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Hi Janet, I have also tried some of the others to see if I could get anything at all. The furthest I have been able to go is Jonathan Foster and Hannah Rushford 1734 in Thornton picked up Jonas Foster 1 May 1774 died 22 Jul 1830 but have only got as far as George Fosters fther and mother i.e. Joshua Foster and Mary Bedford. Have not been able to get anything apart from the census information for the families of either James Ellis and Caroline Foster or Joseph Foster Ellis and Sarah Wright. My grandmother said that her family lived at Pearlwell Hall. I believe that we must still have relatives in Canada as I understand that some of her brothers went back there. I still can't find the link to John Foster but I think that it was probably true. I hope you have better luck with your relatives. Just have to keep trying. Thanks Flo

Just found this on a site discussing the Foster surname. Whilst it mentions the Hobury Fosters and the Queensbury Fosters it doesn't say there is any connection. I think Joseph will be the brother to George. If there is any connection I think it will be back several generations.-J

Joseph Foster's mill at Horbury near Wakefield was the scene of a Luddite attack in 1812 by impoverished craft workers who had lost their jobs as a result of mechanization. They composed a song whose first verse ran as follows:


"Come all you croppers stout and bold
Let your faith grow stronger still,
Oh the cropper lads in the county of York,
They broke the shears at Foster's mill."


Later, John Foster, who was born near Halifax, married well and built up his Black Dyke Mills at Queensbury, a hilltop village between Bradford and Halifax. He prospered and bought a castle in Lancashire.

Another mill owner, William Forster (from Quaker roots in London), set up his stall in Bradford. Forster Square in the center of Bradford was named after him. He entered politics as MP for Bradford and later became the Chief Secretary for Ireland under Gladstone. This was at the time when home rule was on the agenda (unfortunately for him as he was opposed),

Foster's mill near Hebden Bridge was the place where one of the most prolonged strikes in the cotton industry occurred. It started in July 1906 and lasted for almost two and a half years. By now, the workers were backed by a trade union and it was their support, plus various self-help schemes, which helped to keep the strike going. Eventually the funds ran out and they did go back to work. However, the cotton industry was in a decline by then and the mill itself only lasted another ten years before it was pulled down.

Hi Janet , it just gets more and more confusing the further back you go. My sister and I think that the connection has got to be somewhere a long the lines of John Foster and George Foster being cousins. Apparently there was a split in the family someone married or tarried beneath their station. Concerned that I can't find Caroline's brothers as mention by my grandmother, have given up trying to prove the connection for now will just carry on with what we know. Apparently there is only about twenty miles between Horbury and Thornton and I have no idea where the mine was that John's father had. Once again thank you for your help it is very much appreciated. If I find anything new will post it up and let you know but I am going to try to get somewehre on my other threads as well. Regards Flo

Hi Flo
Will leave you to your search, but why the concern about Carolines siblings, Thomas, Joshua and George. The two older boys were at boarding school in 1841 in Tadcaster and George who was only one was at home with parents and Caroline. I am also having a rest from my family of Haighs at Horbury as I feel I know the place inside out these past few weeks.-JLe

Hi Janet, the concern is just that the names given as her brothers by my grandmother don't match up at all.
Good luck in your search Regards Flo.