John Foster

Notes:

John Foster was the next child of Robert and Elizabeth Garnett Foster; he was the third of eight sons and three daughters. As a near-middle child he was probably more influenced by his older brothers than his parents. He, most likely, grew up quickly and independently. We know that he went to school, as he was literate. His birth has been set between 1681 and 1689 in Gloucester County, Virginia prior to his parent's removal to Essex County.

John married Isabella (Golding?) prior to 1721 in Essex County for it was this year that he and Isabella bought land in Spotsylvania County where they lived until 1741. They moved in that year to a plantation that John had purchased in western Orange County, Virginia on Beaverdam and Marsh Runs. Isabella is thought to be a sister or daughter of John Golding of Essex County, but this has not been proven. John Golding is thought to be the father of William Golding who married John's younger sister, Elizabeth. Remember, John was deeded 125 acres of land by his father (James chose the 75 acre plot). However he sold this land to his mother and her new husband, Robert Charleswood, as she was required by the will to turn over the plantation on which she lived to her son, Robert, Jr. heir at law of Robert Foster Sr.

John then became heir at law of the land deeded to his older brother, Robert Foster, Jr., when he died, leaving the land to his wife. He purchased the land and plantation from Ann Lloyd Foster, his sister-in-law, for 25 pounds sterling. John then sold the land and plantation house to James Ridgeport. Now, needing a place to live, he purchased on December 2, 1721, 84 acres of land from Robert King in Spotsylvania County and from all indications, John, Isabella and their family moved into the plantation house. By this time John and Isabel were the parents of two and possibly three children: Sarah, Thomas, and John, Jr.

John Foster must have been quite active in politics as his name is mentioned a number of times in the activities of Spotsylvania County: witnessing deeds, wills, and serving for several years as deputy sheriff. In 1733 John received a land grant of 599 acres in what is now Culpeper County. More than likely John and Isabella retained their home in Spotsylvania County for they were still living there in 1735 when he sold the 599 acres of land to John Rucker that he had patented in Culpeper County. At the time of the sale of this land his wife, Isabella was "so sickly and impotent" that she could not travel to the seat of Orange County to waive her dower rights to the land. They had to send three commissioners to her home to interview her and make sure she had agreed to the sale, which of course, she had.

By 1735 John and Isabella had two and possibly three other children: Philadelphia, Anthony, and possibly Judith. If there were other children they have not been identified or possibly had died. Even though John and Isabella were living in Spotsylvania County they had begun to purchase land in Orange County. John had started to buy land in Orange County as early as 1734 or 1735. In 1734 Thomas, oldest son of John and Isabella, was apparently not of legal age to own land, which was 21 years, for in that year he and his father co-patented 1000 acres of land in what is now the eastern portion of Orange County. The land was located between Berry's Run and Riga Run. William Wolford had originally patented the land, however his patent had lapsed due to his not making sufficient improvements. It appears that John Foster may have patented this land for his son Thomas to improve and develop as a plantation. One can assume that the land or a portion of it had been put into cultivation, for even though John and Isabella had not moved to Orange County, John was there on several occasions witnessing deeds. It is possible that his son, Thomas Foster, was living on the land and attending to it clearing and cultivation. Thomas was not yet married.

On November 26, 1740 John and Thomas Foster made an application to the Orange County Court for an evaluation of the improvements that had been made on this 1000 acres of land. Andrew Harrison, Henry, Isabel and George Smith returned a report to the Orange County Court on May 28, 1741, giving a value of L164-6s-8p which included "the cost of 16 journey of 16 miles (from their home in Spotsylvania County) for corn and salt and of 4,000 nails brought from Northumbeland County, one dwelling house, one small dwelling, 480 fruit trees, twelve acres of cleared ground, 280 panels of fence with nine logs to each panel."

During 1739 and 1740 John and Isabella started selling off their holdings in Spotsylvania County in the preparation of a move to Orange County in the foothills of the Blue Ridge Mountains. On May 28, 1741 John Foster bought from Joseph Phillips of Orange County a tract of 490 acres of land between March and Beaverdam Run in the Far West end of the present day Orange County near the boundary of Greene County. Moving with John and Isabella were their son Thomas and his wife, Ann (he had married Ann Garnett in 1741) and their daughter, Philadelphia and her husband, John Snell, (John Foster had witnessed in 1740 a purchase of land by his son-in-law, John Snell.)

In 1745 John and Thomas Foster sold the 1000 acres of land they patented in 1734 and improved upon in Orange County to James Garnett, brother to Ann Garnett Foster. Actually, they had resold the land as in 1738 they had sold the land to George Street, however it reverted back to them when Mr. Street was unable to make payment. Since this deed was acknowledged by both of their wives (Isabel Foster and Ann Foster) by their relinquishment of the dower rights to the land, it proves that Thomas Foster was married to Ann Garnett prior to February 1744. Since Thomas' oldest child, Sarah was born ca. 1743 according to her will, it is certain that Thomas Foster was only married once and was never married ca. 1743 to an Elizabeth Smith in Middlesex County as had been erroneously claimed by some Foster researchers. Ann Foster was the only wife of Thomas Foster and the mother of his eleven children.
Isabella Foster died sometime after June 4, 1747, for it was on this date that she and her husband John Foster along with John Haskew and his wife, Rachel, sold jointly to John Coffee of Spotsylvania County a tract of land in Orange County containing 137 acres. (100 acres was taken from John Foster's tract of 337 acres and 37 acres were taken from Haskew's land.) This land was located on Beaverdam Run and was part of the land that John Foster bought from Zachary Taylor in 1740. This was the last appearance of Isabella in the records of Orange County.

In Orange County, like in Spotsylvania, John Foster continued to be politically active with frequent references in county records witnessing deeds and wills of neighbors, providing security bonds, serving on juries and viewing routs of public roads. The last entry of John Foster in Orange County records was in 1760. As to date no will has ever been found for John Foster. He either died in 1760 as some have recorded or was infirm shortly after or moved away from Orange County to live with one of his children until his death. Source - http://www.drbgfoster.com/foster.asp