| 12. | John Alexander Foster was born in 1748 in Little Britain Twp, Lancaster Co, Pennsylvania; died on 3 Oct 1832 in Wilson Co, Tennessee; was buried in Doak Crossroad, Wilson Co, Tennessee. Other Events and Attributes:
- Residence: Abt 1766, Rowan Co, North Carolina
- Residence: 1797, Wilson Co, Tennessee
- Other-Begin: 9 May 1815, Wilson Co, Tennessee
Notes:
JOHN ALEXANDER FOSTER
1748 - 1832
John A. Foster, our direct ancestor, was born in Little Britain Township, Lancaster County , Pennsylvania . His birth year, as calculated from his grave marker is thought to be 1748.
On May 17, 1765 he purchased 617 acres of land, which was located on both sides of Witherows Creek in Rowan County , NC . He paid John Lowrance Jr., and Robert Steele, 6 pounds for the land. Guilford County was formed from Rowan County in 1770 and his farm was located in this new county.
In about 1766 when John was 18 years old, he left Pennsylvania and traveled along the "Great Wagon Trail" to
Rowan County , North Carolina to begin farming his new purchase.
On March 20, 1768, John married Martha Morrison, daughter of William and Margaret Morrison.
John Foster was a Revolutionary War soldier, and was part of General Greene's Army with the David Caldwell contingent, and took part in the battles of Guilford Court House and Cowpens.
In 1797, after living for 31 years in North Carolina , John and his family, in company with several of his wife's family, the Donnells, and the families of his sons-in-law, William McClain and John Doak left Guilford County, North Carolina and pioneered to Wilson County, Tennessee. Together with their associates, they achieved the first permanent settlement in Wilson County , which was then part of Sumner County.
Upon their arrival in this area they first settled in an area on the south bank of the Cumberland River in an area referred to as Drake's Lick, which was near the mouth of Spencer's Lick Creek. They would later move on to Spring Creek and it is this area that today is referred to as, "Doak's Crossroads".
On July 25, 1799 a petition was filed with the General Assembly of Tennessee requesting the establishment of a new county to be formed from Sumner County that would be known as Wilson County . 225 men signed the petition, and the last name on the petition is that of John Foster.
After Wilson County was established on December 23, 1799 , Robert Foster, the son of John Foster, was elected its first clerk.
John and Martha Foster are both buried at Doak's Crossroads, Wilson County, Tennessee on property thought to be part of the "old Foster place". This family cemetery is located eight miles south of Lebanon , Tennessee at the intersection of Chicken Road and Cainsville Pike. The cemetery is in disrepair and appears to be abandoned.
The children of John and Martha Foster were:
Elizabeth "Betsy" Foster was born on Jun 12, 1777 in Guilford County , North Carolina and she was married on May 11, 1796 in Guilford County to William P. McClain. He died sometime after 1858.
Alexander Foster, whose birth date is unknown, but is assumed he was born in Guilford County , North Carolina . He married Martha Doak on Apr 4, 1820 in Wilson County, Tennessee. He died after 1834.
James Foster's birth date is also unknown, but it is also assumed he was born in Guilford County , North Carolina . He married Rebecca Williamson and he died sometime after 1827.
Robert Foster was born in ca 1775 in Guilford County , North Carolina . He married Nancy Donnell. He was elected the first clerk of Wilson County, Tennessee on 23 December 1799.
Mary Foster was born on Apr 24, 1772 in Guilford County , North Carolina . On Jul 11, 1793 she married John Doak in Guilford County . She died on Oct 24, 1808 in Wilson County, Tennessee.
Margaret Foster, birth date unknown, but believed born in Guilford County , North Carolina .
John D. Foster was born on Dec 11, 1784 in Guilford County , North Carolina and was married to Elizabeth H. Roberts on Sep 21, 1813 in Wilson County, Tennessee. He died on Feb 28, 1838 in Wilson County.
http://lynnwright.com/JohnAlexanderFoster.htm
Residence:
In about 1766 when John was 18 years old, he left Pennsylvania and traveled along the "Great Wagon Trail" to Rowan County, North Carolina to begin farming his new purchase.
http://www.wisecountytexas.info/families/foster.htm
Residence:
In 1797 after living for 31 years in North Carolina, John and his family, in company with several of his wife's family, the Donnells, and the families of his sons-in-law, William McClain and John Doak left Guilford County, North Carolina and pioneered to Wilson County, Tennessee. Together with their associates, they achieved the first permanent settlement in Wilson County, which was then part of Sumner County.
Upon their arrival in this area they first settled in an area on the south bank of the Cumberland River in an area referred to as Drake's Lick which was near the mouth of Spencer's Lick Creek. They would later move on to Spring Creek, and it is this area that today is referred to as, "Doak's Crossroads".
On July 25, 1799 a petition was filed with the General Assembly of Tennessee requesting the establishment of a new county to be formed from Sumner County that would be known as Wilson County. 225 men signed the petition, and the last name on the petition is that of John Foster.
http://www.wisecountytexas.info/families/foster.htm
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from letter by John Foster Doak "from letter by John Foster Doak (see attached)
"My father, Grandfather Foster, Alexander Foster, and Mr. Donnell's father all bought land previous to their leaving
North Carolina, on Spring Creek, which was then a part of Sumner County. The tract purchased contained twelve hundred and eighty acres. None of the parties had seen the land; and to prevent difficulty in assigning to each one his portion, after personal examination, it was mutually agreed that the decision should be made before the families reached Tennessee. On seeing the land, each member of the company took possession of his own without a murmur, though the poorest part of the tract fell to the share of William Donnell."
http://www.rootsweb.ancestry.com/~tnwcogs/famhist/donnel01.html
Other-Begin:
witnessed will of his son-in-law Samuel Donnell
John married Martha Morrison on 20 Mar 1768. Martha was born in 1744; died on 11 Mar 1802 in Wilson Co, Tennessee; was buried in Doak Crossroad, Wilson Co, Tennessee. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]
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1853 - 1885 (32 years)