Version 6.01

11 February 2025

David March © 2014

SYDNEY WILLIAM FOSTER

Sydney William Foster was born on 2 April 1882 in Reading, Berkshire, England to William Foster (1853-1913) & Mary Ann Withers née Cox (1851-1937). Sydney had one half-brother, Frederick Jesse Withers (1869-1941) from Mary Ann’s first marriage to Jesse Withers (1849-1870). Sydney married Rosa Emily Gardiner (1880-1977) on 24 December 1906.

Sydney followed in his father’s trade of seeds-man (nurseryman). Sydney and Rosa had two daughters, Phyllis Marjorie (1908-1968) & Audrey Ella (1910-2006) before they left England in 1911.

Sydney sailed from Liverpool on 13 April 1911 aboard SS ‘Lake Manitoba’; Rosa and the two young girls followed, leaving Avonmouth, Bristol on 6 August 1911 aboard SS ‘Royal George’. Sydney gave his previous employment as seedsman but intended to become a clerk in Canada. Sydney worked for J R R Bailey, Meat Markets as a bookkeeper for a couple of years. During this time the family lived at 1011 Ave C North. Sydney and Rosa had four more daughters, Charlotte Marion (1912-1940), Vera (1916-2000), Lillian ( 1917-2006) & Nora (b 1921).

Sydney joined the Post Office in 1915 and worked as a clerk until 1919. He then joined the Canadian National Railway where he remained for the rest of his working life; retiring in 1947 after 27 years. By this time he and Rosa were living at 652 University Drive, Saskatoon.

Sydney was the Organist-Choir Director at Westminster United Church for many years and his wife and six daughters sang under his direction.

Sydney died on 23 July 1961 and is buried in Woodlawn Cemetery, Saskatoon. Rosa died on 13 December 1977 in Saskatoon. This is based on an unverified family tree.

This family tree can be found on Ancestry under the title 3rd Ave Foster 2 Tree.

Although Sydney was invariably registered in census records and the like as Sydney or Sydney W , he was familiarly known as Syd or Sid.