George Foster moved to Amelia County, Virginia, about 1741 and purchased land from George Pollard the following year. He married Susannah Pollard and lived the rest of his life in Amelia County. He died about 1790 leaving a will that names two sons, Anthony and Larkin. Five additional children have been identified from other records: William, George Pollard, James, Joseph and Ann.
The birth year of George Foster can only be roughly estimated. He purchased land in 1742 and had to be at least 21 years of age or born before 1721.[1] His first known son, William, was born about 1738.[2] If George married in 1737 at 21 years old he was born before 1716. The best estimate is some time before 1716.
George probably married Susannah Pollard. This is based on four pieces of evidence.
George died about 1790. His will, dated 1774, was recorded in Will Book 4 (1786-1793) but the date of recording was not entered. Order Book 19 (1788-1791) doesn't have an entry for probate for George Foster. However, the year of his death can be estimated from the land tax lists. George Foster paid tax on his land until 1790 and Anthony and Larkin began paying tax on the same land in 1791. So George likely died in 1790.
Two men named George Foster lived in Amelia County in roughly the same time period. Tax lists show that one man lived on Sandy Creek in Raleigh Parish and the other on Flatt Creek in Nottoway Parish. George on Sandy Creek was first taxed in 1741 while George on Flatt Creek was first taxed in 1746. Both men lived in Amelia County the remainder of their lives and died there, George SC about 1790 and George FC about 1772.
William Foster was born about 1738. He married Nancy Wood and they had one child, Mary. William died in Amelia County 1770-1771.
James Foster is a probable son based on the tax records. George Foster on Sandy Creek paid tax on James Foster in 1762-1763 but not in later years.[7] The prevalence of his name makes him difficult to follow. In later years, men of the same name were often referred to as "son of" but James Foster, son of George, was never listed.
George Pollard Foster was born about 1746 in Amelia County and died intestate about 1818 in neighboring Prince Edward County. His heirs at his death were Susannah, wife of Samuel Mills; William S. Foster; John Foster; Sally Foster; Nancy, wife of Noah Lunderman; and Tempy Foster.
Anthony Foster was born about 1748, in Amelia County. He married Elizabeth Asselin, daughter of David Asselin. Anthony died intestate in Amelia County before 1724. He had two know children, Elizabeth and Joseph.
Joseph Foster was born about 1752 as he was first taxed in 1768 when he was 16 years of age.[8] He died in the Revolutionary War. In 1844 his brother Larkin filed a claim for bounty land based on his service.[9]
Larkin Foster was born in Amelia County in 1761. He married Polly Cawthorn of neighboring Prince Edward County. He died in Amelia County in 1845. The children named in his will are Susan Foster, Parmelia Foster, James Foster, Sally Foster, Mary F. Wright, Parthena W. Waddell and George N. Foster.
Ann Foster married Anthony Foster (see Anthony Foster identity) who died sometime before 1786. They had three children, Egenus [Eugene?], Susannah and George. The records of the children and the naming pattern prove that Ann was a daughter of George Foster and Susannah Pollard.
The county court ordered that three orphans of Anthony Foster be bound out: Egenus on 28 Apr 1786, Susannah on 26 Oct 1786 and George on 25 May 1793.[10] In July of 1786, the overseers of the poor paid George Foster for keeping the children of Anthony Foster and the following year Ann Foster was paid for the support of her two children, showing that Ann was the widow of Anthony and that George was probably her father.[11]
The naming pattern of the children fits a daughter of George Foster and Susannah Pollard. The first daughter was named Susannah and the second son was named George. Combined, the court records and the naming pattern are strong evidence that Ann was the daughter of George Foster on Sandy Creek.