Thomas settled on Stocks Creek in Amelia County, Virginia, sometime before 1736 when he was first taxed there. He lived there the rest of his life and died in March of 1786. His will named his wife, Jane, and sons John, William and Thomas. Children Robert, Jane, James, William, Moses and Isham have been indentified from other records.
Thomas moved to Amelia County as a grown man. In 1741 Thomas gifted land to Robert Charlesworth and Elizabeth his wife for the "dutiful regard" he had for his mother.[1] Elizabeth was the widow of Robert Foster of Essex County, Virginia, and married Robert Charlesworth after the death of her husband in 1715.[2] Robert Foster died testate, naming eleven children in his will: Robert, James, John, Barbary, Margret, Elizabeth, Anthony, Richard, George, Thomas and William.[3] Margret, Elizabeth and Anthony were named the youngest children and if the other children were named in birth order, Thomas was the fifth from the youngest. Allowing two years between children Thomas was probably born before 1705.
In his will Thomas names his wife Jane.[4] That is the only record found for his wife. Jane died between 11 Mar 1786, the date of the will, and 22 July 1789 when William sold the home tract of land and no dower release was recorded.[5]
Thomas died testate in Amelia County in March of 1786. His will was dated 11 March and proved on 23 March. He named his sons John, William and Thomas with John and William to serve as executors. The residue of the estate was to be equally divided among all the children who were not named.[6]
Beginning in 1744, two men named Thomas Foster were taxed in Amelia County. Age, wife's name and tax records can be used to identify them.
The first Thomas Foster to reside in Amelia County moved to the county about 1736 and patented land on Stocks Creek.[7] Being at least 21 years of age in 1736, this Thomas was born before 1715. He is consistently taxed in Amelia County for the rest of his life and died there in 1786, naming his wife, Jane, in his will.[8]
The second Thomas Foster to reside in Amelia County came to the county about the same time, but was under the age of 16 and too young to be taxed. This Thomas first appears on the tax lists in 1744 when he was 16 years old.[9] Thomas released his guardian in 1748 when he was 21 years old.[10] From these records, his birth year can be estimated to be about 1727, more than a decade later than the first Thomas. In 1748 Thomas bought land on Sandy River and he and his wife, Lucy, sold it in 1753.[11] Thomas and his brother James aren't listed on the tax rolls after 1751. Thomas and James moved to Rowan County, North Carolina, and lived there the rest of their lives.[12]
John Foster was born about 1739, probably in Amelia County, Virginia. He died testate in Spartanburg County, South Carolina, in 1817. His will names his wife, Mary, and his children John, William and Jane. Sons Thomas and Isham have been identified from other records.
Thomas Foster was born about 1742, probably in Amelia County, Virginia. He married more than once but the only wife identified is Sally Wright, daughter of John Wright, who was the mother of Nasy, William, Orana and Stephen. Children born to Thomas before his marriage to Sally Wright were John Foster and Polly Foster. Thomas died intestate in Spartanburg County, South Carolina, about 1804 when his estate was administered by Thomas Tinsley, husband of Orana.
Robert Foster was born about 1745, probably in Amelia County, Virginia. He married Elizabeth James, daughter of Thomas James and Sarah Mothershead. By 1790, Robert had moved his family to Spartanburg County, South Carolina. He died there, intestate, before 6 Oct 1817 when his son Ransom was granted administration on the estate.
Jane Foster was a probable daughter of Thomas. She married Richard Anderson in 1761 and Thomas Foster was the bondsman.[13]
James Foster was not named in his father's will but he was taxed in his father's household in 1763-1764, giving an estimated birth year of 1747.[14] In 1776 James joined the Methodist Ministry and moved to South Carolina where he formed a circuit among other Methodist emigrants from Virginia. He is considered to be one of the founders of Methodism in South Carolina.[15] In 1785, James and his brother Isham witnessed a power of attorney from William E. Bullock of South Carolina to his brother-in-law Rev. Nicholas Watters of Amelia County, Virginia.[16] In 1782 in Spartanburg County, South Carolina, James patented 195 acres on the waters of Fairforest Creek.[17] In 1787, James sold the land to John Foster; Isham Foster witnessed the deed.[18]
Moses Foster was not named in his father's will but he was taxed in his father's household in 1765 and 1766, giving him an estimated birth year of 1749.[19] Moses and his brother Isham were taxed in Lunenburg County in 1775 and 1776.[20] In 1775 in Lunenburg County Thomas Foster sold 400 acres to William Johnson. Moses Foster was one of the witnesses to the deed.[21] And in 1779, Thomas Foster Sr. of Amelia County sold to William John Johnson Sr. of Lunenburg County 40 acres adjacent Alex Wormsworth and John Hankins. Isham Foster, Moses Foster and William Foster witnessed the deed.[22] Apparently Thomas had purchased land in Lunenburg County and Moses and Isham were working it. Moses did not follow his brothers to Spartanburg County, South Carolina.
William Foster was born about 1754. He married Mary Ann Jones in 1781. In 1789, he sold the land he had inherited from his father and left Amelia County. That same year he bought from Thomas Farrar land in Spartanburg County, South Carolina, on both sides of Fairforest Creek adjacent William Benson and John Prince. The deed identified William as being of Amelia County, Virginia. He died testate in Spartanburg County between 1 Mar 1817 when the will was written and 9 Apr 1818 when the will was proved. His children named in the will are Jones Foster, James Foster, Moses Foster, Maiden Smith, Elijah Foster, Sally Chapman, Garland Foster and Calvin Foster. His widow, Mary Ann, is also named.
Isham Foster was probably born in Amelia County, Virginia, between 1755 and 1759. He moved to South Carolina during the Revolutionary War and served in Col. Roebuck's regiment. He died testate in Spartanburg County, South Carolina, in 1817. His will names his wife, Holley Foster, son David Foster, daughter Delilah, grandson Absalom Foster who was underage, daughter Armen Hawkins, son Robert Foster, daughter Patsy Brown, daughter Nancy Foster and daughter Polly Traylor.