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Foster Bros home at Four Oaks!

Hi Frank,

From the Foster family info that you have sent and their birth ages. As May wasn't born until 1908 it looks like Alex could have been Harry's nephew. Ness
 
Hi Frank,

I've caught up with the postings about the Foster brothers tonight, and I see Arthur Foster died in 1954. Has anyone got any family history about him? My dad's side of the family are all dead now and I wonder if I'd got the christian name wrong. Thanks, Ness
 
I'm interested in finding our about Arthur Foster - I have a copy of divorce papers for Arthur Webster Foster and Florence Braddock. Florence divorced Arthur because of his affair with May Turner. I assumed he would have married May? Did she marry Alex?
 
Hi Bren
The petition was filed in July 1936 with the Decree Absolute dated 10 May 1937. Florence Braddock (sorry for previous typo) married Arthur Webster Foster in Oldham in Dec 1922. They lived at 'Andorhina' 280 Highfield Road Hall Green Birmingham and then a 'Shepherds Close' Chipping Campden. Florence divorced Arthur because of his affair with May Turner. May and Arthur may have lived together at The Rise, Shipston Road, Stratford on Avon.

I’m trying to eliminate Arthur W Foster from my search for my grandfather. The Arthur I’m looking for was a Car Salesman / Dealer (according to my mother’s and aunts birth certificates) who may have been connected to a Midlands tailoring family. This Arthur may not be connected to me – I do however need to rule him out of my search. Do you know anything about his business / movements from 1930 – 1940? Do you know if he would have owned or sold American cars (Studebaker)?

I've written what I know about my grandfather Arthur Foster in the Foster thread.
Many thanks
Philippa
 
Hello Phillipa Sorry to go off thread but could you tell me how you went about obtaining the divorce records for your family member. Thanks Wendy
 
Hi Phillipa

Just having more info helps with the search and the first thing i have for you is confirmation of Arthur and May --

Arthur W Foster/ Violet M Turner 2nd qtr 1947 Birmingham 9c 1103

So, they wasted no time after the divorce, see what else i can find.

bren
 
Hi Wendy
I have no proof that Arthur is related to me - I'm hoping someone may have some information which will rule him out of my investigation or confirm I’m on the right track.

I’ve been searching for my grandfather – an Arthur Foster. Since he may have had connections with Foster Bros. (tailors) I thought that perhaps it could be Arthur Webster Foster, so I’ve been researching him. I got a copy of the divorce papers from the National Archive (J77/3574). Would you like a copy?

Kind regards
Philippa
 
Dear Bren
May is called May Turner in Arthur's divorce papers - was it common for incomplete names to be used. Why wasn’t she listed as Violet May Turner? He got divorced in 1937 so it took him 10 years to marry her.

In an earlier entry it was said that May was born in 1908 so she would have been 39 when she married. Do you know if Arthur and May had any children?

Since I'm not sure if this Arthur is connected to me do you know anyone who may know anything about his life? I've put a list of what I know about my Grandfather in the Foster thread.

Many thanks
Philippa
 
Philippa J said:
Dear Bren
May is called May Turner in Arthur's divorce papers - was it common for incomplete names to be used. Why wasn’t she listed as Violet May Turner? He got divorced in 1937 so it took him 10 years to marry her.

In an earlier entry it was said that May was born in 1908 so she would have been 39 when she married.Philippa
Click to expand...

Yes, i was surprised at the 10yr gap.
It was indeed, not unusual for people, for whatever reason, to alter their name and of course they was not as particular as we are these days about keeping track of their age or birthdays. One reason for names is, and i think it still applies these days, you could be registered with one name but christened with another and this takes precedence. Take Violet/May, this is the stuff headaches are made of lol, in the 2nd qtr 1907 there is a birth for Violet but these next two are puzzling --

May Turner 4th qtr 1908 Aston 6d 298
Violet Turner 3rd qtr 1909 Aston 6d 298

No sign of a Violet May, just coincidence they have the same ref number, ie, two different people or is a mistake in the records and it is the same person. With the info you already have it would seem the 1908 one is correct, i think a few of us could tell you "name" stories, mine was an uncle Harry that couldn't be found, reason, his name was Dennis, oh those wasted hours, he just didn't like his name so picked Harry for himself.
I also found a couple of births, yes i know they wasn't married --

Winston A Foster mmn Turner, 4th qtr 1941 Birmingham 6d 682
Janet M Foster mmn Turner, 3rd qtr 1942 Birmingham 6d 316


bren
 
Hi Bren
You've been busy - thank you. Are you a Foster or what is your interest in the Foster family? I suppose if Arthur was my Grandfather I may have another Aunty and Uncle and cousins. However I have no firm evidence to connect my family to his yet - just guess work. I may be barking up the wrong tree and be totally unrelated.

Do you have any ideas how I go about finding out Arthur's profession - I suppose I may get a clue from Winston's and Janet's birth certificates. I need somehow to connect this Arthur to Dorking / Exeter and Finsbury Park in 1933? - 1937. It would be great if he sold American cars.
You’re a star! Thanks a million for your help.
Philippa
 
Hi Philippa

I don't think Arthur W Foster had any children from what I have been told, If you have ancestry have a look at his war record it makes interesting reading.

I am doing some research on him and wondered If I could have a copy of the divorce papers, from what I have found out about him he was not a pleasant fellow and I would be interested in what they said.

regards
Steve
 
I recall being taken to Foster Brothers to be 'kitted out' for school....it was a very dignified procedure undertaken by an ancient old gentleman who moved at a sub-snail pace! Looking back I am amazed at the stock that was held - eg vests came in three types, in three weights, in three neck types, in all variations, in all sizes! Therefore, one might order a mid-weight, short-sleeved, round necked vest; or, a light weight, v-necked, sleeveless vest etc etc etc...what service! What quality! And all made in Britain, from quality cotton, made by British workers.....and they say that we've advanced since then?!?!?? These days you are lucky to get something that survives half a dozen washes! Progress; my Aunt Sally it is! (NOT my original choice of expression!)
 
Hi Philippa

I forgot to add that Arthur was a director at Foster Bros (menswear), probably from school, the business was started by his father in Yorkshire in the 1880s. I think Arthur spent all his life living in Birmingham mostly in Hall Green area.

Hope that helps

regards
Steve
 
d38uh32 said:
Hi,

It's only me who is researching the family tree. I know Alex was definately a member of the Foster Family. They did not have any children, May was my dad's sister. My aunt from my mom's side of the family remembers him quite well.

Thanks, Ness
Click to expand...


Hi
I am trying to find out what was the the cause of death for Arthur (Alex) as he died at 59 (trying to save £7.50), does your Aunt remember by any chance? Plus does she remember anything else about him?

regards
Steve
 
Hi Steve - It’s great to hear from you. You may not have seen my post on the ‘Foster’ thread but basically I think AWF may be my grandfather. Unfortunately most of my evidence is circumstantial.
My grandfather is listed on my mother’s and aunts birth certificates as car salesman/dealer. AWF’s profession on his divorce papers from Florence Braddock is Motor sales. It looks like he didn’t work for the family business in the 1930’s. I’ve got AWF’s divorce, marriage (to May Turner) and death certificates. It appears he may have died from a smoking related illness. I’m more than happy to send you copies of everything I have.
The Arthur Foster I’m looking for may have been a crook. My Aunt suspects he may have conned some money out of a local family.
He had three children with my grandmother (never married) and left her most of the time without any money to feed them. She left him when my Mum was 3 or 4 years old, my Aunt was smaller and she was pregnant with my second Aunt. She must have run away because, from the little she ever said, she had to shelter with her children in a rat infested barn. It was a big scandal in those days (to return to a village unmarried with children) and she was determined that my Mum and Aunts would never know who he was. The last contact with his children was around 1939/40.
All we have from him is a sample of his handwriting. My Aunt wheedled out of my great grandfather that he was connected to a midland's tailoring family, well educated and a good sportsman. My grandmother also went spare when Foster Bros. moved to our local town. As you can see the pieces tentatively fit.
I don’t have access to ancestry.com so would be really grateful if you could send me a copy of the information you have.
Steve are you a Foster or what is your interest in AWF?
By the way – I got Janet’s and Winston’s birth certificates – following a lead from Bren – they weren’t Arthur’s children.
I have explored Arthur’s family history – I wrote to the library in Pontefract a couple of years ago so know a bit about the Fosters. Arthur went to Repton and Cambridge – I’m trying to establish if he had a friendship or family connection with a man named White or Ramsay – my grandmother was a nanny for this family (lots of money – lived in/near Dorking).
 
Hi,

I have only recently returned to Birmingham History Forum after quite a few months away. My aunt was definately the May Turner who married Arthur Foster and they didn't have any children. I didn't know that he had been married before so could some kind soul let me have a copy of his divorce papers. They did live in Stratford for a time too. Arthur died of a heart attack as far as I know. Ness
 
Hi Ness
Of course - I will copy them for you - do you want a copy of May's and Arthur's marriage certificate too? Just let me know your address.
I would be really grateful for any information you have about Arthur - do you have a picture or a sample of his handwriting? As you probably appreciate from the messages on the Forum, I'm trying to establish if he was my grandfather. I have no proof only hearsay. Do you know Arthur's business dealings – other than Foster brothers?
My Mum is now in her mid-seventies and I would really love to be able to tell her who her father was.
Kind regards Philippa
 
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