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Stephen Foster's chronology from 1700

 

Abbreviations

  • ca: circa
  • nd: no date
  • CE = Steven Saunders and Deane L. Root, The Music of Stephen C. Foster: A Critical Edition (Washington: Smithsonian Institution Press, 1990)
  • EFM = Evelyn Foster Morneweck, Chronicles of Stephen Foster's Family (Pittsburgh: University of Pittsburgh, 1944)
  • JTH = John Tasker Howard, Stephen Foster: America's Troubadour, 2nd edn. (New York: Thomas Y. Crowell, 1954)
  • WA = William W. Austin, "Susanna," "Jeanie," and "The Old Folks at Home": The Songs of Stephen C. Foster from His Time to Ours, 2nd edn. (Urbana: University of Illinois Press, 1987)

 

1710

[ca] Alexander Foster born in the north of Ireland, later emigrated to American from Londonderry (EFM 607)

1735

[ca] Alexander Foster emigrated from Londonderry, Ireland, to America, with his mother and other near relatives. Settled in Freehold, Monmouth County, NJ (EFM 607)

1728

[ca] Alexander Foster moves to Little Britain Township, Chester County, Pennsylvania (later part of Lancaster County, May 10, 1729) (EFM 607)

1730

[ca] Alexander Foster marries Polly Connor (EFM 607)

1744

Apr. 17 Alexander Foster took out warrant for 187 acres of land in northern part of Little Britain Township.

 

1759

nd John Struthers born.

 

1767

April Alexander Foster died, leaving half his estate to his son John (EFM 607)

 

1775

Apr. 28 John Foster sold entire estate of his father to Hugh Barkley (EFM 607)

 

1779

Sept. 7 William Barclay Foster (Stephen's father) born, Berkeley County, Virginia (EFM 616). Son of James Foster, Revolutionary war soldier in Virginia, present at Cornwallis's surrender at Yorktown (Morrison Foster, "My Brother Stephen" 9) (JTH 4)

 

1782

nd James Foster and family with other Scotch-Irish moved to near Canonsburg, Washington County, Pennsylvania. Became an original trustee of Canonsburg Academy, 1791, later known as Jefferson College (Morrison Foster, "My Brother Stephen" 9)

 

1788

Jan. 21 Eliza Clayland Tomlinson (Stephen's mother) born, Wilmington, Delaware (EFM 616)

 

1796

Apr. 20 William Barclay Foster rides into Pittsburgh from Canonsburg, age 16

 

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last updated April 13, 2020