In the Name of God Amen I John Forster of Higham Dykes in the County of Northumberland Esquire being of Sound and disposing Mind Memory and Understanding Do make this my last Will and Testament in manner following / that is to say / First I order that my Body be decently Interred by and at the discretion of My Executrix hereinafter mentioned And that all my just Debts owing upon Mortgage Bond or otherwise howsoever be paid and Satisfied out of my messuages Lands Tenements and Hereditaments Situate at Higham Dykes aforesaid. And I hereby Charge the same to and [....] payment thereof Accordingly And I give and Devise Unto My Daughter Mary Laidman Wife of Francis Laidman of Morpeth in the said County of Northumberland Surgeon her Heirs and Assigns All Those my Tythes of Tuggal ^Hall^ and Crooklatch Tuggal Town and Tuggal Moor in the Parish of Balmbrough in the said county of Northumberland To hold the same Unto and to the use of my Daughter Mary Laidman her Heirs and Assigns for ever and to and for no other Use intent or Purpose whatsoever Subject ot the payment of My Dear wifes Thirds and one Third part of Forty Pounds a Year payable to my Sister ffrances fforster during her life And also to one Third part of Thirty Pounds a year payable to my Sister Elizabeth Forster during her life And I give and Devise unto my Daughter Catherine the Wife of ... [there follow several illegible words due to destruction of the MS] ... and Assigns All those my Lands Tenements and Hereditaments...Situate and being at Higham Dykes Aforesaid or elsewhere in the Parish of Ponteland in the said County of Northumberland with their and every of their appurtenances To hold the same Unto and to the Use of My said Daughter Catherine Blake her Heirs and Assigns for ever and to and for no other Use intent or Purpose whatsoever Subject Nevertheless and Charged and Chargeable with the payment of my Debts as Aforesaid And also to my Dear Wifes Third and one Third Part of Forty Pounds a Year Payable to My Sister Frances Forster during her life And also to one Third Part of Thirty Pounds a Year payable to My Sister Elizabeth Forster during her life And I give and Devise Unto my Daughter ffrances fforster her Heirs and Assigns All [an illegible line follows, due to destruction of the MS] both in the County of Durham with their and every of their appurtenances To hold the same to My said Daughter Frances Forster her Heirs and Assigns for ever and to and for no other Use intent or Purpose whatsoever Subject ot the payment of My Wifes Thirds And also one Third part of fforty Pounds a Year payable to my Sister ffrances fforster during her life And one Third Part of Thirty Pounds a Year payable to My Sister Elizabeth fforster during her life Provided always and My Will and Mind is Notwithstanding anything herein Contained to the Contrary That my Dear wife Alice Forster shall have the use of My House and All the Offices therto belonging at Higham Dykes where I now live And also the Use of the Garden thereto belonging for and during the term[?] of her Natural life And as to all my personal Estate I give and bequeath the same Unto my said Dear Wife her Executors Administrators and Assigns She Paying my Funeral Expenses thereout And I do hereby appoint her My said Dear Wife Sole Executrix of this My last will and Testament hereby revoking All other and former Wills by me at any time Made I declare this to be and Contain my last Will and Testament In Witness whereof I have hereunto (and to other three equal parts hereof) Set my hand and Seal this Fifth day of July -- in the Year of our Lord One Thousand Seven Hundred and Sixty four--

Signed Sealed Published and declared by the said Testator John Forster for and as his last Will and Testament in the presence of us who at his request and in his presence and in the presence of each other have Subscribed our Names as Witnesses thereto

Ann Fenwick

William Barkas

Nath: Fenwick