Anthony Foster

Biography

Anthony Foster was born on 4 February 1691 at Essex, Virginia, the son of Robert Foster and Elizabeth Garnett. He left a will on 4 February 1763 at Spotsylvania, Virginia.

Disputed wife

“Anthony Foster married Martha Taliaferro, daughter of Robert Taliaferro and Sarah Catlett, on 7 March 1717 at Spotsylvania, Virginia.” But Sarah Short did not have any daughters.

Also seen as Martha Taliaferro daughter of Robert Taliferro and Ann. But:

From http://freepages.rootsweb.com/~hutch/genealogy/DABBS/FosterHaney.htm

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.

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.

https://www.colonial-settlers-md-va.us/getperson.php?personID=I1248... Names his 1st wife as Martha Corbin (unproven daughter of Gawin Corbin & Martha Bassett). However, this Martha was “b c 1715 at King & Queen County” - a birth date unlikely with children born starting about 1721, and not a close location.

Anthony Foster then married Sarah Sparks, a widow, after 1750. Her daughter was Sarah Sparks.

The children of Anthony and Martha Foster were:

1. Edmund Foster was born circa 1721 in Essex County and died circa 1748 in Spotsylvania County. He married Tabitha Collins circa 1740 in Essex County. Tabitha was born circa 1720, the daughter of Joseph Collins and Susannah Lewis. She died in 1806 in Elbert County, Georgia.
2. Thomas Foster was born circa 1725 in Essex County and died circa 1764 in Spotsylvania County. He married Dorothy Gatewood circa 1746 in Spotsylvania County. Dorothy was born circa 1726, the daughter of Henry Gatewood and Dorothy Dudley, in Spotsylvania County. She died after 1784 in Spotsylvania County.
3. Elizabeth Foster was born circa 1729 Spotsylvania County and died in 1791 in Spotsylvania County. She married James Frazier circa 1752 in Spotsylvania County. He was born circa 1730, the son of William and Frances Frazier. He died circa 1775 in Spotsylvania County.
4. Mary Foster was born circa 1731 in Spotsylvania County and died in 1790 in Jefferson County, Kentucky. She married Thomas Bartlett circa 1755 in Spotsylvania County. He was born on March 31, 1733 in Spotsylvania County, the son of William Bartlett and Susannah Davis Bartlett. Thomas died about April 1817 in Henry County, Kentucky.
5. Martha Foster was born circa 1734 in Spotsylvania County. She married Thomas Crutcher III circa 1758 in Spotsylvania County. He was born circa 1736 in Caroline County, Virginia, son of Thomas Crutcher, Jr. and Sarah Foster. Thomas died in 1802 in Nelson County, Kentucky. Sarah Foster was Martha’s aunt.
6. John Foster was born circa 1739 in Spotsylvania County and died in 1776 in Spotsylvania County. He married Elizabeth Elley circa 1760 in Spotsylvania County. She was born circa 1746, the daughter of Henry and Ester Elley. She died after 1768.
7. Anthony Foster, Jr. was born on March 13, 1739 or 1740 Spotsylvania County and died on November 3, 1816 in Bardstown, Nelson County, Kentucky. He married Virginia Rose Coleman on January 29, 1760 in Fairfax, Culpeper County, Virginia. She was born on December 20, 1742 in Essex County, Virginia, a daughter of Robert Coleman III and Sarah Ann Saunders. She died on August 5, 1816 in Bardstown.

Will

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

• In the Name of God Amen I Anthony Foster of the County of Spotsylvania being Sick and Weak in body but of sound & in perfect Mind and Memory, thanks be to Almighty God for the same, Do make and ordain this my Last Will & Testament in Manner & form following.
• Imprimis first I Recommend my soul to Almighty God Hoping for pardon & Remission of all my sins through the Merit and Mediation of my Blessed Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ, & my Body I desire may be buried in a Christian Like manner at the Discretion of my Executors hereafter named.
• Item. I give to my son Thomas Foster one Negro woman named Phillis & one child of woman, both which sd. Negro & child he has now in his possession, to him & his heirs forever.
• Item. I give & Bequeath unto my son in Law James Frazer, one Negro Girl named Jenny, to him & his heirs forever.
• Item. I give & Bequeath unto my Grandson Anthony Bartlett, one Negro girl named Sarah, and to my Grandson Edmund Bartlett one Negro man named Sancho, to them and their heirs forever. But in case the sd. Anthony and Edmund Bartlett should die before they attain to Lawfull age, or without issue Lawfully begotten, the sd. negro or negros to go to the next Lawfull heir of Thomas Bartlett, the father of the sd. Anthony & Edmund, Which Heir shall be Lawfully b’gotten by Mary, the Present Wife of the said Thomas Bartlett, and in case of Default of such issue, then the said Negros and their increase to go to my son Thomas Foster & his Heirs forever. The said Thomas Bartlett & Mary his wife having the use of the aforesaid Negros during their natural lives.
• Item. I give & Bequeath unto my Grandson Anthony Crutcher one Negro Girl named Judy, now in the possession of his father Thomas Crutcher, and to my Grandson Thomas Crutcher one Negro Girl named Frank, which is likewise in the possession of his Father Thomas Crutcher - But in case the said Anthony & Thomas Crutcher should both die before they attain to lawfull age, or without issue Lawfully begotten then I give the said Negroes & their increase to the Heirs of Thomas Crutcher by his present wife Martha, and in case of Default of such issue, Then I give the said Negroes & their Increase to my son Anthony Foster & his heirs forever, the said Thomas Crutcher and Martha his wife having the use of the said Negros During their Natural Lives.
• Item. I give & Confirm all the Estate heretofore given to my son Anthony Foster, now in his possession, to him & his heirs forever.
• Item. I give to my Grand-Daughter Mary Foster, Daughter of Edmund Foster, one Tract of Land, lying & being in the County of Spotsylvania, Containing about one hundred & Eighty Seven Acres, formerly called & known by the name Red-hills. (She having already a deed from me for the Same, tho not yet Recorded), to her & her heirs forever.
• Item. I give and bequeath unto my Grandson Henry Foster the Land and Plantation Whereon his Father John Foster now lives containing about five hundred acres, more or less, it being all the Land I hold on the upper, or west side of the Pamunkey road & adjoining to my son Anthony Foster’s Land, to him & his heirs forever.
• Item. I give & Bequeath unto my son John Foster one Negro Woman named Sue, which he has now in his possession, & one negro boy named (Titus?), to him & his heirs forever.
• Item. I give & Bequeath unto my Wife’s Daughter Sarah Sparks one Cow & Calf to her & her heirs forever.
• Item. I Lend to my Wife Sarah Foster During her Natural Life and Widowhood, one Negro man named Sam and one Negro Woman named Tenner But in Case she should Marry or after her Death which ever first shall happen, then the sd. Negro Woman & her Increase, I give to my son John Foster & his heirs forever & the said Negro Man Sam to my son Anthony Foster & his heirs forever. Also I give to my Said Wife her Choice of a Feather bed & furniture, two Cows & Calves & any one of my horses or Mares, to her & her heirs forever.
• Item. I give & Bequeath unto my Grandson Robert Foster, son of Thomas Foster, a Tract or parcel of Land lying & being in the County of Spotsylvania, on the Lower, or East side of the Pamunkey road & on both sides of the Beaver Dam run Containing about two hundred acres, more or less, it being all the Land I hold on that side of the sd. Road, to him & his heirs forever.
• Item. (After all my Just Debts & funeral Expenses are fully Satisfied & paid), I give all the Remainder of my Estate (not heretofore given) to my son John Foster, his heirs ...?.. forever..
• And Lastly I Nominate, Constitute, Ordain & appoint my son Anthony Foster & my son in Law James Frazer Whole & sole Executors of this my Last Will & Testament, hereby revoking all other wills by me heretofore made & Confiming this only to be my Last Will & Testament.
• In Witnesses whereof I have hereunto set my hand and affixed my seal this fourth day of February, one Thousand Seven Hundred & Sixty Three.
• A Foster
• Signed, Seal’d & Published In Presence of Isaac Darnall, Thomas Crutcher, Edwd. Herndon.
• In Court held for Spotsylvania County on Monday July the fourth The last will and testament of Anthony Foster Dec’d was Exhibited......Anthony Foster and James Frazer Executors therein named and on the oaths of Isaac Darnall and Edward Herndon witnesses thereto, and was recorded and the said Executors took the usual oath and gave bond with ..?... and Joseph Holladay their securities.

Sources

• https://www.wikitree.com/wiki/Foster-1948 cites
• Find A Grave: Memorial #34343845 https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/34343845
• See also: - Chalkley, Lyman. Chronicles of the Scotch-Irish Settlement in Virginia, 1745-1800. Extracted from the Original Court Records of Augusta County. Baltimore: Genealogical Publishing Year?? volume?? Page ??
• https://www.colonial-settlers-md-va.us/getperson.php?personID=I0683...
• Reference: MyHeritage Family Trees - SmartCopy: Sep 3 2019, 22:45:55 UTC
• http://freepages.rootsweb.com/~hutch/genealogy/DABBS/FosterHaney.htm
• https://wc.rootsweb.com/trees/199452/I11626/anthonysamuel-foster/in...