James SR. Foster and Mary

  The first documentation we find on James Sr. Foster, is in Amelia Co, VA.  We are not sure of his place of orgin or date of birth or death.  We know he married a women named Mary.  These facts are still under investigation.  We don't know of his parents yet.  Listed below is what documents his first trail of migration.
   

24 Apr 1769. Amelia County, VA, Deed Book 11, p. 53. James MITCHELL and John MITCHELL and Elizabeth, his wife, to Bartley Baugh . . . 130 pounds . . . 224 acres both sides Elliss's Fork, adjoining Bartolomew Dupuy, Moses Overton, William Pulam, William Hurt, and Isaac Webb. Wit: Anderson MITCHELL, James Foster, Priscilla MITCHELL and James MITCHELL, Jr.

  His next step in migration is found in Bedford Co, VA, in a document dated Aug. 19, 1818 Monroe Co, VA.  A James Foster applies for Revolutionary War Pension File # S8503.  "James Foster aged 70 years the 2nd of March next and resident in the county".......  So this James would have been born about 1745-1748.

   "the said James Foster enlisted in the year 1776 and in Bedford County state aforesaid on a company of Musketry commanded by George Lambart and was attached to the 14th Virginia Regiment commanded by Col. William Davis the said James Foster enlisted for three years that he commenced to serve in said corps until the end of the said term of three years when he was discharged from the service of the United States in Philadelphia state of Pennslvania in the year 1779 and that his discharge was left by himself in the office at Richmond with a certain Meriweather who paid up to him the amount due for his services deficency of cloathing and back rations that he was in the battle of Brandywine Germantown Monmouth and the taking of Stony Point"....

   We have no idea if "our" James Foster Sr. ever went to Monroe Co, Va about 1818, or if for sure this is our James Foster.  There just doesn't appear to be any other Fosters in or about Bedford Co until our James and his family appears there.   So when did he arrive in Bedford Co?  Some early records show this could be a possibilty.
 Foster Family Records in Bedford County, Virginia Deed Books

   6-142 1778 James Foster purchased 250 acres from James Hilton & ex.

10-379 1797 Mary and James Foster ex. sold 150 acres on

Turners Road

adjacent to John Wigginton & C.

10-398 1797 Mary and James Foster ex. sold to Samuel Mitchell Tract on South Fork of Falling Creek adjacent Dowdy & C.

An Indenture dated 20 Dec. 1797 between James Foster of the county of Bedford and State of VA and Mary his wife of the one part and Samuel Mitchell  sell a certain parcel of land lying and being in the county of Bedford on the South Fork of Fallen Creek and bounded by Mitchell's lines for 77 pounds...signed by James Foster and Mary Foster, witness by Samuel Mitchell Stephen Mitchell and Robert Mitchell. 

An Indenture dated the same day for another parcel with corners meeting up with John Wiggintons line, thence to John Fosters line thence to John Dowdys thence to Saml Mitchells  for the sum of 75 pounds. 

These indentures show the time when James sold off all his property with an idea of Moving again.  The next step is to Pittsylvania  County, VA.  

   A deed dated March 20 1800, Pittsylvania County Va., James Foster, purchased from James Megehee an orginial land patent of 262 acres on the 28 Nov 1796 with the total being 246 acres on the headbranches of Strawberry Creek .   (1796 being the time when James Megehee got the land)

18Abstracts of Bedford County Virginia Will Book 2 with Inventories and Accounts 1788-1803 by Joida Whitten Page 188-189 of court book

John McGeorge Administrator John Wigginton
27 January 1794 Appraiser: James Foster
25 Dec 1794 Purchaser at Sale Drury Foster

1787 Census of Virginia ISBN 0-89157-132-9
Bedford county
Foster, James self 10011
Foster, Drewester self 10011 (not tithable)
Foster, John self 00026
Foster, Abner self 00013

Abstracts of Bedford County Virginia Will Book 2 with Inventories and Accounts 1788-1803 by Joida Whitten
Page 188-189 of court book
John McGeorge Administrator John Wigginton
27 January 1794 Appraiser: James Foster
25 Dec 1794 Purchaser at Sale Drury Foster

Census 1790 Bedford County, VA

Abner 1-2 males of 16 & upwards including head of family

1-2

Drury

1-1

John

1-2

James Sr.

1-2

Bedford County Virginia Tax Lists
1787A
James Foster James Foster
Drewesster Foster
John Foster John Foster
Abner Foster Abner Foster
1788A
John Foster
X
X
X
Abner Foster
James Foster
Drewey Foster
1789A
John Foster
4 names
James Foster
7 names
Edward Foster
Abner Foster
Drewry Foster
1790A
James Foster
James Loren Foster (James Loren is James Jr.)
5 names
John Foster
Abner Foster
1791A List
Abner Foster
Drewry Foster
John Foster Jr
James Foster Jr
1792A
John Foster
Drury Foster
James Foster
Jams Foster Jr
1793A
John Foster
James Foster
15 names
Drury Foster
1794A
John Foster
8 names
James Foster
James Foster Jr
Drury Foster
1795B
James Foster Jr
James Foster
Drury Foster
1796A
James Foster Sr
James Foster Jr
Drury Foster
1797A
John Foster
Drury Foster
15 names
James Foster

The children of James have been derived from this list.  There could be several more, we just haven't uncovered them at this point.  If anyone knows of more please advise this post.  (possiable Martin or Maston)

Possiable that one of the James listed here is our James Sr.  However, he is found to be alive well after these dates. 

Title Foster, James Publication 1781 Gen. note Part of index to Cumberland County Wills and Administrations (1749 - 1810) Note p. 281. Will, pro. 22 Oct. 1781. p. 311-312. Inv. & Appr. rec. 28 April 1783. Note Will Book No. 2, 1769-1792 (Reel 17)


Title Foster, James. Publication 1771 Gen. note Part of index to Charlotte County Wills and Administrations (1765 - 1800) Note p. 86-87. Inv. & Appr. rec. 7 Oct. 1771. p. 99. Inv. & Appr. rec. 7 Dec. 1772. p. 71-72. Will pro. 6 May 1771. Note Will Book No. 1, 1765-1791 (Reel 16) Subject - Personal Foster, James.

        So for the most part we have listed the children of James Foster and Mary as;

   1. Abner Foster, b. 18 December 1759, Amelia Co, VA, died 7 February 1848, Hamilton Co, Illinois   1753 Virginia, married first, Drusilla O'neal, married 2nd, Judith Lain
VA MARRIAGES, AMELIA, VA MARRIAGES From 1735 to 1850

>F236 FOSTER, Abner               O540 ONEAL, Drusilla             07 Aug 1781

VA MARRIAGES, PITTSYLVANIA, VA MARRIAGES From 1706 to 1850

>F236 FOSTER, Abner               L500 LANE, Judith                15 Mar 1804

   2.  John Foster, b. unk. married unk.

   3.  Drewster Foster, b. 1767 VA d. aft 1850 Giles Co, TN, married Mary Pratt, b. 1770, dtr. of James Pratt and Mary, 6 of April 1786 Bedford Co, VA.

Apr. 4, 1786; Drurester Foster & Mary Pratt,, consent of James and Mary Foster, parents of Drurester, also Mary Prat mother of Mary, Abner Foster, Surety;

Marriages of Bedford County Virginia

Married by James Mitchell, April 6, 1786
   4.  James Jr Foster, b. unk. married, Elizabeth Wigginton  16 October 1792, Bedford Co, VA.  The marriage consent was given by John Wigginton with Thornton O'Neal, surety
   5.  Elizabeth Foster, b. unk., married Thornton O'Neal Oct. 15, 1792; Thornton O'Neal & Elizabeth Foster, dt James, Sr.; James Foster, Surety; Married by Joseph Drury, Oct. 17, 1792
   6.  Polly Foster, b. unk married John O'Neal
Feb. 11, 1792; John O'Neal & Polly Foster; James Foster, Surety; Consent of Thornton O'Neal and James Foster; Married by James Mitchell, Feb. 16, 1792

As stated earlier, evidence shows these as children, but there could be more.  We are still researching as to whom they might be. If anyone has additional information please use the comment box to leave more information.