The FOSTER Family of Harlow, Essex, England and Ipswich, Essex, MA Send comments and corrections to anneb0704@yahoo.co.uk
JOHN FOSTER of Harlow
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RENOLD FOSTER 1
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RENOLD FOSTER 2 (d. 1681) of Ipswich m. Judith Wignol (d. 1644)
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ISAAC FOSTER (abt 1630 - 1691) m. Mary Jackson
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RENOLD FOSTER 3 (abt 1636 - 1707) m. Elizabeth Dane
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PRUDENCE FOSTER (1675 - 1755) m. Joseph Boardman
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ELEANOR FOSTER (b. 1673) m. William Bennett 1


Generation 1

JOHN FOSTER of Harlow

Parents: Unknown

John Foster of Harlow, a town eight miles from Theydon Garnon, made his will in 1601, naming his son Reynold Foster his chief heir. [Ref]

Generation 2

RENOLD FOSTER 1

Parents: John Foster

Renold (Reynold) Foster made his will in 1622, naming his grown son Reynold. [Ref]

Generation 3

RENOLD FOSTER 2 (d. 1681) of Ipswich

Parents: Possibly Renold Foster 1

Renold Foster died between28 Dec 1707 and 30 May 1861. He married Judith Wignol in 1619 in Theydon Garnon, Essex, She died in Oct 1644 in Ipswich. [Ref] He married second Sarah, the widow of John Martin of Ipswich, in Sep 1665 [Ref] in Ipswich. [Ref] She survived Renold and married as his second wife William White of Haverhill on 21 Sep 1682. [Ref]

Renold came to New England with his family in 1638. [Ref] He settled in Ipswitch with his wife, five sons and two daughters. [Ref]

Renold bought a house and land from John Tuttell on 26 Sep 1638. [Ref] On 6 Apr 1641 Renold was granted eight acres of meadow in the west meadow in Ipswich, if any remained. This was in consideration of a hovel that stood at a new bridge and was taken away to accomodate passage there. [Ref] He bought Ralph Dix's six-acres lot lying in the common field north of the river on 8 Mar 1647/8. [Ref] He bought a lot with a house, a barn and other buildings, a lot with an orchard on the north side of the river and a three-acre planting lot on the north side of the river from Roger Preston for £50 on 11 Mar 1657/8. On 20 May 1663 he bought six acres of marsh in the Hog Island marshes from Richard Nichols for 16 shillings. [Ref]

Renold and his son Abraham are on a 19 Dec 1648 list of taxpayers in Ipswich. [Ref] He or his son was made a freeman on 29 (7) 1657. [Ref] Renold and his sons Abraham, Jacob, Isaac and Renold, Jr. are on a 18 Feb 1678 list of those who have right of commonage in Ipswich. [Ref]

Renold was on the 25 (1) 1651, 25 (7) 1655, 30 Mar 1656 and 27 Sep 1659 trial juries at the court in Ipswich. [Ref] He was on the 26 Sep 1665 and 29 Sep 1668 grand juries at the court in Ipswich. [Ref] The town of Ipswich hired Renold and Thomas Clark for £10 to make a passage between "the river" and the Chebacco river with a ford and a footbridge in 1652. [Ref] In Mar 1667 Renold was released from ordinary training and was to pay a bushel of wheat a year to the use of the company. [Ref] In 1674 he was released from training, without having to make a payment. [Ref]

Renold witnessed the will of William Averill of Ipswich on 3 Jun 1652. [Ref] He appraised the estate of Robert Rogers on 29 Sep 1663. [Ref]

By a deed dated 20 May 1663, Reynold Foster, Sr. of Ipswich bought six acres in the Hog Island marshes from Richard Nicolls for 16 shillings. [Ref]

Renold Foster and Mark Quilter were chosen to ensure that all swine on the north side of the river were ringed and yoked on 24 Mar 1667. [Ref]

In Mar 1669 John Chub was presented at court for killing Renold Foster's hores. He was ordered to pay or be fined. [Ref]

Renold signed his will on 20 Apr 1680; it was proved on 9 Jun 1681. [Ref][Ref] He attached a codicil to his will on 5 Mar 1680/1. [Ref] Inventory on his estate, amounting to £744.16s. was taken on 30 May 1861. [Ref]

Children of Renold and Judith:

  1. Sarah Foster was born about 1620, as she deposed that she was 48 in 1668. [Ref] She married William Story. [Ref][Ref gives only his last name.] William Story of Ipswich came from Norwich, co. Norfolk, England as a servant of Samuel Dix, ebarking on 8 Apr 1637, age 23. [Ref] William and Seth Story refer to Renold Foster as their uncle in a deposition associated with a case heard at the Mar 1669 court. [Ref]
  2. Abraham Foster was born about 1622 as he deposed that he was 76 in 1698. [Ref] He died 15 Jan 1711 [Ref says 25 Jan], age 90, in Ipswich. [Ref][Ref says 89] He married Lydia, the daughter of Caleb and Martha Burbank of Rowley. [Ref] They had ten children. [Ref]
    Abraham was a yeoman. [Ref]
    some descendants of Abraham Foster
  3. Mary Foster died on 9 Apr 1705. [Ref] She married first Daniel Wood. [Ref][Ref does not give his first name] He probably died about 1648. [Ref] She married second Francis Peabody. [Ref][Ref gives only his last name][Ref]
    some descendants of Mary Foster and Daniel Wood
  4. Isaac Foster was born about 1630. He died on 8 Feb 1691/2 in Ipswich. He married first Mary Jackson. He married second Hannah Downing. He married third Martha Hale.
  5. William Foster was born about 1633. He died on 17 May 1713 in Boxford. [Ref][Ref] He married Mary, the daughter of William and Joanne Jackson of Rowley, on 15 May 1661. [Ref] She was born on 8 Feb 1639. [Ref] They had nine children born in Rowley. [Ref] William stated that he was 78 when he made his will on 3 Sep 1713. [Ref]
    some descendants of William Foster
  6. Dea. Jacob Foster was born about 1635. He died on 9 Jul 1710, age 75, in Ipswich. [Ref][Ref] He married first Martha Kinsman on 12 Jan 1658/9 [Ref] in Ipswich. [Ref] Martha was the daughter of Robert Kinsman 1. She died on 15 Oct 1666 [Ref] in Ipswich. [Ref] He married second Abigail Lord on 26 Feb 1666/7 [Ref] in Ipswich. [Ref] Abigail was the daughter of Robert and Abigail (Wait) Lord. [Ref] She died on 4 Jun 1729 [Ref] in Ipswich. [Ref] Jacob had 14 children. [Ref] He was deacon of the First Church in Ipswich. [Ref] He was made a freeman on 5 May 1664.
  7. Renold Foster 3 was born about 1636. He died on 28 Dec 1707. [Ref] He married Elizabeth Dane.

Generation 4

ISAAC FOSTER (abt 1630 - 1691)

Parents: Renold Foster 2 and Judith Unknown.

Isaac Foster was born about 1630. He died on 8 Feb 1691 in Ipswich. [Ref] He married first Mary Jackson on 5 May 1658 in Ipswich. [Ref] She died on 27 Nov 1677 in Ipswich. [Ref] He married second Hannah Downing on 25 Nov 1678 in Ipswich. [Ref] He married third Martha Hale on 16 Mar 1679/80 in Ipswich. [Ref][Ref]

Isaac was a freeman on 31 May 1671 in Ipswich. [Ref]

Isaac and his brother Abraham testified on 27 Jun 1664 on behalf of Nehemiah Abbott in his case against John Bridges. [Ref]

Isaac was 60 years old when he made his will, which was proved on 29 Mar 1692. [Ref]

Children of Isaac Foster and Mary Jackson:

  1. Jonathan Foster was born on 9 Jan 1658 in Ipswich. [Ref] He died on 15 May 1661 in Ipswich. [Ref]
  2. Mehitable Foster was born on 19 Sep 1660 in Ipswich. [Ref] She died in Feb 1660 in Ipswich. [Ref]
  3. Jacob Foster was born on 9 Feb 1662 in Ipswich. [Ref] He married first Sarah Wood on 12 Sep 1688 [Ref] in Topsfield. [Ref] Sarah was the daughter of Isaiah Wood. [Ref] She died on 27 Sep 1697 [Ref] in Ipswich. [Ref] Jacob married second Mary Edwards on 20 May 1700 [Ref] in Topsfield. [Ref] Jacob had eight children baptised in Topsfield. [Ref] Jacob and Mary were dismissed from the church in Topsfield on 29 Jun 1718. [Ref] The were admitted into the church in Lebanon, CT on 6 Jul 1718. [Ref]
  4. Benjamin Foster was born in Jun 1665 in Ipswich. [Ref] He died before 1700, when administration on his estate was granted to his brother Daniel. [Ref]
  5. Elizabeth Foster was born on 20 Apr 1667 in Ipswich. [Ref]
  6. Mary Foster was born on 26 Jun 1669 in Ipswich. [Ref] She married Robert Grant on 27 Feb 168[6?] [Ref says 168_] in Ipswich. [Ref]
  7. Daniel Foster was born on 14 Nov 1670 in Ipswich. [Ref] He died between 4 May 1746, when he signed his will, and 19 Nov 1753, when it was proved. [Ref] He married first Katherine Freese of Topsfield on 2 Mar 1693 [Ref] in Topfield. [Ref] She died on 3 Mar 1694/5 [Ref] in Ipswich. [Ref] He married second Mary Dresser on 4 Dec 1696 [Ref] in Ipswich. [Ref says David Foster] Mary was the daughter of Samuel and Mary (S[L]eaver) Dresser [Ref] and the granddaughter of John Dresser 1. Daniel had nine children born in Topsfield. [Ref] He and Mary were admitted into the church at Lebanon the same day as his brother Jacob and his wife Mary. [Ref]
  8. Martha Foster was born on 1 Aug 1672 in Ipswich. [Ref] Perhaps she is the Martha Foster who married Thompson Wood on 8 Dec 1691 in Ipswich. [Ref]
  9. Ruth Foster was born on 20 Feb 1673 [/4] in Ipswich. [Ref] Perhaps she is the Ruth Foster of Ipswich who married Samuel Grove of Ipswich on 25 Apr 1694 in Topsfield. [Ref]
  10. Prudence Foster was born on 23 May 1675. She died on 28 Oct 1755 in Topsfield. She married Joseph Boardman.
  11. Hannah Foster was born on 24 Oct 1676 in Ipswich. [Ref]

Children of Isaac and Martha Hale

  1. Hannah Foster was born on 16 Feb 1681 in Ipswich. [Ref]
  2. Eleazer Foster was born in Apr 1685 in Ipswich. [Ref] He died on 15 Nov 1771 in Ipswich. [Ref][Ref] He married Eliza Fiske after 6 Dec 1703 (int.). [Ref] She died on 19 Feb 1758. [Ref] They had three children. [Ref] Eleazer was a weaver. [Ref]
  3. Sarah Foster was born on 19 Mar 1687 in Ipswich. [Ref]

RENOLD FOSTER 3 (abt 1636 - 1707)

Parents: Renold Foster 2 and Judith Unknown

Renold Foster was born about 1636. He died on 28 Dec 1707. [Ref] He married Elizabeth Dane. [Ref] Renold and his wife Elizabeth were over 30 in Sep 1668. [Ref]

Renold deposed that he was over 30 in 1668. [Ref] He deposed that he was about 40 on 26 Jun 1676. [Ref]

Renold was one of the people who signed a petition on behalf of Thomas Wells and his wife in Nov 1688. [Ref]

Renold was constable of Ipswich in 1669. [Ref] In Nov 1674 Renold was released from training and was to pay 5 shillings to the company. [Ref] In Sep 1676 the court ordered Renold Foster, Robert Lord and Moses Pengry to lay out a highway to Greene Creek. [Ref]

Daniel Warner wrote, "my ante foster had 3 sons jsaac, john and Nathaniel; and 6 daughters, Elizabeth Judith, Mary, Sarah, Neomy and Elenor." [Ref]

Goodman Brabrucke tried to sell Renold and Elizabeth meat from a drowned heifer, saying that they could have it cheaply as they had "a great many small children". Unfortunately, when the investigated they found that the heifer had been dead for three days. [Ref]

Renold's will is dated 11 Jul 1704; it was proved on 10 Jan 1708. [Ref]

Children of Renold Foster and Elizageth Dane:

  1. Elizabeth Foster was born in 1653. [Ref] She married Simon Wood on 8 Aug 1674. [Ref]
  2. Judith Foster was born on 20 Jan 1659/60 [Ref] in Ipswich. [Ref]
  3. Corp. Isaac Foster was born in 1656 in Ipswich. [Ref] He died before 15 Dec 1741, when administration on his estate was granted. [Ref] His unknown wife died before 30 Oct 1749, when admistration on her estate was granted. [Ref] They had six children. [Ref]
  4. Sarah Foster. [Ref]
  5. Mary Foster was born on 18 Jun 1662 [Ref] in Ipswich. [Ref]
  6. Sgt. John Foster was born on 15 Jul 1664 in Ipswich. [Ref][Ref] He died on 9 Dec 1736 in Ipswich. [Ref][Ref] He married Mary Unknown. [Ref] She may be the Marcy, wife of John, who died on 12 Apr 1759 in Ipswich. [Ref] They had six children. [Ref] They lived in Chebacco Village. [Ref]
  7. Rebecca Foster was born on 25 Feb 166/7 [Ref] in Ipswich. She died on 1 Jul 1684 [Ref] in Ipswich. [Ref]
  8. Naomi Foster was born on 6 May 1669 [Ref] in Ipswich. [Ref]
  9. Daughter Foster (twin?) was born on 17 Dec 1671 in Ipswich. [Ref] She died on 12 Dec 1671 in Ipswich. [Ref]
  10. Ruth Foster was born on 19 Dec 1671 [Ref] in Ipswich. [Ref] She died on 1 Jan 1671/2 in Ipswich. [Ref]
  11. Eleanor Foster was born on 14 Jun 1673 in Ipswich. She married William Bennett 1.
  12. Hannah Foster was born on 15 Oct 1675 [Ref] in Ipswich. [Ref] She probably died young as she is not on Daniel Warner's list.
  13. Nathaniel Foster was born on 19 Sep 1678 in Ipswich. [Ref][Ref says 1679] He died on 16 Aug 1747 in Ipswich. [Ref] He married Joanna Marshall on 19 Apr 1704. [Ref] She died on 27 May 1762. [Ref] They lived in Chebacco parish. [Ref]

Generation 5

PRUDENCE FOSTER (1675 - 1755)

Parents: Isaac Foster and Mary Jackson [Ref]

Prudence Foster was born on 23 May 1675 [Ref] in Ipswich. [Ref] She died on 28 Oct 1755 in Topsfield. [Ref] She married Joseph Boardman on 17 Feb 1696/7 in Topsfield. [Ref][Ref]

ELEANOR FOSTER (b. 1673)

Parents: Renold Foster 3 and Elizabeth Dane

Eleanor Foster was born on 14 Jun 1673 [Ref] in Ipswich. [Ref] She married William Bennett 1.

References

Court Records

Dow, George Francis, Records and Files of the Quarterly Courts of Essex County, Essex Institute, 1911.

Family Genealogies

Abbot, Charlotte, Answer in the Answers section, Essex Antiquarian, 10, 48, 1906.

Davis, Walter Goodwin, "Renold Foster," The American Genealogist 18, 1941, 13-15.

Editors, "The Foster Family," New England Historical and Genealogical Register 1, 1847, 352 -354.

Forster, Edward Jacob, "Genealogy of the Fo(r)ster Family: Descendants of Renold Fo(r)ster of Ipswich, Mass.," New England Historical and Genealogical Register 30, 1876, 83-102.

No Author, "Boardman Genealogy," Essex Antiquarian, 9, 1905, 145 -.

Pierce, Frederick Clifton, Foster Genealogy: Being the record of the posterity of Reginald Foster, an early inhabitant of Ipswich, in New England, Chicago, F.C. Pierce, 1899.

Local History

Editors, "Early Settlers of Essex and Old Norfolk," New England Historical and Genealogical Register 6, 1852, 205-208, 243-254, 339-346; 7, 1853, 83 - , 357 -; 7, 1853, p. 357 - 360; 8, 1854, 49-54.

A Subscriber, "Early Ipswich Families," New England Historical and Genealogical Register 2, 1848, 174-7.

Wait, Luther, trans., "Ipswich Proceedings," New England Historical and Genealogical Register 2, 1848, 50-53.

Memorials

Scott, Henry Edwards, "Fanny Foster," New England Historical and Genealogical Register 90, 1936, 307-311.

Personal Records

Editors, "John Dane's Narrative," New England Historical and Genealogical Register, 8, 1854.

Hammet, A., trans., "Extracts from Daniel Warner's Record," New England Historical and Genealogical Register 15, 1861, 50.

Public Records

Editors, "Materials for the History of Ipswich," New England Historical and Genealogical Society 7, 1853, 77 - 80.

Paige, Lucius, R., "List of Freemen, " New England Historical and Genealogical Register, 3, 1849, 89-96, 187-194, 239-246, 345-352.

Vital Records

Massachusetts Vital Records to 1850. Online Database: NewEnglandAncestors.org, New England Historic Genealogical Society, 2001-2007.