The Mystery of John Thomas FOSTER

[Sands]

Yes I was - probably not the wisest thing.  This John Thomas (junior) was my grandfather.  My father was only approx. 9 when his father died, and remembers very little about him.  Of course in those days children were "seen and not heard" so he didn't ask questions about his father's origins.  His wife originally came from Kent, though both of her parents had died before 1901, when she was living with a brother in Ramsgate.  It is SO frustrating !  Is it possible to find out people who were dismissed from the Forces?  I wondered if there was a possibility there.

[Necromancer]

Worth a try on the Armed Forces Forum I'd say !

[lizdb]

Possible death:

JFM qtr 1932 John T Foster, age 60, West Ham ,ref 4a 294

[Sands]

Thankk you for that.  Yes I did find that and believe that to be my John Thomas.  Unfortunately the death certificate wouldn't tell me where he was born, which is a shame    I have the marriage certificate (that took some finding too).  Is there a way of searching (preferably on line, since I am partially disabled) the Forces information to find the reference to John's dishonourable dismissal from the Marines.  This obviously took place before his marriage in 1916 - at least I think it must have been, because his occupation on the marriage certificate is given as a labourer.    Sandra

[lizdb]

  Unfortunately the death certificate wouldn't tell me where he was born

no, but it would be interesting to confirm or deny the story about him dying from lead poisoning.

[Sands]

This is true.  Think I will send for this, at least it's a small piece in the puzzle.  My father says he has some carpentry tools which he believes were once owned by his grandfather, so I wonder if the John Foster from Matching, Essex, could be the grandfather (who had a son John Thomas Foster).  John Foster senior in the 1881 census lists him as a master carpenter.  Strangely, that was my father's occupation!   Sandra