Lady Elizabeth Foster (December, 1619 - August, 1689) is one of the most well-known and established of the Foster family. The reason for this is the claims, made by her and others, of having supposed 'powers', like psychokinesis and levitation.Contents:
1. Biography
1.1 Early Life
1.2 Marriage
1.3 Later life
2. Paranormal claims
2.1 Alleged Paranormal Abilities
2.2 Chatsworth Ball of 1643
2.3 Doubts and Criticism
Biography_________
Early Life
Lady Elizabeth Foster is the daughter of the 2nd Earl of Devonshire, William Foster, and 
Elizabeth Morrison. William Foster was born in September of 1582 and died in February of 1650. He was a soldier of the Royal Army. And Elizabeth Morrison was born in October of 1590 and died in September in 1652. William died of old age while Elizabeth Morrison died of food poisoning. Certain speculators believe she was murdered. Lady Elizabeth lived, all her life, at Chatsworth in Derbyshire, England. It was in Derbyshire where she attended The Royal School of Derbyshire along with her two younger sisters, Mary and Anne. Mary was born in March of 1622 and died in July of 1636 of fever, while Anne was born in December of 1625 and died in 1692. Overall Lady Foster had an excellent and luxurious childhood in which she recieved the what was known as the best education. The magnitude of wealth and glamour of which she was born into is one of the reasons Lady Elizabeth is of the most famous of paranormal figures.
Elizabeth Morrison. William Foster was born in September of 1582 and died in February of 1650. He was a soldier of the Royal Army. And Elizabeth Morrison was born in October of 1590 and died in September in 1652. William died of old age while Elizabeth Morrison died of food poisoning. Certain speculators believe she was murdered. Lady Elizabeth lived, all her life, at Chatsworth in Derbyshire, England. It was in Derbyshire where she attended The Royal School of Derbyshire along with her two younger sisters, Mary and Anne. Mary was born in March of 1622 and died in July of 1636 of fever, while Anne was born in December of 1625 and died in 1692. Overall Lady Foster had an excellent and luxurious childhood in which she recieved the what was known as the best education. The magnitude of wealth and glamour of which she was born into is one of the reasons Lady Elizabeth is of the most famous of paranormal figures.Marriage and Later Life
Lady Elizabeth Foster was married to Sir Henry Butler in 1649. Sir Henry Butler was a Statesman. They were chosen to be married by their parents, and were married until Sir Butlers death in 1680. Their marriage together was one of great glamour and fashion. They had a reputation for throwing marvelous and anticipated parties, as they were very popular and well-established. Despite the marriage being a succesful one, they never had children. After Sir Butlers death Lady Foster did not marry again as she fell ill in 1679 and was unable to recuperate. She was bedridden for the last ten years of her life and died of old age.
Paranormal Claims_________
Alleged Paranormal Abilities
Lady Elizabeth Foster's alleged paranormal abilities are psychokinesis, levitation, and teleportation. As for psychokinesis she seemed to have 'recurrent spontaneous psychokinesis'. This means that the outbursts of psychokinesis she had were without will and random. There have been witnesses claiming that she would make an object hover and move without any sort of material contact.
The Chatsworth Ball of 1643
The Chatsworth Ball of 1643 has become the most well-known of paranormal events in Lady Elizabeth Foster's life. What supposedly happened is the following.
" On a joyous night of dance, feast, mingling , and well-mannered frivolity a seemingly spontaneous and terrifying incident occured. As the band was playing, in the 'Painted Hall' of Chatsworth, a scream pierced the air. The music halted and all laughter came to an abrupt end. As all the guests looked towards the middle of the Hall they saw the body of Lady Elizabeth Foster in the air. The body seemed to sway back and forth as if hung by an invisible string, and the face seemed dead and lifeless."
An extract from the Biography of Lady Elizabeth Foster, written by William G. Keating
An extract from the Biography of Lady Elizabeth Foster, written by William G. Keating
It was recorded that before Foster levitated she was chatting to a beloved friend of hers, Mary Grey, when she fell to the ground and seized. After levitating she was 'dropped' onto the floor, it was after several minutes of silence that the visitors were taken into the next room. It was said that Lady Elizabeth did not wake up until late the next day, and even then she was in somewhat of a catatonic state with no recollection of the incident of the night before.
Doubts and Criticism
Despite a hefty amount of witnesses, regarding Lady Fosters' Paranormal abilities, there is worldwide doubt. Those critisizing the events state that Lady Elizabeth Foster was an attention seeker who suffered from severe psychological issues. Also many instruments and devices were designed in an attempt to mirror a machine that could have lifted Lady Foster up with the illusion of levitation.
References
1. The Parapsychological Association, famous figures
2. Chatsworth, Foster family, Lady Elizabeth Foster
3. William G Keating, Elizabeth Foster
4. The flight of objects, history
5. Chatsworthguide, The Foster and Cavendish family
External Links
1. Elizabeth Foster
2. History of Derbyshire, Foster family
See also
Chatsworth, Foster Family, Psychokinesis, Levitation
