"THE HIGHWAYMAN"

WILLIAM FOSTER

(1816-1891)

William was the second child of Henry & Jane FOSTER who was born and
baptised in 1816 at Weedon Barracks, Northamptonshire during his father's
tenure in the Royal Regiment of Artillery. His trade was a Weaver.

In 1839 at the age of 23 years he married Catherine GASKELL in Billinge, and
had a son named Thomas.

In June 26th, 1841 he was charged and arrested for Highway Robbery
and Stealing and was incarcerated at Kirkdale Jail awaiting trial. The
offense was committed at Windle, St Helens and he had 2 other accomplices namely
John BIRCHALL aged 19 and William LIPTROT aged 23.

At the trial on July 15, 1841 at Kirkdale, William and his 2 accomplices were found
guilty and sentenced to 10 years to be served in Van Dieman's Land.(Tasmania).
They were transported aboard the 549 ton Barque the "John Brewer" sailing out
of Sheerness on December 5, 1841 via Teneriffe and arriving
at Hobart, VDL on April 6, 1842.

During his stay in VDL he was housed in a camp called Finders Bay Station now
known as Taranna. While there, he made 3 applications to marry, Sarah Pring 1844,
Hannah Osborne 1848 and Maria Hopkins 1849 all convicts, of which he decided on
the latter and married Maria on May 14, 1849 at the Bothwell United Church, VDL. At
the end of both their sentences in 1851 they returned to the UK and settled in Billinge,
William's home town where they lived at Gorsey Brow.

Maria died in 1865 at the age of 46 of an Abdominal Tumor. Not wanting to waste
any time, William found another wife (# 3)by the name of Martha CUNLIFFE, they
where married October 23, 1866. They had 2 children Sarah and William. Martha
died in 1883 at the age of 49 of Phthisis. William lived on his own for the rest of
his life and died in 1891 at the age of 75 years.