John Davidsen Fost Sr. (1638 - 1699)

Born 3 Jan 1638 in Ribe Domsogn, Ribe, Denmark

Husband of Mary (Chadbourne) Fost — married 25 Jan 1659 in Portsmouth, (old) Norfolk, Massachusetts Bay Colony

Husband of Elizabeth (Crawford) Fost — married 1686 in Dover, Strafford, New Hampshire [uncertain]

Descendants

Died 17 Dec 1699 at age 61 in New Castle, Rockingham, New Hampshire

Problems/Questions Profile managers: Jack Wise [send private message], Gregory Dunn [send private message], and Pam Seavey [send private message]

Biography

This is the profile for John Fost of Dover, New Hampshire (spelled Fost not Foss) who was an attorney and Tailor. He married first to Mary Chadbourne and second Elizabeth Crawford (widow of James Goffe) .

See also John Foss of Rye, New Hampshire, Caulker, who married Mary Berry.

The Guy Scoby Rix scandal

A Foss genealogy published by a Guy Scoby Rix in 1912 fraudulently claimed that John Foss was a descendant of Danish royalty. We have public profiles left over from this theory.

See Johann Davidsen Foss (1618 - 1659

This John Fost is known to have English origins.

Children of John Fost of Dover and Mary Chadbourne

John Fost of Dover (Tailor and Attorney - spelled with a t not a double s) and Mary Chadbourne had five children:

• Mary Chadbourne Fost 1667 – 1725 m JAMES WARREN

• William Chadbourne Fost 1673 – 1738 m 1) Margery Lord, 2) Sarah (Fernside) Heard and 3) MARY (HORNE) Hason *only*

• Elizabeth Chadbourne Fost 1679 – 1738 m Daniel Dill and Henry Beedle *only*

• Humphrey Chadbourne Fost 1681 – 1776 m Catherine _

• Jemimah Chadbourne Fost 1682 – 1714 probably never married.

Children of John Fost of Dover and Elizabeth Crawford

With his second wife Elizabeth Crawford (widow of James Goffe) he had two more children:

• Lydia Fost 1687 – 1740 (A LYDIA Fost or Frost married Peter GRANT 24 Feb.1717. Some researchers believe it was this Lydia Fost but there is no confirmation of this).

• Samuel Fost 1687 – 1747 m 1) Mehitable Lincoln 2) Mary White

Compare to the Children of John Foss of Rye and Mary Berry

John, a calker, and Mary Berry had at least nine children, possibly 13. The order of the births of these children is different than that given by GDMNH which does not provide their dates of birth (other than estimates for John and Elizabeth).

(Note dates are approximate):

• 1. John Foss c 1660 – 1752 m 1) Mary 2) Susannah
• 2. Samuel Foss c 1668 – 1752 m Mary Hinkson
• 3. Joshua Foss, c 1665 – 1761 m Sarah Wallis
• 3. Elizabeth Foss, c 1666 – 1746 m Deacon Nathaniel Batchelder
• 4. Martha FOSS 1670 – 1738 m Richard Goss (of Portsmouth, NH *not* Marbehead)
• 5. William Foss c 1673 – 1718 m Sarah BUSWELL *only*
• 6. Hannah Foss 1677 – 1718 m John Jenness
• 7. Thomas Foss c 1672 – 1710 m Abigail Cole
• 8. Zachariah FOSS c 1676 – 1752 m Joanna
• 9. Samuel Foss c 1668 – 1752 m Mary Hinkson

There are other possible children:

• 1. Richard FOSS c 1681 – 1718 was thought originally to be a child but is now considered to be a grandson per GDMNH, Noyes/Libby/Davis.
• 2. Hinkson Foss, killed 26 June 1696 is listed as a son in some sources but is probably a grandson via Samuel Foss (above) and his wife Mary *Hinkson*.
• 3. Walter Foss probably a son.
• 4. Jane Foss is also possibly also the children of John Foss of Rye but this is far from proven. Jane Foss married Samuel Neal.

Note John Foss of Rye the caulker (spelled with a double s) did *not* have children named Humphrey, Lydia, Mary nor Jemima. John Fost the attorney and tailor (spelled with a t) of Dover did have children named Humphrey, Lydia, Mary and Jemima. Both John Foss and John Fost had a daughter named Elizabeth and both had a sons named William and Samuel. However, John Fost's Elizabeth m Daniel Dill and Henry Beedle. John Fost's Willaim m 1) Margery Lord, 2) Sarah (Fernside) Heard and 3) MARY (HORNE) Hason. While John Fost's Samuel m 1) Mehitable Lincoln 2) Mary White. So you can easily tell the namesakes apart.

Timeline

Timeline for John Fost (with a t) of Dover Attorney and Tailor:

Birth: 1637 3 Jan 3 Jan 1637/38, Lived in Dover, NH not to be confused with John Foss of Rye. See warning on Chadbourne.org.

Marriage to Mary Chadbourne 1666 Age: 29 Dover, Strafford, New Hampshire, USA John Fost of Dover (not Foss) married first Mary Chadbourne (not Berry). Five children as shown. Do *not* confuse him with John Foss of Rye!!! See info from Chadbourne.org.

Marriage to Elizabeth Crawford 1686 25 Jan Age: 49 Dover, Strafford, New Hampshire, USA John Fost (not Foss) married 2nd Elizabeth Crawford the widow of James Goffe. Two children as shown. After his death she married third James Emery.

Death 1699 18 Dec Age: 62 Dover, Strafford, New Hampshire, USA

chadbourne.org

See Chadbourne.org to disambiguate John Fost Tailor/Attorney or Dover who married Mary Chadbourne from John Foss of Rye the Calker who married Mary Berry. Here are some fact about John Fost of Dover:

John Fost of Dover by Jeanie Thornton Roberts blog@ http://www.jeaniesgenealogy.com/2012/07/john-foss-and-mary-berry.html

In his will written 17 Dec 1699, John Fost of Dover names the following people: his wife Elizabeth and children; Humphrey, William, Mary, Jeminah, Elizabeth, and Samuel. He also names a son in law, James Warren. the inventory of the will was taken on January 8th. In his will he says the two youngest of his children are not yet of age. Presumably he named the children in their birth order and the youngest two would be Elizabeth and Samuel. New Hampshire Probate Records, Volume 3, page 161

In another probate record, that of James Goss (Goffe) the inventory of his estate is done and is now in the hands of John Foste who married the relict (widow) this was done on May 7 1688. witnesses are Humphrey Chadbourne and Richard Paine. Probate Records of the Province of New Hampshire, Vol 31 p. 320. So we know that the wife named in John Fost's will was Elizabeth Goss, widow of James Goss. She is not, however, the mother of all of his children. In The Collection of the Dover Historical Society, Vol 1, Births and Marriages, page 40, are found the following births: William Fost, son of John and Mary born March 11th 1673. Mary Fost, the daughter of William and his wife Mary, born June 24 1728 and Chadbourne Fost, son of William and his wife Mary born March 26 1731. The first wife of John Fost was Mary Chadbourne. Genealogical and Personal Memoirs Relating to the Families of the State of Massachusetts, Cutter and Adams.Vol 4 p. 2461. In his will proved 13 September 1667 Humphrey Chadborne of Kittery Maine left 5 pounds to his "cosson Mary Fosse". Kittery Town Book. Mary is said to be the grandchild of William and Elizabeth Chadborne.

At a town meeting held March 1, 1666 Thomas Edgerly, James Coffin, John Chirch, John Fost and others were recieved into the Town of Dover. Dover Town Records. He is on the tax roll of Cochecho that year. At a training the 21st of June 1669 John Fost and other men took the Oath of Fidelity. He is said to have been a tailor and attorney.

chadbourne.org GEN3

http://www.chadbourne.org/Gen3.html#17

17. MARY3 CHADBOURNE (4. William2-1), born Boston Dec 1644 (Boston Record Commissioners' Report 9:18); died Dover, Stafford Co, NH before 25 Jan 1686/7 (husband's remarriage); married "at the home of the Chadbournes" (LND, 241) by 1666 (daughter's birth) JOHN1 FOST, who died 18 Dec 1699 (ibid). John married second 25 Jan 1686/7 Elizabeth (Crawford) Goffe, widow of James, with whom John had more children, Samuel and Lydia. Elizabeth married third James Emery Jr.

Mary, as the child of William Chadbourne, received a small sum in the will of her uncle Humphrey written in 1667.

Readers should be careful to distinguish between John Foss of Rye and our John Fost of Dover, as the listing of their families have been confused and mistakenly printed in some sources. John was an English immigrant, a tailor and attorney of Dover. By 1686 he succeeded James Goff in running

Quampegan mills (LND, 221). John made his will on 17 Dec 1699 and died the next day (LND, 241).

1699 Will of John Fost

In the Name of god Amen

I John fost of dover being week and in expectaion of my chainge...

I will and bequeath to my loveing wife ye one half of my housing and homested for hur maitainece and bringing up of my two youngest Children

I will and bequeath to my S Humphry half of my housing and lands for his one use and benephit requesting and appointing my Son in law James warrin to be his over sar counseler lest he be ronged of a comfortabel maintainence-

I will and bequeath to my Son william one Shilling and also fourty acers of land that was granted me by the towne of dover

I will and bequeath unto my daughter mary one Shilling

I will and bequeath unto my daughter Jeminah one shilling

I will and bequeath unto my daughter Elizabeth one Shilling

I will and bequath unto my Son Samuel the half of this which i left with my wife when he comes of age

I will and constitute my wife Sole Executrix of this my last will and testement and for considertion of all the above Saide I have heare unto seat my hand and seale this sevententh day of desember one thousand six hundred ninty and nine

Signed sealed and delvered as John Fost his last will and testament In presence of us John Wade James Emery Alse Abbot NHPP 3:163)

• Marriage to Mary Chadbourne: (1666 — Age: 29) Dover, Strafford, New Hampshire, USA
• Marriage to Elizabeth Crawford: (25 Jan 1686 — Age: 49) Dover, Strafford, New Hampshire, USA
  • Updated from Ancestry Genealogy by SmartCopy: Nov 3 2015, 15:37:05 UTC

Comparison of John Foss and John Fost by Noyes

Sybil Noyes, Charles Libby, and Walter Davis “Genealogical Dictionary of Maine and New Hampshire” and we’ll see that everything lines up with the Chadbourne Genealogy (not Pope messed it up):

• FOSS,

• 1 JOHN, Rye Beach, ± 30 in 1666, ± 46 in 1680, first app. in division of 1661 as of 1657, likely in his wife’s right. In 1668 he bot John Warren’s stake in the Shrewsbury Patent, and in 1675 defended it in a suit against Richard Morgan. Gr.j. 1675, 1678, 1681,1692. Innholder 1694-1698. Selectman 1698. Lists 326a, 330c, 318c, 323, 312cd, 313a, 315bc, 316, 49, 52, 57. He m. Mary Berry (12), grantor with him in 1673, liv. (or his son’s w.) in 1700. See Marden (2). His grs. Joshua, 1709-1809, as told by his grs. Jacob D., b. 1784, writing in 1854, gave his story. A calker, he deserted a British warship in Boston harbor, came to Rye, where he found a wife; Foss and Fost are two distinct names; he raised up 12 ch. who had families. Of this number, by taking every Foss in sight (not Fosts) we make but 10. His deed-will, 13 Sep. 1710, ment. by name only John, Joshua and Zachariah. Ch: John, b. ab. 1660. Elizabeth, b. 1666, m. Nathl. Batchelder (4). Samuel. Martha, m. by Dec. 1693 Richard Goss. Thomas. William. Joshua. Zachariah. Hannah, mar. in June 1702 John Jenness. Richard, likely a grs., wit. in 1713 with Wm. Wallis, Newcastle. In 1745 one Richard, of Portsmouth, gave P.A. to wife Sarah. See Neale (8).

• FOST, Forst, phonetic or perhaps an older spelling of Frost.

• 1 JOHN, Dover 1663, tailor. Rev. Joseph (‘Handkerchief’) Moody, town clerk of York, a born genealogist, spelt his name Foss, yet guarded against the confusion of Foss-Fost-Forst-Frost by recording his dau. Elizabeth as ‘d. of John Foss born at England.’ The mar. rec. of one John Fost, 16--, at the home of the Chadbournes, has not been invest. First app. as atty. for Anthony Checkley in Dover ct. Aft. Mr. Goff’s death he appar. had charge of Quamphegan mills and m. his wid. Gr. jury 1671, 1674. Lists 311e (Dover), 356km, 357c, 359ab, 49, 52, 96. Will 17 Dec. 1699, d. next day. He m. 1st Mary Chadbourne; 2d 25 Jan. 1686-7 Elizabeth (by error Sarah in the record), wid. of James Goffe, who m. 3d James Emery (3). Ch. by 1st w: Mary, m. ab. 1692 James Warren. Humphrey, app. d. or remov. William, b. 11 Mar. 1673-4. Jemima, wit. Berw. in 1702. Elizabeth, m. 8 Nov. 1698 Daniel Dill (2), 2d Henry Beedle (2). By 2d w: Samuel, mariner, Boston, mar. (Foss) 9 July 1714 Mehitable Lincoln (child bur. 25 July 1717); 2d (Fost) 15 Sep. 1726 Mary White. Will 1 Jan - 18 Oct. 1747-8 (Forst), son Samuel, ± 19, under gdn. of uncle John Hill. Lydia, appar. m. 24 Feb. 1717 Capt. Peter Grant of Berw. 7 ch. bap., including Landers.

Sources

Chadbourne.org scroll to the bottom link

Genealogical Dictionary of Maine and New Hampshire Noyes/Libby/Davis, (1939), pg. 240 – 270. Lane Memorial Library database on Rootsweb

Ancestors of Karen R. Brooks link

For records on three of their children go to Generation 4 Chadbourne.org

Ancestors of Margaret May Harvey Genealogy.com link

SEE Also link for more information on John Foss and Fost.

A Foss genealogy published by a Guy Scoby Rix in 1912 erroneously claims that John was from Denmark. Noyes/Libby/Davis,

Foss, Joseph A., Jr., "Benjamin Foss of Machias, Maine, c. 1741-1830, his ancestors and descendants," (Foss Genealogical Research, 1993), LC Control #93136856

Plummer, John, "Two John Jacksons from Darmouth, Devon," (1990, NEH&GR), v. 144, p. 33, #5-i for Plummer's explanation as to why he believes this John was related to the JACKSON family.

Foss, Joseph A., Jr., "Benjamin Foss of Machias, Maine, c. 1741-1830, his ancestors and descendants," (Foss Genealogical Research, 1993), LC Control #93136856

History and genealogy of the Foss family of America, Guy Scoby Rix in 1912 claimed that John was from Denmark.

Note: A section of Rye Beach, NH is still called Foss Beach after John and Mary Foss. Google Books Link

The Hampton Lane Library has a lot of information about John Foss of Rye.

Hampton, New Hampshire Area Related Families link

Biography and Genealogy of Western Massachusetts, 1639-1925. (with a lot of incorrect information)

Please approve the merge of this duplicate:

• http://www.wikitree.com/wiki/Fost-7