Jabez Foster was 12 when his parents and siblings emigrated to New Zealand from England. He stayed behind to further his education and joined them 9 years later

He married Sarah Ann Penney in 1870 in New Zealand when he was 23 and they had 15 (known) children.

- 3 of his children married MARIA siblings (2 daughters marrying William Henry Maria)
- 2 of his children married PEPI siblings
- 2 of his children married BERGHAN siblings
- 3 of his children married THOMAS siblings
- 3 of his children married GARTON siblings AND another Garton sibling married his brother Stovin`s son

- their children were:
1871-1967 Annie Foster
- married Harry Thomas in 1892
- she died aged 96

1872-1957 Jabez "Joe" Foster
- married Harriett "Rita" Thomas in 1896
- married Annie May/Mary Kitchen in 1907
- he died aged 85

1873-1957 Stovin Foster
- married Ellen Berghan in 1907
- (Ellen was a half sister to Nina, below)
- he died aged 83

1874-1949 Martha Maria Foster
- married Charles Francis Thomas in 1892
- she died aged 74

1875-1970 Henry George Foster
- married Mary Florence Maria in 1904
- he died 2 days from 95

1877-1956 Richard Darnell Foster
- married Jessie Wallace in 1909
- he died aged 78

1878-1974 Alfred Sharpley Foster
- married Margaret Emma Garton in 1907
- he died aged 95

1879-1903 Florence Nightingale Foster
- she died aged 23

1881-1978 Elizabeth Foster
- married Albert George Garton in 1914
- she died aged 97

1882-Nov 1907 Helen Catherine Foster
- married William Henry Maria on 19th Feb 1907
- died aged 25 due to complications of childbirth

1883-1977 Roseanna Foster
- twin with Mary Maria
- married Alexander William Garton on 31st March 1910
- she died aged 93

1883-1971 Mary Maria Foster
- twin with Roseanna
- married William Henry Maria on 6th July 1910
- she died 1 day from 88

1885-1960 Clement Foster
- married Florence 'Flossy' Pepi in 1912
- he died aged 74

1887-1969 Effingham Francis Foster
- married Nina Berghan in 1909
- (Nina was born on 2nd July 1888, her mother, Catherine Snowden had her registered as Nina Berghan, the name of her 1st husband Arthur John Berghan who had died in 1886. Catherine married Joachim Pepi in 1889)
- Nina was a half sister to Ellen who married Stovin (above)
- he died aged 82

1889-1962 Andrew Millar Foster
- married Irene Pepi in 1909
- died aged 72