Foster - Haney

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Foster, Haney, Garnett, Singleton

Foster – Haney


Early Ancestors of Elizabeth Haney, wife of Nathaniel Dabbs

Compiled by Judy Griffin, 2007 - email address


Proposed Haney-Foster Lineage



Richard Foster

It has been particularly difficult to sort out the great deal of conflicting information regarding these Foster families.

Richard Foster arrived in America when he was just sixteen years old. Michael Motes states that Richard immigrated to Virginia in the ship Safety, which sailed on August 10, 1635. Richard settled first in Elizabeth Cittie [City] County, Virginia, where he married Sussan Garnett circa 1642. Sussan Garnett was born circa 1622 in Elizabeth City County, Virginia and died after 1660 in Gloucester County, Virginia. On November 26, 1653 Richard was granted 250 acres of land in Lynhaven Parish in Lower Norfolk County, Virginia. In 1655 he moved to Gloucester County, Virginia, where he received a grant of 200 acres for the transportation of four persons. More details on his life are to be found in Forster Foster and Their Royal Descendants from which the above information was taken. (1) Information on Richard Foster is controversial.

Researcher B. G. Foster provided interesting reading on Richard Foster: (2)

“In 1989 I published a book The Foster Family of Flanders, England, and America – all copies have long been sold – only a few remain for my grandchildren. However, I have kept and added to the genealogical portion of the Foster family. At the last count I had identified over 31,000 individuals directly kin or kin through marriage to the original Robert and Elizabeth Garnett Foster family. The name of our Foster immigrant came to me very early in my search – his name, Richard Foster.

“This Richard Foster came to American in 1635 on the ship Safety. He was the son of Sir Robert Foster and a wife identified as Miss Isham, daughter of John Isham. This information was given to me originally from Richard Foster of Alexandria, Virginia, a distant cousin whose wife was also a Foster. He had hired a professional genealogist from Atlanta, Georgia to help his wife obtain membership into the Colonial Dames. This genealogist, Mrs. Julian Lane, came up with this Richard Foster as her Foster Immigrant – then, of course, as ours.

“For a number of years I did not question nor ask for documentation of the status of Richard Foster as my immigrant. Many years ago I became acquainted with Captain Ed Dittmer, whose wife was a Foster descendant. Ed was in Navel Intelligence stationed at the pentagon and on several occasions had reasons to be in San Antonio. On two of these trips he gave me a call and came over to College Station for a visit. Ed was doing Foster, Garnett, and Golding research in the original colonial county records. It was he who we give credit for identifying the children of Robert and Elizabeth Garnett Foster of Gloucester and Essex Counties in Virginia. It was he who first made me stop and evaluate the records where Richard and his wife, Sussan Garnett, lived. I began to look for information that would substantiate Richard Foster’s status as the immigrant of the large and important southern Foster family. The more I examined the records the more confused I became.

“After reviewing extensively the records of Lower Norfolk County, Virginia from early 1600 to the 1700s looking for proof of our Foster immigrant, I am still not certain who he is. . . . Let us exam just what has been documented on Richard Foster, Immigrant. We know that he came to the Virginia Colonies in 1635 aboard the ship, Safety and on the same ship was his stepfather, Bartholomew Hoskins. Bartholomew had married his [Richard’s] mother, Mrs. Dorcas Foster on July 3, 1624 in St. Dunstan’s Church, in Tepney, London, England. The records show that she was a “widow with several children.” One of his siblings was a sister, Ann with a brother Robert as a possibility.

“We know that in Lower Norfolk County, Virginia there were at least three Richard Fosters in the same time span. One of these Richard Fosters was an attorney and would marry Dorcas Hoskins, daughter of Bartholomew and Mrs. Dorcas Foster Hoskins. It is this Richard Foster who was a member of the House of Burgess for Lower Norfolk County. It was this Richard Foster that was called Lieutenant, Captain and then Major. It was this Richard Foster who would move with his father-in-law, Bartholomew Hoskins, and brother-in-law, Richard Hoskins, to Albermarle, North Carolina. Consequently one Richard Foster was a son-in-law to Bartholomew Hoskins and another was a stepson. No wonder there was confusion. Both of these Richard Foster were literate. There is at least one other who was illiterate and used the (W) as his signature. One of the three Richard Fosters would marry Ann Jackson on November 16, 1640 and father a child conceived out of wedlock. It is difficult to tell which one of the Richards did the dirty deed. Regardless it has but little bearing on the identification of the true immigrant. These are just a few of the essential documented facts concerning the three Richard Fosters of Lower Norfolk County, Virginia.

“There are numerous citings of the marriage of Richard Foster to Sussan Garnett, daughter of Thomas and Elizabeth Garnett. I have found no documentation of this marriage nor has anyone else that I have been able to contact. This does not mean it did not happen it just means that we cannot prove or disprove it. We do know that her name was not Susanna, Susannah, or Susanna (Ann) as has been reported. Some have tried to make Ann and Sussan the same person by naming her Sussanah and calling her Ann. If you read the original muster roll taken after the great Indian massacre it is spelled, Sussan. Her name was probably Susanna but the roll taker spelled it phonetically, thus Sussan.

“The marriage date of Richard and Sussan has been reported to be in 1641 give or take a few years. As in most cases we could expect their first child in 1642 or 1643 and then a child thereafter every two years. However, it has been documented that this Richard Foster went to England in 1649 for a five-year period. He returned in 1654. Did he take his wife and family with him to England? There are no records that have been found to show that he did or did not. Did he have children before he left for England and while he was in England? These are just some of the things that we do not know about Richard Foster.

“There have been numerous reports as to the number and names of Richard and Sussan’s male children. They number range from two (Robert and John) to seven (Robert, John, Richard, James, George, Thomas, and William.) However, Robert and John are the only ones for which we have documentation. This does not mean that the others did not exist it only means that we have documentation for only two.”

The proposed children of Richard Foster and Sussan Garnett:



Robert Foster

Robert Foster was born between 1650-1655 in Kingston Parish, Gloucester County, Virginia and died in January 1715/16 in St. Anne’s Parish, Essex County, Virginia, according to Michael Motes. (6) Motes later stated that Robert was born between 1651 and 1660.

Robert Foster married Elizabeth in the early 1680s in Gloucester County, Virginia (other researchers have Robert married to a Sarah Biggs first, circa 1671, and Elizabeth circa 1686). The preponderance of evidence is that Elizabeth was a Garnett, whose father or brother was John Garnett (see Garnett family history). The Garnetts and Fosters were close neighbors living in Gloucester County. In 1692 Robert Foster, his brother John Foster, and Robert’s brother-in-law John Garnett, along with several other families bought adjacent land in Essex County, Virginia near the Rappahannock River. This is where, in St. Ann’s Parish on Gilson’s Run (presently called Mount Landing Creek), Robert and Elizabeth lived and raised their family of eleven children.

When he died in 1715/16, Robert left a will naming all eleven of his children, with his wife as executor (abstracted):

In this will, Robert Foster of St. Ann’s Parish, Essex County, Virginia was described as “yea’man” which is probably the more familiar term, “yeoman.” According to B. G. Foster, Robert’s will did name his wife, Elizabeth (no family name). Even though he willed the plantation on which he lived to his first son, Robert Foster, Jr., he provided for Elizabeth to remain on the plantation.

According to Michael Motes, after her husband Robert died, his widow Elizabeth married Robert Charlesworth. They were found in several legal records in Essex County after their marriage. Elizabeth appeared in an Essex County, Virginia court on March 17, 1718/19 when her son James sold his land to William Taylor and she relinquished her right of dower to the 75 acres, which had been bequeathed to James Foster in Robert’s 1716 will. Although Elizabeth had witnessed the original deed from her son, James to William Taylor three months earlier, she was still required to relinquish her dower right to the land. This deed was dated December 12, 1718. They were living in the part of Essex County that became Caroline County, so several records of transactions were found in Caroline County up to 1736. On February 13, 1719, Robert Charlesworth bought 150 acres of land on Gilson Run, Essex County, from his step-grandson, John Foster Jr. for which he paid John Jr. 400 pounds of tobacco. They then sold the land on May 7, 1720 to James Garnett of King and Queen County for 5 pounds 5 shillings, before they moved to King William (now Caroline) County, Virginia in 1721. On Nov 14, 1735 [Caroline County?] it was ordered that Charlesworth be free from paying county levy. He may have been exempt due to his age and probably died shortly after. By 1742 she moved to Amelia County, Virginia, to join some of her Foster children there. Elizabeth died along Stock Creek in Amelia County where she is probably buried.

The following is somewhat redundant information, provided to include comprehensive information on the research conducted regarding this family.

The eleven children of Robert and Elizabeth were (listed birth order does not agree with the narrative for some of these children): (10)


James Foster

Brother of George Foster

James Foster (Robert1) was born circa 1679-1687 in Gloucester County, Virginia and died circa 1749 in Amelia County, Virginia, at age 70. James Foster had always been assumed to be the second child with his estimated birth date being 1686 in Gloucester County. In Robert Foster Sr.’s will he left James and his brother John two parcels of land one containing 75 acres and the other 125 acres with James to have his choice. James chose the smaller parcel, possibly because it may have contained the original plantation home and out buildings. When Robert, Jr. died, James, the next oldest, should have been the heir at law of the inheritance. However, John, the younger brother, became heir at law. Perhaps James had died (which would explain the scarcity of records for James) or John was the second child and that James was the third. Regardless, James sold his inheritance to William Taylor in 1718.

Descendants of a James Foster believe he was the son of Robert and Elizabeth Garnett Foster. If this is the case and James did live and marry twice (Elizabeth and Martha) and left descendants, if is difficult to understand why John and not James became heir at law for the inheritance, unless James was younger than John. It appears that additional research is needed into this James. This family of James is not documented. James Foster married (1) Elizabeth _?_ and (2) Martha _?_. Martha was born circa 1690 in Virginia. James’ children were: Thomas, George, and James (born before 1718).


John Foster

Brother of George Foster

John Foster (Robert1) was born circa 1681-1689 in Gloucester County, Virginia and died after 1760. John was born before his parents moved to Essex County. John married Isabella, thought to be a sister or daughter of John Golding of Essex County (not proven). John Golding is thought to be the father of the William Golding who married John’s younger sister, Elizabeth Foster.

John married Isabella before 1721 in Essex County, the year that he and Isabella bought land in Spotsylvania County, where they lived until 1741. They then moved in 1741 to a plantation on Beaverdam and Marsh Runs that John had purchased in western Orange County, Virginia. 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 second husband, Robert Charleswood, since 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., when she remarried.

John became heir-at-law of the land that had been deeded to his older brother, Robert Foster, Jr., when Robert died and left the land to his wife. John purchased the land and plantation from Ann Lloyd Foster, his sister-in-law, for 25 pounds sterling. John then sold the land and the plantation house to James Ridgeport. On December 2, 1721 he purchased 84 acres of land from Robert King in Spotsylvania County. It appears that John, Isabella and their family moved into the plantation house. By this time John and Isabel were the parents of two, possibly three, children: Sarah, Thomas, and John, Jr.

John Foster seemed to have been quite active in politics, since 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. John and Isabella probably retained their home in Spotsylvania County. They were still living there in 1735 when he sold to John Rucker the 599 acres of land 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.

By 1735 John and Isabella had two, possibly three, additional children: Philadelphia, Anthony, and possibly Judith. Though John and Isabella were living in Spotsylvania County, they began to purchase land in Orange County. John began to buy land in Orange County as early as 1734 or 1735. In 1734 Thomas, the oldest son of John and Isabella, was apparently not of legal age to own land (21 years), since in that year he and his father co-patented 1,000 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, but his patent had lapsed due to his not making sufficient improvements. John Foster may have patented this land for his son Thomas to improve and develop as a plantation. The land, or a portion of it, had been put into cultivation, since John was in Orange County 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 had 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 1,000 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 164 pounds 6 shilling 8 pence 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 Northumberland 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.”

In 1739 and 1740 John and Isabella started selling off their holdings in Spotsylvania County in the preparation for 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 (Thomas had married Ann Garnett in 1741) and their daughter, Philadelphia and her husband, John Snell. In 1740 John Foster witnessed a purchase of land by his son-in-law, John Snell.

In 1745 John and Thomas Foster sold the 1,000 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, since in 1738 they had sold the land to George Street. The land 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 circa 1743 according to her will, it is certain that Thomas Foster was only married once and was not married circa 1743 to an Elizabeth Smith in Middlesex County, as 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, the date that she and her husband John Foster, along with John Haskew and his wife, Rachel, jointly sold 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 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 routes of public roads. The last entry of John Foster in Orange County records was in 1760. No will has been found for John Foster. He either died in 1760, as some have recorded, was infirm shortly after, or moved away from Orange County to live with one of his children until his death.

According to B. G. Foster, these were the children of John and Isabella:



Barbara Foster

Sister of George Foster

Barbara Foster (Robert1) was born circa 1691-1694 in Essex County, Virginia and died after 1763 in Amelia County, Virginia. Barbara Foster was the fourth child and first daughter of Robert and Elizabeth Garnett Foster, born either in Gloucester County before the family’s removal to Essex County or after their settlement there. Regardless, she was the first daughter after three sons and was no doubt welcomed by parents and older brothers. She married Richard Loving in 1710 (estimated) at her parents’ home in Essex County. Richard was born circa 1790. Richard bought a piece of land in Essex County close to the Fosters and settled in. Some time after 1727 they sold their plantation and removed to Amelia County near Barbara’s younger brother, Thomas and his family and her mother and husband, Robert Charlesworth. The children of Barbara Foster and Richard Loving were:



Richard Foster

Richard Foster (Robert1) was born circa 1685-1693 in Essex County, Virginia and died in 1783, age 98. Richard married Sarah, whose surname may have been Fox. Sarah was born circa 1715 and died before 1783 in Louisa County, Virginia. Richard and Sarah and they made their home in Hanover County for a number of years before moving to the neighboring County of Louisa, settling in St. Martins Parish, near his cousins, Robert and James Foster. John and James Foster were sons of the John Foster who was a brother to their grandfather, Robert Foster.

The children of Richard and Sarah Foster, all born in Hanover County, Virginia were:



William Foster

Brother of George Foster

William Foster (Robert1) was born circa 1691-1698 in Essex County, Virginia and died circa August 27, 1767 in Amelia County, Virginia, age 76. He was usually referred to as “The Elder.” He married twice, his first wife has not been identified, but she was the mother of his first five children. His second wife was Ann Booker, daughter of Richard and Rachel Webb Booker (several reports state that Ann’s mother was Rebecca Cobbes). William and Ann married circa 1748. Ann was born circa 1726 in Virginia and died in 1790 in Amelia County. They had four children, all born in Amelia County.

William began his married life in Essex County. Later, William along with his sister, Barbara Loving and his brother, Thomas and their families, moved to Amelia County as early as 1736, when they were enumerated in the Amelia County tax list among the tithable inhabitants between Flat Creek and Deep Creek. In 1742 William patented 400 acres of land in Amelia County on the headwaters of Beaver Pond and branch of Flat Creek and then purchased an adjoining 353 acres of land from Irby Hudson. In 1746 he patented 13 acres in Lunenburg (Charlotte) County on the water of Spring Creek and Ash Camp Creek on Meherrin River in the same vicinity where his brother, George had settled in 1750.

William made his will in 1763, which was probated in 1767. In his will he listed his wife, Ann. He gave his sons William, James, and John the land on which they were living in Lunenburg County. This land was the 1,340 acres that William patented in 1760. He probably purchased the land, in what would become Charlotte County, when his son, William came of age. As William’s other brothers, Thomas and James also came of age; they also occupied a portion of the original patent. In his will, William also left to his sons, John, Richard, and Booker his plantation and land in Amelia County. When William’s will was drawn his two daughters were not married. Later, in 1764 Mary married John Mitchell. His daughter, Elizabeth, married Benjamin Hubbard in 1782, however she had borne a child, Achilles Foster, out of wedlock in 1759.

Ann Booker died in 1790 and willed a bequest to a daughter, Johannah Powell, who may have been a daughter of a first marriage.

Will of William Foster, November 8, 1764, probate August 27, 1767: (11)

William Foster deeds in Amelia County, Virginia:

The children of William “The Elder” Foster and his first wife, all born in Amelia County, were:

The children of William “The Elder” Foster and Ann Booker, all born in Amelia County, were:



Thomas Foster

Brother of George Foster

Thomas Foster (Robert1) was born circa 1696 in Essex County, Virginia and died circa 1769 in Craven County, South Carolina, age 73. Thomas married, first, Elizabeth Meador circa 1718. Elizabeth was probably a Meador since there were Meador families in Essex County and the fact that he had a son Alexius Meador. Their marriage date is unknown. Thomas married, second, Carolyn Rogers on August 25, 1761 in Prince Edward County, Virginia. He was born in Essex County not long after the family moved from Gloucester County.

Thomas and Elizabeth probably married in Essex County, the part that became Caroline County, where their first four children were born. They moved from Caroline County to Amelia County in 1737. In June 10, 1737 Thomas Foster received a royal land grant of 350 acres of land on Stock Creek in what is now the northwest corner of Amelia County south of the Appomattox River.

After moving to Amelia County, they built their plantation house, outbuildings, cleared the land and planted orchards. Thomas may have written his sister, Barbara Loving, to urge her and her family to leave Essex County and join them, which they did. In 1739 Thomas Foster sold to Richard and Barbara Loving 150 acres of the 350 he patented in 1737. The land was part of a tract on the upper side of Stock Creek. Thomas may have written his mother, who remarried after his father died. She and her husband Robert Charlesworth also moved from Essex to Amelia County where they built their home adjacent to Thomas Foster. In 1741 “for reason of the dutiful regard he hath for his mother, the said Elizabeth Charlesworth,” he deeded “one part of land (50 acres) it being the land on which the said Robert Charlesworth now liveth.” The fifty acres was part of the 350 acres patented by Thomas Foster. This is more proof that Robert Foster, Sr. was only married once - to Elizabeth Garnett. Thomas calls Elizabeth Garnett Foster Charlesworth, his mother.

Robert Charlesworth died in Amelia County prior to June 22, 1745 when the administration of his estate was awarded to Edward Booker. Elizabeth Foster Charlesworth probably died before her husband, sometime between 1742 and 1745, buried there in Amelia County.

After the death of his mother and stepfather, Thomas Foster moved to Spotsylvania County. From deed records we know that Thomas and his underage children were in Spotsylvania County as early as 1745, since in that year he bought land there. From the time he moved to Spotsylvania he became known as Thomas Foster, surgeon. Sometime prior to his move to Spotsylvania County it is likely he received training as a physician, probably an apprenticeship.

Thomas Foster practiced medicine in Spotsylvania County for a decade before he returned to the Appomattox River area, this time to Cumberland County just north of Amelia County where he continued his practice of medicine. He later moved to the coastal area of South Carolina where he practiced medicine until his died in 1769. He died in St. James Santee Parish, Craven County, South Carolina. His son, Alexis Meador Foster was executor of his estate.

Before he moved to South Carolina, Thomas Foster’s son Alexis Meador received training as a surveyor and subsequently moved to South Carolina. Alexius Meador Foster patented much of the land in the proximity of Spartanburg and Union Districts where he was heavily involved in surveying land grants.

Dr. Foster’s first wife, Elizabeth probably died before he moved to South Carolina and is probably the Thomas Foster who married on August 25, 1761 to Caroline Rogers of Prince Edward County, Virginia, where he probably was practicing medicine.

The children of Thomas and Elizabeth Foster were:



Anthony Foster

Brother of George Foster

Anthony Foster (Robert1) was born circa 1693-1698 in Essex County, Virginia and died on February 4, 1763 in Spotsylvania County, Virginia, at age 70. He was born ca 1698 or before, since he witnessed a deed on December 1, 1719 when his brother, John Foster, bought 100 acres of land in St. Anne’s Parish, Essex County from Wm. Stapp and Joshus Stapp for 20 pounds sterling (legal age was 21 years for witnessing). Anthony married Martha circa 1720 in Essex County. Martha is thought by many Foster researchers to be a Taliaferro. However, Taliaferro family researchers contacted failed to find a Martha Taliaferro who married an Anthony Foster.

Anthony and Martha married in Essex County, where their first two children were born. They moved from St. Anne’s Parish, Essex County after 1725, on May 3rd of that year they recorded a purchase from Robert King of 100 acres of land in St. George Parish, Spotsylvania County on the south side of the Po River. It bordered land that his brother, John Foster had purchased from Robert King on December 12, 1721.

During the next several years Anthony accumulated considerable land, purchasing 1,657 acres of land in one transaction (he turned around and sold it back to the man from who he had originally purchased it) and 105 acres in another transaction in 1740, 331 acres in 1744, 135 acres in 1746 and on March 16, 1754 he purchased 550 acres, all in St. George Parish. There is no indication that he lived on any of this acreage but remained on the original 100 acres he purchased in 1721.

Martha Foster died after 1740 and before 1761, as 1740 was the date of the birth of their last child and 1761 was the date of a deed transaction which lists a Sarah as Anthony’s wife. In the deed transactions in 1755 and 1759 there was no mention of a wife. It appears that Anthony remarried sometime between 1759 and 1761 and Martha died between 1740 and 1755. The Sarah was a Mrs. Sarah Sparks, widow of Zachary Sparks. However, Martha was the mother of all seven of Anthony’s children.

Will of Anthony Foster, Dated Feb. 4, 1763, Spotsylvania County, Virginia.

The children of Anthony and Martha Foster were:



Elizabeth Foster

Sister of George Foster

Elizabeth Foster (Robert1) was born circa 1703 in Essex County, Virginia and died before 1777 in Ninety-Six District, South Carolina. Her father died when she was young and she was raised by her mother and stepfather. She married William Golding in 1728 (estimated) in Caroline County, Virginia. William Golding, born circa 1704 in Essex County, was the son of John Golding and Mrs. Cassandra Wood and resided in Caroline County. By 1741 William Golding and his family had moved up the Mattaponi River to the northwest, toward the frontier land that had been opened in the foothills of the Blue Ridge Mountains in Orange County. Their land was near that of John Foster, Elizabeth’s older brother. They lived in Orange County from around 1741 to circa 1746 near the Orange County courthouse and from circa 1746 to 1771 near the Blue Ridge Mountains in what is now Greene County. They moved to the Ninety Six District in the frontier land of the upland of South Carolina in 1771.

On April 25, 1771 William and Elizabeth Foster Golding sold their 150 acres of land in Orange County (now Greene County) to Francis Kirtley. On September 3, 1771 William applied in Charleston, South Carolina for a 250 acre land grant in Berkeley, now Newberry, on the branch of Little River called Sandy Run. On September 29, 1771 William applied for an additional land grant of 300 acres, described as being in Craven (now Newberry) County on the water of Long Lick Creek.

William Golding signed his last will and testament on September 4, 1777. Since there is no mention of Elizabeth, she probably died in South Carolina sometime between the sale of their home in Virginia in 1771 and the writing of her husband’s will in September 1777.

The children of Elizabeth Foster and William Golding were:



George Foster

George Foster (Robert1) was born circa 1695 in Essex County, Virginia and died in 1789 in Charlotte County, Virginia, age 94. Note: George died between February 17 and June 1, 1789 (when his will was made and when it was probated). Some additional information is from Michael Motes. (12) George married Mary Singleton, daughter of Robert Singleton and Sarah Crow, on November 29, 1722. (13) Mary was born in 1696. See Singleton family history.

Mary Singleton’s father, Robert, was a well-to-do plantation owner. (14) His father is said to be Henry Singleton, born 1620 in England, who married Susan/Ann Newman in 1651; and his grandfather is said to have been a Robert Singleton, born circa 1575 in England. There is conflicting information on the Robert Singleton, born circa 1575, who was a subscriber and charter member of the second Virginia Land Company, this company arriving at Jamestown in 1608.

Robert Singleton, was born in 1652 in Gloucester County, Virginia and died in 1725. He married (1) Sarah Crow and (2) Elizabeth _?_. Robert and Sarah had four known children: Susanna, Joshua, Robert and Mary Charlotte. Robert Singleton had extensive land holdings in early Virginia. He lived in Gloucester County at the time of death, but he also owned land in Stafford County. There are land records of this Robert in early Virginia records. In 1704, Robert paid quick-rent on 650 acres in Gloucester County, Kingston Parish. In 1705, Robert Singleton was granted 600 acres of land in Stafford County. His will named his daughter “Mary, wife of George Foster.”

George Foster was literate, obtaining his education in Essex County where he was raised. After he married Mary Singleton in 1722 they made their home in Essex County on the land Mary inherited from her father. George was mentioned in the will of Robert Singleton, “. . . and the other three hundred acres belonging to that patent I give to my two daughters, Susannah, the wife of Thomas Smithers, and Mary, the wife of George Foster.” This land was in Stafford County, which was later broken into an additional County called Prince William. Apparently George and Mary lived on the land given them in the will, since their children were listed as born in Prince William County.

In 1734 they were living in Caroline County in the part of Essex County that was cut off when Caroline County was established in 1727-28. George was found to be associated with a variety of political activities in Caroline County until 1750. It wasn’t until May 21/22, 1742 that George and Mary (Singleton) Foster sold their 150 acres to a John Gregg, as recorded in Prince William County, Virginia.

The following is taken from Fairfax County Deed Book A, 1742-1746: Indenture xvi day of May 1744 between Benjamin Addams and Elizabeth his Wife, sole Executrix of the Last Will and Testment of John Gregg, late of Hamilton Parish in County of Prince William, deced. and Charles Taylor, sells Plantation in Truro Parish in Fairfax County containing 150 acres purchased by John Gregg in his lifetime of George Foster and Mar { }, by Deeds of Lease and Release dated 21st and 22d May 1742, recorded in County of Prince William, part of a larger tract of land containing 600 acres late in the possession of Robert Singleton, lste of County of Gloucester, Planter, deced, who by his Last Will and Testament dated 15th April 1724 did devise unto his Son, Joshua Singleton 300 acres, other 300 acres to his Daugher, Susanna, Wife of Thomas Smither, and Mary Foster another Heir to be equally divided between them duly proved and remaining of Record in the County of Gloucester.

George and his family moved to Lunenburg County, the Charlotte County area of southern Virginia, where many of his children lived. His sons Josiah and George Jr. and his daughter Elizabeth Dabbs were there early (Elizabeth, wife of Richard Dabbs who was the brother of our Nathaniel Dabbs). There is evidence that most of the family located in Charlotte, Lunenburg, and Amelia Counties. On June 1, 1750, he bought land in Lunenburg County, receiving a grant of nine hundred and eighty-five acres “on both sides of Spring Creek Fork of Little Roanoke,” adjoining the land of Joseph Morton, Clement Reed, and a Mr. Womack. George and his family were also found in Stafford/Prince William/Fairfax County before they finally settled in Charlotte County. On August 10, 1756, George received a grant of an additional four hundred acres in Lunenburg County, later Charlotte County, on Cock’s and Laton’s Creek. This is where he made his will on February 17, 1789 and where he died, since his will was probated there on June 1, 1789. Mary Singleton Foster died prior to George’s death. Her death is estimated to be about 1780 in Charlotte County. Mary was about 43 when her last child was born. It is possible that she died not too many years later, since she was still young enough to bear more children.

George lived to a remarkably old age for the times, dying when he was in his nineties. His will names his living children except Joseph and possibly Hannah (Hannah’s death date unknown). It reads: (15)

Witnesses were Robert Henry, Wm Haney, John Haney, Thomas Haney. Recorded in Will Book 1, page 418a, Charlotte County, Virginia. Note that three Haney family members witnessed this will, possibly the John Haney witnessing this will was the husband of George’s daughter “Miss” Foster.

The inventory of George’s estate reveals his wealth and material goods: 1 family Bible, prayer book, and small family assistant; Queens China, 1 large walnut table, 1 small looking glass, 2 beds and the furniture for 1 bed, Negro men Jesse and Pompey, Negro women Sukey and Pegg, Negro girl Jenny, Negro boy Ben, Negro man Gloucester, Negro woman Beck, girl Isaphana, boys Nathan and Sam, Moll an old Negro, Old Sharper, Tom a Negro man in the possession of William Foster being devised to him, Bess an old woman. Total value: 701 pounds 11 shillings 6 pence. Signed - Josiah Foster, exor. Signed Jun 17, 1789 - Tho Spencer, Jac. Morton, Tho. Spencer Jr., Thomas Read, Appraisers. Recorded Dec 7, 1789.

George appeared to own sixteen negroes. His son Josiah inherited thirteen negroes, as well as George’s land and half of the rest of George’s estate. George outlived all of his children except Elizabeth, William, Josiah, Joseph and possibly Hannah.

The children of George and Mary were (information is primarily from Michael Motes): (16)



“Miss” Foster and John Haney

“Miss” Foster (George2, Robert1) was born circa 1724 in Essex County, Virginia and died before February 7, 1753 in Lunenburg County, Virginia. She married John Haney, before 1740 in Lunenburg County. John may have married three times. His last wife, the Elizabeth named in his will, may be Elizabeth Read, who he married in Charlotte County, Virginia, July 27, 1782 and who perhaps married (2) George Summers on January 18, 1798 in Charlotte County or Rockingham County, Virginia.

John Haney first appeared on a 1750 List of Tithables, Lunenburg County, Virginia, taken by Abraham Martin, with 1 tithe. He was residing near George Foster, Senior. John Haney was found in various court records from 1752 to 1791. In 1752, in Lunenburg County, John was the plaintiff in one case and provided bail for a Godfrey Jones, defendant, in another case. That John Haney married the daughter of George Foster and was the father of Elizabeth Haney is proven by the following deeds:

This land reverted to John’s daughter Elizabeth upon the death of her father. Then George Foster deeded land to his son William, the property bounded by the land of George’s sons George Jr. and John. John Haney witnessed this deed:

In 1762 John Haney purchased 482 acres in Lunenburg County from the Godfrey Jones for whom he provided bail in 1752.

On February 9, 1764, on behalf of the people residing in Cornwall Parish, Thomas Spencer, John Haney, Richard Dabbs, and Clement Read, were to assess the “most convenient way for a road from the Magazine to Fosters Road, and report to Court.” (30) Richard Dabbs was the brother-in-law of John Haney’s daughter Elizabeth.

In 1764, there was a list taken by Thomas Bedford, gent., for Cornwall Parish, Lunenburg County, Virginia, which showed two John Haneys:

It is almost certain that this is our John Haney, father of Elizabeth Haney Dabbs, due to the amount of land he had. On March 2, 1762, John Haney purchased “approximately 482.5 acres” from Godfrey Jones in Lunenburg County. (31) This land, added to the 100 acres from his father-in-law George Foster in 1753, totaled to 583 acres. The listing above implies: (1) John Haney, father of Elizabeth, had a son John who was aged 16 or older by 1764, therefore born by 1748. If this is the case, he would probably also be a grandson of George Foster, but no provision was made for him by his grandfather; or (2) John Haney’s father, also John or “Jno.” Haney was living with him at the time of the 1764 list. The second tithable in John Haney’s household could be his son-in-law Nathaniel Dabbs, who married John Haney’s daughter.

By August 1773, the part of Lunenburg County where John Haney owned land was now in Charlotte County. John sold his 482.5 acres on Twitty Creek to a John Haley for 50 pounds. He owned land in the Parish of Cornwall near Spencers and Spring Creeks near his wife’s brother Josiah Foster.

“Miss” Foster had apparently died and John had remarried by 1787 when he and his wife Elizabeth sold(?) 500 pounds of tobacco: (32) September 3, 1787. John Haney, Sr. and wife Elizabeth Haney of Charlotte County, Virginia to Will Wheeler...500 pounds of inspected tobacco...on Bear Creek...3 September 1787. Signed John Haney. And in 1789 he witnesses the will of his father-in-law, George Foster. Will of George Foster the Elder, February 17, 1789. Witnesses: Robert Henry, Wm. Haney, John Haney, Thomas Haney (page 418a). (33)

About three years before his death, John served on the Charlotte County Grand Jury, probably for the spring term. Also serving were: Obediah Claybrook, Foreman, Thomas Pettus, Josiah Foster Snr, William Forbes, John Blankenship, Miles Bottom, Richard Dabb [sic Dabbs], John Haney, Moses Eudaley, Anthony Hancock, Thomas Smith, John Rice, Cutbirth Williamson, Burwell Brown, Moses Harrison, Robert Franklin and John Forbes.

The will of John Hainey dated April 7, 1794 and probated on July 7, 1794 named his wife Elizabeth, son Isaac, “rest divided among all my children,” but does not name them. (34) Executor was Joseph Venable. Witnesses Rubin [sic] John, Jr. and Rubin [sic] Johnson, Senr. John Hainey’s will: (35)

The children of “Miss” Foster and John Haney were: