William Foster (abt. 1633 - 1713)

Born about 1633 in Exeter, Devon, England [uncertain]

Husband of Mary (Jackson) Foster — married 15 May 1661 in Rowley, Essex, Massachusetts Bay Colony

Descendants

Died 17 May 1713 at about age 80 in Boxford, Essex, Massachusetts Bay

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Biography

William Foster immigrated to New England as a child during the Puritan Great Migration (1621-1640).

William Foster/Forster was born about 1633, the son of Reginald and Judith Foster who came to New England in 1638 and settled at Ipswich, Massachusetts. ^[1]

William married Mary Jackson of Rowley, Masschusetts on May 25, 1661. His wife Mary was born at Rowley on February 8, 1640 ^[2], the daughter of William Jackson and Joanna Collin. Her father William was of Hunsley and married Joanna at Rowley, Yorkshire, England and came to New England in 1638. ^{[3] [1]}

He settled at the section of Rowley, that later became Boxford.

• c1661: Purchased land of Joseph Jewett at Rowley. ^[1]
• 1666/7: William, with his brother-in-law Francis Peabody with 2 others, received a land grant at Rowley of 800 acres. ^[1]
• 1675: Served as one of the tax collectors at Rowley. ^[1]
• 1677: 1680: One of the citizens chosen to 'enforce the strict observance of the Sabbath' by his neighbors. ^[1]
• 1685: June 5: Boxford was incorporated and William was among those who had petitioned for the establishment of Boxford and served on the committee to settle on the 'parting line.' ^[1]
• 1693: April 3: William Foster and sons William and Jonathan, and John Kimball, bought 300 acres of land on the Ipswich Road from Robert Eames. ^[1]
• 1693: June 13: William was chosen as ordinary keeper and granted a license for such at Boxford. ^[1]
• 1706/7: February 27: William deeded son Samuel, half his right in the 800 land grant. ^[1]
• 1710: August 25: William gave his son David, of Haverhill, all the rights in lands formerly of his father-in-law William Jackson. ^[1]

William's father Renald Foster, in his will written on April 30, 1680, left William six acres of land and marsh at Hog Island. ^[4]

His wife Mary's father, William Jackson, left lands in his will to son John Sr. and grandson John Jr, but specified that if his grandson John Jr. died childless, his share should go to his daughters being Elizabeth Howe and Mary Foster, and Deborah Trumball. ^[1]

William died at Boxford on May 17, 1713. ^[5] William, aged 78, wrote his will on September 3, 1711. It was submitted to the court in June, 1713, and proved in December, 1713. In it he left bequests to: ^[6]

• my wife Mary to have the estate during her widowhood
• my five sons - Jonathan, William, Timothy, Samuel and David - all my lands after my decease
• it is understood my wife to have the estate during her widowhood for her maintenance and the maintenance of our son Joseph
• daughter Mary Kilbourn
• daughter Judith Plates
• daughter Hannah Rix
• sons Jonathan and Samuel to be executors ^[6]

Children

1. Mary born on March 1, 1662 ; died on August 30, 1756; married Samuel Kilbourne on November 20, 1682. ^{[2] [1]}
2. Judith born on June 19, 1664; died on November 18, 1722; married John Platts on April 13, 1693. ^{[2] [1]}
3. Jonathan born on March 6, 1667/8 ^[2]; died on at Boxford on May 21, 1730; married Abigail Kimball on December 14, 16xx. ^{[5] [1]}
4. William born about 1670; married first Sarah Kimball about July 6, [1689-92] ^[5]; married second Mrs. Margaret Gold, November 13, 1744 at Andover where he died on August 29, 1755, in his 86th year ^{[7] [1]}
5. Timothy born ___; baptized on November 19, 1671 ^[2]; married first Mary Dorman at Topsfield on October 2, 1699 ^[5]; married second Ruth ___. ^[1]
6. Hannah born ___: ?baptized on November 23, 1673 ^[2]; married Theofiles Rix of Wenham on May 11, 1710. ^{[5] [1]}
7. David born on May 9, 1679 ^[2]; married Mary Black of Haverhill. ^[1]
8. Samuel born on February 20, 1681/2 ^[2]; married Mercy Maccoon of Cambridge, on September 2, 1703 ^[5]; he died on August 30, 1747. ^[1]
9. Joseph born ___; baptized on May 21, 1682 ^[2]; named in his father's will in 1711. ^[6]

Research notes

Rowley Marriages

Foster, William, and Mary Jackson, 15: 3m: 1661. (p. 297)

Foster, Mary, d. William, and Samuel Kilburne, Nov. 20, 1682. (p. 296)

Foster, Judeth, and John Platts, Apr. 13, 1693. CTR (p. 296)

Rowley Births

Jackson, Mary, d. William and Joane, 8: 12m: 1639. (p. 106)

Foster, Mary, d. William and Mary, 16: 1m: 1661. (p. 78)

Foster, Judith d. William, June 19, 1664. (p. 78)

Foster, Joseph, s. William, bp. May 21, 1682. CR1 (p. 78)

Foster, Jonathan, s. William, Mar. 6, 1667. (p. 78)

?Foster, Hannah, bp. Nov. 23, 1673. CR1 (p. 78)

Foster, David, s. William and Mary, May 9, 1679. (p. 77)

Foster, Timmothy, s. William, bp. Nov. 19, 1671. CR1 (p. 78)

Foster, Samuel, s. William and Mary, Feb. 20, 1681. (p. 78)

Rowley Deaths

Kilbourn, Mary, w. Samuel, Aug. 30, 1756. PR2 (p. 486)

Plats, Judith (Platts), w. Sergeant John, Nov. 18, 1722. (p. 23) ^[2]

Boxford Deaths

Foster, William, sen., May 17, 1713. (p. 238)

Foster, Jonathan, May 21, 1730. (p. 237)

Boxford Marriages

Foster, Hannah, and Theofiles Rix of Wenham, May 11, 1710. (p. 142)

Foster, Jonathan, and Abigel Kimbal, Dec. 14, [1689-91?]. (p. 143)

Foster, Samuell, and Mercy Maccoon of Cambridge, at Cambridge, Sept. 2, 1703. (p. 144)

Foster, Timmothy, and Mary Dorman of Topsfield, at Topsfield, Oct. 2, 1699. [1692. BC] (p. 144)

Foster, William, and Sarah Kimball, July 6, ––––. BC; Foster, William, and Sarah Kimball, July 6, [1689-92?]. (p. 144) ^[5]

Andover Marriages

Foster, William, and Mrs. Margaret Gold, Nov. 13, 1744. (p. 136)

Andover Deaths

Foster, Wiliam, Mr., Aug. 29, 1755, in his 86th y. (p. 442) ^[7]

Sources

1. ↑ ^{1.00 1.01 1.02 1.03 1.04 1.05 1.06 1.07 1.08 1.09 1.10 1.11 1.12 1.13 1.14 1.15 1.16 1.17 1.18 1.19} Forster, Edward Jacob, Genealogy of the Fo(r)ster Family Descendants Reginald Fo(r)ster of Ispwich, Massachusetts in: The New England Historical and Genealogical Register, Volume 30, Boston, Massachusetts, 1876, p.83-102 https://www.google.com/books/edition/The_New_England_Historical_and_Genealogi/L16yLZDf1SQC?hl=en&gbpv=1&dq=Genealogy+of+the+Fo(r)ster+Family%3B+Descendants+of+Reginald+Fo(r)ster+of+Ipswich&pg=PA83&printsec=frontcover
2. ↑ ^{2.0 2.1 2.2 2.3 2.4 2.5 2.6 2.7 2.8 2.9} Vital Records of Rowley, Massachusetts to the End of the Year 1849, The Essex Institute, Salem, Massachusetts, 1929
3. ↑ Hatcher, Patricia Law, Focus on Rowley and Ezekiel Roger's Company in: Great Migration Newsletter, Volume 18: p. 21: Great Migration Newsletter, V.1-20.(Online Database: AmericanAncestors.org, New England Historic Genealogical Society, 2018.) https://www.americanancestors.org/DB1567/i/21162/21/426838378
4. ↑ Dow, George Francis. The Probate records of Essex County, Massachusetts. (Salem, Mass. : Essex Institute, 1916) Full will & Inventory p. 419-422
5. ↑ ^{5.0 5.1 5.2 5.3 5.4 5.5 5.6} Vital Records of Boxford, Massachusetts to the End of the Year 1849, The Topsfield Historical Society, Topsfield, Massachusetts, 1905
6. ↑ ^{6.0 6.1 6.2} Case 10007: p. 1-4: Essex County, MA: Probate File Papers, 1638-1881.Online database. AmericanAncestors.org. New England Historic Genealogical Society, 2014. (From records supplied by the Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court Archives.) https://www.americanancestors.org/DB515/i/13766/10007-co2/30179714
7. ↑ ^{7.0 7.1} Vital Records of Andover, Massachusetts to the End of the Year 1849: Volume II: Marriages and Deaths, The Topsfield Historical Society, Topsfield, Massachusetts, 1912

See Also:

• Foster genealogy; by Pierce, Frederick Clifton, 1855-1904. cn Publication date 1899 (USE WITH CAUTION)