• Welcome to this forum . We are a worldwide group with a common interest in Birmingham and its history. While here, please follow a few simple rules. We ask that you respect other members, thank those who have helped you and please keep your contributions on-topic with the thread.

    We do hope you enjoy your visit. BHF Admin Team

Foster

Frank Parker

Frank Parker

https://frankparker.website
Hi,

As mentioned on this thread https://forum.birminghamhistory.co.uk/showthread.php?t=16311&highlight=foster I am trying to find out as much as I can about The Foster Family, some who ran the well known clothing company Foster Brothers, for a book I am going to write.

Can anyone please help me find out information regarding their birth, marriage and death certificates so I can compile a Family Tree? The following is all I know:

Harry (known as Henry) 1880-1960 was married to Dora 1885-1950. Their Daughter was Betty 1910-1995. Betty married Dawson Collins on June 2nd 1934. This was also the day that Harry and Dora celebrated their Silver Wedding Anniversary.
Betty had 2 Sisters Sheila and Pam.
Harry's Father was William 1852-1914 and Mother Elizabeth 1860-1943.
Harry's Grandfather was John 1829-1921 and Grandmother Ann 1829?-1921.
I think Harry had a sister named Florrie 1882-1947 and 3 Brother's, Frank 1889-1958, Arthur 1894-1954 and Edgar 1898-1976.

Also if you have any of the above in your Family Tree somewhere please get in touch.

Thank you. :)
 
Last edited:
Hi,

When you said "Can anyone please help me find out information regarding their birth, marriage and death certificates so I can compile a Family Tree" what exactly are you after?

Is it the information on the certificate itself or the index numbers so you can order the certificates from the GRO?

Doug
 
Hi Doug. Sorry I should of made more sense but it was late when I posted this thread! lol

I would appreciate anything really like photo's etc. but things like the following examples are an help:

Birth: Beatrice M Allcott mmn Townsend 1st qtr 1936 Wolverhampton Vol6b Page748
Marriage: Oliver Allcott mmn Townsend 4th qtr 1939 Wolverhampton 6b 1300
Death: Pamela E Allcott 1st qtr 1967 12yrs Wolverhampton 9B 959

 Those are the index's aren't they?

Cheers, Frank. :)
 
Last edited:
Hi Frank,

You are correct in that they are in indexes. They don't tell you much however and when creating a family tree it is always wise to order the actual certificate using the reference from the index. This can be done using the GRO web site. Mind you, at 7 pound a pop it can get expensive.

If you get the certificate you will have additional information which should confirm you have found the right person in the index. For example, a birth certificate will usually give you the full name of the parents, the place and date of birth and the occupation of the father. A marriage certificate will usually give you the name and age of the parties and the name and occupation of the fathers along with the place and ate of the marriage. The names of the witness may also provide some clues for you.

Marriages June Quarter 1934
Collins Stephen D Spouse Foster Sutton Coldf'd 6d 1300 (NOTE Name of groom)
Foster Betty D Spouse Collins Sutton Coldf'd 6d 1300

Births September Quarter 1909
Stephen Dawson Collins Aston 6d 431

A possible birth for Betty
Births June Quarter 1910
Foster Betty Dorothea Kings Norton 6c 369
(If you get this certificate it will give you the maiden name of her mother)

A possible marriage of Dora and Harry

Marriages June Quarter 1909
Foster William Henry King's N 6c 901
Webster Dora King's N 6c 901

It is a tad late here so I am off to bed and will leave it to others to add more detail.

However, you may find the FreeBMD site useful. It is a work in progress but they have almost completed to the end of the 1920's.

Doug
 
Cheers! I do know a bit about researching a Family Tree but it's always good to be reminded! Thanks Doug, much appreciated. :)
 
Hi Frank, here are William and Elizabeth with their family in 1901. Harry or Henry is shown only as W. H. he is assistant clothier to his father. Daughter shown as F.D. William senior born Lincoln, Elizabeth, W. H. and F.D. all born Pontefract Yorkshire. The other 2 children born Birmingham. the rest of the household are the Cook, Housemaid and Nurse.

Name:Wiliam Foster
Age:48
Estimated Birth Year:abt 1853
Relation:Head
Spouse's Name:Elizabeth
Gender:Male
Where born:Lincoln, Lincolnshire
England Civil Parish:Yardley
Ecclesiastical parish:Moseley St Mary
Town:Wake Green
County
Worcestershire Country
address:Mel Valley Wake Green Road
Occupation Clothing manufacturer


NameAge Arthur W Foster 6 son
Edgar Foster 2 son
Elizabeth Foster 41 wife
F D Foster 18 dau
W H Foster 20 son
Wiliam Foster 48 head
Maria Lees 28
Harriett Parlett 22
Jeanie Raybone 24
 
Last edited:
William Foster married Elizabeth Robotham March quarter 1879 ref 9c 124

William Henry Foster birth March quarter 1881 Pontefract ref 9c 128

There are two births shown for a William Foster in Louth 1852 June quarter 1852 ref 7a 503 and 7a 505
 
Last edited:
It would seem that the Foster clothing Empire was started by William senior, here he is in Pontefract in 1881, with Elizabeth and the young William Henry

Name:William Foster
Age:28
Estimated Birth Year:abt 1853
Relation:Head
Spouse's Name:Elizabeth
Gender:Male
Where born:Lincoln,
Civil Parish Pontefract
CountyYorkshire
Street address:Friarwood Road
Occupation:Clothier (Dlr)Registration district Pontefract Household Members:NameAgeWilliam Foster 28
Elizabeth Foster 21
William H Foster 4 mo
Agnes Stephenson 22



 
Last edited:
Procat said:
Hope I wasn't teaching you to suck eggs there Frank. :)

Doug
Click to expand...

Of course not Doug, I hope I didn't sound like I was being clever. It wasn't my intention. I appreciate everyone's help on the forum, regardless if I know some of it or not. I don't know that much anyway and what I do I bloody forget! lol :)
 
Hi Frank: I am putting on a very good site I came across a while ago
regarding some of the leading families who lived in Sutton Coldfield over the centuries plus other marked historical events in what was once The Royal City and a lot of about the Mills in the area over the centuries. Sadly, no mention of Fosters but much about the famous citizens and their homes over time. I have spent a lot of time in Sutton Coldfield over the years and my brother lives on Lichfield Road. This site fills in quite a bit of history and was put together by a citizen of Sutton Coldfield although a Lancastrian by birth.
I know other forum members who have lived in Sutton Coldfield or still do will find this site interesting. https://suttoncoldfieldatoz.com/
 
Last edited:
Thank you Jenny, I will have a look at that. It sounds good. There is a lot about Sutton Coldfield I am not aware of! :)
 
Hello Frank. I found Frank R Foster for you. He was aged 12 a student at St Alphege college Solihull. To be on a census you must have occupied the address the night the census was taken, so Frank boarded at the college. If you put a request on the Kelly's section you may find out what St Alphege college taught. I wonder if it may have been Divinity.

Here are the family in 1891
Name:William Foster
Age:38
Estimated Birth Year:abt 1853
Relation:Head
Spouse's Name:Elizabeth
Gender:Male
Where born:Billingham, Lincolnshire,
Civil Parish:Aston
Ecclesiastical parish:St Oswald
Town:Bordesley Warwickshire
Street address: 414 Coventry Road
Occupation: Clothier
Registration district:Aston
Sub registration district Deritend
Household Members:Name Age
Eliza Blade 26 Servant
Elizabeth Foster 31
Florence B Foster 8
Frank R Foster 2
William Foster 38
William H Foster 10
Annie Purdiss 18 Servant
 
Last edited:
A bit of information for anyone interested:

Frank Foster played County Cricket for Warwickshire (there is a possibility he may of played for England as well?!). There is a road named after him called Foster Way. I also think that two more players, named Tom Dollery and Bill Hollies, have roads named after them as well but not sure what or where?

Frank's Brother Arthur also played for WCC in 1914 but only one match It is understood! Arthur also played Football for Birmingham City in 1918 scoring 2 goals as an inside left.

If you can help with any information on the above please go to https://forum.birminghamhistory.co.uk/showthread.php?t=19554 and
https://forum.birminghamhistory.co.uk/showthread.php?t=19555 and let me know, cheers!:)
 
Last edited:
Are you still researching your book? I am trying to find out more about the Fosters too. Florence Beatrice Foster lived in 'Mel Valley' Wake Green Road with her family when she married Arthur John Rudge a florist (Rudge and Sons Cotteridge), they married without her family's knowledge and there was apparently a scandal as her family considered that she had married beneath her status.

The story is that the marriage was annulled although I can't find any evidence of that or a divorce. All I do know is that Uncle Jack as he was known never in fact it would appear he never found love again. I'd love to know what happened to Florence if you have any information I would be very grateful.

Georgina
 

Arthur Foster - possible connection to Midlands tailoring family


I was wondering if anyone researching the Foster family could help me discover who my grandfather was. He is named on my Mother’s and Aunts birth certificates as Arthur Foster. I don’t think my grandmother Florence Foster married him – I can’t find a marriage certificate

My Mum and Aunt were born in Exeter in May 1935 and December 1936 respectively - their births were registered from two different addresses - which suggests they were lodgings. Arthur’s occupation is listed as Motor Car Salesman & Motorcar Dealer and Salesman. My grandmother left my grandfather before Dec 1937 and returned to the family home (she was penniless). We know this because Arthur sent a Christmas card to his baby daughter at my great grandparents address (post marked Dec 24 1937 - FinsburyPark).

Arthur visited my Mum a couple of times before he disappears completely around 1939/40. She remembers he drove an American car – probably a Studebaker.

What we know about Arthur:
He was supposedly much older than my grandmother who was born in 1913.
My great grandfather told my Mum that Arthur came from a Midlands tailoring family so I’m wondering if there could be a connection to Foster Brothers.
My grandmother worked in Dorking as a nanny so could have met Arthur there.
It is rumoured that Arthur won a medal for pulling a pilot from a burning aeroplane.
Arthur's brother may have been a solicitor
He may have played regimental hockey and may have been in one of the Lancashire regiments (I’m not sure if any of these are true).
There may be a connection to the Plymouth Brethren.

PLEASE can anyone help?

 
Hi,

Don't know whether you are still following this thread, but I may be able to add more information as I am a descendant of W H Foster.
 
Hi,

Came across this thread by accident, but may be able to help. My great-uncle was Arthur Webster Foster. He was born 12 August 1894 - this would make him around 42 when your mother and aunt were born. I don't have a date for his death, as the photocopy of the family tree that I have is incomplete and I can only give the date as 19 Jan 19?? - could probably find out though. He married a Florence (unknown surname) and subsequently divorced. I don't unfortunately have dates for either marriage or divorce. Arthur Webster Foster was a brother of WH Foster who was MD and Chairman of Foster Brothers Clothing Co; their father founded the firm. My understanding, from one of my cousins, is that "Arthur distinguished himself by getting into regular trouble for desertion during his chequered military career". This seems to have been one of those family anecdotes passed down through the generations and unfortunately I cannot add anything further. Could this be the same Arthur Foster?
 
Lydden said:
Hi,

Don't know whether you are still following this thread, but I may be able to add more information as I am a descendant of W H Foster.
Click to expand...

Hi Lydden - it is very exciting to hear from you.

Yes! - I think it is the same Arthur. Arthur Webster Foster (possibly my grandfather - but no proof yet) married Florence Braddock in Oldham on 28th December 1922. WH Foster was a witness. Arthur’s profession is listed as a Motor Salesman (his father = William Foster deceased - clothier). Arthur was 28 and Florence 29. Florence divorced him in 1936 for having an affair with Violet May Turner. He married May 10 years later in 1946. I don't know if he had any children with Florence - do you?? He died from Carcinoma of the Oesophagus and Bronchitis and Emphysema on 19th Jan 1954.

Arthur went to Downing College Cambridge in 1912 (I don't know what he studied). He joined the army in 1914. He is listed in 'The Griffin', the student magazine, where his unit is given as PS Battalion (the Royal Fusiliers - Public Schools). The Public School Battalions were disbanded or merge into others after a year or two so I think that is why he is listed under the Warwickshire Regiment too.
I've been sent the army records for Arthur Webster Foster who wasn't the best of soldiers however I'm not sure it is the same person since the records relate to the Coldstream Guards not the Warwickshire regiment. I'm investigating!

Arthur was a keen sportsman, playing football and cricket for his college. His sporting exploits are listed on Wikipedia https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Arthur_Foster.

Do you know anything about Arthur's movements in the 1930-40's. It would be great if you could send me a picture of the family with Arthur in it. Was one of his brothers a solicitor? Do you have a sample of his handwriting? Sorry for so many questions!
Please keep in touch! (Philippa Jones – pippjones@gmail.com)
 
Lydden said:
Hi,

Don't know whether you are still following this thread, but I may be able to add more information as I am a descendant of W H Foster.
Click to expand...

Hello, great to hear from you. Can you tell me if you know what happened to Beatrice Florence foster, sister of WH Foster? She was married to my great uncle Jack (Arthur John Rudge) but they were separated by the family as being an unsuitable match. Have never found a divorce but have wondered what happened to her.

My email address is Georgina_Sheldon@yahoo.co.UK if you wish to contact me directly.

Georgina
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top