The entries for people & families with the surname Foster are gathered together in this SideTrack.
This Page does not include people with other forms of the surname.
The individuals listed are not necessarily related to each other.
Children:
The family lived at Belle Vue Place, Whinney Hill,
Hipperholme-with-Brighouse [with Fanny's parents 1891].
He was dead by 1891
He married Unknown.
Children:
His son continued the family business
He was at Field House
Son of John Foster.
Born in Clayton.
He was
a nominee for the Northowram Board of Guardians [1869] /
a landowner and farmer of 52 acres employing 2 labourers [1871].
On 28th October 1862, he married Rosamond Susanna [1844-1???],
daughter of John Staveley.
Children:
The family lived at
See
Northowram Mechanics' Institute
On 18th December 1871, he succeeded James Edward Norris as
Town Clerk of Halifax.
The salary was £1,000 a year, but he had to provide his own
clerks.
On 26th July 1855, he married Maria Pohlmann.
Children:
The family lived at
On 21st January 1876, he was travelling home from London with Henry Alexander Norris, when the train ran into debris caused by an
accident between the Scottish Express and a mineral train near
Huntingdon.
Foster's leg was badly crushed between the knee and ankle and
he suffered a shock to the nervous system and was confined to his
home for a long period.
He died of a stroke whilst walking in the Pavilion Gardens, Buxton,
where he was on holiday.
He was buried at Lister Lane Cemetery
Born in Sowerby Bridge.
Baptised at Christ Church, Sowerby Bridge [5th September 1897].
During World War I,
he served as a Private
with the 2nd Battalion
Duke of Wellington's (West Riding Regiment).
He died 18th July 1918 (aged 20).
He was buried at the Gonnehem British Cemetery, France [F 3].
He is remembered on the Memorial at Christ Church, Sowerby Bridge
Son of John Foster.
He was educated at Cambridge.
In [Q2] 1870, he married Alice Catherine Teale
in Settle.
They lived at Spring Head, Halifax.
Alfred died 10th July 1873 (aged 30).
His sister Jane & her husband Sydney Perfect Norris
erected a window in Alfred's memory at All Saints' Church, Dudwell
He married Juliet.
Children:
He was a French polisher.
He married Lily.
They lived at
During World War II,
he served as a Private
with the 1st (Airborne) Battalion
Border Regiment.
He was killed at Cambrai [21st September 1944] (aged 27).
He was buried at the Arnhem Oosterbeek War Cemetery [25 C 6].
He is remembered on the Memorial at Halifax Town Hall Books of Remembrance,
in the Todmorden Garden of Remembrance,
and on the Memorial at Christ Church, Sowerby Bridge
Son of William Foster.
He was
Vicar of Tatham /
High Sheriff of Herefordshire [1899]
Baptised at Luddenden [5th April 1808].
A member of the Foster family of Wadsworth & Denholme, and junior
member of W. & H. Foster of Denholme.
The firm distributed the work to weavers at Wadsworth & Crimsworth,
travelling across the moors to collect the pieces twice a week.
On the 4th February 1831, Benjamin was making one of these
collections with his horse and cart, and a dog called Shep.
On his return home, it was nearly dark, the wind was boisterous and
the snow was falling fast.
Ignoring his friends' entreaties to stay the night, Benjamin
set off, and with some difficulty got nearly to the edge of the moor,
when the horse and cart fell into a deep morass.
He decided to leave the horse and cart and go in search of
assistance, but he lost his way and fell into one of the boggy places
on the moor.
Injured and unable to proceed further, he lay down exhausted upon a
bed of snow.
Next day, searchers found his body covered with snow, and his
faithful dog lying across his body.
The dog became Fosters' trademark.
He was buried at Denholme Wesleyan Chapel [10th February 1831]
Son of William Foster.
He married Jane Ann Sutcliffe.
Born 21st June 1886.
He was
educated at King William's College, Douglas and Heath Grammar School /
in business at Edward Foster & Son Limited [1918] /
a traveller (brassfounder) [1911].
He never married.
He lived with his parents at 63 Savile Park Road, Halifax.
During World War I,
he and 7 friends enlisted
with the Cheshire Regiment
[17th September 1914]:
who were killed,
who were wounded, and
Major Horace Fox, who survived unscathed.
Charles Clifford served as a Lieutenant with the 2/5th
(Territorial) Battalion
Cheshire Regiment.
He served in Palestine [November 1917-June 1918], and then in France
with the 1/7th Battalion.
He was killed by machine gun fire [29th July 1918] (aged 32).
He was buried at the Raperie British Cemetery [VI D 1].
He is remembered on the Memorial at Halifax Town Hall Books of Remembrance,
on the Memorial at Saint Jude's Church, Savile Park,
on the Memorial at Heath Grammar School,
and in Lister Lane Cemetery [Plot Number 633].
His Commanding Officer wrote
His Company Sergeant wrote
Another Sergeant wrote
In 18??, he emigrated to Brisbane, Australia.
On 2nd September 1864 – the day after she arrived in Brisbane – he
married Mary Jane (Polly) Kelk.
He ran a large general store in Brisbane with his
brother-in-law, Mr ? Kelk, for many years.
His home, Shafston in Brisbane, is now part of the National
Trust
He was
educated at Barkisland School /
a member of Krumlin Wesleyan Chapel, Barkisland & Sunday School /
employed by Edmund Sykes & Sons Limited at Krumlin Mills, Barkisland.
He lived at Villa Terrace, Barkisland.
During World War II,
he enlisted [1940], and
served as a Marine
Royal Marines.
He died in hospital in Bath [20th September 1944] (aged 27).
He was buried at Krumlin Wesleyan Chapel Graveyard [25A].
Probate records show that he left effects valued at £432 14/4d.
Probate was granted to his father.
He is remembered on Barkisland War Memorial
Born in Lambeth, London [Q4 1867].
He was
a dyer's clerk [1911] /
an Army pensioner [1911].
He married (1) Emma Catherine.
Children:
In [Q1] 1911, he married (2) Emily Oldfield [1877-19??] at St Thomas's Church, Greetland.
The family lived at
He had been in the Army for 30 years.
He had served in South Africa, where some of his children were born.
During World War I,
he served as a Lieutenant
/ Captain
with the Duke of Wellington's (West Riding Regiment).
His sons – all Privates – also served with the Duke of Wellington's
(West Riding Regiment) in World War I:
Lawrence Richard who was killed in 1914,
Edgar Frederick who was killed in 1916,
William Thomas,
Cecil Leonard,
and
George
In 1916, he had been in hospital suffering from shell shock, and had
only returned to duty a fortnight earlier when he heard of his Edgar Frederick's death.
He was only about 1 mile from the incident, but arrived too late to
see Edgar alive
Born in Brighouse.
He appeared in many film and TV rôles.
He married actress Eileen Kennally.
He committed suicide in January 1973
Born in Pietermaritsburg, Natal, South Africa;
He was
a clerk at Mirfield, at Greetland & at Elland stations /
a railway telegraph messenger [1911] /
a clerk at Halifax Drill Hall.
During World War I,
he served as a Private
with A Company
1st/4th Battalion
Duke of Wellington's (West Riding Regiment).
He was killed in action [4th July 1916] (aged 20).
He was buried at the Connaught Cemetery, Thiepval, France [XIII A 5].
He is remembered on the Memorial at Clay House, Greetland
His father had been in hospital suffering from shell shock, and had
only returned to duty a fortnight earlier when he heard of his son's
death
He was a plumber [1841].
In April 1862, he took over Edward Foster & Son Limited, which had
been established by his father.
On 24th March 1804, he married Sarah Briar [1786-18??] at Halifax Parish Church.
Children:
The family lived at Woolshops, Halifax [1841]
He was a gas stoker [1895, 1911].
On 13th April 1895, he married Harriet Ann Belfield [1876-1956] at Halifax Parish Church.
Children:
The children were born in Sowerby Bridge.
The family lived at 11 Willow Street, Sowerby Bridge [1897, 1911].
Living with them in 1911 were
nephew Walter Robert Ransley [b 1897] (cotton piecer spinner)
and
niece Hannah Ransley [b 1903]
Son of William Foster.
Born at Hornby Castle.
He lived at Northowram Hall, when his uncle, Abraham Briggs Foster, moved to Staffordshire.
On 22nd April 1896, he married Florence Ruth Anderton.
Children:
During World War I,
he served as a Private
with the 16th Battalion
West Yorkshire Regiment (Prince of Wales's Own).
He was killed on the first day of the Battle of the Somme [1st July 1916].
He is remembered on the Thiepval Memorial, France [2A, 2C & 2D]
Son of William Foster.
He married Maria Knowles.
Children:
Eli died in 1885.
Probate records show that he left a personal estate valued at £288,098 13/1d
In 1896, she married the 15th Lord Inchiquin [18??-1929].
Children:
In 1920, she was awarded the Medal of Queen Elizabeth of Belgium.
She died at Dromoland Castle, Newmarket-upon-Fergus, Ireland
He married Unknown.
Children:
Son of William Foster.
He was a worsted spinner and manufacturer [1881]
On 20th February 1892, he married Jane Ellen Moore [1865-1931]
at Christ Church, Barkisland.
Children:
He is mentioned in the List of Local Wills: 1898
He was buried at Christ Church, Barkisland
After his death, Jane Ellen married Ben Smith
Born in Hebden Bridge.
Baptised at St Mary's Church, Luddenden.
He was
a butcher's apprentice [1911] /
in business as a butcher in St George's Square, Hebden Bridge [1911] /
a member of Hebden Bridge Liberal Club.
During World War I,
he enlisted [July 1916], and
served as a Lance Corporal
with the 10th Battalion
Duke of Wellington's (West Riding Regiment).
He was said to be a deadly shot and never missed.
He was killed in France when he and others took shelter in a dug out,
and a heavy enemy shell exploded, killing and most of the other
[20th September 1917] (aged 22).
He is remembered on the Tyne Cot Memorial, Belgium [LVIII C 4],
on Wadsworth War Memorial,
and on the Memorial at Saint John's Mission Church, Hebden Bridge
On 19th January 1854, she married Joseph son of John
Hodgson of Sunderland House, Halifax, at Heptonstall Church
She married Rev Thomas Dickenson.
After his death, she moved to Clerkenwell, London.
She was buried in the Nonconformist burial ground at Bunhill Fields
See
Richard Clapham
Recorded in January 1914, when
During World War I,
he served
with the Royal Field Artillery.
He died in the conflict.
Question:
Does anyone know which inn this may have been?
New House, Heptonstall is dated F H E 1736 for the couple
He married Unknown.
Children:
He was dead by 1854
Youngest of 5 sons [and 1 daughter] of a shalloon manufacturer of
Heptonstall.
He was educated at Heptonstall School.
In 1762, he was affected by a severe infectious fever which killed
his father.
In 1764, he went to Queen's College Oxford.
In 1767, he was ordained.
He served at several churches in London
Baptised at Luddenden [16th January 1805].
He and his brother William – members of the Foster family of Wadsworth & Denholme – employed hand weavers at Duck Hill, Wadsworth.
It is said that they had capital of £220 to start their
business.
Around 1830, they moved to Denholme, and – because of the shortage of
local weavers – they distributed the work to weavers at
Wadsworth & Crimsworth, travelling across the moors
to collect the pieces twice a week.
Their brother Benjamin died on one such journey.
They became successful worsted spinners & stuff manufacturers,
W. & H. Foster.
The brothers founded St Paul's Church, Denholme.
In 1831, Benjamin Foster, a junior member of the firm, was
making one of these collections when he perished in snow on the moors.
In 1837, he married Hannah Knowles.
She was born in Bradford [14th March 1816], and baptised by Rev Patrick Brontë at Thornton [23rd September 1819]
Children:
Henry died at Denholme [8th June 1858].
Hannah died 1st March 1871
He was at Queen's College Oxford before moving to Heptonstall Slack,
Henry died in the Debtors' Gaol, Halifax and the jailer,
Francis Scott, was charged with illegally retaining the body
for Henry's debts
He took over his father's drapery business.
In 1888, he went into partnership with Mr Armstrong to established
Foster & Armstrong.
He married Susan
Son of Henry Foster.
In 1861, he was boarding with Rev William Baldwin at Mytholmroyd.
In [Q1] 1888, he married Adeline Ann Craven Cheffins [1867-1945]
in Medway District.
Adeline died at 45 Sussex Square, Brighton [28th July 1945]
He lived at 41 Portland Road, Range Bank, Halifax.
During World War I,
he served as a Corporal
/ Bombardier
with B Battery
155th Brigade
Royal Field Artillery.
He died of wounds in No.3 Canadian Stationary Hospital, France [25th April 1918] (aged 28).
He was buried at the Doullens Communal Cemetery Extension No.1, France [VI B 70].
He is remembered on the Memorial at Halifax Town Hall Books of Remembrance
He was
a clerk (wholesale fustian) [1887] /
a clerk for wholesale clothier [1891] /
a fustian clothier's clerk [1901] /
a clerk at wholesale fustian clothing works [1911].
In 1887, he married Mary Hannah Alderson [1867-1947] in Halifax.
Children:
The children were born in Hebden Bridge and baptised at St Mary's
Church, Luddenden.
The family lived at
Living with them [in 1891] was sister-in-law Martha A Alderson
[b 1862] (sick nurse)
Born in Halifax.
He was a solicitor in Halifax [until 1911].
In 1886, he married Elizabeth Ann Langton in Hackney.
In 1911, he retired and purchased a hotel in Hovingham.
Horace died in Wokingham [28th August 1947]
Partner in
Smith & Foster
and
Lupton, Charnock & Company
He was
educated at Battinson Road, School /
a member of the Boy Scouts of Park Congregational Church, Halifax /
employed at Halifax Gas Works.
During World War II,
he enlisted [June 1940], and
he served as a Sergeant
with the Royal Electrical & Mechanical Engineers.
He was taken POW at Singapore.
He died of dysentery at Kuching POW Camp, Borneo [7th May 1945] (aged 29).
He was buried at the Labuan War Cemetery, Malaysia [K D 13].
He is remembered on the Memorial at Halifax Town Hall Books of Remembrance
He took over his father's pattern-making business at St John's Works, Halifax
On 25th September 1868, he was brought up at Halifax Borough Court on
a charge of having caused the death of Thomas Law.
Around 11:00 pm on 29th August 1868, Law was drinking at
the Fleece Inn, Halifax, when a quarrel broke out
between Foster and Law over whether Law had paid
1½d for a glass of beer.
Twice Law said he had paid for the beer, but Foster
insisted he pay again, and tried to eject Law.
A struggle took place in the passage of the house, and they both fell
into the street.
Law fell backward on to the pavement, fracturing his skull.
Foster left him lying on the ground and went back inside, and
passers-by late found Law bleeding from the ears.
He died at Halifax Infirmary [1st September 1868].
At the West Riding Spring Assizes [March 1869], Foster was
found guilty and sentenced to one month's imprisonment
He was a boot and shoe maker at Stainland.
In May 1854, he married Ellen Hooker from Stainland at
Stainland Wesleyan Chapel.
Children:
Around 1860, the family moved to Camberwell, London, and later they
moved to Leicester
On 28th April 1835, he married Elizabeth Haigh of Ashton, at
Ashton under Lyne
In August 1806, he married Mrs Hannah Moore of Cambridge
Son of John Foster.
Recorded in December 1849, when
he qualified as a magistrate for the county
Writer, essayist and Baptist minister born at Manor House, Hebden Bridge.
He started work as a weaver.
He once spent a night alone in the ruins of Kirkstall Abbey in
order to
He was a pupil at Dr John Fawcett's academy.
He taught at the Sunday School at Ebenezer Baptist Church, Hebden Bridge.
He attended Bristol Baptist Academy, and was Pastor at
Newcastle-on-Tyne.
He worked in Ireland before returning to Calderdale.
In 1808, he married Maria Snooke [1776-1832].
Children:
In 1810, he was so disappointed that
that he left Halifax and never returned again.
He went to live at Downend near Bristol.
On 14th June 1913, memorials were unveiled at Hope Baptist Church, Hebden Bridge and at Manor House, Hebden Bridge.
He was a contributor to the Ecclesiastic Review.
He wrote an essay entitled The Evils of Popular Ignorance.
His Essays on Poetical Criticism [from 1804] were considered
valuable and influential.
He married Sarah Lord [1774-1814] from Bacup.
Children:
There is a memorial tablet for members of the family in Heptonstall Church
which was raised by their surviving children
On 18th December 1794, he married Mary Sutcliffe at Heptonstall Church.
Children:
Mary inherited the Great House, Colden from her brothers who
both died in 1805.
John inherited the estates of William Mitchell and
Harry Greenwood, and the Lee Estate
Founder of John Foster & Son Limited.
See
Church of the Holy Trinity, Queensbury
He married Emma [1808-1865].
Children:
Members of the family were buried at St Martin's Church, Brighouse
He was
partner in Edward Foster & Son Limited /
brass founder employing 19 men & 30 boys [1861].
On 29th May 1825, he married (1) Mary Walsh at Halifax Parish Church.
Children:
In 1849, he married (2) Mary Binns [1817-1896].
Children:
The family lived at 14 Wade Street, Halifax [1861].
John died 11th March 1862.
Probate records show that he left effects valued at under £7,000.
The will was proved by
his widow Mary,
Hiram Fell (bason factor),
and
Thomas Binns (butcher)
Son of John Foster.
Of Hornby Castle, Lancashire.
He was Chairman of John Foster & Son.
He married Unknown.
Children:
Born in Northowram.
He was
a joiner of Northowram [1875] /
a joiner [1881, 1891, 1901]
In 1875, he married Mary Ann Binns [1851-1???] at Halifax
Parish Church.
Children:
The family lived at
Living with them [in 1891] was widowed mother-in-law Hannah
Binns [aged 70].
There are 2 possible deaths for Mary Ann: in 1901, aged 50,
and in 1903, aged 54
John died [Q3] 1911
He married Effie Kate Crowther.
They lived at
He emigrated to Philadelphia and went into the dyeing business with
Tom Firth, also from Halifax.
When he died, he left bequests to 19 people, 12 of whom were in
Halifax and received £1,970 each
Son of John Foster.
He was
a sidesman & Sunday School teacher at St Mary's Church, Rhodes Street, Halifax /
a member of the Manchester Unity of Oddfellows /
a worsted doffer [1901] /
a woolcomber [1911] /
employed by F. Reddaway & Company Limited.
During World War I,
he enlisted [September 1914], and
served as a Private
with the 11th Battalion,
then the
with the 2nd Battalion
Duke of Wellington's (West Riding Regiment).
He was killed at Hill 60 [5th May 1915].
He is remembered on the Ypres (Menin Gate) Memorial [20],
on the Memorial at Halifax Town Hall Books of Remembrance,
and on the Memorial at Saint Mary's Church, Halifax
He gave £15,000 for the construction of St Matthew's Church, Lightcliffe.
There is Foster Chapel at the Church.
He and his family were associated with the building of Lightcliffe Vicarage.
In 1869, he was the first Chairman of the Hipperholme Local Board
and held the post until 1874.
He was a Major in the 6th West Yorkshire Yeomanry Cavalry.
In 1869, he was appointed County Magistrate.
On 7th January 1863, he married Hannah Jane Stansfield.
Children:
He added the name Johnston which was his wife's mother's surname.
He had a home at Moor Park, Ludlow, Shropshire.
He died at Cannes, France.
He was buried beneath the Foster Chapel at St Matthew's Church, Lightcliffe.
His widow lived at Ludlow and continued to own Cliffe Hill, Lightcliffe which she leased to William Henry Aykroyd
Son of Sarah (née Wilkinson) & Joseph Foster.
Born May 1799.
He was brother-in-law of draper, John Rayner.
When Rayner retired, Foster took over the business.
He was a linen draper at 5 Corn Market, Halifax [1829]
He moved to Crown Street, Halifax.
Later, his son Henry took over the business.
On 9th April 1825, he married Elizabeth Milne at Halifax.
Children:
He died February 1850
He was a contractor's labourer [1914].
On 20th May 1914, he married Annie Mcdermott
at St Marie's Catholic Church, Halifax.
Children:
The family lived at 2 New Street, Elland.
During World War I,
he enlisted
with the Royal Field Artillery
[September 1914], then
served as a Rifleman
with the 7th Battalion
Rifle Brigade.
He was hit in the spine [1st February 1916].
He died in No.13 General Hospital, Boulogne (with a Catholic priest
in attendance)
[16th February 1916].
He was buried at the Boulogne Eastern Cemetery, France [VIII D 57].
He is remembered on Elland War Memorial
During World War I,
he served as a Private
with the 2nd Battalion
Duke of Wellington's (West Riding Regiment).
He was killed at Mons [24th August 1914] (aged 20).
He was buried at the Hautrage Military Cemetery, Belgium [II D 16].
He is remembered on the Memorial at Clay House, Greetland
Born in Sowerby Bridge [16th March 1897].
He was
a worsted doffer [1911] /
employed by Siddall & Hilton Limited.
He lived at 11 Willow Street, Sowerby Bridge.
During World War I,
he enlisted in Halifax [19th Oct 1914], and
served as a Private
with the 1st/4th Battalion
Duke of Wellington's (West Riding Regiment).
He went to France aboard SS Invicta [14th April 1915].
He suffered badly with trench foot and was hospitalised 3 times
before being returned home [12th November 1915] and admitted to
Braeside Hospital, Essex.
He returned to France [15th June 1916].
He was reported missing and assumed to have died in a failed attack on Schwaben Redoubt [3rd September 1916] (aged 18).
He is remembered on the Thiepval Memorial, France [6A & 6B],
on the Memorial at Halifax Town Hall Books of Remembrance,
and on the Memorial at Christ Church, Sowerby Bridge
He was
vice president & council member of the Halifax Sunday Lecture Society /
an apprentice brassfounder [1911] /
a brassfounder [1927] /
partner in Edward Foster & Son Limited.
When Edward Foster & Son Limited closed in 1933, he concentrated
his efforts on the Bradford branch Edward Foster & Son (Bradford),
Limited, plumbers' merchants.
He married (1) Doris Raynor [1896-1940]
(possibly) at Holy Trinity Church, Halifax.
Doris died in the Royal Halifax Infirmary [2nd February 1940].
Probate records show that she left effects valued at £3,478 8/11d.
Probate was granted to her husband Leslie.
In [Q1] 1943, he married (2) Elizabeth Cartland in Halifax.
They lived at Clapton Avenue, Halifax.
Leslie died 28th November 1944.
Probate records show that he left effects valued at £7,851 17/3d.
Probate was granted to his widow Elizabeth
He qualified as a solicitor in January 1879.
He was
a solicitor & a Lieutenant in the 4th W. Y. Volunteers [1881] /
a solicitor/notary [1891, 1901] /
a partner in Foster & Winter [until 1894] /
a partner in Foster, England & Foster /
a solicitor at Bank Chambers, Waterhouse Street, Halifax [1934].
He never married
He and his brother, Ronald, lived at The High Trees, Skircoat
He married Hannah.
Children:
an infamous prostitute
Fanny was the daughter of George Barker
He also had a home at Egton Lodge, Grosmont.
He went to live at Canwell Hall, Sutton Coldfield, Staffordshire
[1881] and left Northowram Hall for his nephew, E. H. Foster.
Maria was the daughter of Henry Pohlmann
Jane Ann came from Burnley
Your son will be greatly missed by us all, as he was very popular,
and the regiment is all the poorer for his loss ... Since he joined
the battalion in Palestine, your son has always done his work
cheerfully and well
He was dearly loved by all the men of the company ... He had done his
bit, and I say again, and to my dying day, I never wish to meet a
better gentleman or soldier, for I think it is impossible for one to
exist
I have served under many officers, but none that I loved and
respected more than Mr Foster, and my heart bleeds when I think of
him; the 2 years that I spent with him as Transport Sgt. were the
happiest ones, and every one that came in contact with him would say
the same
Mary Jane was the daughter of the late William Kelk of
Burgh-le-Marsh, Lincolnshire
Emily, of Brook Row, Greetland, was born in Mexborough, the
daughter of Charles Oldfield, coal merchant
Harriet Ann was born in Runcorn
Florence Ruth from Bradford, was the only daughter
of Frederick William Anderton of Bolton Royd, Manningham,
Bradford
Maria was the youngest daughter of Jonathan Knowles
Mr & Mrs Harold Foster were popular humorous entertainers
Hannah was the eldest daughter of Jonathan Knowles.
Mary Hannah was born in Luddenden
commune with the monks of former days
the solemnity and silence of these valleys, with almost all their
romantic and ghostly influences, have since vanished at the invasion
of agriculture and the manufacturing establishments
Mary was the daughter of William Sutcliffe
Mary Ann, of Northowram, was the daughter of John Binns,
carpet weaver
Effie Kate was John's cousin, the daughter of Thomas Crowther
Elizabeth was the daughter of James Milne