FARENTAGE AND BIRTH-EARLY CHARACTER AND OCCUPATIONSBREARLEY HALL-BRISTOL.
JOHN and ANN FOSTER, the parents of the subject of this memoir, occupied, at the time of his birth, a small farm-house in the parish of Halifax, between Wainsgate and Hebden-bridge.* In addition to the labors of the farm, they devoted part of their time to weaving. Mr. Foster was a strong-minded man, and so addicted to reading and meditation, that on this account principally he deferred involving himself in the cares of a family till upwards of forty. He received his permanent convictions of Christian truth from that model of apostolic zeal, Mr. Grimshaw, of Haworth; but subsequently joined a small Baptist church at Wainsgate. Though a person of retired habits,† and averse from mixing in society further than a sense of duty required, he possessed great cheerfulness and enlarged views. I remember," a valued correspondent observes, "seeing him in company with a dear relative at the time when the British and Foreign Bible Society was first formed, and it is impossible for me to forget the devout exhilaration of the venerable Christian as he conversed on the subject, and indulged in bright visions of hope in reference to the world he was leaving." His acquaintance with theological writers was extensive. His conversation was generally full of
* The name of the locality, which frequently occurs in the correspondence, was Wadsworth Lanes; the latter term is intended to describe a township road, in which a considerable number of other roads or lanes meet.
† A secluded spot at the bottom of a wood near Hebden-bridge, and adjoining the river Hebden, with a projecting rock, whither the good man used to retire for prayer and meditation, is still known by the name of John Foster's cave.