Sir John Forster
Encyclopedia
Sir John Forster was an English military commander and Warden of the Middle Marches.
, marshal of Berwick, and his wife Dorothy, daughter of Robert Ogle, 4th Baron Ogle. Trained from early youth in border warfare, he was in August 1542 put in command of Harbottle Castle
with a garrison of a hundred men. He fought at the battle of Solway Moss
, 23 November 1542, under Thomas Wharton, 1st Baron Wharton
, and claimed to have captured Robert Maxwell, 5th Baron Maxwell; Cuthbert Tunstall
and Suffolk, however, determined that Maxwell's real captor was Edward Aglionby
.
He fought also at the Battle of Pinkie Cleugh
, 1547. Knighted by Protector Somerset in 1547, he was sheriff of Northumberland, 1549-50.
On 4 August 1563 he was appointed a commissioner to treat concerning the delimitation of the borders, and on 10 January 1565 to discuss the position of James Stewart, 1st Earl of Moray
and other Scottish exiles in England. In 1569 he assisted in suppressing the rebellion of the northern earls, and in 1570 took punitive measures against the Scottish borderers who had helped them. In August 1572 he was ordered to have the Earl of Northumberland executed.
In July 1575 he was captured during a border fray and taken to Jedburgh
. He was to meet the Scottish Warden, and make truce every so often. Forster, however, was known for cheating. His meeting with Sir John Carmichael
turned into a battle
, and he was defeated and captured. His lieutenant, Sir George Heron, among others, was killed. Forster was, though, immediately released by the Scottish regent, on Elizabeth's remonstrances.
On 27 July 1585, Forster and his son-in-law, Francis, Lord Russell were attacked by Sir Thomas Ker of Fernieherst, and Russell was killed. Forster at first described it as an accident, but this did not suit the English government, and, with a view to exacting compensation, Russell's death was represented as the result of a deliberate plot. Meanwhile various accusations, promoted perhaps by local feuds, were brought against Forster; he was said to have connived at murder, set thieves at liberty, executed others on insufficient grounds, and had dealings with Northumberland wreckers. Articles based on these accusations were drawn up on 27 September 1586, and Forster was dismissed from his office. Lord Hunsdon, however, thought the charges frivolous, and about April 1588 Forster was restored. He held the wardenry until October 1595, when he was superseded by Lord Eure; his removal was due partly to his old age, partly to a renewal of the charges against by him.
On 24 October 1597 he was nearly surprised at Bamburgh Castle by a party of Scots. He died at Bamburgh on 13 January 1602.
. His daughter Juliana, wife of Francis, Lord Russell, was the mother of Edward Russell, 3rd Earl of Bedford
; and another daughter, Grace, married Sir William Fenwick of Wallington
, and was mother of Sir John Fenwick, 1st Baronet
.
Life
Born about 1501, he was son of Sir Thomas Forster (d. 1527) of Etherston, NorthumberlandNorthumberland
Northumberland is the northernmost ceremonial county and a unitary district in North East England. For Eurostat purposes Northumberland is a NUTS 3 region and is one of three boroughs or unitary districts that comprise the "Northumberland and Tyne and Wear" NUTS 2 region...
, marshal of Berwick, and his wife Dorothy, daughter of Robert Ogle, 4th Baron Ogle. Trained from early youth in border warfare, he was in August 1542 put in command of Harbottle Castle
Harbottle Castle
Harbottle Castle is a ruined medieval castle situated at the west end of the village of Harbottle, Northumberland, England west-north-west of Rothbury overlooking the River Coquet...
with a garrison of a hundred men. He fought at the battle of Solway Moss
Battle of Solway Moss
The Battle of Solway Moss took place on Solway Moss near the River Esk on the English side of the Anglo-Scottish Border in November 1542 between forces from England and Scotland.-Background:...
, 23 November 1542, under Thomas Wharton, 1st Baron Wharton
Thomas Wharton, 1st Baron Wharton
Thomas Wharton, 1st Baron Wharton was an English nobleman and a follower of King Henry VIII of England. He is best known for his victory at Solway Moss on 24 November 1542 for which he was given a barony.-Early life:...
, and claimed to have captured Robert Maxwell, 5th Baron Maxwell; Cuthbert Tunstall
Cuthbert Tunstall
Cuthbert Tunstall was an English Scholastic, church leader, diplomat, administrator and royal adviser...
and Suffolk, however, determined that Maxwell's real captor was Edward Aglionby
Edward Aglionby
Edward Aglionby was an English Member of Parliament, official, translator and poet. He was closely associated with the Dudley family.-Life:...
.
He fought also at the Battle of Pinkie Cleugh
Battle of Pinkie Cleugh
The Battle of Pinkie Cleugh, on the banks of the River Esk near Musselburgh, Scotland on 10 September 1547, was part of the War of the Rough Wooing. It was the last pitched battle between Scottish and English armies, and is seen as the first modern battle in the British Isles...
, 1547. Knighted by Protector Somerset in 1547, he was sheriff of Northumberland, 1549-50.
On 4 August 1563 he was appointed a commissioner to treat concerning the delimitation of the borders, and on 10 January 1565 to discuss the position of James Stewart, 1st Earl of Moray
James Stewart, 1st Earl of Moray
James Stewart, 1st Earl of Moray , a member of the House of Stewart as the illegitimate son of King James V, was Regent of Scotland for his nephew, the infant King James VI of Scotland, from 1567 until his assassination in 1570...
and other Scottish exiles in England. In 1569 he assisted in suppressing the rebellion of the northern earls, and in 1570 took punitive measures against the Scottish borderers who had helped them. In August 1572 he was ordered to have the Earl of Northumberland executed.
In July 1575 he was captured during a border fray and taken to Jedburgh
Jedburgh
Jedburgh is a town and former royal burgh in the Scottish Borders and historically in Roxburghshire.-Location:Jedburgh lies on the Jed Water, a tributary of the River Teviot, it is only ten miles from the border with England and is dominated by the substantial ruins of Jedburgh Abbey...
. He was to meet the Scottish Warden, and make truce every so often. Forster, however, was known for cheating. His meeting with Sir John Carmichael
Sir John Carmichael
Sir John Carmichael, was the Keeper of Liddesdale.He was appointed warden of the Scottish West March, and was to make truce with the English Warden....
turned into a battle
Raid of the Redeswire
The Raid of the Redeswire was a border skirmish between England and Scotland on July 7, 1575 which took place at the Cheviot pass which enters Redesdale, between the English Warden of the Middle Marches; Sir John Forster, Sir George Heron, Keeper of Redesdale and the Keeper of Liddesdale as well as...
, and he was defeated and captured. His lieutenant, Sir George Heron, among others, was killed. Forster was, though, immediately released by the Scottish regent, on Elizabeth's remonstrances.
On 27 July 1585, Forster and his son-in-law, Francis, Lord Russell were attacked by Sir Thomas Ker of Fernieherst, and Russell was killed. Forster at first described it as an accident, but this did not suit the English government, and, with a view to exacting compensation, Russell's death was represented as the result of a deliberate plot. Meanwhile various accusations, promoted perhaps by local feuds, were brought against Forster; he was said to have connived at murder, set thieves at liberty, executed others on insufficient grounds, and had dealings with Northumberland wreckers. Articles based on these accusations were drawn up on 27 September 1586, and Forster was dismissed from his office. Lord Hunsdon, however, thought the charges frivolous, and about April 1588 Forster was restored. He held the wardenry until October 1595, when he was superseded by Lord Eure; his removal was due partly to his old age, partly to a renewal of the charges against by him.
On 24 October 1597 he was nearly surprised at Bamburgh Castle by a party of Scots. He died at Bamburgh on 13 January 1602.
Family
He left several sons and daughters by his wife Jane, daughter of Cuthbert Radcliffe, and widow of Robert Ogle, 5th Baron Ogle. His son Nicholas was deputy-warden under his father, was knighted in 1603, and was father of Sir Claudius Forster, 1st BaronetSir Claudius Forster, 1st Baronet
Sir Claudius Forster, 1st Baronet was a member of an ancient and influential Northumbrian family. He was descended from a long line of Governors of Bamburgh Castle, and was granted ownership of Bamburgh Castle and estates by the Crown in 1609.He was knighted by James I in 1603 and created a...
. His daughter Juliana, wife of Francis, Lord Russell, was the mother of Edward Russell, 3rd Earl of Bedford
Edward Russell, 3rd Earl of Bedford
Edward Russell, 3rd Earl of Bedford was the son of Sir Francis Russell, Lord Russell and the grandson of Francis Russell, 2nd Earl of Bedford....
; and another daughter, Grace, married Sir William Fenwick of Wallington
Wallington Hall
Wallington is a country house and gardens located about west of Morpeth, Northumberland, England, near the village of Cambo. It has been owned by the National Trust since 1942, after it was donated by Sir Charles Philips Trevelyan, the first donation of its kind...
, and was mother of Sir John Fenwick, 1st Baronet
Sir John Fenwick, 1st Baronet
Sir John Fenwick, 1st Baronet was an English landowner and politician who sat in the House of Commons between 1640 and 1648. He supported the Parliamentary side in the Civil War....
.