

 appointed to deliver possession. He seems to have settled 

 Elford and Hartlaw upon his eldest son Ealph on his marriage 

 in 1674 with Ann Widdrington. Joseph Forster held lands in 

 Shilbottle Woodhouse of the Percies on the old system of long 

 leases. In his Will, dated 1689, proved 1690, he is described as 

 of Hartlaw, and desires to be buried ' decently' in the church of 

 Warkworth, at the discretion of his executors— his wife Frances 

 and his nephew Mr Francis Forster of Low Buston : he devises 

 his lands in Overbuston to his wife for life, with remainder to his 

 son Francis, who ' is now a Fellow at Oxford :' to his son George 

 Forster ' Doctor of Phissick,' he devises all his lands at Newton- 

 by-the-Sea, subject to an annuity of £20, to Mrs Martyn Davison 

 and her children : to his son-in-law Mr Thomas Forster," 

 Minister of Ponteland, £10 etc. etc. "I give and bequeath my 

 leases of Shilbottle Woodhouse, which I hold from the Duke and 

 Duchess of Somerset, to my executors." The Inventory 

 amounted to £550.** His widow was probably a second wife, as 



"2 Papers with Mrs Blair. [£85.— Booik of Rates. 



« 1663. Elford T. and tithe. — Mr Jos. Forster, proprietor. Rental 



1674. Ralph Forster, of Shilbottle Woodhouse, gent., and Ann 

 Widdrington, of Warkworth, spinster. — Durham Marriage Bonds. 



Will dated 1678, proved 1679, of Ralph Forster of Elford, who desires 

 his body to be buried in Warkworth Church, and devises Elford to his son 

 Robert. He mentions his wife Ann, his father and mother, his father 

 Widdrington, his uncles Robert and Richard Lisle, etc. — Haine's Testamenta 



Robert, son of Ralph Forster of Elford, gent., University College, 

 matriculated 6th April 1692, aged 16. — Forster's Oxford Alnmni. 



^* 1689,April 9. Mary, wife of ' Dni ' Thos.Forster of Pontisland, bur.— 



Warkworth Registers. 



*' 1689-90, February 7. Mr Jos. Foreter, of Hartlaw, in parish of 

 Shilbottle, gent., bur. — Warkworth Register. 



His will also mentions his eldest daughter, Jane Forster, alias Bertley, 

 his grandchildren Jane and Prances Forster, and his sister Mrs Dorothy 

 Lisle. Mr Francis Forster of Low Buston, whom he calls his nephew, 

 was certainly not his brother's son. 

 IR 



