John Foster^[1]

Abt 1877 - 1943  (~ 66 years)

 Set As Default Person

• Name	John Foster
  Born	Abt 1877	Liverpool, Lancashire, UK
  Gender	Male
  Census	3 Apr 1881	Liverpool, Lancashire, UK   [2]
  Age: 3y
  Address: Elch Street No 14, Liverpool, Lancashire, UK
  Image Transcript Ln Hhold Given Surname Relation BirthDate BirthPlace Age Gender Status Years Married Children Born Children Living Occupation Immigration Year Nationality Religion Comments 5 188101 John Foster Head 1843 Preston 38 Male Married Van Driver 6 188101 Letitia Foster Wife 1850 West Derby 31 Female Married 7 188101 Thos. Foster Son 1868 West Derby 13 Male Scholar 8 188101 William B. Foster Son 1870 Penwortham Boston 11 Male Scholar 9 188101 Letitia B. Foster Daughter 1872 West Derby 9 Female Scholar 10 188101 Roger Foster Son 1874 West Derby 7 Male Scholar 11 188101 James Foster Son 1876 West Derby 5 Male Scholar 12 188101 John Foster Son 1878 West Derby 3 Male Scholar  PRO Class:  RG11  Piece:  3708  Folio:  36  Page:  7   Transcript ID is  dbid=7572&iid=LANRG11_3708_3712-0032
  Occupation	3 Apr 1881	Liverpool, Lancashire, UK   [2]
  scholar
  Census	5 Apr 1891	Liverpool, Lancashire, UK   [3]
  Age: 13y
  Address: Harbord Street No 10, Liverpool, Lancashire, UK
  Image Transcript Ln Hhold Given Surname Relation BirthDate BirthPlace Age Gender Status Years Married Children Born Children Living Occupation Immigration Year Nationality Religion Comments 12 98 John Foster Head 1842 Penwortham 49 Male Married carter 13 98 Letitia Foster Wife 1850 West Derby 41 Female Married 14 98 Wm B Foster Son 1870 Penwortham 21 Male Single carter 15 98 Letitia B Foster Daughter 1872 West Derby 19 Female Single domestic servant 16 98 Roger Foster Son 1872 West Derby 19 Male bottler 17 98 Jas E Foster Son 1876 West Derby 15 Male cart lad 18 98 Sidney Foster Son 1882 West Derby 9 Male scholar 19 98 Albert E Foster Son 1884 West Derby 7 Male scholar 20 98 Septimus Foster Son 1889 West Derby 2 Male 21 98 John Foster Son 1878 West Derby 13 Male cart lad  PRO Class:  RG12  Piece:  2994  Folio:  114  Page:  15   Transcript ID is  dbid=6598&iid=LANRG12_2993_2995-0289
  Occupation	5 Apr 1891	Liverpool, Lancashire, UK   [3]
  cart lad
  Age: 13y
  Census	31 Mar 1901	Edge Hill, Liverpool, Lancashire, UK   [4]
  Age: 23y
  Address: Eastwood Street No 47, Edge Hill, Liverpool, Lancashire, UK
  Image Transcript Ln Hhold Given Surname Relation BirthDate BirthPlace Age Gender Status Years Married Children Born Children Living Occupation Immigration Year Nationality Religion Comments 21 199 John Foster Head 1843 Penwortham; Preston Lancashire Engla 58 Male Married retired carter 22 199 Letticia Foster Wife 1850 Liverpool Lancashire England 51 Female Married 23 199 Roger Foster Son 1874 Liverpool Lancashire England 27 Male Single porter at music warehouse 24 199 John Foster Son 1878 Liverpool Lancashire England 23 Male Single railway porter and brakesman 25 199 Sidney Foster Son 1882 Liverpool Lancashire England 19 Male Single confectionary carter 26 199 Albert E Foster Son 1884 Liverpool Lancashire England 17 Male Single railway engine cleaner  PRO Class:  RG13  Piece:  3490  Folio:  171  Page:  30   Transcript ID is  dbid=7814&iid=LANRG13_3488_3490-1019
  Occupation	31 Mar 1901	Edge Hill, Liverpool, Lancashire, UK   [4]
  railway porter and brakesman
  Age: 23y
  Emigration	11 Oct 1902	Southampton, Hampshire, UK   [5]
  	John sailed on the SS Guelph from Southampton, bound for Cape, South Africa. His occupation is given as shunter. John travelled steerage.
  Occupation	1 Jul 1910	Endicott Station, Heidelberg, Transvaal, South Africa   [6]
  station master CSAR
  Passage	20 Apr 1912	Southampton, Hampshire, UK   [5]
  	John and Charlotte, with their 2 young children, returned to Cape, South Africa from Southampton on the SS Kenilworth Castle. John's occupation was given as Station Master.
  Died	23 Jul 1943	Libertas Nursing Home, Van Der Merwe Street, Johannesburg, South Africa   [7]
  	Age: 65y
  	John's widow Charlotte was the informant.
  		John Foster death, 1943 John died on 23 Jul 1943, at Libertas Nursing Home, vd Merwe Street, Johannesburg, South Africa. His widow Charlotte was the informant.
  Siblings	8 siblings
  1. Thomas Foster,   b. 8 Oct 1867, Police Station, Old Swan, Liverpool, Lancashire, UK ,   d. Abt Dec 1932, Salford, Lancashire, UK
  2. William Bruce Foster,   b. 1 Dec 1869, Penwortham, Lancashire, UK ,   d. 30 Mar 1930, Knotty Ash, Liverpool, Lancashire, UK
  3. Letitia Bruce Foster,   b. 25 Jan 1872, Liverpool, Lancashire, UK ,   d. 27 Apr 1926, Shenstone Street No 8, Edge Hill, Liverpool, Lancashire, UK
  4. Roger Foster,   b. Abt Jun 1874, Liverpool, Lancashire, UK ,   d. 8 Oct 1935, Church Road, Birkenhead, Cheshire, UK
  5. James Edwin Foster,   b. 3 Nov 1875, Eastwood Street, Liverpool, Lancashire, UK
  6. Sidney Foster,   b. 27 Jul 1881, Elcho Street, Liverpool, Lancashire, UK ,   d. 6 May 1917, Royal Liverpool Infirmary, Liverpool, Lancashire, UK
  7. Albert Edward Foster,   b. Abt Sep 1883, Liverpool, Lancashire, UK ,   d. Abt Dec 1949, Liverpool, Lancashire, UK
  8. George Septimus Foster,   b. Bef 21 Apr 1889, Liverpool, Lancashire, UK ,   d. Abt Jun 1891, Liverpool, Lancashire, UK
  Person ID	I99	Foster
  Last Modified	12 Feb 2014

  
  

  Father	John Foster,   b. 11 Oct 1842, Howick, Lancashire, UK ,   d. 9 Dec 1901, Ash Street, Liverpool, Lancashire, UK  (Age 59 years)
  Mother	Letitia Stirret,   b. 2 Oct 1848, Green Lane, Liverpool, Lancashire, UK ,   d. 17 Oct 1903, Ryder Street, Liverpool, Lancashire, UK  (Age 55 years)
  Married	10 Jan 1867	St James Church, Liverpool, Lancashire, UK   [8]
  	Witnesses to the marriage were Mary Jane Stirret (Letitia's younger sister), D Allott, T Glean.
  		John Foster marriage to Letitia Stirret - 1867 John Foster married Letitia Stirret on 10 Jan 1867, at St James Church, Mill Lane, West Derby village, Liverpool.
  Residence	1871	Sutton Street, Liverpool, Lancashire, UK   [9]
  	living with father in law William Stirret?
  	Address: Sutton Street No 60, Off Green Lane, Liverpool, Lancashire, UK
  Residence	1881	Elcho Street, Liverpool, Lancashire, UK
  	Address: Elcho Street No 14, Liverpool, Lancashire, UK
  Residence	10 May 1891	Gill Street, Liverpool, Lancashire, UK
  Residence	1901	Eastwood Street, Edge Hill, Liverpool, Lancashire, UK
  	Address: Eastwood Street No 47, Edge Hill, Liverpool, Lancashire, UK
  Residence	Dec 1901	Ash Street, Liverpool, Lancashire, UK   [10]
  	Address: Ash Street No 6, Liverpool, Lancashire, UK
  Residence	Oct 1903	Ryder Street, Liverpool, Lancashire, UK   [10]
  	Address: Ryder Street No 18, Liverpool, Lancashire, UK
  Family ID	F11	Group Sheet  |  Family Chart

  
  

  Spouse	Charlotte Yakles,   b. 21 Dec 1883, Kirkdale, Lancashire, UK ,   d. 21 Jan 1972, Durban, South Africa  (Age 88 years)
  Married	10 Feb 1908	Germiston, Johannesburg, South Africa   [11]
  	The marriage was by special licence. Witnesses were B A Mackay and (?) C H Blains. The following was written by Lynette Lombard/Curry, grandaughter of John and Charlotte: "My grandmother, Charlotte, talked about " 'ome" all her life. In fact she was very lonely when she arrived in the vast wide open spaces of the Transvaal as a young bride. I have travelled past some of these railway stations, and when I did so they were still just as isolated. Add to this the fact that the South African / Boer War ended in 1902, and she arrived shortly after this when animosity between the Boers and English was high. Also, the Boers spoke high Dutch so she must have missed having friends. She longed for her family ( also beach concerts in Liverpool, Lancashire, UK) so much, that the family returned " 'ome" when my mother was about 2 and her brother William a little older. John Foster apparently was asthmatic and suffered in Liverpool, Lancashire, UK's damp climate. It must have also have been a difficult time regarding employment and the rumours of war. John missed the dry climate of the Transvaal and the opportunities there, so he returned to SA while his wife remained behind for the birth of her 2nd daughter Charlotte. They returned with a companion to help on the voyage. Mom told me stories about the her time there - one, particularly memorable, being held over a barrel of hot tar to help her chest! She told of the deck chairs they had to take on board and the large fruitcake someone brought them for the jojourney. She never forgot that a sailor had bought colourful balls for Bill and for her. When he kicked his overboard, he said it was her ball that had landed in the ocean. When the sailor heard about this he said, "Never mind darling," and bought her a little doll! I also heard that John and Charlotte were married by proxy when he left for SA. I think she was brave to follow later on her own. Evidently he travelled to Durban to meet her and they were married in the Transvaal." [11]
  		John Foster marriage to Charlotte Yakels 1908 John Foster married Charlotte Yakels by proxy on 10 Feb 1908, in Germiston, Wittersrand, South Africa.
  Children	+ 1. William Foster,   b. 1908, Transvaal, South Africa + 2. Eva Foster,   b. 1 Jul 1910, Heidelberg, Transvaal, South Africa ,   d. 23 Jun 2007, Norseland Nursing Home, Westby, Vernon, Wisconsin, USA  (Age 96 years) + 3. Charlotte Foster,   b. Abt Sep 1912, Liverpool, Lancashire, UK ,   d. 1 Jan 1963, Durban, South Africa  (Age ~ 50 years) + 4. Ivy Foster,   b. 15 Jul 1916, Transvaal, South Africa ,   d. 1 Nov 1995, Waterval Boven, Eastern Transvaal, South Africa  (Age 79 years)
  Last Modified	14 Oct 2010
  Family ID	F562	Group Sheet  |  Family Chart

  
  

• Event Map		Born - Abt 1877 - Liverpool, Lancashire, UK Census - Age: 3y,Address: Elch Street No 14, Liverpool, Lancashire, UK - 3 Apr 1881 - Liverpool, Lancashire, UK Occupation - scholar - 3 Apr 1881 - Liverpool, Lancashire, UK Census - Age: 13y,Address: Harbord Street No 10, Liverpool, Lancashire, UK - 5 Apr 1891 - Liverpool, Lancashire, UK Occupation - cart lad,Age: 13y - 5 Apr 1891 - Liverpool, Lancashire, UK Census - Age: 23y,Address: Eastwood Street No 47, Edge Hill, Liverpool, Lancashire, UK - 31 Mar 1901 - Edge Hill, Liverpool, Lancashire, UK Occupation - railway porter and brakesman,Age: 23y - 31 Mar 1901 - Edge Hill, Liverpool, Lancashire, UK Emigration - 11 Oct 1902 - Southampton, Hampshire, UK Child - William Foster - 1908 - Transvaal, South Africa Married - 10 Feb 1908 - Germiston, Johannesburg, South Africa Occupation - station master CSAR - 1 Jul 1910 - Endicott Station, Heidelberg, Transvaal, South Africa Child - Eva Foster - 1 Jul 1910 - Heidelberg, Transvaal, South Africa Passage - 20 Apr 1912 - Southampton, Hampshire, UK Child - Charlotte Foster - Abt Sep 1912 - Liverpool, Lancashire, UK Child - Ivy Foster - 15 Jul 1916 - Transvaal, South Africa Died - Age: 65y - 23 Jul 1943 - Libertas Nursing Home, Van Der Merwe Street, Johannesburg, South Africa  = Link to Google Earth
  Pin Legend	: Address       : Location       : City/Town       : County/Shire       : State/Province       : Country       : Not Set

  
  

• Photos » Slide Show		John Foster John Foster taken from a large Foster group
  		John and Charlotte Foster, 1910 John and Charlotte are in front of their home in South Africa, with their children William and Eva.
  		A wedding group: Eva Foster and Henry Curry, 14 Dec 1935. The wedding took place in Johannesburg, South Africa. The bride, Eva Foster, was Dave's first cousin once removed.
  		John Foster, 1930s This looks like a studio photo, possibly to mark his retirement from South African railways.
  		John and Charlotte Foster, c1940 This photo must have been taken not long before John's death in 1943.
  		John Foster and General Louis Botha John, in white, was the station master. The 'passenger' is the general!
  		John Foster and his dog
  		John and Charlotte Foster with children and friends, 1921 This photo was taken in January 1921, at Volksrust, Transvaal, SA. John and Charlotte were on an English picnic with English friends. The faces are unrecognisable, but the 6 family members have a blue dot to mark them out.

  
  

  Histories

  John Foster retirement article, S.S., 1933 This article appeared in the South African Railways and Harbours Magazine in April 1933, on the occasion of John's retirement.

  
  

• Notes

  A short article about John appeared in the South African Railways and Harbours Magazine dated Apr 1933. The article commemorated his retirement. It stated: "Mr John Foster, Station Master, Magaliesburg who has retired on pension, joined the London, UK and North Western Railway, at Edge Hill, Liverpool, Lancashire, UK, in 1890, and held various positions on that system until 1902. He then joined the Cape Govt. South African Railways as Foreman on the Western System, where he remained until 1906. He then joined the Central South African Railways in the Transvaal as Foreman and was promoted to Station Master in 1909. He had 43 yrs' railway work to his credit, which is exceptionally long service for one who had his 55 birthday only a few weeks ago." (Medical):John was asthmatic, and suffered from the damp climate in Liverpool, Lancashire, UK. Once he experienced the dry climate of the Transvaal, he never wanted to return to the UK. [12]

  
  

• Sources

  [S2] Parish Records. [S1979] Census 1881 West Derby, Liverpoo RG11-3708-36-7 (Head is John Foster.), (RG11-3708-36-7). [S522] UK Census 1891 Liverpool, Lancashire, UK RG12-2994-114-15 (Head is John Foster.), (RG12-2994-114-15), RG12-2994-114-15, 5 Apr 1891. [S378] UK Census 1901 Edge Hill, Liverpool, Lancashire, UK RG13-3490-171-30 (Head is John Foster.), (RG13-3490-171-30), RG13-3490-171-30, 31 Mar 1901. [S67] Passenger Lists, FindMyPast. [S7] BIRTH CERTIFICATE, from the BC of his daughter Eva. [S15] DEATH CERTIFICATE (Reliability: 3), 14 Oct 2010. Death notice photo provided by Delwyn Hardie. [S4] CRI. [S10] Census 1871 - 2 Apr 1871, RG10, piece 3848, folio 24, p47. (Reliability: 4). [S15] DEATH CERTIFICATE. [S36] MARRIAGE CERTIFICATE. [S62] Lynette Curry - 2nd cousin.