Robert Foster

!Will: Dated 1715/1716, Essex Co., Va. ------------------- Leads on parentage: ------------------- As of 1997, he parentage is a topic of controversy with several theories floating around. There is evidence that the following individuals existed in Lower Norfolk, any one of which might have been Robert Foster's father: 1) Richard Foster who sailed from London on Aug 10, 1635 on the ship Safety, arriving in Virginia in the fall, whose passage was paid for by Bartholomew Hoskins. Bartholomew married, in England, Dorcus Foster, widow with two small children, and on 2 March 1639/40, Richard Foster calls Bartholomew "father" (i.e., this Richard Foster is the step-son of Bartholomew Hoskins). This Richard Foster appears to have been literate. He followed his step- father into North Carolina. He was in England from 1648 to 1654. This Richard Foster has been, on occasion, identified as the son of Sir Robert Foster and Miss Isham. IF this were so, then Miss Isham would have to be the Dorcus that remarried to Bartholomew Hoskins, but I don't know if there is any substantiation for this. 2) Richard Foster, who married Dorcus Hoskins, daughter of Bartholomew and Dorcus Hoskins. This Richard is distinct from the one in #1. This Richard Foster prob. came to Va in the late 1630s or early 1640s, and was apparently a lawyer, signing his name as "ffoster" (which looks like a W, and has been sometimes transcribed as Worster). He also was literate. He received a land patent in 1651 for the transport of himself, his wife Dorcus, and daughter Dorcus Jr. He was also probably the one who was a member of the house of Burgess, and was called Lt. and then later Capt., and then Major Foster. He followed his father-in-law and step-brother-in-law into North Carolina. 3) Richard Foster who lived on Bennetts Creek on 25 March 1653/4. This one signed his name with an "X", and was therefore not literate, thus distinguishing him from #1 and #2. Lower Norfolk records show a Richard Foster fathering a child before marriage, and then marrying Ann Jackson, which would be presumably be this Richard). There was also a Richard Foster who signed his mark with a "ff" (not an "X") at an inquest concerning the death of Jacob Bradshaw on April 11, 1647 [Deed book B, Lower Norfolk Co., Va., p.51]. This may be #3, or may be yet another illiterate Richard Foster. 4) James Foster of Kingston Parish, Gloucester (now Matthews) Co., Va. He was a neighbor of John Garnett. A genealogist by the name of Capt. Ed Dittmer, retired naval officer, has put forth the theory that this is the most likely candidate for the father of Robert Foster. In a web article, Bill Foster have also expressed the opinion that this James Foster is the most likely candidate. In short, #1 and #4 are the most likely, but evidence is lacking to draw any conclusion at this time.