Augustus Foster

Given as Augustus Forster in the compensation records, but more usually spelt Foster, awarded the compensation for the enslaved people on Gray's Inn Castle in St George Jamaica with his brother Edmund Forster or Foster, Charles John Bloxham and William Elmslie  (all of whom q.v.) after counterclaiming against the executors and trustees of John Elmslie, 'for a contingent Rent charge of £400 per annum and portion of £8000' under 'Deed dated 29 May 1810, will dated 24 Feb 1821'. The will was probably that of John Elmslie.

1. It is almost certain that the counterclaim of Edmund and Augustus Foster (the sons of Richard and Constantia Foster) et al. arose from the marriage of the Fosters' sister with a son of John Elmslie. On 30/05/1810 James Elmslie had married Caroline Ann Foster at St Marylebone.

2. In 1841 Augustus Foster aged 50 was living at Bedford Square in the household of Constantia Foster aged 85 and a grandchild of Constantia's James Elmslie. In 1851 Augustus Foster widower aged 60 born Vauxhall was staying with his brother Edmund and his family, Edmund described as aged 56 magistrate and Deputy Lieutenant also born Vauxhall at the Manor House, Clewer Berkshire.  

3. 'John Elmslie who is said to have come from Aberdeen, and who lived for years at 21 Berners Street, London and who owned land at Oldmeldrum, was at one time a merchant in the West Indies.  He was left a valuable estate in Jamaica by his uncle John Gray, F.R.S., Lord Rector of Marischal College, Aberdeen 1764-69.  John Elmslie, who married his cousin, Jane Wallace, at Dumfries, September 16, 1776, had twenty-one children, and he died at 21 Berners Street in 1824 [sic].  One of his daughters, Jane, married in March 8 1806, George Gordon of the Croughly family.  His grandson, William Elmslie of Lloyd's, had a daughter who married in 1873 the late Dr Barnardo, the well-known philanthropist...I am indebted for this information to Mr Augustus Elmslie, London J.M.B.'  T71/869 St George no. 324. The four men counterclaimed 'For a contingent Rent charge of £400 per annum and portion of £8000'; 'Deed dated 29 May 1810, will dated 24 Feb 1821.' The will referred to is probably that of John Elmslie.

No connection has yet been traced to either the London banking firm  of Forster, Lubbock or the London solicitors Forster Cooke and Frere of Lincolns Inn.

T71/869 St George no. 324. The four men counterclaimed 'For a contingent Rent charge of £400 per annum and portion of £8000'; 'Deed dated 29 May 1810, will dated 24 Feb 1821.' The will referred to is probably that of John Elmslie.

1. Ancestry.com, London, England, Marriages and Banns, 1754-1921 [database online]

2. 1841 and 1851 censuses online.

3. Scottish Notes & Queries 2nd series Vol. VII July 1905 to June 1906 ed. John Bulloch (Aberdeen: the Rosemount Press, 1906): p. 100. Ancestry.com, London, England, Deaths and Burials, 1813-1980 [database online] show John Elmslie of Berners Street aged 83 buried at Lewisham St Mary August 31 1822; the will of John Elmslie of Berners Street was proved 02/11/1822, PROB 11/1663.