Let’s get this out of the way.
Somewhere… sometime… someone decided that John M. Foster of Union County married a woman named Catherine Palmer Adair. The “research” was very flawed, and unfortunately, spread like wildfire. There are countless family trees with this incorrect information.
John M. Foster was my great-great-great grandfather. I want to set the record straight.
John M. Foster of Union County was NEVER married to Catherine Palmer Adair, daughter of Kentucky governor John Adair.
Debunking Myths: John M. Foster and Catherine Adair
JOHN FOSTER, THE FATHER
John M. Foster of Union County, South Carolina was born in 1788 near Grindal Shoals on the Pacolet River. His father was John Foster (1752-1836), who was in Union County by 1783.
THE LAST WILL AND TESTAMENT OF JOHN FOSTER
John Foster signed his name to his Last Will and Testament on July 10, 1831. It was recorded on February 12, 1836.
He mentioned wife Mary, sons Fredrick, John, Jared, and Thomas, and grandson Jeremiah son of Fredrick. His remaining children were referred to as “all of my children” and remaining grandchildren as “the children of my son John” and “the children of my son Jared.”
Joseph Stark Sims, James Moseley, and Samuel Hampton — each man served as a witness when John Foster signed his Last Will and Testament.
Samuel Hampton was a grandson-in-law of John Foster. He had married Delilah Foster, eldest daughter of John’s son, John M. Foster.
Henry Gault was the administrator of the estate.
The estate of John Foster was appraised by James Moseley, Daniel Gallman, and Z. (Zachariah) Johnson on March 22, 1836. The estate auction followed immediately.
Because of coverture and the inheritance laws of the time, Mary Foster had to buy her deceased husband’s possessions at the estate auction. It seems an unfair practice to us today, but a wife had no legal identity, and limited inheritance rights. She was considered to be property herself.
Mary Foster “bought” most of the items at the auction. To be honest, I do not know if she had to actually pay for anything. The words “paid” or “settled” were written on each line containing the buyer’s name, a description of the item, and the sold price of the item. “Paid” and “settled” were never written beside the items that Mary bought.
Who were John Foster’s parents? Where was he born? Where was he before he came to South Carolina?
John Foster’s origins are unknown to me.
There were Fosters who immigrated from England into Massachusetts, and from there, to Maryland. There were other Fosters who immigrated from England into Virginia.
It would be pure speculation on my part to take this Foster line beyond this John Foster for many reasons:
- The surname Foster was common in Union County SC in the 19th century.
- The paper trails are not well documented.
- There are many on-line Foster family trees with obvious mistakes.
- Much needed, extensive DNA testing to sort them out has not been done.
MARY MCELFRESH, THE MOTHER
The mother of John M. Foster was Mary “Molley” Macklefrish (1756-after 1830), late of Arrundal County Maryland and a descendant of the Macklefrish family from bonnie Scotland.
SCOTTISH BEGINNINGS
The surname Macklefrish, — Maclefish, McElfresh, Mackelfresh, McElfish, McLefresh, McKelfresh, and McLish — is Scottish in origin. It is thought to come from the Old Gaelic “MacGhille Bhris,” meaning “son of the servant of Saint Bricius,” a saint popular in Scotland between the 12th and 14th centuries. The surname is believed to be from the Hebrides, but early records also show it in the Lowlands near Edinburgh.
Many individuals with the McElfresh surname in the United States can trace their lineage back to David Macklefrish, who emigrated from Scotland to Maryland in the 1690s.
Mary McElfresh –wife of John Foster — is one of these individuals.
Son of John Macklefreishe and Jonet Thomsone, David Mackelfrish was christened on June 27, 1658, in South Leith Parish, Midlothian County, Scotland.
David married Alice Jones in Londontowne, Anne Arundel, Maryland, around 1694. They had six children: Richard, John, Mary, Jane, David, and Thomas.
David Mackelfrish was a Mariner, Inn Keeper, and London Town’s first Ferry Keeper. He was a significant land owner and held the unofficial title of “Lord Mayor” of London Town due to his extensive property ownership.
David Macklefresh died in 1711 in London Town, Anne Arundel County, Maryland, and was buried in All Hallow’s Parish.
His will, dated May 15, 1709, and probated on August 15, 1711, divided his property among his children. After his death, his wife, Alice, continued to operate the ferry and tavern.
JANE PICKENS, THE WIFE
Jane Pickens was born about 1793 in Union County, South Carolina.
Jane was one of four daughters of James Pickens (1770–1807) and Martha McWhirter (1772–1846).
Jane’s Sisters:
- Mary Pickens (1789-1865) married Frederick Foster (1787–1864), brother of John M. Foster
- Martha Pickens (1795-183rd) married James Moseley (1756-1840) in Nov 1833 at the home of John M. Foster
- Elizabeth Pickens (1798-1883) married Jordan Johnson (1794-1872)
Jane Pickens married John M. Foster about 1810.
Jane and John lived many years together at their home near Grindal Shoals, and they were blessed with many children and grandchildren. There were difficult times in their lives — they lived through the Civil War and lost a son on the battlefield — but one has to hope there were also good times and joy.
CENSUS EVIDENCE OF TEN CHILDREN
An in-depth analysis of the census records 1810-1860 suggests that John M. Foster and his wife Jane Pickens were the parents of ten children. Six daughters and four sons.
There are gaps between some births. This indicates there may have been children who did not live long enough to be enumerated in a census record.
THE SONS AND DAUGHTERS OF JOHN M. FOSTER
DELILAH FOSTER (1811-after 1880)
Delilah Foster was the firstborn child of John M. Foster and Jane Pickens. She was born in 1811. She married Samuel Hampton in 1829.
1830 Union County SC Census:
Samuel Hampton (20-29) — born in 1808; Samuel would have been 24 years old
Delilah (15-19) — born in 1811; Delilah would have been 19 years old
Males (< 5) — twin son born 1830
Female (<5) — twin daughter born 1830
Twin births were common for these Fosters. Delilah may have had two sets of twins; her sister Nancy Abigail had twins, and her brother William was the father of twins.
Delilah Foster and Samuel Hampton had a large family. Although I am still researching, I have found evidence of thirteen children: nine daughters and four sons.
Of the four sons, three died as infants, and only one —John Gray Hampton — lived to adulthood.
John Gray Hampton was born in 1850. He was murdered by B.F. Bates near Pacolet, SC in 1871. The killing was of a political nature involving Klu Klux Klan activities, radical and democratic misunderstandings. The story warrants its own article which I will write in the very near future.
Samuel Hampton and wife Delilah were living in 1871 at the time of their son John Gray’s untimely death. There are conflicting records as to the actual dates of their own deaths. More research forthcoming….
JAMES P. FOSTER
(1813–after 1870)
There is little documentation on the son named James. Many on-line family trees have his date of birth as 1830, give or take a year or two. This is incorrect and I will tell you why.
The 1820 Union County Census supports my research: John M. Foster and his wife Jane had two sons and two daughters born before the census which was conducted starting on Monday, August 7, 1820.
It is my belief that James P. Foster was the first born son, that his name was James Pickens Foster, and that he was born about 1813. My analysis of the document below will show my reasoning of the former statement.
On August 18, 1822, John Foster of Union District gifted his two grandsons — James and Thomas — a gray mare. The document was witnessed by four men, one being Jarred Foster, son of John Foster and uncle to the two boys.
James and Thomas Foster, the two lucky little boys who were given the horse, were the sons of John M. Foster and Jane Pickens Foster. Both boys had to have been born well BEFORE 1822.
The name of grandson James was written before the name of grandson Thomas — twice! This leads me to believe that James was the older of the two.
“The Old Gray Mare Document” is all I have. Well, I do have speculation and theory shown below, but it is going to take more work to confirm.
Theory and Speculation
There is a James P. Foster in the 1850 Greenville County, SC Census who is the right age to be the eldest son of John M. Foster. The naming pattern and the use of the name “Pickens” suggest that I am on the right track.
James P. Foster married to Jane A. about 1840, and there were three children born — Caroline Foster in 1842; Isabel Foster in 1845; and Pickens B. Foster in 1848.
James P. Foster married Mary Blasingame on January 8, 1852. A daughter, Mary, was born in 1853.
Census records for James P. Foster, if he was the son of John M. Foster, certainly explain why he was not found in Union County. He was on a years-long journey that would take him and his family to Georgia, and eventually on to Texas.
Census Records 1850-1880
- 1850 • Greenville, South Carolina; Occupation: Farmer (age 37)
- 1860 • Mount Yonah, White, Georgia; Occupation: Farmer (age 47)
- 1870 •Resaca, Gordon, Georgia; Occupation: Farm Laborer (age 57)
- 1880 • Precinct 3, Grayson, Texas; Occupation: Farmer; (age 66)
I do not know if James P. Foster married to Jane, married to Mary, and father of four children was the son of John M. Foster and Jane Pickens Foster. I have decided not to include my research on this family at this time only because of my uncertainty.
I have, however, included James P. Foster, his two speculative wives and four speculative children in the pedigree chart at the end of this article.
I will revise this section if and when more information comes to light proving my theory.
MARY FOSTER
(1818–1871)
Mary Foster was born January 24, 1818, although census records suggest she was born as early as 1815.
She was named after her grandmother Mary. As an older daughter, she would have helped her mother take care of her younger siblings. This experience was to become beneficial when she married a widower with children from a first marriage.
In 1820. give or take a year —Charles McWhirter (b. 1793) had married Elizabeth Fowler (b. 1793), a daughter of Godfrey Fowler (1773-1850), son of Henry Ellis Fowler (1746-1808).
Elizabeth Fowler birthed three McWhirter sons and one (or three?) daughter(s). One of the sons was named Belton McWhirter (b. 1822).
Elizabeth Fowler McWhirter died before 1836. Charles McWhirter married the much younger Mary Foster circa 1838.
Mary Foster McWhirter birthed two McWhirter sons and four daughters. She also raised the children of first wife Elizabeth Fowler.
Mary Foster McWhirter’s stepson Belton McWhirter married her sister, Nancy Abigail Foster.
Sitting down? Mary Foster’s sister Nancy Abigail Foster was also her stepdaughter-in-law. Such are the tangled relationships between the Fosters, Fowlers, Hames, and McWhirter families.
Charles McWhirter died on March 24, 1868. Mary Foster McWhirter died May 18, 1871. They rest in peace in the graveyard at Bogansville United Methodist Church.
THOMAS T. FOSTER
(1820–1903)
Dark hair, dark eyes, dark complexion. Thomas Foster was swarthy. Perhaps it was his genetics passed down to his granddaughter –my grandmother — Lois Ellenor Mabry that gave her the deep olive skin and dark eyes that she passed on to her children.
Thomas T. Foster is my great great grandfather. He was born in Union County, SC in 1820.
He married Mahala Fowler (1821-after 1870). She was the daughter of Joseph Fowler (1800-1852) and Delilah McWhirter (1802-1827). Joseph Fowler was the son of Godfrey Fowler (1774-1850), son of Henry Ellis Fowler (1746-1808).
Thomas T. Foster and Mahala Fowler had three daughters — Eliza, Alice, Delilah Josephine — and one son, Robert Foster.
Thomas T. Foster can be found in 1850, 1860, 1870, 1880, and 1900 census records.
- Thomas T. Foster 32
- Mahala Foster 29
- Eliza Foster 8
- Robert Foster 4
- Thomas Foster 40
- Mahala Foster 38
- Robin Foster 14
- Alice Foster 3
- Thomas Foster 45
- Mahale Foster 40
- Alice Foster 12
- Josephine Foster 9
- Thomas T. Foster 58
- Mary C. Foster 45
- Alice G. Foster 20
- Josie D. Foster 18
- Thomas Foster 79
- Mary Foster 61
Thomas Foster enlisted in the Confederate Army 5th SC Infantry, Company E on April 13. 1861 at the Union Court House — same day and military company as his brother Henry Foster. It is from his military records that we learn of his swarthy appearance as well as his 5’8″ frame, short by today’s standards but average height in the 1800s.
Unlike many of his fellow comrades, Thomas Foster survived the war and returned home to his family.
After Mahala‘s death in the very early 1870s, Thomas married Mary Catherine Gossett December 29, 1872..
Mary Catherine Gossett (1835-1918) was the daughter of Moses Gossett (1803-1856) and Nancy White (1811-1872). Moses Gossett was convicted of slave stealing and he was hung on July 11, 1856.
Mary Catherine Gossett was the widow of Leonard Campbell and they had two daughters: Mary Jane (1856-1935 married to Samuel Harmon (1848-1900) and Emily (b. 1859).
Leonard Campbell died in the Union Army prison in Elmira, Chemung County, New York on March 28, 1865 near the end of the civil war.
Thomas T. Foster died October 1, 1903. He was buried at Gilead Baptist Church under a tree where his first wife Mahala had already been laid to rest. His second wife Mary Catherine Gossett would be buried at Gilead in 1918.
Thomas T. Foster was known as both Thomas T. Foster and Thomas J. Foster. I found one instance of an unusual middle name — Boozer — for him in the obituary of his daughter Alice G. Foster Fowler Horne.
NANCY ABIGAIL FOSTER
(1823–1886)
Nancy Abigail Foster was born February 1823. She married Belton McWhirter (1822-1854) circa 1844. It was a good match. Belton McWhirter had a solid line of descent from the McWhirter and Hames families on his paternal side; Fowler and Kelly ancestors on his maternal side.
It should be mentioned that Nancy Foster and Belton McWhirter were distantly related through the McWhirter line that they shared. Endogamy was common in these small, almost isolated areas in South Carolina.
The marriage lasted only a decade due to the untimely death of Belton McWhirter in 1854.
Four sons and one daughter had been born in the ten short years: Thomas in 1845, twins Gadbury and Asbury in 1848, Henry in 1851, and daughter Addie in 1854
A note of interest — Asbury McWhirter married his cousin, Anna Kansas Fowler (1858-1939). She was the daughter of Charles Ellis Fowler (1828-1900), son of Thomas Gillman Fowler (1798-1880) Godfrey Fowler (1773-1850) son of Henry Ellis Fowler (1746-1808).
One more — Addie McWhirter married Thaddeus Lemuel Hames (1842-1902), son of Lemuel J. Hames (1802-1867), who mother was Nancy Foster (1774-1867), daughter of John Foster (1757-1832) and Mary McElfresh (b. 1756).
The last census record in which Nancy Abigail Foster McWhirter appeared was in 1880 in Jonesville, Union County SC. She was fifty-one years old; her thirty-two year old son Gadbury was in her household.
Gadbury would marry the next year, and would be in Texas with his young family by 1900.
Nancy Abigail Foster McWhirter out-lived her husband by more than forty years. She died in 1896, and was laid to rest next to Belton McWhirter in the Bogansville United Methodist Church Cemetery.
WILLIAM ANDREW FOSTER
(1825–1888)
William Foster was born December 15, 1825. He married Margaret Clementine Kerr (1829–after 1910) in Rutherford County, NC on July 1, 1846.
The William Foster family is found in 1850-1880 Union County SC census records.
Newly married with one son in their home, William and Clementine lived next door to his father John M. Foster in 1850. William and his brother Henry worked on their father’s plantation.
I have conducted a quick search for military records for William Foster. There are several men with the name who served in the Confederate army, but I do not have concrete proof that William, son of John M. Foster, was one of these soldiers. There was a gap in the births of his children — 1860 to 1864 — that suggests William may have been on a battlefield. I will continue to search.
William and Clementine Foster remained in Union County, and their family expand to seven sons –including twin boys — and two daughters.
William Foster died in 1888.
His widow Clementine survived him more than twenty years. Some on-line family trees show Clementine as having married a William Vaughn in Tennessee in 1873. Please, check your research!
Clementine Kerr Foster was in the 1880 household of her husband, William Foster in Union County, SC. She was also counted in the 1910 Greenville County, SC census with her youngest son, William C. Foster and his family.
I do not know where William Andrew Foster and his darling Clementine rest. I do intend to research this branch of the family Foster in hopes of finding direct-descended Foster males to yDNA test.
HENRY M. FOSTER
(1830–1862)
Henry M. Foster was born April 1, 1830 near Grindal Shoals. His father had 25 acres of farm land, and 89 acres of unimproved property. There were no enslaved people in the Foster household. William and his brother Henry worked the land.
Henry was in the 1850 and 1860 census records in the home of his parents. There is no evidence that he married or had children.
Life was probably pretty good for young Henry. And then, the war began.
Like many Union County boys, Henry Foster wasted no time in joining the Confederate Army. He enlisted on April 13, 1861 at the Union Court House in the 5th South Carolina Infantry, Company E. He was mustered into service on June 4, 1861 in Orangeburg, SC.
Henry Foster was a model soldier, and he rose through the ranks quickly. He began his military service as a private and by the end of 1861, he was made a corporal.
Robert E. Lee led his Army of Northern Virginia into the Battle of Second Manassas August 28–30, 1862. It was a significant tactical victory for the Confederates, but many soldiers were killed on both sides — Confederate and Union.
August 30, 1862 was a bad day for many of the boys from Union County, South Carolina. Henry Foster was shot in the stomach and died on the battlefield at Second Manassas. His cousins John and Charles Hames also died that day. His brother-in-law, Thomas Hames, was shot in the arm but survived the war.
Napoleon B. Eison traveled from Jonesville to Manassas. He exhumed the bodies of Henry Foster, and brothers John and Charles Hames, and brought them back home. The three soldiers were buried again at Gilead Baptist Church Cemetery.
John M. Foster received $65.25 from the Confederate Army for the back-pay owed to his deceased son Henry. It was small compensation for the mound of red clay that covered the body of his youngest son.
SUSAN E. FOSTER
(1839–1881)
The stone that stands over the grave of Susan Foster has May 18, 1839 as her date of birth. Census records 1850-1880 suggests years 1835, 1836, or 1837.
Three daughters were born to John M. Foster and Jane between 1831 to 1836. Susan was one of the three.
Susan was in the 1850 household of her parents, and the 1860 household of her recently married husband, Thomas Hames.
Thomas Hames was born September 3, 1836 to William B. and Elizabeth Hames.
The relationships become complicated. Let’s start with the parents of Thomas Hames.…
William B. Hames (1792-1873) and his wife Elizabeth Hames (1799-1857) were first cousins, husband and wife both sharing grandparents Charles Hames and Catherine Krugg.
Thomas Hames and his wife Susan E. Foster were first cousins once removed. This relationship can spin your head around:
Thomas Hames was the son of Elizabeth Hames, daughter of Nancy Foster, daughter of John Foster and Mary McElfresh.
Susan E. Foster was the daughter of John M. Foster, son of John Foster and Mary McElfresh.
John Foster and Mary McElfresh were the great grandparents of Thomas Foster. John Foster and Mary McElfresh were the grandparents of Susan E. Foster.
Thomas Hames and Susan Foster had two sons and two daughters.
- Henry T. Hames was born December 16, 1860. He was in the household with his parents in 1870 and 1880. His occupation was farm laborer. He enlisted in May 1898 during the Spanish American War. He was mustered out six months later. I find no evidence that Henry ever married or had children. He had many health ailments, and was admitted in 1914 into a Home for Disabled Veterans in Johnson City, Tennessee. He died there on December 21, 1933.
- Lula N. Hames was born August 15, 1867. She married Winters W. Galloway (1868–1926) in 1890 and they had one son, Frances Joseph Galloway, born in 1891. She died on September 30, 1919 in Cherokee County, SC.
- The 1870 census indicates that a daughter was born in March 1870. There was no name given and this is the only record I find of her existence.
- John Hoyle Hames was born February 11, 1876. He was forty-five years old when he married Lina Camby (b. 1880) on December 9, 1918. It was a brief marriage; Lina died on May 4, 1921 from complications from surgery. John Hoyle Hames died January 7, 1838.
Susan Foster Hames died December 21, 1881 and was buried at Foster’s Chapel Cemetery. Her husband Thomas Hames died March 14, 1901. He was buried at Gilead Baptist Church Cemetery.
There are few records of his life after the death of his wife Susan, but the newspaper mention of his death informs that he paid the debt of a friend, and he suffered financial ruin afterwards. He was, no doubt, a kind man.
THE ESTATE SETTLEMENT OF JANE & JOHN M. FOSTER
The estate settlement of John M. and Jane Foster happened on December 18, 1869. Their possessions were appraised and auctioned off on that day.
But, what happened to them? Knowing that estate settlements often took several years to complete, exactly when did they die?
Their deaths occurred after the 1860 census, and before the November 1, 1869 date that legal papers related to the settlement of their estate were signed. I do not know if they died the same day, the same week, months, or even years apart. My research continues.
Their possessions were sold. Their children Nancy McWhirter, Susan Hames, William Foster, son-in-law Thomas Hames, and other relatives bought the most of the items.
POMPEY FOSTER
I was raised by a woman named Effie Marie Foster. She was born on May 25, 1909, exactly fifty years and two days before me. She never married and never had children, but I was her child. So was my mother. So were my brother and sister.
Effie was a big part of my life from the day I was born until the day she died. She and her brother Charlie Foster are more than deserving of their own article. When my tears stop flowing or until I can see through them, I will sit down and write that heart story.
Forty-something years ago, I used to take Effie out to the graveyard on Jerusalem Church Road near Grindal Shoals. It was important to her to place flowers on the graves of her mother and grandmother, Uncle Bishop, and eventually, her brother Charlie.
Effie pointed toward the nearby woods and told me that she had been born and raised there. At that time, I did not know that I was descended from a family named Foster who lived at Grindal Shoals.
I still go to that graveyard on Jerusalem Road. I go now to put flowers on Effie’s grave. I think about the things Effie told me on our little trips. I day dream about finding the cabin where she and her family lived even though I know it is long gone.
But mostly, I think about Effie and how much I loved her, how much I love her still.
Effie’s father was named Milton Becky Foster. He was born in 1884, and he died in 1949. He was a carpenter, and had built the log barn behind the old Dr. Herbert Thaddeus Hames house that was my childhood home.
Milton Becky Foster was the son of Pompey Foster who was born about 1849. I do not know the name of Pompey’s father.
In an ironic twist of fate, coincidence, or whatever you want to call it…….
In 1850 in Union County, South Carolina, there was a free black man named Pompey Foster. According to the information on the census, Pompey was born in 1770 in Virginia and was married to Biddie, born in 1780.
So far, this is the only record I have found of Pompey Foster from Virginia. Was he connected in any way to Effie’s grandfather Pompey Foster?
There is another Foster on the same census page: James “Bully Jim” Foster, a white man born in Virginia. Did old Pompey and “Bully Jim” have connections? Did they come down from Virginia together?
The question that has become almost an obsession is this:
What was the relationship between Effie’s grandfather Pompey Foster and my great great grandfather John M. Foster??
There is absolutely no evidence in my research that John M. Foster ever had enslaved men or women in his household. The two Foster men, Pompey and John lived in the same area near Grindal Shoals. They shared the same surname. What was their connection?
And there was a connection. At the estate sale of John M. Foster and his wife Jane Pickens Foster, there was one name that stood out to me.
My heart skipped a beat. I instantly recognized the name Pompey.
Tucked in among the names of Nancy McWhirter (daughter), Thadeus Hames (relative), William Foster (son) Thomas Hames (son-in-law) was the name Pompey. Someone had written the surname “Foster” which, at some point, had been struck through.
Estate auctions were usually attended by the widow, children, other relatives and neighbors who lived nearby. I was grateful to see Pompey’s name. It is wonderful to know that I have a connection with my Effie that preceded even our lifetimes, a connection that went back to our people who came before us.
My research on John M. Foster and his wife Jane Pickens continues. I still have many questions —
Who was the paternal grandfather of John M. Foster?
What did the “M” stand for in his name?
Who was John H. Foster who appears in some records of the John M. Foster family?
Who will take a yDNA test? Must be a directly descended Foster man from this line.
What was the relationship of the John M. Foster family and Pompey Foster?
PEDIGREE OF JOHN M. FOSTER
John M. Foster (1788-1869) m. Jane Pickens (1793-1869)
- Delilah Foster (1811-aft 1880) m. Samuel S Hampton (1806–1886)
- Son Hampton (1830–)
- Nancy W Hampton (1830–1911)
- Mary J. Hampton (1832–1889)
- Caroline Elizabeth Hampton (1834–1882)
- James A Hampton (1836–) undocumented son
- Ramouth Louisa Hampton (1839–)
- Julia Ann Hampton (1842–)
- Mira Catherine Hampton (1844–)
- Martha A Hampton (1847–)
- John Gray Hampton (1850–1871)
- Sarah Bartlet Hampton (1853–)
- Son Hampton (1855–1855) undocumented
- Daughter Hampton (1855–1855) undocumented
- James Pickens Foster (1813-aft 1880) m. Jane Adaline Prince (1820–1851) undocumented; m. Mary T. Graves (1814-1875) undocumented
- Caroline Delilah Foster (1842–1926) undocumented
- Isabella Foster (1847–1917) undocumented
- Pickens Berry Foster (1848–1931) undocumented
- Mary E. Foster (1854–) undocumented
- Mary Foster (1818-1871) m. Charles McWhirter (1793–1868)
- William Carroll McWhirter (1839–1846)
- Nancy Louise McWhirter (1840–1906)
- Ramouth Adeline McWhirter (1843–1843)
- Martha Susan Ann McWhirter (1845–1925)
- Winnie Isabella McWhirter (1848–1920)
- James Lester McWhirter (1855–1906)
- Thomas J. Foster (1820-1903) m. Mahala Fowler (1821-aft 1870); m. Mary Catherine Gossett (1835-1918)
- Eliza Foster (b. 1842)
- Robert M. Foster (1846-1913) m. Mary C Johnson (1851–1901)
- Alice G. Foster m. Rufus Fowler (1861-); m. Elias Ball Horne (1840–1930)
- Herbert R Fowler Sr (1881–1951)
- Lula Fowler (1883–1902)
- Mamie Fowler (1885–1946)
- Foster Elias Horne (1897–1970)
- Myrtle Jesse Horne (1902–1979)
- Brady Horn (1905–1917)
- Delilah Josephine Foster (1860-1935) m. Benjamin F. Mabry (1847–1925)
- Florence Imogene Mabry (1882–1974)
- Thomas Howard Mabry (1885–1946)
- Viola Estelle Ola Mabry (1888–1959)
- Robert Ney Mabry (1890–1952)
- Guy Godfrey Mabry (1894–1953)
- Vermelle Mabry (1896–1945)
- Lois Elenior Mabry (1899–1984)
- Gladys Mahala Mabry (1902–1982)
- Wilma Juanita Ponder (1905–1981)
- Nancy Abigail Foster (1823-1888) Belton McWhirter (1822–1854)
- Thomas Andrew McWhirter (1845–1910)
- Shelton Gadbury McWhirter (1848–1920)
- William Asbury McWhirter (1848–1917)
- Henry Gainwell McWhirter (1851–1892)
- Keziah Adeline Belton McWhirter (1854–1923)
- William Foster (1826-1888) m. Margaret Clementine Kerr (1829–)
- John Leander Foster (1847–1854)
- Sara Foster (1853–)
- Charles Brooks “C.B.” Foster (1856–1928)
- Thomas Elmore Foster (1858–1934)
- Henry Ashmore Foster (1858–1928)
- William Clarence Foster (1860–1917)
- Catherine Jane Foster (1864–)
- Henry M. Foster (1830-1862)
- Jane(?) Foster
- Daughter Foster
- Susan E. Foster (1836-1881) m. Thomas Hames
- Henry T Hames (1860–1933)
- Lula N Hames (1867–1919) m. Winter W. Galloway
- Frances Joseph Galloway (1891-)
- Daughter Hames (b. 1870)
- John Hoyle Hames (1873–1938) m. Lina Camby (1880-1921)
THE FOWLER FAMILIES OF UNION COUNTY, SC 