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Thomas Foster |
"Capt. Thomas Foster of Swannanoa is still living, enjoying remarkable health and activity in his old age, of whom Bishop Abney [Asbury] frequently speaks in his visits to that region from 1788 to 1813." (1858. Bennett, D. K. Chronology of North Carolina, p. 103.) |
| "In 1786 his father, William, came with his family to North Carolina, and settled at the foot of the hill on the northern side of the Swannanoa River, about midway between the Hendersonville road and the road leading to the Swannanoa by way of Fernihurst at a place where a small branch comes through a hollow and crosses the valley into the Swannanoa River. Here Thomas lived until he married Orra Sams....Thomas Foster settled upon the farm where he spent the remainder of his life on the banks of Sweeten's Creek, afterwards called Foster's Mill Creek....Here he built the first bridge across the Swannanoa....He was a member of the House of Commons in the general Assembly of North Carolina from Buncombe County in 1809, 1812, 1813, and 1814, and represented that county in the Senate of the State in 1817 and 1819. After a long and prosperous life he died on Dec. 24, 1858,....and is buried at the Newton Academy graveyard....His wife died before him on Aug. 27, 1853, and he was buried by her side". (1922. Sondley, F. A. Asheville and Buncombe County, pp. 82, 83.) |
| "He was born in Virginia Oct. 14, 1774. In 1776 his father...came with his family and settled midway between the road leading to the Swannanoa river by way of Fernihurst from Asheville. He married Miss Orra Sams, whose father, Edmund, was one of the settlers from Watauga. After his marriage Thomas settled on the bank of Sweeten's creek, afterwards called Foster's Mill creek, the first which enters Swannanoa from the south above the present iron bridge on the Hendersonville road. He was a member of the House of Commons from Buncombe from 1809 to 1814, both inclusive and represented that county in the State senate in 1817 and 1819. He died December 24 (incorrectly on tombstone December 14), 1858. He was a farmer and accumulated a considerable property. A large family of children survived him. His wife died August 27, 1853. He is mentioned in Wheeler's History of North Carolina, Bennett's Chronology of North Carolina and Bishop Asbury's journal. (1914. Arthur, John. Western North Carolina: A History..., pp. 153, 154.) |
| "On motion of Joseph Spencer on the petition of Thomas Foster to this court to have his negro man slave Jerry Smith emancipated and set free for his meritorious services: The Court proceeded to take the petition under consideration and do adjudge and decree that the said Jerry Smith is a fit person to be set free, and emancipated: Therefore ordered by the court that the said Jerry Smith be emancipated and set free for his meritorious services with all the advantages and emoluments which it is in the power of this Court to grant, during his the said Jerry's natural life; and that the clerk of this Court do issue a license or Certificate to the said Jerry Smith for his freedom accordingly [at January Court 1799]. (1922. Sondley, F. A. Asheville and Buncombe County, p. 136.) |
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