The following is excepts from a book called "A
History of the Foster Family of Spartanburg
County SC and Amelia Court House, Virginia.
By T D Foster, 1972

"The first census in Virginia was ordered and taken in 1623. At this time, Sir George Yeardly, Capt John Smith's replacement, was living in James Cytte with his wife. Down the street a bit lived a John Foster, and in nearby Martin's Hundred lived William FFoster. (A "hundred" was the amount of land reuired to support 100 families). These two Fosters are the first recorded in America."

"John Foster disappears from history, but William was enough of a character to leave some footprints. We know he came from England on the ship SWANN because was a witness at a trial in 1621 or 1622 and testified before John Smith and the Council as recorded in the following minutes: 'William FFoster sworne and examined sayet, that he this deponent demanded of Mr. Nevelle at Canada being abord the SWANN wherefore Mr. Cormishe was hinge, unto whom Nevelle answered he was hunge for a rascally boye wrongfully, and that had heard Mr. Nevelle say so divers tymes'."

"William FFoster got himself in dutch with Mr. Nevelle again, this time by stealing from the latters cabin. In Feb 1622, John Smyth ruled as follows:'John Webb, John Greene, and William FFoster shall pay each of them twenty li(?) weight of best tobacco, pay for stealing from Edmon Nevelle's cabin. And whereas the said three men to approach each other yt is ordered they shall be examined at ELizabeth Cytte by Captain Tucker'. Nothing further of this escapade is recorded."

"It is probably safe to conclude that William FFoster died heirless. On 18 December 1626, the James C ytte Council, composed of George Yeardly (Knight), Capt Smyth, Mr. Percy and Mr Claybourne had the following recorded: 'Last will and testament of William FFoster of Elizabeth City who deceased about 10th present month (presented by) Richard Popeley. Being in perfect sense and mind all ye goods and chattels be granted to Richard Popeley. Court ordered Popeley to present inventory fo same. Popeley did so in Feb 1627'."

"The next 75 years of Foster History are cloudy in continuity but full of pregnant leads. A relatively large number of Fosters arrived in America in the period of 1620 - 1700. Passenger ship lists of arrivals give a list of a dozen or so Foster families prior to their final journey to America."

"Other recorda located by the writer add to the story but confound the mystery of direct lineage. For example, a Thomas Foster witnessed a will in Aug 1650. In 1637, March 23rd, a Theodore Moyes was paid with 2,000 acres of land (in James City County) for the ship transportation of William Foster and 9 others."

"Reginald Foster, who immigrated from Dexter, Devonshire, England, in 1638 settled in Ipswhich, Mass. His descendants have been traced and are recorded in a book located in Philadelphia Historical Society's library."

"Sometime in the late 1600's, a William Foster was born who is our direct ancestor. Where he was born and his ancestry has not been discovered but we know quite a bit about him from records at Amelia Court House."

"He was literate at least to the extent of writing his name (which was a fair accomplishment at this period of history). In the early part of the new century, the 100's, he married a girl named Ann, who bore him several sons and two daughters. During his lifetime he undoubtedly was a man of considerable prosperity as attested to by an inventory of his wordly goods, a subject discussed in more detail later. Some documents call this man William the Elder; this undoubtedly arose because of the presence of several "William Fosters" in the county. Children of William the Elder were two daughters Mary and Elizabeth, three older sons named Thomas, William and James and three younger sons, John, Richard, and Brooker."

"William the Elder accumulated considerable property in Amelia and environs (later Lunenbury) which he divided among the sons and his wife Ann. The large number of valuable slaves and personal property owned by this man are best described by the recorded will (written in 1763, recorded after his death in 1767 and court-ordered inventory in Jan 1768."

Will of WIlliam Foster
Amelia Co Va

In the name of God amen I William Foster of the County of Amelia being fo sound and perfect mind and memory blessed by God do this eight day of November in the year of our Lord One Thousand and Seven Hundred Sixty-three make and publish this my last will and testament in manner following:
First, I give and deivse unto my wel beloved wife Ann Foster the use of my tow negroes Nan and Sarah and all of my stocks and household furniture to support and maintain her during her widowhood and no longer. Item, I give and bequeath unto my daughter Mary the use of my Negro woman Judy and her increase (which she may hereafter have) from the time of my death until she, my said daughter shall have an heir lawfully begotten of her body and when that happens my will is that my said daughter Mary then have an absolute property in the said negro slave Judy, and her said future increase but if my said daughter should depart this life without said heir then my will and desire is that the said slave and her increase be delivered to my son William that he have an absolute property in them. Then I give and bequeath unto my daughter Elizabeth thirty pounds current money to be raised out of the profits of my whole estate in case I should not leave enough by me or due to me at my death to satisfy the said legacy. Item, I give unto my son James one negroe man named Brown to hold to him and his heirs. Item, I give unto my son John and his heirs a negro man named Charles. Item, I give to my son Booker and his heirs one negro boy named Peter. Item, it is my will and desire that at the death or marrige of my wife my two negroes Nan and Sarah and their future increase be delivered up to my son Richard and his heirs. Item I give to my two youngest sons Brooker and Richard the two best feather beds and furniture that shall belong to me at my death. Item, I give to my son Richard my copper kettle. Item, It is mg will that at the death or marriage of my wife my household furniture and stocks be divided in manner following to wit two thirds part thereof to be delivered up and given to my son William and the other third to my son Thomas. Item, I give divise and bequeath to my son James and to his heris forever four hundered acres of land lying in the county of Lunenburg and is the same tract whereon he is now settled. Item. I give devise and bequeath to my son James and to his heirs forever four hundred acres of land lying in the said county of Lunengburg on the southside of the tract of land I have given to my son Thomas by deed and is adjoining the lands given to my son William as above. Item, I give desire and abequeath unto my three sons John, Brooker, and Richard and to their heirs forever the tract of land whereon I now live equally divided between them. Richard's part to include the plantation and houses wherein I live and John to have his choce of the other two parts but I don not mean by this last desire that my wife shall be hindered from working the slaves I have given her upon any part of my tract of land I live on the contrary I give her and it is my desire that she have her choice of any part of the said tract for the purpose aforesaid during her widowhood. Item, all the rest and residue of my estate be it of what nature of kind so ever I give, devise, and bequeath unto my son William and Thomas in manner following William to have two thirds and Thomas one thirds thereof. Lastly, I constitute and appoint my three sons William and Thomas and James executors of my last will and testament hereby revoking all former wills by me made.

In witness whereof I have herein set my hand and affixed my seal the day and year first above written.

Signed, sealed published and declared by the said William Foster to be his last will and testament in presence of us.
Tho. G Peachy
Eizabeth Peachy
Rolfe Eldridge

William Foster

At a court held for Amelia County the 27th day of August 1767, this will was proved by the oath of Tho. Peachy witness thereto and at another court continued and held for the said county the 27th day of Nov following the same was proved by the oath of Elizabeth Peachy another witness thereto and ordered to be recorded.

On the motion of Thomas Tabb gent who took the oath and entered into and acknowledge bond with William Fleming his security certificate was granted him for obtaining letters of administration with the said will annexed of the said William Foster, Estate according to law.

Teste

Thomas G Peachy

Remember, I would like to have some feed back on this family..Is it yours or mine?

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