Michael: I hope this finds you.
After many years of going around in circles with my FOSTER/PHYPERS connection, I came across your letter today to Malcolm.
I read with great interest that Harriet PHYPERS (nee BISIKER) died in 1870 at Cecil Place, Chippendale. My Henry FOSTER lived and died at Cecil Place, Chippendale. He died 11 Dec 1880 and had lived at Cecil Place (No. 8) since at least 1867. (Assessments of Phillip Ward). Henry was the son of William FOSTER and Sarah PHYPERS and had continued the trade of printer/compositor.
Sarah FOSTER (nee PHYPERS) was the daughter of John PHYPERS (1753-1822) and his wife Sarah URQUART (1763-1847). Sarah was baptized Sarah Tomlinson PHYPERS 29 Nov 1789 at St. Leonard Shoreditch London. It is possible she is the Sarah Tomlinson FOSTER who died Sep 1846 and buried at St. John Hackney, although the age given for this Sarah is 32 years and our Sarah was living at 44 Primrose Street, St. Leonard Shoreditch, not Hackney.
I have seen the reference to James Raycraft PHYPERS whose marriage to Harriet BISIKER you mention. Do you think he is the James PHYPERS born 1801 to John and Mary PHYPERS at St. Botolph Bishopsgate?
If this seems disjointed, my apologies, there are so many questions I have and I am trying to keep this succinct. I guess my main question would be - are you aware of the connection between the PHYPERS and FOSTER families? My second question would be why was Harriet PHYPERS at the FOSTER home on Cecil Street - does that indicate a close connection of James Raycraft PHYPERS to my Sarah Tomlinson PHYPERS FOSTER?
I would be intrigued to hear your insights into these two families and hope that, at last, after 40+ years I can, with certainty align the right people with their proper families. I once held the extremely limited view that PHYPER/S was such an unusual name I would have very little trouble identifying them! Now I know there are hundreds (if not more) of folks of that name and they used and re-used given names almost with abandon!
Thank you for reading this. I hope I hear from you soon.
Glenys