Researching Thomas Foster

Foster was born in Greensboro, Georgia. He attended Franklin College, the founding college of the University of Georgia in Athens, and graduated in 1812 with a Bachelor of Arts (A.B.) degree. He studied at the Litchfield Law School, gained admittance to the state bar in 1816 and became a practicing attorney in Greensboro.

Foster was elected to the Georgia House of Representatives in 1822 and was reelected through 1825. In 1828, he won election to the 23rd United States Congress as a Jacksonian and served two additional terms before losing his reelection bid in 1834. He moved to Columbus, Georgia, the following year. In 1840, he returned to the U.S. House as a Whig in the 27th Congress. He only served one term in that position. He died in Columbus on September 14, 1848, and was buried in that city's Linwood Cemetery.

Born in Birkdale, Lancashire, England, Foster was a right arm medium pacer, he took 58 wickets at 16.41, including his career best of 9 for 59 against the Marylebone Cricket Club (MCC) at Lord's in 1894. He took 5 wickets in an innings five times, and 10 wickets in match on three occasions. Foster also took 7 for 56 against Warwickshire. A right-handed tail ender, he scored 138 runs at 9.20, with a top score of 25.

Foster died in January 1947 in Dewsbury, Yorkshire.

Foster was born in Mill Town, Glossop, the son of Robert Foster a cotton weaver. He started playing cricket for local Glossop clubs but went professional with the Clifford Club, in Manchester in 1872.

In the following 1873 season, Foster made his debut for Derbyshire in a match against Lancashire playing in the middle order to make 17 and 8, although the match was lost. He made a similar performance in one match in the 1874 season in a victory against Kent, when he also took a wicket. Foster came into his own during the 1875 season, making several excellent appearances at the crease in the middle-order during this season in some good wins for Derbyshire. He was top scorer for the club in the season with 227 runs He played all the club's matches in the 1876, 1877 and 1878 seasons with steady batting, but none to match 1875. In the 1879 season, he was top scorer again with 269 and topped the batting averages, while in the 1880 season he made 322 to become top scorer again. In 1880 he played as part of a Gentlemen v. Players match. He played regularly in the 1881, 1882 and 1883 seasons. In his final year at the club, in the 1884 season, he played five games, dropping to the tailend in the final fixture of his career and losing out to Yorkshire in his final match. While playing for Derbyshire he played at club level for Glossop, the Raistrick Club in Yorkshire and for Market Bosworth.

Foster was a right-handed batsman and played 167 innings in 90 first-class matches. His top score was 101 and his average 16.11. He was also an occasional wicket-keeper and a right-arm round-arm fast bowler taking 9 wickets at an average of 25.88.

Before 1881 he had become a licensed victualler, running the "Arundel Arms", a pub with accommodation, at Glossop or Hadfield and by 1883 he was running the "Pear Tree" at East Glossop.

Foster returned to the game as an umpire, being active in 1889. During the 1892 season, Foster umpired ten first-class matches in the County Championship.

Foster married Hannah Woodward and had a family. He died in East Glossop at the age of 81.

Foster was of no relation to Fostershire, the seven brothers, all surnamed Foster, who played for Worcestershire in the early 20th century.

He authored books on British Israelism and the Baptism in the Holy Spirit.