Stephen Foster

Birth Name: Stephen Collins Foster

Date of Birth: July 4, 1826

Place of Birth: Lawrenceville, Pennsylvania, U.S.

Date of Death: January 13, 1864

Place of Death: New York City, New York, U.S.

Ethnicity: English, Scots-Irish/Northern Irish, distant Welsh

Stephen Foster was an American songwriter. Known as “the father of American music,” he wrote more than 200 songs, mostly in parlour and minstrel music. His songs include “Oh! Susanna,” “Beautiful Dreamer,” “Old Black Joe,” “Jeanie with the Light Brown Hair,” “Hard Times Come Again No More,” “Camptown Races,” “Old Folks at Home” (“Swanee River”), and “My Old Kentucky Home.” He was the first fully professional American songwriter.

Stephen was the son of Eliza Clayland (Tomlinson) and William Barclay Foster, who was a prominent businessperson and Pennsylvania state legislator. His mother was descended from early settlers in Maryland.

He was married to Jane McDowell Foster Wiley, until his death, with whom he had a daughter, Marion Foster Welch, who was a composer, lecturer, and Curator of the Stephen Foster Memorial. His brother, Morrison Foster, was his agent and biographer. His niece was author Evelyn Foster Morneweck, who was also his biographer.

Stephen’s paternal grandfather was James Alexander Foster (the son of Alexander Foster and Mary Polly Conners). James was born in Pennsylvania, to Northern Irish parents. He was a Revolutionary War veteran, and one of the founders and original trustees of the Canonsburg Academy school. Stephen’s great-grandfather Alexander was born in Londonderry, the son of John Foster/Forster and Martha Golding. Stephen’s patrilineal Foster line appears to trace to Cuthbert Forster, who was born, c. 1540, in Brunton, Northumberland, England.

Stephen’s paternal grandmother was Ann Barclay (the daughter of Hugh Barclay and Hannah Kirkpatrick). Hugh was the son of William Barclay and Mary McConnell, who was born in Ireland. Hannah was the daughter of Hugh Kirkpatrick.

Stephen’s maternal grandfather was named Joseph Tomlinson (the son of John Tomlinson and Jenny).

Stephen’s maternal grandmother was named Elizabeth Clayland. Elizabeth was born in Maryland.

Sources: Genealogy of Stephen Foster – https://www.geni.com

Genealogy of Stephen Foster (focusing on his father’s side) – https://www.findagrave.com

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