Hello everybody
For anybody researching this family a good start is:
i) The History of Northumberland Vol IV 1897 – contains a printed pedigree of the Forster Family of Upper Eshells, based upon Catholic baptismal Records from the old Dominican Catholic Chapel at Hexham and Stonecroft Catholic Chapel further along at Newbrough.
ii) Frank J Vaughan wrote a four page article on the Forster’s of Upper Eshells which was printed in the Autumn 1983 Northern Catholic History Journal. Frank really has to take credit as the first person to conduct any in depth research into our Forster’s, I corresponded with Frank a few times by letter way back in 1999, later on I used his research as the springboard for my own research.
Thomas Forster 1729-1804 a Catholic yeoman farmer of Watch Currock Farm, Hexham married at St Andrew's CoE, Hexham 1765, Ann Bell 1740-1813.
Thomas Forster 1729-1804 is a descendent of the Catholic Forster family listed in The County History of Northumberland (1897) who's ancestry can be traced back to Robert Forster, yeoman farmer of Upper Eshells Farm, Hexham (1670). Ann Bell 1740-1813 daughter of William Bell is a descendent of the extended Bell Family of Hexhamshire, her brother Anthony Bell died at Watch Currock in 1801.
Ann Forster, widow, of Watch Currock, Hexham died in 1813 and left a Will at York in which she mentions daughters, Ann Armstrong, Elizabeth Forster (married woman, wife of George Forster), Mary Hutchinson, Margery Baty, Jane Kirsopp, Dorothy Hall, Margaret Forster and Frances Barron.
The daughters in Ann Forster's Will are all mentioned in order of age:
i) Ann 1766-1834 married 1790 Leonard Armstrong 1759-1841 occupation Miller, of Chipchase Mill, Chollerton
ii) Elizabeth 1767-1851 married 1791 George Forster 1765-1851 occupation Tailor
iii) Mary 1768-1846 married 1799 John Hutchinson 1762-1852 occupation Farmer – later took over Watch Currock Farm
iv) Margery 1771-1835 married 1790 John Batey 1766-1839 occupation Slater
v) Jane born 1775 married 1795 John Kirsop occupation Farmer
vi) Dorothy 1777-1850 married 1799 John Hall 1775-1835 occupation Miller
vii) Margaret 1779-1846 single woman?
viii) Frances 1786-1863 married 1807 David Barron 1785-1846 occupation Farmer, of Spitall Farm, Haltwhistle, Kirkley Thorn Farm, Ponteland, Bush Farm, Newbrough, later Newcastle upon Tyne.
Despite all 8 daughters mentioned only baptismal records for 4 have survived. They are:
i) Ann Forster , baptised 1766 at Cockshaw R.C Chapel, Hexham.
ii) Jane Forster, baptised 1775 at The Dominican R.C Chapel, Hexham.
iii) Margaret Forster , baptised 1780 at The Dominican R.C Chapel, Hexham.
iv) FRANCES FORSTER, baptised 1786 at The Dominican R.C Chapel, Hexham.
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