Josephus Foster
Mary Jane Sterling - Essie 'Epsey' Scott

Josephus Foster

--b. abt 1822 Morgan Co., Georgia
--d. unknown
--m/1 Mary Jane STERLING
--December 21, 1842 Harris Co., Georgia
----b. May 18, 1824 Madison Co., Georgia
----d. March 24, 1858 probably Harris Co., Georgia
------d/o James Sterling and Elizabeth THOMPSON
--------gd/o James Thompson and Sarah SAYE
--m/2 Epsey SCOTT
--September 1, 1859 Troup Co., Georgia
----b. 1826 Georgia
----d. ----
------d/o John Scott and Permillia ?

Research of Houston S. Foster

During our research Hershell and I were able to tie Josephus and his father together on paper by the information contained in the annual returns that were filed with the Troup County Inferior Court by the administrator of Francis Harden Foster's estate.

Josephus was about eighteen when his father died. He worked on the family plantation and helped his mother keep the plantation productive while she took care of his younger brothers and sisters. He named his oldest son after his father, who had passed away.

After his mother remarried, he moved to Harris County near his Father-in-law James Sterling.

We do not know a lot about Josephus. He was called Joseph and Elizabeth Sterling referred to him as Joe in a letter written in 1859. Josephus, like his father, was a farmer. His first wife, Mary Jane Sterling, died in 1858 leaving him with a large family to raise. We have been unable to find how he died. He is listed in the 1860 census but not in the 1870 census. He inherited a share of James Sterlings estate but never claimed it probably because he was already dead when James Sterling died in 1869. A court document dated 1872 said that Josephus had failed to call for his money.

Josephus son Wiley Foster did claim a share of Josephus inheritance from James Sterling Estate and this was duly recorded in the Harris County Probates Office. This document listed Josephus an absent Legatee so he probably died in the Civil War.

The late 1850's and 1860's were devastating both for the Fosters and Sterlings as many of the family members died. The years during and after the Civil War were difficult and changed our family along with thousands of other families from affluence to struggle.

We have limited information about Josephus' children. The children listed for him are from the Sterling Family Bible, they are listed exactly as they appeared in the Bible as it is obvious that the 1860 census was wrong. We have documented four of them after the Civil War. I have been unable to locate his children, except Wiley Edwards Foster, in the 1870 census. The 1870 census skipped the old Foster plantation house but we know that at least Whitmill was living there. The 1880 census lists, Wiley, Seaborn and Mary Julia so at least three were alive then.

More than a million people in the South are missing from the 1870 census.

Mary Jane Sterling was raised on a very large plantation south of the Foster plantation in Harris County, Georgia. The Sterling plantation also included a tannery and family lore say's that they made shoes for the Confederate Soldiers. The Sterlings were very wealthy. Wiley Sterling who lived in adjoining Troup County was probably the wealthiest man in Troup County. I believe he was a brother to our James Sterling.

Mary Jane died shortly after her last child was born, probably from complications from childbirth.

• about 1822 - Josephus was born in Georgia

• 1840 Census > Georgia > Troup > District 70

  Amey Foster
  2 males under 5, 1 male 10/15, 1 male 15/20,
  

  1 female under 5, 1 female 5/10, 1 female 10/15, 1 female 40/50

  *The male age 15-20 would have been Josephus.

• 1843 - Inferior Court of Troup County Sitting for Ordinary Purposes
  January Term 1843

  --transcribed by Houston S. Foster

  Present - James M. Peale, Peter W. Lesley & B. H. Cameron - Justices

  Upon the application of Thomas W. Oliver administrator in the rights of his wife Amey Foster of the Estate of Francis Foster dec. for a division of the personal Estate of said dec. It is Ordered by the Court that Willis Durden, William G. Cotton, Stephen Harnesberger, Thomas Tatom, and Joshua Willis be and are hereby appointed Commissioners to portion and set off the Estate of the above dec. between the lawful heirs thereof and make their return to this Court.

  The above is a true copy taken from the minutes of the Said Court this 3rd day of January 1843.
  Wiley Wilson cco Georgia - Troup County
  The following is an inventory and apportionment of the negroes belonging to the estate of Francis Foster dec.

  1st Lot  Jerry                  appraised to   $500.00
  2nd Lot  Mary and child            "      to   $500.00
  3rd Lot  Patrey                    "      to   $450.00
  4th Lot  Violet and Owen           "      to   $362.00
  5th Lot  Judy                      "      to   $275.00
  6th Lot  Mariah and Josephene      "      to   $362.00
  7th Lot  Caty & Child              "      to   $350.00
  8th Lot  Henry & Nelly             "      to   $300.00
                                                 _______
                                                $3099.00
  
  By Lottery the following Lots were drawn
  Josephus Foster drew Patrey                     $450.00
  Benjamin F. Foster drew Mariah and Josephine    $362.00
  Thomas W. Oliver drew Jerry                     $500.00
  
  the balance were left together
                                   We do certify upon oath
  that the above is a true porportionment of the negroes
  belonging to the Said Estate to the best of our judgment
  and understanding January 9, 1843
                                     Thomas Tatom
                                     Stephen Harnesberger
                                     William G. Cotton   Commissioners
  
  I do certify that the above & within appointed appraisers were sworn to 
  perform their duty as appraisers according to law January 9th 1843.
                                     R. F. Thomason J.P.
             Recorded 22 April 1843 W. Wilson cco
  

  Notation from Houston S. Foster
  

  This one document shows that there were seven children and Amey. The slaves were divided into eight lots. Only heirs, children and wife were eligible to draw one of the lots. Thomas W. Oliver drew for his wife, Amey Edwards Foster Oliver as she had remarried by the this time. Josephus clearly chose lot number three and could not have drawn without being the child of Francis Hardin Foster.

• 1850 Harris Co., GA, #1208

  Joseph  FOSTER           29 M W     farmer        GA
  Mary J.                  27 F W                   GA
  Francis                   7 M W                   GA
  James S.                  4 M W                   GA
  Whitmill                  1 M W                   GA
  

• 1860 Troup Co. GA, West Point District, page 191, #123-111

  Joseph Foster       37 m  farmer  GA
  Epsey               34 f          GA
  Mary                14 f          GA
  Susan               12 f          GA
  John                10 m          GA
  Wm                   8 m          GA
  Jane                 6 f          GA
  Edward               2 m          GA
  

1. Francis B. Foster

   --b. September 29, 1843 Harris Co., GA
   

   It is believed that he died in the Civil War. He never claimed the portion of James Sterling's estate that was due him.

   There was a Francis Foster who served with the Alabama, 34th, Co. G, who is buried at Chattanooa, TN that may have been him.

   

2. Elizabeth Foster

   --b. 1845 Harris Co., GA
   
   

3. James S. Foster

   --b. 1847 Harris Co., GA
   --d. probably in the Civil War
   
   

4. Whitmill Foster

   --b. May 23, 1849 Harris Co., GA
   --d. May 1883 Georgia
   

   Research of Houston S. Foster

   We visited the LaGrange Archives Building in 1996 and found a newspaper article dated 5-10-1883. This article was in a column titled Southwest Troup County. The article was about a W. H. Foster stating that he had died and had been buried in a private Foster Cemetery near the old Foster home place which was near the Hutchinson place. The article said that he had been afflicted for 35 years and left behind a rolling chair his only means of mobility. This would have been Whitmill.

   Whitmill is an unusual name and Wiley Sterling from Troup County had a son named Whitmill also I think they must have been related.

   

5. Wiley Edwards Foster

   --b. September 1, 1851 Harris Co., GA
   --d. September 2, 1917 Syacauga, Talladega Co., AL
   ----buried Avondale Cemetery, Sylacauga, Alabama
   --m/1 Mary Ann HUGHES
   --July 19, 1870 Coosa Co., Georgia
   ----b. August 1, 1849 GA
   ----d. 1923/1925 probably Elmore Co., AL)
   --m/2 M. Everline CUMMINGS
   --1901 Elmore Co., Alabama
   ----b. abt 1883
   

   Wiley E. Foster - Mary Ann (Hughes) Foster Knight with grandson, Denson

   

   Photos - Courtesy of Russell D. Jones

   

6. Seborn J. 'Ceburn' Foster

   --b. December 16, 1853 Harris Co., GA
   --m. Josie ? abt 1872
   ----b. abt 1856 Georgia
   
   • 1880 Harris Co., Georgia
     --listed as Ceburn J. Foster, age 27

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   Children of Seaborn and Josy

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   1. Elijah F. Foster

      --b. 1873 Harris Co., GA
      

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   2. Seaborn Joseph Foster, Jr.

      --b. July 1876 Harris Co., GA
      

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   3. John Foster

      --b. 1879/80 Harris Co., GA
      
   

7. John A. Foster

   --b. February 8, 1856 Harris Co. GA
   
   

8. Mary Julia 'Molly' (Foster) Childress

   --b. February 3, 1858 Harris Co., GA
   --d. April 23, 1934 Michigan
   ----buried Perry Mount Park Cemetery in Pontiac, Michigan
   ------also a Memorial stone in the Mooney-Childress Cemetery, Maury Co., TN
   --m. John J. CHILDRESS
   --October 10, 1872 Maudy Co., Tennessee
   ----b. September 1846 TN
   ----d. May 15, 1925 TN
   
   • 1860 Harris Co., GA
     --listed as M. J. Foster, age 2 with grandparents

   • 1900 Maury Co., TN
     --listed as Mary J. Childress, age 42

   • 1910 Maury Co., TN
     --listed as Mary J. Childrey, age 51

   • 1920 Maury Co., TN
     --listed as Mary Childress, age 61

   • 1930 Oakland Co., Michigan
     --listed as Mary Childress, age 72

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   Children of Mary Julia and John

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   1. Eddie Childress

      --b. September 9, 1873 Tennessee
      --d. April 1, 1888 Tennessee
      

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   2. Julia Childress

      --b. February 10, 1876 Tennessee
      --d. January 28, 1877 Tennessee
      

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   3. Walter Childress

      --b. November 11, 1877 Tennessee
      --d. October 10, 1879 Tennessee
      

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   4. Eugene Samuel Childress

      --b. May 3, 1880 Tennessee
      --d. January 16, 1921 Tennessee
      

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   5. Wiley S. Childress

      --b. August 23, 1881 Tennessee
      --d. May 7, 1909 Tennessee
      

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   6. Stella B. 'Estelle' Childress

      --b. May 2, 1884 Tennessee
      --d. June 18, 1966 Tennessee
      --m. E. T. DANIELS
      

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   7. John Clay Childress

      --b. November 2, 1886 Tennessee
      --d. January 31, 1972
      --m. Eula STAMPS
      --December 24, 1914 Maury Co., TN
      

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   8. Clara J. 'Pearl' Childress

      --b. January 23, 1890 Pulaski, Giles Co., TN
      --d. February 8, 1990 Pulaski, Giles Co., TN
      --m. William Presley WEAVER
      ----b. May 29, 1888 Giles Co., TN
      ----d. November 10, 1968 Pulaski, Giles Co., TN
      

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   9. Susie Ellen (Childress) Richardson

      --b. April 21, 1892 Tennessee
      --d. March 5, 1928 Pulaski, Giles Co., TN
      --m. Benson Leroy RICHARDSON
      --December 1, 1910 Maury Co., TN
      ----b. August 25, 1888 Maury Co., TN
      ----d. January 23, 1965 Lancaster, Dallas Co. Texas
      

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   10. Joe F. Childress

       --b. August 9, 1894 Tennessee
       --d. December 24, 1909 Tennessee
       

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   11. Sam David 'Buster' Childress

       --b. March 6, 1897 Tennessee
       --d. July 21, 1980
       

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   12. Hazel Childress

       --b. March 25, 1900 Maury Co., TN
       --d. April 11, 1985 Pontiac, Oakland Co., Michigan
       --m. Georgia ARVIS
       --December 20, 1919 probably Maury Co., TN
       ----b. abt 1902 Tennessee
       

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