Thomas Forster changed his surname to Foster when he married a distant cousin, Susanna Forster.[1]

Born in 1548, he was the eldest son of Thomas Forster and Margaret Browning, who also lived in Hunsdon in a house called Swantons.[2] Sir Thomas Foster later built Nine Ashes. He was the only one of his siblings not to be baptised in Hunsdon.[3] He became an eminent Judge and the chief legal advisor to Queen Anne (Anne of Denmark).[4]

1604- Knighted.[5]

1607- Became a Justice of the Common Pleas.[6] The Common Pleas was the primary court of common law within England and Wales and appointments were held ‘under pleasure of the King’.[7]

He was made one of the first Governors of the Charterhouse and Counsel to Queen Anne (wife of James I) and Prince Henry (who died aged 18, probably from typhoid).[8] It is possible that Prince Charles (later to become Charles I) was sent to Hunsdon to be cared for by Sir Robert Carey and his wife Elizabeth, and if so, the presence of Sir Thomas Foster in Hunsdon as well may have recommended the place more to Queen Anne, as she esteemed Foster.[9]

His memorial is situated within the sanctuary, showing him resplendent in his judges’ robes.

Research by Amber Dunstan

[1] Sir Thomas Foster, Judge of Common Pleas (1548 – 1612) – Genealogy (geni.com) accessed on 22/08/2021 at 16:24.

[2] Parish Registers, p. 46.

[3] Ibid.

[4] Hunsdon Heritage, p. 40.

[5] Parish Registers, p. 46.

[6] Ibid.

[7] Justice of the Common Pleas – Wikipedia accessed on 22/08/2021 at 17:38.

[8] Parish Registers, p. 46; Anne of Denmark – Wikipedia accessed on 22/08/2021 at 17:22.

[9] Parish Registers, p. 19.