James Foster

Anne Griffin v Susannah Haythorne

gnarlytree Anne Griffins, James Foster , , , , ,

Who is Susannah Haythorne?

James Foster was a convict, born in Sussex and arrived in Tasmania per Isabella on 21 May 1842. His convict records state that he was tried at Sussex on 22 March 1841. He received transportation for life for Burglary of money, wearing apparel and a watch from Mr. Holland, aged 23, single, protestant, cannot right or write. NP Horseman Hill, Sussex; father Thomas, has 4 brothers & 4 sisters.

James Forster married Anne Griffin at Franklin Village Chapel on 24 June 1851. He was 30, widower, a ticket of leave convict and signed with his mark; she was 20, unmarried, a prisoner and signed her named. RGD37/1/10 no 642.

Anne Griffin was also a convict, born in County Cavan and arrived in Tasmania per Lord Auckland on 10 January 1849. Her convict records state that she was tried at Fermanagh on 2 March 1848. She received 7 years transportation for stealing clothes from unknown person in Enniskillen; aged 19, single, protestant, can read, Nursery maid, NP Co. Cavan, Brothers – William, John & James, Sister – Sarah.

The children of James Foster and Anne Griffin are:

  • Harriet Foster 1852, no birth record found. Harriet married Harry Perry on 14 April 1869 in the house of James Foster at Skelbrook, aged 17. RGD37/1/28 no 588; Harriet Perry died on 28 June 1875. RGD35/1/44 no 757
  • Martha Foster 1854, no birth record found. Martha died 12 September 1864 at Port Sorell. She was 10-year-old daughter of farmer, informant James X Foster, farmer at New Ground. RGD35/1/33 no 447
  • Charles Foster 29 September 1856 at Deloraine, father James Foster, farmer, mother Ann Griffin, informant James X Foster, father, farmer, Whiteford Hills. RGD33/1/34 no 255
  •  Fanny (Frances) Forster 30 November 1859 at Deloraine, father James Forster, farmer, mother Ann Griffith, informant Ann X Forster, mother Whiteford Hills. RGD33/1/37 no 245
  • James Foster 26 November 1860 at Port Sorell, father James Foster, farmer, mother Ann Foster, informant James Foster, Skelbrook.RGD33/1/38 no 1990. James died on the same day RGD35/1/29 no 927.
  • Unnamed Female Foster 8 May 1862 at Port Sorell, father James Foster, farmer, mother Ann Foster, informant R H Davies for James Foster, Farmer, Skelbrook.RGD 33/1/40 no 1361.
  • James Foster 1 December 1864 at Port Sorell, father James Foster, farmer, mother Ann Griffin, informant James X Foster, farmer, Sassafrass.RGD33/1/42 no 1613
  • Hugh (Euphemia) Elizabeth Jane Foster 21 October 1866 at Port Sorell, father James Foster, farmer, mother Anne Griffith, informant James X Foster, farmer, Skelbrook. RGD33/1/44 no 1314

The next three births are registered as children of James and Susan/Susannah Haythorne/Athorn between 1868 and 1875:

  • Susan Foster born 10 December 1868; Port Sorell; father James Foster, farmer; mother Susan Haythorne; informant Charles Foster, son, Skelbrook. RGD33/1/46 no 1433
  • Ruth Foster born 4 August 1872; Port Sorell, father James Foster, farmer; mother Susannah Haythorne; informant Charles Foster, farmer, Kindred Plains.RGD33/1/50 no 1403; Baptism record states DOB 16 June 1872; bapt 18 August 1872, parents James and Susannah Foster. Ancestry FHL Film No. 992690
  • Emily Harriet Foster born 22 August 1875, Ulverstone, father James Foster, farmer; mother Susannah Athorn; informed by letter from father James Foster, Kindred. RGD33/1/53 no 1773
    Emily Harriet died on 28 June 1886 from burns. She was a 13-year-old farmer’s daughter, and the informant was James Foster, brother, Kindred. RGD35/1/55 no 1191.
    Her death notice states at Kindred, River Forth, youngest daughter of James and Fanny

There is no marriage for James Foster and Susan/Susannah Haythorne/Athorn. There is no death for Susannah. Apart from the above, I can find no further records for a Susan/Susannah Haythorne/Athorn.

I can find no further records for Susan or Ruth Foster. In Ancestry I found reference which stated that Susan Foster moved to South Africa and Ruth Foster moved to New Zealand. There were no other details or evidence provided.

In 1887, S Foster placed a memorial for the death of her sister Emily Harriet.

TROVE, Launceston Examiner (Tas:1842-1899), Tuesday, 28 June 1887, page 1

Other noteworthy details are:

  • Son Charles was informant for the births of Susan in 1868 and Ruth in 1872.
  • James Foster and Susannah Foster were witnesses to the marriage Frances Foster and Levi Titmus on 10 July 1882. RGD37/1/41 no 893
  • Ann Foster, grandmother, Kindred was informant to birth of Charles’ 2nd son Ashleigh Thomas James Foster in 1885. RGD33/1/64 no 3303
  • Son James was the informant for the death of Emily Harriet in 1886.
  • Son Charles’ 3rd son was named Oakleigh Haythorn Riggs Foster in 1888. (Riggs is maiden name of Charles’ wife)
  • When Euphemia married in 1894 she stated that her mother’s name was Susannah Heathorn. VIC BDM 1528/1894

James Foster died in 1888 and bequeathed everything to his widow, Ann Foster – AD960-1-16 will no B559. Will witnessed by Levi Titmus, son-in-law.

There is evidence in TROVE that Anne Foster was resident as Kindred in 1891 and 1895:

TROVE – NOTICE – If James and Ann Foster do not complete their boundary fence within one month from date, it will be proceeded with by the undersigned and the expense of the above named. C. Foster Kindred 10 Oct 1891. This would be son James, mother Ann and son Charles.

TROVE – ULVERST0NE.POLICE COURT – William Mather pleaded guilty to being on the premises of one Ann Foster, at Kindred, for an unlawful purpose, and was sentenced to 14 days’ imprisonment with hard labour at Devonport Gaol. Sep 1895

 

Ann Foster died in 1913 at Scottsdale where her son James was the Police Constable.

Details from Tasmanian Death certificate No. 925/1913

Ann Foster, died 5 September 1913 at Scottsdale, aged 82, born Ireland. Widowed with issue (from all relationships) Living Males 2, Living Females 5; Deceased Males 1, deceased females 4. Last spouse James Foster, residency in Australia 40 years. Cause of death Paralytic seizure, failure of heart. Informant Undertaker Scottsdale.

That is a total of 12children, 5 deceased and 7 living (2 sons & 5 daughters).

I have only found records for 11 children; 5 deceased and 6 living (2 sons & 4 daughters).

Therefore, there may be another female which has not yet been identified or it could be a mistake. However, I think they would have known how many living daughters there were, so I believe there is still another daughter to be found, possibly between Susan & Ruth about 1870.

TROVE, The North West Post (Formby, Tas.:1887-1916), Monday 15 September 1913, page 2

 

So, if James Foster married Anne Griffin in 1851 and Anne was still living until 1913 why were the 3 children born from 1868 – 1875 registered with mother’s name as Susan/Susannah Haythorne/Athorn?

When Anne died in 1913 the children were:

Harriet, deceased 1875
Martha, deceased 1864
Charles, living
Fanny, living
James, deceased 1860
Unnamed Female, probably deceased 1862
James, living
Euphemia, living
Susan, living
Ruth, living
Emily Harriet, deceased 1886

So, who is Susannah Haythorne? Are Anne & Susannah one person? Why the name change?