Historic Corstorphine, its Christian History and
Subsequent Connections with the Forrester Family

PART 4

by Annette Hixenbaugh, Oklahoma Regional Commissioner

It was in 1364 that Adam began purchasing land when he bought the lands of Whitburn from John Young, Burgess of Linlithgow.

"ade dicto Forrester, m illam medietatem terre de Qwhitburne cum pertinenciis, in constabularia de Lunlithcu infra viscomitatem de Edymburghe quam Johannes Yung burgensuis de KLynletheu nobis aput Edynburghe decimo sexton die memnsis Augusti anno, etc. sexagesimo quinto coram..."

This purchase was followed in 1369 with the acquisition of "two carucates" (more than one hundred acres Scots but the carucate varied) of ground in Villa de Nudress - Nidrey West Lothian from William Setoun.

"Sciatis nos approbasse, etc. donacionem illam et concessionem quas Willemus de Setona fecit et concessit Ade Forestar,m de illila udabus dcarucatis terre sue quas in villa de Nudreff, infra constabulatiam de habuit Lynlitheu..."

In the years 1372, 1378, and 1387, Adam became Alderman or Provost of Edinburgh. The first date is attested to by a plaque situated on High Street, Edinburgh, bearing the name of Adam, Forrester as Alderman among the other Lord Provosts since 1296. A charter of 7th December 1376, King Robert II, confirmed Adam's purchase of Castle Cary from Alexander de Straton.

"Robertus Dei, c., omnibus, c Sciatis nos approbasse ratificasase et hac presenti carta nostra confirmasse donacionem illam et concessionem quas Alexander de Stratona fecis et concessit dilecto et fideli nostro Ade Forstar burgensei de Edynburghe, de terries de Castlecary cum pertinenciis, infra vicecomitatum de Edynburghe. Tenedis et habendis dicto Ade et heredibus suis in feodo et hereditate, per omnes rectas metas etr divas as suas, adeo llibere et quietye in omnibus et per Omnia sicus carta dici Alexandri dicto Ade inde confecta in se plenius continent et proportat. Salvo serviciio nostro. In cujus rel.c.Test5ibus c. Apud Edeynburghe, septimo die Decembris anno regnni nostril sexton..."

A further charter of 13th August 1376, granted by William More of Abercorn, confirmed Adam's possession of the dominical lands of Corstorphine and so started the Forrester connection with Corstorphine that was to continue for three centuries.

"Robertus Dei gracia, c., omnibus, c. Sciatis nos approbasse, c., donacionem illam et concessionem quas Willelmus More de Abrecorn fecit et concessit dilecto et fideli nostro Ade Forstar burgensi de Edynburghe, de terris dominicis de Corstorfyne cum pertinenciis, infra vicecomitatum de Edynburghe. Tenedis et habendis dicto Ade et heredibus suis in feodo ethereditate per oomnesd rectas metas et dirisis suas, adeo libere et quiete in omnibus et per omnnia sicut carta dicto Willelmi dicto Ade inde confecta in se plenius continetet proportat Salvo wervicio nostro. In cujus rei, c. Testibus, C. Aput Edynburghe, semtimo die Decembris anno regni nostril sexton."