ROBERT ALBERT FOSTER
1769-1817
Robert Albert Foster, also known as Albert Robert Foster, was born in ca 1769 in Guilford County , North Carolina . He came with his wife Nancy Donnell and their children and his parents, John and Martha Foster to Wilson County, Tennessee in 1797 when he was about 28 years old.
The children of Robert and Nancy Foster:
1. EMSLEY DONNELL FOSTER, b. Abt. 1793, Guildford Co., NC; d. Abt. 1832, Wilson Co., TN;
m. MARTHA ANN DOAK.Emsley Donnell Foster, born about 1793, married Martha Ann Doak on November 30, 1831 in Wilson County, Tennessee. His will, which was probated on August 30, 1832 , mentions his first unborn child being carried by his wife at the time he made this will.
2. ALBERT GILBERT FOSTER, was born about 1795 in Guilford County , North Carolina . He married Lucinda Major on Aug 12, 1828 in Wilson County, Tennessee. He was divorced from Lucinda on Oct 21, 1839 . After his divorce from Lucinda, he moved to Shelby Co., IL and there he married Mrs. Jane Story. He was a blacksmith.
3. ISABELLA ANN FOSTER, b. Abt. 1798, Wilson Co., TN; m. WILLIAM R. DONNELL, 04 Sep 1834, Wilson Co., TN.4. WILLIAM PRESTON FOSTER, b. 12 Jul 1811, Wilson Co., TN; d: 1845 in Benton Co., MO. m. Susannah Lavina Lansden (d/o Rev Thomas Lansden & Susannah Bone), 08 Jun 1833, Wilson Co., TN.
Although the death dates for Robert or Nancy Foster are uncertain, numerous documents can be found in the Wilson County courthouse concerning their deaths.
They both died without wills, and their estates were settled in the courts. It took almost 10 years before things were settled and the property to be divided among their children.
Robert Foster died in about 1817 and Nancy followed him in death in about 1820. After the death of Nancy , the children were separated and placed in various relatives’ homes in Wilson County .
Because Robert died without a will the Wilson County court directed an inventory be taken of his personal possession. The following list was returned to the courts on January 21, 1818 and can be found on page 305 of Will Book 1814-1819.
I have included the inventory of his property in order for the reader to get a sense of what items these people possessed.
One Negro man named Jacob
One Negro woman named Beck
10 Head of cattle
4 head of sheep
17 head of hogs
4 ploughs
1 wagon
3 weeding hoes
1 cane hoe
2 augers
2 chisels
1 iron wedge
1 pair of steel yards
2 guns
1 drawing knife
1 handsaw
1 cutting knife and box
1 pr gears
4 beds and furniture
2 tables
1 chest
1 loom
1 pair of fire irons & shovel
2 flat irons
3 pots
2 ovens
2 pair pothooks
3 wheels
1 reel
1 looking glass
1 washing tub
7 chairs
2 barrels & cupboard 7 furniture & some books
Also some corn, wheat & rye
Robert had borrowed money and the following notes were presented to the courts, asking for payment from his estate:
Debt Due Amount Due
1 note Alanson Trigg 12 Jun 1818 $40.95
1 note James Foster 8 Nov 1818 28.12 1/2
1 note James Willis 8 Nov 1818 2.62 1/2
1 note James Booker 8 Nov 1818 3.68 3/4
1 note Jno Foster 8 Nov 1818 11.68 3/4
1 note Jonathan Doak 8 Nov 1818 10.25
1 note Jno Brown 8 Nov 1818 18.56
1 note Josiah James 8 Nov 1818 43.24
1 note (?) Bane 8 Nov 1818 21.84
1 note (?) Maddox 8 Nov 1818 7.50
1 note James Bond 8 Nov 1818 5.39 1/2
Recorded in Wilson County , Tennessee , January 21, 1818
Soon after the death of Robert, Nancy petitioned the court of Wilson County for a widow's allotment so that she could have some of the property in order to live pending the settlement of his estate, and the following order is found in Will Book 1814-1819, page 314 dated January 21, 1818
We the undersigned commissioners agreeable to an order of the court to us directed have proceeded to allot to the widow of Robert Foster the following:
Seven hogs
Two cows
One beef
All the crop
Also $20.00 in money for the purpose of getting salt, sugar & coffee.
Signed:
Robert Edward
John Merrett
After the courts received the inventory, they directed that a sale be held on the Foster farm on January 24, 1818 and all personal property of Robert be sold. Women had few property rights in 1818, so it was necessary for her to attend the sale and purchase those items from the estate that she wished to keep.
I located the document in the Wilson Co., TN courthouse, but it is faded & torn and is difficult to read, and is included here so that you can get a sense of what they owned.
The foregoing account of the sale of the property of Robert Foster deceased was exhibited in open court by James Foster & Alexander Foster the Administrators of the estate.
Recorded 4th March 1818 Nancy Foster to one auger hand and drawing knife $1.00
Samuel Foster to two chipets (?), pair of ...(?) 1.25
Robert Donnell to one lot of tools 1.07
Nancy Foster to six chains 2.00
Nancy Foster to one flax wheel 2.50
Nancy Foster to one chicken (?) 1.25
Nancy Foster to one folding leaf table 3.00
Nancy Foster to cupboard & furniture 4.00
Nancy Foster to one looking glass .62 1/2
Nancy Foster to one bed and furniture 6.00
Nancy Foster to one bed and furniture 4.00
Nancy Foster to one bed and furniture 5.00
Solomon Suggs to one bed and furniture 22.75
Nancy Foster to one chest 2.00
Thomas Bingham to one rifle gun 5.12 1/2
Robert Donnell to one pl..... bit .26
Nancy Foster to one cotton wheel 1.00
Nancy Foster to one loom 4.00
William Donnell to one square table 1.62 1/2
Nancy Foster to one flax wheel .50
Nancy Foster to two pots, pot racks & oven 2.50
John Foster Sr. to one s..... kettle 1.74
Nancy Foster to one pair of s...... yards 1.25
William Scott to one pair of axe.... & ade 2.00
Nancy Foster to one pot 2.00
Nancy Foster to one pair of fire irons .50
Nancy Foster to one iron wedge .25
Samuel Donnell to one hand axe 1.50
William Donnell to one pole axe 1.75
Nancy Foster to three weeding hoes, one axe, sp... hoe 2.00
Alexander Foster to one scythe & cradle 1.50
Nancy Foster to coulter (?) plough .50
Edward Donnell to one wagon 40.77
Nancy Foster to two ploughs, hoe, harrow, singletrees 3.00
Nancy Foster to two pair of ....??.... 4.30
Nathan Sparks to one shot gun 1.00
Nancy Foster to one grey horse 18.00
Jonathan Wiley to one sorrel mare 25.25
Nancy Foster to one black mare 11.00
Nancy Foster to one bay filly 25.00
Patterson Miles to three yearling calves 10.25
Nancy Foster to two black heifers 10.01
Patterson Miles to one red heifer 8.12 1/2
Nancy Foster to seven shoats 7.00
Nancy Foster to one sow and pigs 3.00
Nancy Foster to two sows 2.00
Nancy Foster to four sheep 6.00
Nancy Foster to two ....?. .25
William Clifton to one sh.... .80
Nancy Foster to one cutting knife & box 2.00
Nancy Foster to two flat irons 1.00
James Foster to two files .25
Nancy Foster only survived her husband a few years and then it was necessary for the courts to sell her personal property after she died without a will. This sale was conducted on February 28, 1821 and can be found in Wilson County, Tennessee Will Book 1819-1824, and pages 144 through 148.
The document is also in very poor condition and is illegible in parts.
Solomon Suggs, 8 earthen plates $ .61
Joseph B. Cl..., 1 saucer & 6 cups .67
Charles Hurden, 10 plates 1.00
James Willis, 1.00
Bagil Jacobs, 1.00
James Wiley, .??
Samuel,? .??
Edward ? 6.00
James .?, 1 heifer 4.25
John Baird, 1 cow 6.75
John Baird, 1 cow 5.56 1/4
William ..?, 1 small (?) bide 2.00
Robert Donnell, 1 calf 1.60
Robert Donnell, 2 calves 2.12 1/2
Charles McElroy, 6 shoats 7.00
James Wiley, 1 sow 1.25
R.S. Coiner, 1 horse 17.00
Charles McElroy, 1 mare 10.00
William L. New, 1 mare 18.12 1/2
John Edwards, 5 barrels corn 5.50
Josiah Donnell, 5 barrels corn 5.50
John Edwards, 5 barrels corn 5.50
Lewis Bickin, 5 barrels corn 5.50
Thomas D. Cousins, 5 barrels corn 5.60
Joseph Stacy, 5 barrels corn 5.56 1/4
Samuel Cadon, 1 cutting knife & box 2.87 1/2
John Foster, Sr., parcel of oats 4.87 1/2
Joseph Stacy, whole of the flax unbroken 2.75
Lewis Bickin, the flax broken .25
... Moses, 1 large gun .37 1/2
Solomon Suggs, 1 .... plough 1.56 1/4
..... P. Cannus, h.... & chains 2.12 1/2
..... Wilson ...... chains 1.50
.............. plough 1.00
John Foster Jr., 10 geese 5.00
Elijah Donnell, wheat (tan??) .25
John Quisenbury, 8 sheep 8.50
Charles Hardin, 500 lbs of hay 1.50
John Foster Sr., 500 lbs of hay 1.56 1/2
Rueben Comer, 500 lbs of hay 1.50
Lewis Bicken, 500 lbs of hay 1.33
Charles Henden, 500 lbs of hay 1.40
Elijah Motley, ....... 10.25
Nathan Sparks, 1 cotton wheel .50
Willy Hearn, 1 clock reel 1.87 1/2
James Foster, 1 flax wheel 3.70
Sam'l Donnell, 1 large pot 3.93 3/4
Sam'l Donnell, 1 small pot 2.00
Joseph B. Chaner, 1 small pot 1.00
Eli Donnell, 1 oven 1.75
Josiah Donnell, 1 pot rack 1.00
Bazel Jacobs, 1 oven .50
Edward Donnell, 1 table 4.37 1/2
Willy Booker, 4 chairs 2.75
William Smith, 2 chairs 1.12 1/2
Henry Moser, parcel of spools 1.00
Moses Thompson, piece stead and iron .93 3/4
Eli Donnell, 1 pot rack .68 3/4
John Foster Sr., 1 bed and furniture 28.06 1/4
William Hutchinson, 1 bed and furniture 28.75
James Foster, 1 bed stead 2.50
William Hutchinson, 1 bed stead 3.00
Eli Donnell, 1 bed and furniture 28.00
Eli Donnell, 1 bed stead 2.00
Richard Fulds, 1 chest ?.??
James ....., 1 count o..en ?.??
John foster, ditto ?.??
Eli Donnell, 1 cotton shick (?) ?.??
Lewis B...., 1 flax shick (?) ?.??
Samuel Booker, 1 coverlet ?.??
Josiah Donnell, 1 blanket ?.??
William Smith, 1 bed quilt 2.00
Stephen Hearn, 1 coverlet 5.50
Thomas Bile, 1 blanket 2.50
Thomas Smith, 1 blanket 2.50
James Foster, 1 blanket 2.31
Thomas Bile, 1 blanket 3.50
Henry Harris, 14 lb feathers 7.00
Joseph Chance, 1 pair shears .50
John Foster Jr., 1 looking glass 1.06 1/4
Joseph Chance, 6 plates 1.72
James Foster, 6 teaspoons .44
Nathan Sparks, 1 pitcher .37 1/2
John Foster, 1 lot of the light furniture .86 1/4
Samuel C. ....., 1 cask .56 1/4
Eli Donnell, 1 cream pot .18 3/4
Eli Donnell, 4 glasses .56 1/4
Edna Donnell, 1 tickler .37 1/2
Thomas .... , 1 dish .50
.... Bicker, 7 hogs 1.25
Baird Phillips, 6 table spoons .43 3/4
Sam'l Booker, knives and forks .50
James Baird, 1 comb case .06 1/4
Hugh Williams, knives and forks 1.00
John Foster Jr., 1 bason (?) .81 1/4
John Foster Jr., 1 tin pan .12 1/2
Henry Moses, 1 lot of pewter1 .50
Willis Booker, 1 pitcher .12 1/2
Josiah Donnell, 3 cups .56 1/4
Josiah Donnell, 1 bucket .37 1/4
Josiah Donnell, 1 brass cock .50
Ruben Corner, case of ?? .62 1/2
Joseph Hanks, 1 pickle pot .50
.............illegible .31 1/4
..... Donnell, 1 pair ... .06 1/4
William ...., 1 candle stick .12 1/2
A.P. Comer, 1 powder horn .18 3/4
Next fifteen items unreadable .??
Sam'l Scott, 1 coffee mill .93 3/4
Bazel Jacobs, 1 curry comb .06 1/4
Henry Moses, 1 bell .31 1/4
Alexander Foster, 1 fire shovel 1.50
Lewis Bickens, harrow hoes 1.81 1/4
Henry Moses, 1 hoe .50
Robert Wilson, 1 hoe .56 1/4
Henry Moses, 1 hoe .87 1/2
Sam'l Booker, 1 flat iron .68 3/4
John Foster, 1 flat iron .50
Sam'l Tinnings, 1 meal sifter .12 1/2
Henry Moses, 1 sickle .18 3/4
.... Scott, 1 drawing knife .81 1/4
Jesse Tinnings, 1 auger .25
Henry Moses, sheep shears .43 3/4
Henry Moses, 1 hand saw .25
Henry Moses, 1 axe .37 1/2
Sam'l Scott, 1 harness .12
James Wilin, 5 horse shoes .47 1/2
Sam'l Booker, old irons .33
Alexander Foster, 1 meal bag 1.00
Hugh Morrison, 4 lbs salt ?.??
Sam'l Scott, 2 lbs salt ?.??
Joseph Stacy, 1 tub of lard ?.??
Henry Moses, pair of nippers ?.??
Henry Moses, 1 tub .62 3/4
Hugh Morrison, 121 lbs cotton 2.81
Henry Moses, 1 lamb .35
James Howard, 1 saddle and bridle 3.37
Josiah Donnell, 1 1/2 bushel (sic) .10
John Foster Jr., 1 pail .25
Henry Moses, 1 tub .50
Edward ...... .34
Henry Moses, 1 box ?.??
Sam'l Bicker, saddle bag .67
John Foster Jr., 1 pair ?? .06
Henry Moses, fire irons .75
John Foster, 1 flax wheel .31
Henry Moses, 100 lbs (?) 4.37 1/2
Nathan Sparks, 200 lbs (?) 8.75
Joseph Stacy, 100 lbs (?) 8.75
Eli Donnell, 1 book .25
Nathan Sparks, 2 chains .12
Nathan Sparks, 4 tubs .25
John Foster Jr., 1 pickle tub .56 1/4
R.P. Lerner, 1 keg and trap .25
Alexander Foster, 5 1/2 bushels wheat 2.64
Alexander Foster, 1 lamb .90
Robert Wilson, 1 churn .06 1/4
James Foster, tar and bucket .49
James Wiley, 1 half gallon pot .06 1/4
Hugh Morrison, ?? ?.37
Clives Bicken, ??? .13 1/2
Edna Donnell, ??? .18 3/4
Hugh Morrison, 1 pad lock .37
John Foster, 1 stock pad lock 1.50
Josiah Donnell, 1 botile (sic) .27
William ....., parcel of flour .57 1/2
Edna Donnell, 3 lbs ginned cotton .30
Sarah Bicken, thin bale thread .32
Hugh Morrison, 1 pair springs .25
Hugh Morrison, 1 stay .88 1/2
Thomas Bingham, pair shears .16 1/2
Hugh Morrison, 200 lbs tobacco 1.50
Henry Morin, 142 lbs cotton seed 5.58
This is to certify that the above is a true account of the sale of the property of Nancy Foster dec'd.
James & Alexander Foster, Administrators [her sons]
In the ensuing years various documents were filed in the Wilson County, Tennessee courthouse relative to the Foster estate and including the following:
Will Book 1827-1835, Page 317
March 26, 1829
Josiah S. McClain, guardian for Isabella Ann Foster, minor heir of Robert Foster, respectfully reports to the worshipful County Court of Wilson, that he received the sum of $474.08 1/4 cents cash paid out of the guardian bond.
Will Book 1827-1830, Page 547
March term 1830
Pursuant to an order of the court made during the December 1830 term. Josiah L. McClain reports that he sold two Negroes, Jacob & Beck on a 12-month credit (lease) on the 9th day of January last. Said Negroes belonging to the heirs of Robert Foster deceased.
Jacob is leased to Wm Donald for $350 and Beck to David R. Donald for $160, for a total of $510 given out of my hand.
Signed: Josiah L. McCaine, May 23, 1830
Deed Book 1829, Page 346
In pursuance of an order of the worshipful Court of Pleas & Quarter Sessions of the County of Wilson at September term 1828 appointing as the undersigned commissioners to lay off, divide and apportion the estate which Robert Foster, late of Wilson County dec'd ana....ed amongst his heirs we accordingly, the 25th October 1828, met and proceeded to survey the land claimed by the heirs of the said Robert Foster dec'd and did divide and lay off the same into four tracts as represented by the foregoing plats, distributed and lots as we thought best amongst the heirs taking into consideration their different situations and making:
Lot No 1, EMSLEY D. FOSTER, which is bounded as follows: beginning at an elm on the southeast corner of Mary Doak's tract she now lives on, and then northeast corner of the tract belonging to the said heirs of Robert Foster dec'd running thence south one hundred and twenty two and one half poles to a white oak the southeast corner of said tract running thence west fifty poles to a white oak in the south boundary of said tract thence north one hundred and twenty two and a-half poles to a stake in Mary Doak's south boundary line running thence east with center line fifty poles to the beginning containing thirty-eight acres.
Lot No 2, ALBERT FOSTER, and boundary as follows beginning at a white oak the southwest corner of lot number 1, running west seventy five poles a sugartree thence north one hundred and twenty two and one half poles to a stake in said Mary Doak's south boundary line thence east with said line seventy five poles to the northwest corner of the center line thence south with the west boundary line of lot number 1, one hundred and twenty two and one half pole to the beginning containing sixty three and three quarters of an acre.
Lot No 3, ISABELLA FOSTER, and bounded as follows, beginning at the sugartree the southwest corner of lot number 2, running thence west one hundred and twenty six poles to the southwest corner of the said tract to a stake in Bingham's east boundary thence north with said Bingham's line one hundred and ten poles to a stake in said Bingham's northeast corner thence west with his north boundary eight poles to a stake thence north ten poles to a stake in said Mary Doak's southwest corner thence east one hundred and thirty six poles to the northwest corner of lot number 3, thence sough with the west boundary of said lot one hundred and twenty two poles & 1/2 to the beginning containing ninety six and one-half acres.
Lot No 4, WILLIAM P. FOSTER, and bounded as follows, beginning at an ash and hackberry marked "R.F.", a line forth six poles west of the northeast corner of a six hundred and forth are tract originally in the name of John Foster and in his north boundary running thence west with the said line eighty four poles crossing a west fork of Spring Creek in all one hundred and eight poles to a white oak thence north fifty four poles to two ironwoods in Robert Foster's south boundary line thence east with the said line seventy poles crossing said west fork of Spring Creek in all one hundred and eighteen poles to an elm thence sough fifty four poles to the beginning containing forty acres.
Date: October 25, 1828
On May 29, 1829 , fully 10 years after Nancy died that the estate of Robert and Nancy Foster was finally settled. The proceeds were then distributed among their children according to the following.
This document can be found in Will Book 1827-1830, Page 336-337.
We, Sam'l Cannon, Edward Harris and William Donnell having been appointed at the December Term of the County Court for Wilson County Commissioners to settle with James Foster and Alexander Foster administration on the estate of Robt Foster dec'd and also with the same administrators on the estate of Nancy Foster dec'd, have this day convened for that purpose and have examined all the papers pertaining to the said estate as exhibited to us by the said administrators do make the following report, viz ---
First of said Robert Foster estate:
We find the amt of the sale to have been two hundred
& seventy dollars and twenty five cents and a half $270.25 ˝
We find vouchers in the hands of said administration
to the amount of eighty nine dollars and twenty one &
one half cents -89.21 ˝
Which leaves a balance of one hundred and eighty one
dollars and four cents $181.04
Sub Total $289.64
We find the amount of notes one hundred & seventy
four dollars, eighty four and one fourth cent $174.84 1/4
Interest on that amt one hundred and eight dollars
fifty and one fourth cents $108.50 1/4
Sub Total $283.34 1/2
Robert Foster's estate Total $572.98 1/2
We find the amount of the sale of Nancy Foster's
estate to have been five hundred & twenty dollars
and twenty and one fourth cent $520.20 1/4
The interest on that amt one hundred forty seven
Dollars, eight and one half cents $147.08 1/2
Sub Total $667.28 3/4
four eighteen and one fourth cents $674.18 1/4
The rent of the farm (interest added), three hundred
and twenty two dollars & twenty five cents $322.25
Total $1,663.62
We have found vouchers in the hands of said admin-
istrators to the amount of one hundred and eighty
two dollars eighty seven cents -182.87
And eighty nine dollars ninety three & three fourths
cents which has been paid for schooling and doctors
bills for the children -89.93 3/4
I think the administrators are entitled to the
sum of one hundred dollars for their trouble in
settling said estate - 100.00
Total $372.80 3/4
Subtracted from the amount leaves twelve hundred
and ninety dollars ninety one & one fourth cents
(which all added is the total of Nancy Foster's
Estate) $1,290.91 1/4
Both estates added makes eighteen hundred & sixty
three dollars and eighty nine and three fourths
cents which is the whole amount now in the hands
of the administrators $1,863.98 3/4
Given under our hand this 7th Day of February A.D., 1829
Sam'l Canon
Edward Harris
William Donnell
P.S. On a reexamination of the within report we find an error of twenty five dollars and twenty cents in favor of the admns whole amount brought over leaving a balance of:
$1,863.89 3/4
-25.20
Total $1,838.69 3/4
Test: John Stone, Clerk of said Court
ALBERT G. FOSTER
These funds were divided equally between the children, Emsley, Albert, Isabella and William Foster.