Joseph Foster (genealogist)
Encyclopedia
Joseph Foster was an English
genealogist
whose transcriptions of records held by the Inns of Court
and Oxford University are still important historical resources.
and developed an interest in genealogy at an early age. He worked initially as a printer in London but undertook genealogical research as well, becoming friends with several heralds of arms
during his life. His first publication, in 1862, was on his Quaker ancestry. He followed this with research into the histories of various families from the north of England.
His major works, still used by historians, were transcriptions of the admission registers of the Inns of Court
(published in 1885 as Men at the Bar) and of the matriculation
registers of the University of Oxford
for the period 1500 to 1886 (published as Alumni Oxonienses). This latter work was marked by the award of an honorary MA by the University in 1892. It has been said of Foster that he was "no scholarly antiquary, but his energy as a transcriber and collector of genealogical and heraldic data has few parallels, and many of his publications remained classic resources, several of permanent value."
Foster died in London, at his home in St John's Wood
, and was buried at Kensal Green cemetery
.
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
genealogist
Genealogy
Genealogy is the study of families and the tracing of their lineages and history. Genealogists use oral traditions, historical records, genetic analysis, and other records to obtain information about a family and to demonstrate kinship and pedigrees of its members...
whose transcriptions of records held by the Inns of Court
Inns of Court
The Inns of Court in London are the professional associations for barristers in England and Wales. All such barristers must belong to one such association. They have supervisory and disciplinary functions over their members. The Inns also provide libraries, dining facilities and professional...
and Oxford University are still important historical resources.
Life and career
Foster was born at Sunniside, SunderlandSunniside, Sunderland
Sunniside is a district of Sunderland, North East England, situated towards the eastern side of the city centre, bounded to the west by Fawcett Street, to the south by Borough Road, and to the north and east by Sunderland's Inner Ring road. A significant programme of urban development has...
and developed an interest in genealogy at an early age. He worked initially as a printer in London but undertook genealogical research as well, becoming friends with several heralds of arms
Herald
A herald, or, more correctly, a herald of arms, is an officer of arms, ranking between pursuivant and king of arms. The title is often applied erroneously to all officers of arms....
during his life. His first publication, in 1862, was on his Quaker ancestry. He followed this with research into the histories of various families from the north of England.
His major works, still used by historians, were transcriptions of the admission registers of the Inns of Court
Inns of Court
The Inns of Court in London are the professional associations for barristers in England and Wales. All such barristers must belong to one such association. They have supervisory and disciplinary functions over their members. The Inns also provide libraries, dining facilities and professional...
(published in 1885 as Men at the Bar) and of the matriculation
Matriculation
Matriculation, in the broadest sense, means to be registered or added to a list, from the Latin matricula – little list. In Scottish heraldry, for instance, a matriculation is a registration of armorial bearings...
registers of the University of Oxford
University of Oxford
The University of Oxford is a university located in Oxford, United Kingdom. It is the second-oldest surviving university in the world and the oldest in the English-speaking world. Although its exact date of foundation is unclear, there is evidence of teaching as far back as 1096...
for the period 1500 to 1886 (published as Alumni Oxonienses). This latter work was marked by the award of an honorary MA by the University in 1892. It has been said of Foster that he was "no scholarly antiquary, but his energy as a transcriber and collector of genealogical and heraldic data has few parallels, and many of his publications remained classic resources, several of permanent value."
Foster died in London, at his home in St John's Wood
St John's Wood
St John's Wood is a district of north-west London, England, in the City of Westminster, and at the north-west end of Regent's Park. It is approximately 2.5 miles north-west of Charing Cross. Once part of the Great Middlesex Forest, it was later owned by the Knights of St John of Jerusalem...
, and was buried at Kensal Green cemetery
Kensal Green Cemetery
Kensal Green Cemetery is a cemetery in Kensal Green, in the west of London, England. It was immortalised in the lines of G. K. Chesterton's poem The Rolling English Road from his book The Flying Inn: "For there is good news yet to hear and fine things to be seen; Before we go to Paradise by way of...
.
Works
Foster's publications include the following:- Some Account of the Pedigree of the Forsters of Cold Hesledon, Co. Durham (1862)
- The King of Arms (1871)
- Lancashire County Families (1873)
- Yorkshire County Families (3 volumes) (1874)
- (editor) Visitations of Yorkshire by Robert Glover (1875)
- (with Edward Bellasis) Peerage, Baronetage and Knightage (1879)
- Men at the Bar (1885)
- London Marriage Licences (1521–1869) (1887)
- Alumni Oxonienses (1715–1886) (4 volumes) (1887)
- The register of admissions to Gray's Inn (1557–1859), together with … marriages in Gray's Inn Chapel (1889)
- Index ecclesiasticus, or, Alphabetical lists of all ecclesiastical dignitaries in England and Wales since the Reformation (1890)
- Alumni Oxonienses (1500–1714) (4 volumes) (1891)
- Oxford Men and their Colleges (1893)
- Concerning the Beginnings … of Heraldry as Related to untitled Persons (1887)
- Some Feudal Coats of Arms (1902)