John Foster

John Foster[1]

Male Abt 1877 - 1943  (~ 66 years)

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  • Name John Foster 
    Born Abt 1877  Liverpool, Lancashire, UK Find all individuals with events at this location 
    Gender Male 
    Census 3 Apr 1881  Liverpool, Lancashire, UK Find all individuals with events at this location  [2
    Occupation 3 Apr 1881  Liverpool, Lancashire, UK Find all individuals with events at this location  [2
    Census 5 Apr 1891  Liverpool, Lancashire, UK Find all individuals with events at this location  [3
    Occupation 5 Apr 1891  Liverpool, Lancashire, UK Find all individuals with events at this location  [3
    Census 31 Mar 1901  Edge Hill, Liverpool, Lancashire, UK Find all individuals with events at this location  [4
    Occupation 31 Mar 1901  Edge Hill, Liverpool, Lancashire, UK Find all individuals with events at this location  [4
    Emigration 11 Oct 1902  Southampton, Hampshire, UK Find all individuals with events at this location  [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 Find all individuals with events at this location  [6
    Passage 20 Apr 1912  Southampton, Hampshire, UK Find all individuals with events at this location  [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 Find all individuals with events at this location  [7
    Age: 65y 
    • John's widow Charlotte was the informant.
    John Foster death, 1943
    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 
    Person ID I99  Foster
    Last Modified 12 Feb 2014 

    Father John Foster,   b. 11 Oct 1842, Howick, Lancashire, UK Find all individuals with events at this location,   d. 9 Dec 1901, Ash Street, Liverpool, Lancashire, UK Find all individuals with events at this location  (Age 59 years) 
    Mother Letitia Stirret,   b. 2 Oct 1848, Green Lane, Liverpool, Lancashire, UK Find all individuals with events at this location,   d. 17 Oct 1903, Ryder Street, Liverpool, Lancashire, UK Find all individuals with events at this location  (Age 55 years) 
    Married 10 Jan 1867  St James Church, Liverpool, Lancashire, UK Find all individuals with events at this location  [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 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 Find all individuals with events at this location  [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 Find all individuals with events at this location 
    Address:
    Elcho Street No 14, Liverpool, Lancashire, UK 
    Residence 10 May 1891  Gill Street, Liverpool, Lancashire, UK Find all individuals with events at this location 
    Residence 1901  Eastwood Street, Edge Hill, Liverpool, Lancashire, UK Find all individuals with events at this location 
    Address:
    Eastwood Street No 47, Edge Hill, Liverpool, Lancashire, UK 
    Residence Dec 1901  Ash Street, Liverpool, Lancashire, UK Find all individuals with events at this location  [10
    Address:
    Ash Street No 6, Liverpool, Lancashire, UK 
    Residence Oct 1903  Ryder Street, Liverpool, Lancashire, UK Find all individuals with events at this location  [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 Find all individuals with events at this location,   d. 21 Jan 1972, Durban, South Africa Find all individuals with events at this location  (Age 88 years) 
    Married 10 Feb 1908  Germiston, Johannesburg, South Africa Find all individuals with events at this location  [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 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 Find all individuals with events at this location
    +2. Eva Foster,   b. 1 Jul 1910, Heidelberg, Transvaal, South Africa Find all individuals with events at this location,   d. 23 Jun 2007, Norseland Nursing Home, Westby, Vernon, Wisconsin, USA Find all individuals with events at this location  (Age 96 years)
    +3. Charlotte Foster,   b. Abt Sep 1912, Liverpool, Lancashire, UK Find all individuals with events at this location,   d. 1 Jan 1963, Durban, South Africa Find all individuals with events at this location  (Age ~ 50 years)
    +4. Ivy Foster,   b. 15 Jul 1916, Transvaal, South Africa Find all individuals with events at this location,   d. 1 Nov 1995, Waterval Boven, Eastern Transvaal, South Africa Find all individuals with events at this location  (Age 79 years)
    Last Modified 14 Oct 2010 
    Family ID F562  Group Sheet  |  Family Chart

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

  • Photos
    John Foster
    John Foster
    John Foster taken from a large Foster group
    John and Charlotte Foster, 1910
    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.
    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
    John Foster, 1930s
    This looks like a studio photo, possibly to mark his retirement from South African railways.
    John and Charlotte Foster, c1940
    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 Foster and General Louis Botha
    John, in white, was the station master. The 'passenger' is the general!
    John Foster and his dog
    John Foster and his dog
    John and Charlotte Foster with children and friends, 1921
    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
    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 
    1. [S2] Parish Records.

    2. [S1979] Census 1881 West Derby, Liverpoo RG11-3708-36-7 (Head is John Foster.), (RG11-3708-36-7).

    3. [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.

    4. [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.

    5. [S67] Passenger Lists, FindMyPast.

    6. [S7] BIRTH CERTIFICATE, from the BC of his daughter Eva.

    7. [S15] DEATH CERTIFICATE (Reliability: 3), 14 Oct 2010.
      Death notice photo provided by Delwyn Hardie.

    8. [S4] CRI.

    9. [S10] Census 1871 - 2 Apr 1871, RG10, piece 3848, folio 24, p47. (Reliability: 4).

    10. [S15] DEATH CERTIFICATE.

    11. [S36] MARRIAGE CERTIFICATE.

    12. [S62] Lynette Curry - 2nd cousin.