William Peyton Foster (abt. 1747 - abt. 1824)

Born about 15 Jul 1747 in Dettingen Parish, Prince William, Colony of Virginia

Ancestors

Husband of Sarah (Hart) Foster — married 6 Mar 1783 (to 7 Feb 1824) in Prince William, Virginia, United States

Descendants

Died about 7 Feb 1824 at about age 76 in Montgomery, Clarke, Kentucky, USA

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Biography

William Peyton Foster b. 1747 VA, The Soldier Who Lost Everything

William Foster inherited land in Bourbon, KY for his service in the Revolutionary War, but only after losing everything he had. His dedication to freedom should be remembered and honored. He was born on July 15, 1747, into a world where the fragile fabric between the American Colonies and the mother country had already begun to tear. In Prince William County, Virginia, he was the first-born child of George and Margaret (Grigsby) Foster, where he grew to manhood. In about 1772 he married Sallie Slade, born about 1747, and they managed to have two babies before the first shots of the Revolutionary War were fired.

He and his neighbors signed up with John Green’s Company of Artillery at Fauquier County, Virginia in early February of 1777. He served out his enlistment as a bombardier, returned to his family for a short time, and then reenlisted. Another son was born after this visit.

William was on the lists of Company 9 at Valley Forge on June 3, 1778 and remained in Charles Harrisons’ Virginia Regiment of Artillery for the duration of the war. (Sheffell’s Record of the Rev. War, pg. 25) He was there through the icy cold winter when “the troops hungered, froze, and often left bloody footprints in the snow due to lack of shoes.” (Seedlings of William Foster, Bk II, pg. 3) The soldiers would hack through the ice with their knives or bayonets and carve depressions in the frozen dirt, which gave them whatever warmth the earth offered as they slept. They hunted small game, foraged for herbs, and dug roots, but often they simply went without. Fevers and dysentery were rampant and many soldiers died of exposure that winter.

William was with Washington’s forces near New York City when the war reached a stalemate, allowing him to return to his family for a short time in 1780. This visit resulted in yet another son. He then trudged hundreds of miles to rejoin his unit. He fought in the Battle of Ft. Ninety-Six and the Battle of Eutaw Springs, South Carolina before his unit joined General Greene, who was following Cornwallis into Virginia as the tides of war were turning. At Little York Cornwallis was trapped between American and French armies, with an armada of French ships blocking any escape to the sea, and William’s artillery unit helped reduce the General’s troops to a state of surrender.

After six and a half years of honorable service William returned to his family with one good arm--the other mangled by two musket ball wounds—but still feeling the euphoria of victory. His jubilation was cut short when he learned that his wife and father were dead and his children were living with his over-burdened mother, who was still raising children of her own.

William’s father had left him 100 acres in his will, however it was fully mortgaged so his family wouldn’t starve while he was away fighting for his country, and had been taken over by a neighbor. William brought home his salary but it was useless paper money since the newly-formed government was not yet collecting taxes and had no real cash to pay for military services. Instead, it promised land. William would have seen the desperation and confusion in the eyes of his grief-stricken children, seen his mother too busy with feeding everyone to take the time to comfort them, stood by the two graves with small hands gripping his, and wondered if it was all worth it.

Two years passed and William found love again in Sarah Hart b. 1766 Virginia. They were soon married, and not long afterwards left for Bourbon, Kentucky, where payment of land awaited. Who was better qualified to live on the frontier and deal with the Indians than a war-hardened solder?—This was what the government thought. They traveled with a group lead by his friend Timothy Peyton and settled at the William Thomas Station, a fortified settlement. Because of Indian raids these families lived together at the Station and farmed the surrounding land.

Timothy Peyton soon built his own station and William and Sarah joined him there, with William’s son Harrison. Sarah’s first child was born here. Sadly, while Timothy was farming he was attacked and killed by Indians. It was William who gathered the men to go and retrieve the body of his dear friend. Common sense drove these families into nearby Clark County, where the greater distance and numbers kept the Indians at bay and where Sarah bore nine more children for William. His application for pension was actually rejected because William, working hard with his one arm and his 12 children had built up his Clark County, Kentucky farm until it valued over $300, more than the maximum allowed for pensioners. Eleven of these children were with Sara and one (Harrison) came with him from Virginia--the other three remained behind in Virginia.

He eventually died at age 78 from complications of diabetes. He endured every kind of suffering but was never conquered. This is the kind of determined spirit, and many others like him, who built the foundation of our country today. by Adrienne Foster Potter (apnewz@yahoo.com)

'Descendants of William Peyton Foster

Submitted by Judith H. Martin, martin5581@bellsouth.net, 5/18/06, Homepage

Generation No. 1

WILLIAM PEYTON4 FOSTER (GEORGE3, WILLIAM2, GEORGE1) was born 15 Jul 1747 in Prince William Co., VA, and died 07 Feb 1825 in Clark Co., KY.

He married (1) SALLIE SLADE Abt. 1772 in Prince William Co., VA, daughter of WILLIAM SLADE and ELIZABETH UNKNOWN. She was born in Prince William Co., VA, and died Abt. 1782 in Prince William Co., VA.

He married (2) SARAH HART 06 Mar 1783 in Prince William Co., VA, daughter of LEONARD HART and SARAH UNKNOWN. She was born Abt. 1767 in Prince William Co., VA, and died 27 Dec 1858 in Montgomery Co., KY.

Notes for WILLIAM PEYTON FOSTER:

William was a Veteran of the Revolutionary War; He enlisted as a Private soldier under General George Washington. William Foster, Bombardier, Appointed February 8, 1777. He served six and one-half years. He was granted a tract of land in Kentucky, to which he removed his family. He died at the age of 82. Came to Kentucky about 1784.

Loyalist claims during the years 1784-1803 against the citizens of Virginia

(Reel 041, Public Record Office 122, Volume VI, No. 79, British Manuscripts Project, Library of Congress): p. 199,

William Foster, son of George, of Prince William. Debt due in 1776 Ð15.5.9 1/2. Removed to Kentucky fourteen years ago; "poor".

John H. Gwathmey, Historical Register of Virginians in the Revolution, p. 284:

Foster, William, Bombardier, 1st Artillery.

W. T. R. Saffell, Records of the Revolutionary War, p. 251:

Names, Rank, Dates of Commissions, and Time of Enlistment of the Field, Staff, Non-Commissioned Officers, and Privates of Col. Charles Harrison's Virginia and Maryland Regiment of Artillery, as it stood from Nov. 30, 1776 to April, 1782.

Company No. 9, as it stood at Valley Forge, June 3, 1778.

Flavius M. Foster, Seedlings of William Foster, pp. 5-6:

William FOSTER's uniform was described thus: .a blue coat with red facing, lining, cuffs, lapels and collar. The skirts of the coat were turned back to show the red lining. The britches and waistcoat, white with yellow buttons. There were also yellow buttons on the front and cuffs of the coat. The rest of the uniform consisted of white, ruffled shirt, black gaiters, and a black cocked hat with yellow braid.

The war years hadn't been too kind with William. All he had to show for his six years of service was an arm shattered by a musket ball, and a handful of "not worth a Continental" paper money. His father and wife had died and his children [were] living with his mother, who had children of her own to support. William had inherited 100 acres of land from his father, but it was mortgaged to the hilt.

William FOSTER was born, grew to manhood and married Sallie, daughter of William & Elizabeth SLADE in Prince William Co., Virginia. They were married in late 1772 or early 1773, and Sallie died after 1780 and before March of 1783. After Sallie's death William's children went to live with his mother, Margaret. When Margaret died, Lettice FOSTER, the eldest child took care of her brothers till of age. William took son Harrison to Kentucky with him and his new wife, and was joined there by son, Aaron, in 1799.

It is thought that William made his first trip to Kentucky in the autumn of 1783 for during that winter, a garrison was kept on CornIsland near where Louisville now stands and the records list William among those present.

William FOSTER married (2nd) Sarah, daughter of Leonard & Sarah HART. After much debating and considering the prospects of their area, William & Sarah decided that their best bet for a better future lay in Kentucky. So in 1784 or 1785, they joined a few neighbors under the leadership of Timothy PEYTON and headed west. William & Sarah FOSTER landed in Bourbon Co., Kentucky.

Due to the many, bloody Indian raids, Kentucky settlers lived in fortified settlements and farmed the surrounding land. William and Sarah were living in the William THOMAS station when their eldest child was born. Soon after they moved to Timothy PEYTON's station, where they were living when Timothy was killed and scalped by Indians. William organized a party to recover the body. William & Sarah lived at the Peyton station till 1805, when they moved to Clark County, Ky.

In 1811, William & Sarah bought 100 acres of land from John & Ann RANKINS, on Lulbegrud Creek. This stream bears the name of a character from "Gulliver's Travels", a book that was being read by a member of Daniel BOONE's survey party when they camped on the creek.

On Feb. 11, 1819, William applied for and received a war pension, and lost it two years later because he was worth over $300 in land and stock.

According to one of William & Sarah FOSTER's descendants who has spent her entire life in Kentucky, William is buried on Lulbegrud Creek. The cemetery is on the opposite side of the Creek from the Tennessee Gas Plant, in what is known as "Foster's Hole". But, no tombstone was found among the other graves.

Prince William County, Virginia, Tax List, 1782:

Foster, William, 0 white polls.

Foster, William, 1 white poll.

Land Tax List of PrinceWilliam County, 1784:

Margaret, William, and James Foster.

Southern Lineages, Records of Thirteen Families, by A. Evans Wynn, p. 254:

William and his wife, Sarah, deed land in Prince William County to John THOMAS, "109 acres at the corner of Howson Hooe, James FOSTER, Redmond FOSTER."

Virginia Personal Property Tax 1787, Bourbon County Tax List C:

PEYTON Sarah, self, [one unnamed male under age 21], 4 blacks above 16, 4 blacks under 16, 4 horses mares colts & mules, 7 cattle.

Extracts of Kentucky Assembly Records (1792-1799):

29 June 1792

Concerning property of Timothy PEYTON, Bourbon Co., who died "some time in the year of our Lord one thousand seven hundred and 87." Trustees appointed: James Garrard, John Allen, John Walker.

1800 Kentucky Taxpayers:

FORSTER, William, Bourbon County.

On February 27, 1807 William sold his land in Prince William County, Virginia, which had been given to him by his father. The land was sold to John Thomas of Rockingham County, North Carolina, who, as records indicate, was buying up the land of William and his relatives. The deed was for 109 acres 'at the corner of Howson Mooe, James Foster and Redmon Foster.' Redmon Foster was a witness to the deed. 'William Foster of Clark County, Kentucky' and Sarah, his wife, signed the deed, so they must have both been on a visit at the time

1810 US Census, Clark County, Kentucky, p. 129:

William FOSTER, one male age 0-9, one male age 10-15, one male age 45+, three females age 0-9, two females age 10-15, one female age 26-44.

In 1811, William purchased 100 acres of land on which he was then living, from John Rankin and wife of Clark County, Kentucky. William's son, Peyton, was one of the witnesses to the deed. This land was near Lulbegrud, Clark County, Kentucky.

John Frederick Dorman,Virginia Revolutionary pension applications, abstracted (Washington, 1958-), [with additions from Southern Lineages, Records of Thirteen Families, by A. Evans Wynn]:

22 June 1818. Clark Co., Ky. William FOSTER of said county, aged 71, declares he enlisted in Prince William Co., Va., in the company of Capt. John GREEN in the 1st Regiment of Artillery of Col. Charles HARRISON on 8 Feb. 1777, served three years, re enlisted for the war in Jersey about 60 miles from Philadelphia, and continued until 18 May 1783 when he was discharged on James Island near Charleston, S.C. He was in the battles of Monmouth and Eutaw Springs and several skirmishes.

22 June 1818. Clark Co., Ky. Benja. GRIGSBY declares he was acquainted with William FOSTER during the Revolutionary War. He was in service for several years.

1820 US Census, Clark County, Kentucky, p. 86:

William FOSTER, one male age 10-15, one male age 16-25, one male age 45+, two females age 10-15, two females age 16-18, one female age 25-44, 6 persons engaged in agriculture.

6 Oct. 1821. Clark Co., Ky. William FOSTER of said county, aged 73, makes similar statement of service but adds he was at the battle of Little York when Cornwallis was taken, at the battle of Ninety Six, S.C., and was at Charlestown, Va., but had no fighting in that place.

He has a claim for nine Negroes which are in North Carolina, which claim originated in 1778 and he does not know whether he will ever get any. He has 100 acres of poor land worth $200 and horses, cattle, sheep, hogs and pigs, household and kitchen furniture, valued with the land at $338.00.

His family consists of his wife, aged about 54, and five children, Polly, aged 11, Nancy, aged 17, Sally, aged 18, Susan, aged 22, and Lenard, aged 14. He is a farmer which he cannot pursue having received two wounds in his right arm which disabled it.

Later William was obliged to bring suit against John Thomas for the return of some Negro slaves. He employed Levi Hart, of Lexington, Kentucky, as his attorney. (Levi Hart was probably a relative of Sarah Hart Foster).

1822

"Know all men by these presents, that I, William Foster, of the County of Clark and State of Kentucky, having special confidence and trust in Levi Hart of Lexington, Kentucky, do nominate and appoint him my attorney in fact, for me in my name to ask for, demand, receive or sue for, or compromise, if he thinks fit so to do, a Negro woman named "Molla", her increase and descendants, supposed to be at this time in possession of John Thomas of Rockingham County, North Carolina and to which I am justly entitled, say about fifteen in number, hereby ratifying all his acts in the premises as fully as if I were present myself personally and had done the same.

Witness my hand this 22nd day of January 1822

William Foster

On February 7, 1824, William died from diabetes at his home on the land which he had purchased from John Rankin thirteen years before. He was buried near Lulbegrud in ClarkCounty. His life of 77 years had been an eventful one. Had he chosen to write and leave behind some written record of his life, how interesting we should now find it.

Clark County, Kentucky, Records:

In obedience to an order from the worshipful County Court of Clarke at their October Term 1825, Appointing Shelton C. WATKINS, William THORNTON, Richard GROOMS and John WILLIAMS or any three of them being sworn to appraise the Estate of William FOSTER decd. Mr Richard GROOMS, William THORTON and John WILLIAMS having met at the late dwelling house of said William FOSTER decd and after being first sworn as the Law directs proceed to make the following Valuation and report to Court To wit ($ /cts)

Clarke County May Court 1826

This Inventory and appraisement of the Estate of William FOSTER decd was produced in Court approved and ordered to be recorded Teste James F. Bullock, C.C.C.

P. G. Wardell, Virginia/West Virginia Genealogical Data from Revolutionary War Pension and BountyLand Warrants, Vol. 2, p. 138:

FOSTER, William; query 1896 from great grandson J. M. Greenwood, Kansas City, Mo.; states he is grandson of soldier's son, Peyton, who died 1872.

Kentucky Pension Roll for 1835, p. 28:

Statement, &c. of Clarke county, Kentucky.

William FOSTER; Private; Annual allowance $96.00; Sums received $171.43; Virginia line, placed on the pension roll, Feb. 11, 1819; Commencement of pension, June 22, 1818; Age 73; Dropped under act of May 1, 1820.

Notes for SARAH HART:

William & Sarah decided that their best bet for a better future lay in Kentucky. So in 1784 or 1785, they joined a few neighbors under the leadership of Timothy PEYTON and headed west. William & Sarah FOSTER landed in Bourbon Co., Kentucky.

Due to the many, bloody Indian raids, Kentucky settlers lived in fortified settlements and farmed the surrounding land. William and Sarah were living in the William THOMAS station when their eldest child was born. Soon after they moved to Timothy PEYTON's station, where they were living when Timothy was killed and scalped by Indians. William organized a party to recover the body. William & Sarah lived on the Peyton station till 1805, when they moved to Clark County, Ky.

After William died of diabetes, Sarah married (2nd.) Moses BAKER, who died in 1844. At his death, Sarah applied for a pension as widow of William FOSTER. At that time, the above 100 acres was sold to their daughter Susan and her husband, who paid off the other heirs. [Clark County Deed Book 31, pp. 380-381.]

In 1844, Sarah was living with her youngest child, Polly HULSE, in Montgomery Co., Ky., and remained there till her death. Sarah is buried in Montgomery County, Ky. .

Reference: rin#-267

9 July 1844. Montgomery Co., Ky. Sarah BAKER of said county, aged 78, declares she is the widow of William FOSTER who was a soldier from Prince William Co., Va. She was married to William FOSTER 6 March 1783 in Prince William County and he died 7 Feb. 1825 in Clark Co., Ky. She married Moses BAKER on 6 July 1826 and he died 31 Jan. 1844. She had a family record but it was destroyed by water leaking through the roof of the house and was rotten and spoiled before any of the family knew it. She had eleven children while married to William FOSTER. She is unable to give the age of any of her children. Her eldest child Milly HART resides in Fayette Co., Ky., and was born 20 April 1785.

12 July 1844. Bourbon Co., Ky. Ann T. MALLORY of said county, aged 69, declares she was at the marriage of William FOSTER and Sarah FOSTER, now Sarah BAKER. She was 6 or 7 years old and had been going to school before their marriage. She and Sarah BAKER were raised in the same neighborhood in Prince William Co., Va. After the marriage her father Timothy PEYTON and William FOSTER with his wife Sarah moved to Kentucky together in 1784 and 1785 and the next year after they came to Kentucky their first child was born. Her father and William FOSTER settled in Bourbon County in the same neighborhood. They lived there until they had five or six children and then William FOSTER and his wife Sarah moved from Bourbon County to ClarkCounty where he was living when he died. She frequently heard William FOSTER speak of being in the Revolutionary War. [She further states that the said Sarah FOSTER is a lady of truth.]

31 July 1844. Bourbon Co., Ky. Ann T. MALLORY of said county, aged about 68, declares she was born in Prince William Co., Va., and was raised there until she was ten years old. One of her neighbors Leonard HART had a daughter Sarah HART who married William FOSTER in the fall of 1784. She was at the marriage and saw them married. The next spring in June 1785 her father and his family and Sarah and William FOSTER all came together to Bourbon Co., Ky., and settled not far apart. Sarah FOSTER had a child twelve or thirteen months after she was married and her name was Mildred FOSTER and she married Minor HART and now lives in Fayette Co., Ky., and must be 58 years of age. Afterward Sarah FOSTER had several children; some live in Illinois, Missouri and others in Kentucky. She has her father's account book starting the day they started to Kentucky and it states 2 June 1785. Sarah HART was married to William FOSTER the year before, she thinks in the fall of 1784. They lived together until William FOSTER died, about 17 years past. Sarah married Moses BAKER and she has understood that BAKER died last winter or spring. William and Sarah lived on her father's farm for many years and when her father, T. PATIN, was killed by the Indians, William FOSTER was one of the men that went and brought him home.

31 July 1844. Bourbon Co., Ky. Sarah D. SCOTT of said county, aged about 67, declares she lived with her father William JAMES [or THOMAS] in his station when William FOSTER [who was a Revolutionary soldier] and his wife Sarah came about 1785 or 1786. In the station she had her first born, Mildred FOSTER, and another before they left the station and moved to T. PATAN's where they lived and had several children before William FOSTER died. Sarah married Moses BAKER who died last winter or spring.

15 Aug. 1844. J. WILLIAMS writes from Brentsville, Prince William Co., Va., that he has examined the records of his office from 1780 to 1790 and has not found the marriage bond or certificate of marriage of William FOSTER. He has enquired of Mr. Redmon FOSTER of this county but has not been able to get any material fact in relation to said marriage.

22 Aug. 1844. Montgomery Co., Ky. Mrs. Polly M. HULSE of said county, aged about 33, declares she is the youngest child of William FOSTER and Sarah his wife. After the death of her father her mother married Moses BAKER who died 31 Jan. 1844. Her mother now lives with her.

12 Sept. 1844. Fayette Co., Ky. Mrs. Milly HART of said county, aged about 57, declares she is the oldest child of William FOSTER, late of Clark County. Her father and mother lived together until the death of William FOSTER about 1821 to 1826 (cannot recollect). Her mother Sarah FOSTER remained a widow eighteen months or two years and then married Moses BAKER of Montgomery County who died about the last of January or first of February 1844. [She further states that her father was dropped from the pension roll on account of his being worth more that the law allowed to draw a pension, etc.]

2 Aug. 1855. Montgomery Co., Ky. Sarah BAKER of Mount Sterling in said county, aged 87, declares she was allowed a pension for the services of her late husband William FOSTER of Clark Co., Ky.

Sarah BAKER, formerly widow of William FOSTER who died 7 Feb. 1824, matross in the regiment of Col. Harrison in the Virginia line for two years, was placed on the Kentucky pension roll at $100 per annum. Certificates 8944 under the Act of 1838 and 6517 under the Acts of 1843-44 were issued 14 Dec. 1844 and 3181 under the Act of 1848 was issued 19 Jan. 1849. Bounty land warrant 269 for 60 acres was issued 4 Aug. 1856.

More About SARAH HART:

Burial: Montgomery Co., KY

Children of WILLIAM FOSTER and SALLIE SLADE are:

2. i. LETTICE5 FOSTER, b. Abt. 1773, Prince William Co., VA.

3. ii. HARRISON FOSTER, b. Abt. 1774, Prince William Co., VA; d. 27 Jun 1819, Clark Co., KY.

iii. AARON FOSTER, b. Abt. 1777, Prince William Co., VA.

iv. WILLARD FOSTER, b. Abt. 1780, Prince William Co., VA.

Children of WILLIAM FOSTER and SARAH HART are:

4. v. MILDRED5 FOSTER, b. 20 Apr 1785, William Thomas Station in Bourbon Co., KY; d. 1885, Fayette Co., KY.

vi. JEANETTE FOSTER, b. Abt. 1788, Bourbon Co., KY; d. 17 Aug 1870, Macon Co., Missouri; m. (1) UNKNOWN PATRICK; m. (2) JOHN ARMSTRONG.

Notes for JEANETTE FOSTER:

Moved to Sangamon Co., ILL, with her brothers George W. and Peyton,arriving in the year 1826, and settled what is now Loami Township;

vii. PEYTON FOSTER, b. 18 Oct 1791, Bourbon Co., KY; d. 06 Sep 1872, La Plata, Macon Co., MO; m. MARY DANIELS, 21 May 1812, KY; b. 05 May 1794; d. 30 Jan 1871, La Plata, Macon Co., MO.

5. viii. MARGARET G. FOSTER, b. 27 Apr 1794, Bourbon Co., KY; d. 27 Dec 1885, Clark Co., KY.

6. ix. SUSAN FOSTER, b. Abt. 1798, Bourbon Co., KY; d. Abt. 1880, Clark Co., KY.

x. GEORGE W. FOSTER, b. 05 Jul 1800, Bourbon Co., KY; d. 07 May 1837, Auburn, Sangamon, Illinois; m. SARAH MILLER, 08 Aug 1821, Clark Co., KY; b. 17 Feb 1797; d. 01 Aug 1895, Auburn, Sangamon, Illinois..

xi. SARAH FOSTER, b. 1802, Bourbon Co., KY; m. BENJAMIN GRIGSBY, 05 May 1823, Clark Co., KY; b. Abt. 1800.

7. xii. NANCY FOSTER, b. 13 Mar 1805, Clark Co., KY; d. 08 Oct 1845, Madison Co., KY.

xiii. LEONARD FOSTER, b. Abt. 1806, Clark Co., KY; d. 10 May 1877, Clark Co., KY; m. MARGARET KETCHENS, KY.

Sources

National Archives, Revolutionary War Pension Files

• http://bourboncoky.info/Foster.html
• http://hiddenancestors.com/clarkky/family/fr071-foster.htm

"Seedlings of William Foster," by Flavius M. Foster, Bk II, pgs. 2-7