Dr. Thomas Foster, Sr.

Thomas Foster (Robert2, Richard1) was born Abt 1696 in Essex County, VA, and died Abt 1769 in Craven County, SC. He married (1) Elizabeth Meador Abt 1722 in Essex County, VA. He married (2) Caroline Rogers August 25, 1761 in Prince Edward Co., VA.

From Dr. B.G. Foster http://www.drbgfoster.com/foster.asp#thomasfoster:

Thomas was the seventh child of Robert and Elizabeth Garnett Foster. He was born ca 1696 in Essex County not too long after the family made their move from Gloucester County. There he grew to manhood. He married Elizabeth. She was probably a Meador as there were families of Meadors in Essex County that he would have known and this, coupled with the fact the had a son Alexius Meador, makes the assumption tempting. The marriage date is unknown.

Thomas and Elizabeth, we assume started their life together in Essex County, that part which would become Caroline County, as it was there that their first four children were born. They moved from Caroline County to Amelia County in 1737 for in that year (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 their move from Amelia County, they built their plantation house, their outbuildings, cleared their land and planted their orchards. They must have considered this their permanent home; all was well except the absence of family around them. It seems likely that Thomas and Elizabeth were anxious to share this new country with their families. One can only assume that Thomas wrote to his sister, Barbara Loving and urge her and her young family to leave Essex County and join them; this 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. Again, we must assume that Thomas wrote his mother, who as we know had 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. Here is additional 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 predeceased her husband sometime between 1742 and 1745 and was buried there in Amelia County.

After the death of his mother and stepfather Thomas Foster started preparations for a move to Spotsylvania County. From deed records we know that Thomas and his underage children were in Spotsylvania County as early as 1745 for 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; where we do not know. We do know that it did not require extensive education to become a physician and his training was probably through apprenticeship. It is possible that all of his life he wanted to become a physician. As his children were becoming of age Thomas might have deeded them most of his land and took up his life's ambition.

Regardless, Thomas Foster practiced medicine in Spotsylvania County for a decade before returning 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 Sanstee Parish, Cravin County, South Carolina. His son, Alexis Meador Foster was executor of his estate.

Prior to his removal 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 prior to his removal to South Carolina and is apparently the Thomas Foster who married on August 25, 1761 to Caroline Rogers of Prince Edward County, Virginia, where we presume he was practicing medicine.

Thomas Foster born ca 1696 Essex Co., VA; died ca 1689 Craven Co., SC; married (1) Elizabeth (Meador?) ca 1718 Essex Co., VA (2) Caroline Rogers August 26, 1861.

Children of Thomas and Elizabeth Meador Foster

• 1. Thomas Foster, Jr. born ca 1718 Essex (Caroline) Co., VA; died March 11, 1786 Rawley Parish, Amelia Co., VA; married ca 1838 Lucy Clements
• 2. George Foster born ca 1720 Essex (Caroline) Co., VA; died ca 1788 Amelia Co., VA; married Susannah Pollard ca 1738 Amelia Co., VA
• 3. William Foster born ca 1722 Essex (Caroline) Co., VA; died (unknown date/place); married (Martha?) Fowlkes
• 4. John Foster born ca 1724 in Essex (Caroline) Co., VA
• 5. James Foster born ca 1726 in Caroline Co., VA
• 6. Jane Foster born ca 1730 Caroline Co., VA
• 7. Richard Foster born ca 1731 Caroline Co., VA
• 8. Alexius Meador born ca 1742 Amelia Co., VA Co., VA; married Ann Glen

http://www.oocities.org/heartland/plains/6365/fos_anc.html

Notes

Thomas moved with his minor children to Spotsylvania County as early as 1745. There, he was known as Thomas, the surgeon. Somewhere along the line, he must have received training as a physician. He practiced medicine in Spotsylvania County for a decade, then in Cumberland County, north of Amelia County. He continued to practice medicine after he moved to St. James Santee parish in Craven County, SC.

There is some confusion on the children of Thomas and Elizabeth. Dr. B.G. Foster lists Thomas Jr., George, William, James, John, Alexius and Jane on his FGS. The ones listed on my FGS are from Dr. Foster's book.

Children of Thomas Foster and Elizabeth Meador are:

24 i. William4 Foster, born Abt 1722 in Caroline Co., VA. He married Martha [ Fowlkes ?].

+ 25 ii. Thomas Foster, Jr., born Abt 1724 in Essex County, VA; died March 1786 in Amelia County, VA.

26 iii. George Foster, born Abt 1726 in Essex County, VA; died Abt 1788. He married Susannah Pollard Abt 1744 in Virginia.

27 iv. James Foster, born Abt 1728 in Caroline County, VA; died Abt 1750. He married Martha (Fowlkes?).

28 v. Jane Foster, born Abt 1730.

29 vi. Richard Foster, born Abt 1731 in Caroline County, VA; died Abt 1819 in Prince Edward Co., VA.

30 vii. Alexius Meador Foster, born Abt 1742 in Spotsylvania County, VA; died in South Carolina. He married Ann Glenn 1779 in Cumberland County, VA.

• Reference: MyHeritage Family Trees - SmartCopy: Mar 22 2019, 1:17:12 UTC

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• Reference: FamilySearch Genealogy - SmartCopy: Feb 9 2020, 1:50:06 UTC
• Reference: FamilySearch Genealogy - SmartCopy: Feb 9 2020, 1:51:08 UTC