John Foster (1798-1879)
John Foster (1798-1879), founder of John Foster and Son
1798 January 20th. Born the son of Jonas Foster, a colliery owner and farmer of Moor Royd Gate, Bradford, West Yorkshire.
Attended Thornton Grammar School and later Brockhouse School, Ovenden
1819 Married Ruth Briggs, daughter of a landowner from Queensbury,
1819 Set up in business the same year in a warehouse at Low Fold, Queensbury on what would later be the site of the Black Dyke Mills. He would buy yarn and distribute it to handloom weavers who would sell back the finished cloth.
ca.1821 Birth of son William Foster
1827 Built Prospect House
1832 Rented Cannon Mill for wool spinning
1835 Erected the first part of Black Dyke Mills on land acquired from his father-in-law.
1869 John Foster retired and the business was run by his sons William, Johnstone Jonas, Abram Briggs and John
1870s Bought and renovated Hornby Castle, Lancashire
1879 March 06th. Died.