John moved to Amelia County, Virginia, around 1744 and settled on Sandy Creek. He was last taxed in Amelia County in 1791.
A birth year for John is difficult to estimate. John was first taxed in Amelia County in 1744. Thomas Green paid his tax.[1] Usually a man 21 years old or older paid his own tax. That Thomas Green paid John's tax in 1744 suggests that John was not 21 and thus born after 1723. Two years later in 1746 (John wasn't found in the 1745 list) John paid his own tax.[2] But in 1747-48 John was taxed under William Clement.[3] After 1748 John paid his own tax.[4] From 1744 to 1749 is five years, the span of 16 to 21, when a minor's tax was usually paid by his parent. John may have been born about 1728.
No marriage for John was recorded in Amelia County. When he sold his land in 1789, no dower release was recorded.[5] But he may have married as tax lists suggest that he had children. See below.
No probate records for John were filed in Amelia County, Virginia, and his death date is unknown. In 1787 he petitioned the court to exempt him from taxes, he being "old and infirm".[6] In 1789 he sold his land on Sandy Creek .[7] He was last taxed in Amelia County in 1791.[8] This may be the year he died, or the year he moved away from Amelia County.
Despite having a very common given name, John Foster was the only man of his name taxed in Amelia County until 1768 when three John Fosters were taxed. He was listed as "Sandy Crk".[9] The other two Johns were John "son of Wm" on Thomas Tabb's list and John "son of Wm" on Benjamin Ward's list.[10]
John can be identified in later tax lists by considering other records. The 1768 tax list shows that John owned 50 acres of land and lived on Sandy Creek. The land that John sold in 1789 was on Sandy Creek. John continued to be taxed in Amelia County until 1791 when he was taxed only for two horses. He is the only John Foster who paid no tax on himself. John was granted exemption from taxes by the court in 1787. John on Sandy Creek was the only John Foster old enough to be "old and infirm" in 1787.
John paid tax on three possible sons, James, John and William. Each man was only listed in one tax year. Usually a son would be listed for five years, from 16 to 20 years old. One entry in one tax list isn't proof of a father/son relationship.
John Foster on Sandy Creek paid tax on James Foster in 1762, but not in 1763-5 or 1767. The tax lists for 1756-1761 are missing. It's possible that James was taxed in the earlier lists and James turned 21 in 1763. The 1763 lists show seven James Fosters in Amelia County.
John Foster on Sandy Creek paid tax on John Foster Jr. in 1763 but not in 1762 or 1764, 1765, 1767 or 1768. A son, first taxed at 16 years old, would usually appear in several tax years under his father until he turned 21. John only appears on one list. The junior after his name also suggests he was a son of John, but in this time period younger men no matter the relationship were styled as junior.
John Foster on Sandy Creek paid tax on William Foster in 1768 and only in that year, but tax lists for later years are incomplete.