Forsters and Fosters of England

Date: [unknown] [unknown]
Location: [unknown]
Surnames/tags: Forster Foster

Contents 1 Branches 1.1 Adderstone 1.1.1 Bamburgh 1.1.2 Brunton 1.1.3 Newham 1.1.4 Hunsdon 1.1.4.1 Battle, Egham & Jamaica 1.1.5 Cold Hesledon 1.1.6 Nichol Forest 1.2 Other branches 1.2.1 Sussex 1.2.2 Berkshire 1.2.3 Shropshire 1.2.3.1 Staffordshire 1.2.4 Lincolnshire 1.3 Tasks 1.3.1 Ideas 2 Sources

Branches

Adderstone

It's thought that the Forsters of Adderstone, co. Northumb. descend from Gilbert de Bukton in Bridlington, co. York. (d. 1362/3), whose son John de Bukton (living c. 1343), is thought to be the father of John Forster, who married Elizabeth de Orde (b. c. 1341), sometime before 1362.

Adderstone was brought into the Forster family through the marriage of the Elizabeth of heiress of Etherstone to Thomas Forster.

Bamburgh

Forster of Bamburgh, co. Northumb.

This branch begins with Sir John Forster of Bamburgh (d. abt. 1602), and ends when the property is conveyed to Nathaniel Crew, Bishop of Durham about c. 1709.

Sir John Forster was the son of Thomas Forster of Adderstone and Dorothy Ogle. He had two daughters with his wife Jane Radcliffe, and four illegitimate children, including his suc. Nicholas of Bamburgh.

Brunton

Forster of Brunton, co. Northumb.

This branch begins with Cuthbert (b. abt. 1550 - d. 1589 or later), son of Thomas Forster of Adderstone (d. aft. Apr 1589) & Frances, sis. of Thomas, 1st Baron Wharton.

Newham

Forster of Newham, co. Northumb.

Nicholas Forster is the founder of this cadet branch. He was a younger son of Thomas Forster of Adderstone, co. Northumb & Elizabeth Featherstonehaugh.

Hunsdon

Forster of Hunsdon, co. Herts.

Sir Roger Forster established this cadet branch, after he left his family seat in Adderstone, co. Northumb. Roger was a younger son of Thomas Forster of Adderstone and Elizabeth Featherstonehaugh of Stanhope Hall, and a brother of Nicholas Forster of Newham. Roger's wife was [--Jane--?] Hussey of co. Sussex.

Battle, Egham & Jamaica

Forster & Foster of Battle, co. Sussex; Egham, co. Surrey & Jamaica

These branches descend from the Forsters of Hunsdon, co. Herts., whose patriarch is Sir Roger Forster of Hunsdon. One its notable family members is Sir Robert Foster of Battle, co. Sussex & Egham, co. Surrey, who served as Lord Chief Justice.

Col. John Foster of Egham, Surrey & Elim, Jamaica (1681-1731), also descends from this line. He and his wife Elizabeth Smith of Barbadoes, were the great-grandparents of Elizabeth Vassal (1771-1845). Vassal's father was a Jamaican-American planter and her mother's family were Colonial New Yorkers. ... Col. Foster himself, was a direct descendant of the Forsters of Adderstone, but he was also a descendant of the Forsters of Hunsdon, as well as the Forsters/Fosters of Iden, Sussex.

Cold Hesledon

Forster of Cold Hesledon, co. Durham

Robert Forster (fl. 1485 - 1509), son of Thomas Forster of Adderstone & [--Jane--?] HIlton, is the founder of this cadet branch and its desc in Hawthorne, co. Durham, as well as Lancashire, which was the seat of the wealthy Quaker Dodshon Foster (1730-93), who became a slave-trader during the 1750s and had a ship that traveled between the West Indies and South Carolina. Dodshon was a direct descendant of the senior Adderstone branch and also had relatives in Kendal, Westmorland.

Nichol Forest

Forster of Stonegarthside, co. Cumberland

Robert Forster d. 1598. Robert Forster is so far the first Forster documented in Nichol Forest at Stonegarthside Hall.

Other branches

Sussex

Forsters of Borbridge, Iden, & Battle in co. Sussex

This branch is an allied family of the Forsters of Hunsdon, co. Herts. through the marriage of Susan Forster of Iden, co. Sussex, to Thomas Forster of Hunsdon, co. Herts.

Berkshire

Forster of Aldermarston, co. Berks.

Shropshire

Forster of Evelith, co. Salop

This branch is notable for Anthony Forster, MP (1510-72). Amy Dudley, wife of Robert Dudley, 1st Earl of Leicester (1532-88), died at his residence known as "Cumnor Place."

The line at Evelith Shropshire made a permanent mark on history because Amy Robsart, wife of Robert Dudley, Earl of Leicester (favorite of Queen Elizabeth I), fell down the stairs and died at the home of Sir Anthony Forster (1510-72). ... Amy's mother seems to have connections with the Appleyards, who had a branch in Yorkshire. (The county of Yorkshire is important in terms of the Medieval origins of the Forsters of Adderstone, Northumberland). It's also the case that the first wife of Leicester's son was a Cavendish. Her second cousin twice removed was Sir Charles Cavendish, whose wife was Baroness Ogle. The Ogles were an allied family of the Foresters of Adderstone.

Staffordshire

Stafford & Foster

This branch descends from William Foster, second son of John Forster of Evelith, co. Salop.

Lincolnshire

Forster of Lincoln.^[1]

Tasks

• Recategorize 'Forsters of Newham' & 'Forsters of Bukton' (note: branch at Bukton needs work ... try to find primary sources: see Space: Early Forsters)
• Need category for Merchant Adventurers. (Ralph Forster (d. 1649), Merchant Adventurer of Newcastle was a member)
• Categorize Fosters. ... Currently the study has categorized prob. most of the Forsters, as well as the Fosters that descend from Battle, co. Sussex.

Ideas

Goals vary for researchers and they might change over time, based on findings. So as a group, it's more productive to get a conversation going and see if there's a common ground.

• For starters... are the Forsters of Northumberland related to the Forresters of Scotland? Some think it's probable and there are publications which try to connect the families, but evidence is scant. But with good documentation coupled with DNA testing ... it might be possible to confirm particular links.

• Another question that comes to mind has to do with the origins of the Forster/Foster branch of Iden, Sussex and how the descendants of Roger Forster of Hunsdon, Herts. run into them.

• Research into the Ireland branch is also a mystery, and some traditions point to Cumberland origins but is there any truth in it?

• There's also romantic traditions which attempt to connect certain Forsters with mainland Europe. While they may be fantastical, the surname is not limited to the UK area.

• Finally, we come to the topic of ancestors who either settled abroad or had something to do with events away from their home country. For instance, Mrs. Dorcas Foster of Virginia (d. aft. 1651), became the matriarch of an American line but the origins of her first husband are unknown. Some believe that his name may have been Richard Foster, but his given name is unknown.

Sources

1. ↑ "Forster of Lincoln, MS C 23 Heralds' College," in Lincs. Pedigrees, 1, p. 366. Google Books.

See Also...

• Space: Early Forsters

list of arms for various branches...

• Burke, J. & Burke, J.B. (1844). Encyclopædia of Heraldry, Or General Armory of England, Scotland and Ireland: Comprising a Registry of All Armorial Bearings from the Earliest to the Present Time, Including the Late Grants by the College of Arms. Google Books.[1]
• Berry, W. (1828). ""FOR," in Encyclopaedia Heraldica, Or Complete Dictionary of Heraldry, 2. Google Books.
• Category: Visitations