[1] His sisters and his brothers William and Josiah were very active doing good works and it was Robert who turned his attention's to the family's surveying business.

[1] He was a member of the British and Foreign School Society[2] and served on their committee for all of his life starting in 1817.

A picture was commissioned that showed the delegates, including Robert Forster, of the new British and Foreign Anti-Slavery Society which was formed in 1839.

Forster was a member of deputations to gather support for the complete end to slavery sent to European governments after a Quaker meeting in 1856.

Mary lived in Devon for a long time but on her return home she visited women prisoners and in 1837 was appointed an elder in Tottenham.