Remaining after all my Just debts and funeral Charges are well and truly paid by my Executor hereafter named-ye one half to my brother Thomas & my sister Mary Hatch Equally between them two and the other half unto my brother John Foster my brother Josiah Foster & my brother Joseph Foster & brother Chillingsworth Foster the other half Equally between them four. And Lastly I do hereby Constitute and appoint my brother Thomas Foster sole Executor of this my last will and Testament In witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand & seal ye day and year above written Testament In witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand & seal ye day and year above written signed sealed published and declared by the said Deborah Foster ye Testatrix to be her Last will and Testament in ye presence of Arthur Howland Abigail Howland Sarah Peter son her Deborah X Foster (Seal) mark December the 13: 1732: The within named Arthur Howland Abigail Howland and Sarah Peterson made oath that they saw the within named Deborah Foster sign seal and heard her declare the within written instrument to be her last Will and Testament and that they at the same time in the presence of the sd Testator set to their hands as Witnesses; and that according to the best of their observation she then was of a sound and disposing mind and memory. Before Isaac Winslow Judge of Probate. 3872. HOPESTILL FOSTER (Thomas, Thomas), b. Weymouth, Nov. 26, 1648; m. Oct. 15, 1670, Mrs. Elizabeth (Pierce) Whittemore, wid. of the second Thomas Whittemore, of Woburn, whom she m. Nov. 9, 1666, and had one son Joseph. She was dau. of Sergt. Thomas Pierce, of Woburn, b. Dec. 25, 1646. After Foster's death she m., 3rd, March 23, 1680, Nathaniel Peirce, b. Dec 4. 1655; d. 1692, son of Robert Peirce, and had three children. He was a blacksmith. He became a resident of Woburn about the time of his marriage. He seems to have sympathized and suffered with his father for conscience' sake. Thus it is recorded, Dec. 19, 1675, Hopestill Foster and John Peirce, of Oburne, appearing before the court to answer the presentment of the grand jury for turning their backs on the holy ordinance of baptism, confessed the presentment, and, being the first time, the court sentenced them to be admonished, which was accordingly performed in open court, and, paying fees of court, were discharged. Like his brother, Thomas, he died before his father. From his inventory it is learned that he died in 1679, when he was but thirty-one years of age. The amount of his inventory was £47-2-6. It was taken by James Converse, Jr., and Gersham Flag. In the list was a Smith's shop, anvil and tongs. The administrator of his estate was granted his widow Elizabeth. The settlement shows an inventory of Thomas Whittmore's estate which Hopestill Foster took into his hands when he married. He d. May 26, 1679. Res., Woburn, Mass. 3908. i. 3900. ii. THOMAS, b. April 17, 1672; d. May 1, 1672. ABIGAIL, b. March 12, 1673; m. Timothy Farley, of Billerica, b. MERCY, b. Feb. 26, 1678. 3873. DEACON JOSEPH FOSTER (Thomas, Thomas), b. Weymouth, Mass., March 28, 1650; m. Dec. 11, 1672, Alice Gorton, of Roxbury, dau. of John, bapt. March 8, 1652; d. May 17, 1712; m., 2d, Margaret Brown, of Sudbury; d. March 22, 1717; m., 3d, Mrs. Rebecca (Parker) Danforth, wid. of Jonathan and dau. of Jacob, of Chelmsford, b. 1661. She d. March 25, 1754. He was a blacksmith and resided in Billerica. If he was not a farmer, he owned considerable property. He was one of the proprietors of Rutland and sold his share, one thirty-second part, consisting He of 2,700 acres to Jonathan Waldo, of Boston, for £25. This was Jan. 12, 1715. was deacon of the first church of Billerica, and for many years his associate in office was his brother-in-law, Deacon James Frost. In his will, July 26, 1721, he names his wife Rabackah, son Thomas, daughter Elizabeth Wilson and her children. The will mentions a marriage contract with his wife dated June 26, 1718. The inventory of his estate amounted to £777. Joseph Foster's will-Ist In the nam and feer of God Amen: the sixth of May on thousand seven hundred and twenty on I Joseph Foster of Billerica in the County of Middlesex in his Majestys Provence of the Massachusetts bay in New England being weak in body but of perfect?] mind and memory, blased?] be God for it. Tharfor?] being of a dissposing?] mind I do ordain this instrument to be my last will and testament the which let no man altar or change and I do hereby make void all former wills by me made and in the first place I do humbly give my soul into the hands of God Father son and holy spirit three glorious parsons?] but one Infinite and eternal escence hoping for salvation in and throu?] the merits of Jesus Christ aloan?]: and do firmly believe that allthou this body of mine shall moulder in the dust yet at the great day when all shall appeer before God that then I shall with these eyes see God and dwell in his prasence?] to all eternity. 2nd I give my body to the arth to a dasent buriall at the discration of my executors and overseers in hops?] of a glorious Rasuraction]: and as to that estat which God hath blest me with what is left after my debts and funarall charges are defraied?] I do give and dispose?] of the same in the form and manner following and first: I give unto my loving and beloved wife Rabackah Foster forty pounds currant money to be paid to her in a year after my deseace and I do further give her the liberty to take whatever she brought with her to my hous boath within doors and without acording? to my pramice?] that I made with her and I do further give her a mo[u?]rning sute throu?]out and I do further give her the liberty of any room in my house for a year after my deseace or longer tim?] if shee does desier it that so shee may have the liberty of spending that pravision that shee has helpt labor for, boath of meat and drink and 10 pounds mor?] if shee lives with me five years and I do further give her my brindled?] heifer. secondly I do give unto my son Thomas Foster my homestead my hous and barn and my shop and tools in the shop and the ground that the shop stands upon: and I give to him my lot on the east side of the country road which I call my homestead. This I give unto him and his hairs?] forever but not to dispose of in his life tim and he may give it to his children at his death. thirdly I give to my daughter Elizabeth Willson the homestead that I had of Doctor John Kittrige whar Thomas Foster now lives and I do further give unto her my Nuttings meadow with all the land that I have upon Beare hill all on the wast side of the country road this I give unto her and to her hairs forever. Fourthly I give unto my grandson Joseph Willson twanty pounds which he shall have as followeth, that is my young hors at ten pounds, and my gun that he trains with at forty shillings and my lot at the great swampe at eight pounds which doo make it twanty pounds also I give him an ax and a syth and sickle and a cow the bast that is left and I give him my new bridle and my old sadle if he sees good to accept of it this I give to him and to his hairs forever. Fifthly I give unto my granddaughter Johannah Willson twanty pounds to be paid to her by my executors in a cow and a bed and the rast in money. I also give her a platter and a grat bason and a little bason and two spoons and my bias skillet and the chest that she lays her clothes in and a lining?] wheel and six wooden plates and a chaire. These I give to her and her haus forever. This money that is to be paid to Johannah above what her bed and cow comes to shall be paid out of ye movables or else they may be sold for money to make it: and all the rest of my movables both within doors and without both cattle and all other things both wood and iron without doors and bras and pewter within doors and all other movables except that I have given to Joseph Willson and Johannah Willson they shall be equally divided between my son Thomas Foster and my daughter Elizabeth Willson and in cas?] they cannot agree in thar devission I do appoint my trusty friends Bengemen Thompson and John Blanchord to make thar divission for them and if they cannot agree I appoint Mr. Joseph Stevens to joyn with them and to make a finall ishew?] And as for my ought?] lands which I rasarve they shall be to pay my debts and my wive's dowry and my funarail charges my wive's dowry will be about aight and forty pounds in all besides her liberty in the hous as I have given her in my will and if she shall live with me five years from our first marriage than shee shall have ten pounds mor And thar is forty pounds dew to Mr. Jonathan Waldo at Boston: and about three pounds ten shillings dew to the Captain Thomas Pattin. This is all that I owe that I ramamber now to pay thes debts and dowry. I leave three divissions?] of land the one lys on the wast side of Concord River between Cpt John Hills and said river about three score and sixteen laces? [acres] which I esteem to be worth about fifty five or sixty pounds. the other lot lys in othe Swamp near seventeen acres?] which I esteem about fifty five pounds. the other lot lys on the north side of rubish meadow befor Willyam Colbys door about sixteen acers which I value at thirty five pounds: these lots of land to be soald to pay lagoisons?] [legacies?] And I do order and give full power unto my Executors to make sale of said parcle?] of land according to thar best judgement and discration and to make payment to the full unto all thos that I am obliged unto that are her?] sat down in my will and whan every one is paid and charges defraid my will is that my grandchildren all axcept Joseph and Johannah Willson shall have an equal shear of what is left. And if my grandson Joseph Willson doos not lick?] what I have given him as to the colt and the lot at the grat swamp than he shall have twanty pounds in money in lew of it and five pounds in money for what work he has dun for me this last yer and if what is left to pay debts and logasions?] fall short than I order my son and daughter equally to make up and what is over thar children equally to shar in it: my will is that what I give to my Daughter Willson shall be wholly at her disspos during her life and shee shall have the liberty of dissposing of it for the cumfort of her life. And I do constitute and appoint and fully impower my trusty friends John Blanchord and Bengemin Thompson to be my lawful executors of this my last will and testament and that they may execute it honestly to the full in every part of it and I do ratifie and confirm this and no other to be my last will and testament in witness wharof I have herunto seat my hand and seale the 26 ot July, 1721 Signed sealled published pronounced and declared by the said Joseph Foster to be his last will and testament in the prasence of the subscribers In the seventh yer?] of the Reign of our sovereign Lord George by the grace of God of England Scotland France and lerland?] King Joseph Stevens Joseph Foster 3912. Benjamin Frost Prob. December 18, 1721 He d. Dec. 4, 1721. Res., Billerica, Mass. i. ELIZABETH, b. Oct. 7, 1673; m. Oct. 27, 1694, John Wilson, Jr., b. Jan. 3, 1672-3; ch.· 1. Joseph and 2. Joanna. JOSEPH, b. July 15, 1678; d. in infancy. THOMAS, b. Feb. 11, 1681; m. Hepsibah 3874. REV. ISAAC FOSTER (William, Thomas), b. Charlestown, Mass., about 1652; m., 1680, Mrs. Mehitable* (Wyllis) Russell, wid. of Rev. Daniel Russell, of Charlestown and dau. of Samuel Wyllis, of Hartford, Conn. She m., 3d, Rev. Timothy Woodbridge, successor of her second husband in the Hartford church. He graduated at Harvard College in 1671; was probably the son taken prisoner with his father; was admitted to the church of Charlestown Oct. 28, 1677; made Freeman of the Colony Oct. 2, 1768; and Fellow of Harvard College May 22, of the same year; as a candidate for settlement was sought by several churches, and, in 1680, he became minister of the church at Hartford. He d. Aug. 20, 1682, and Rev. Simon Bradstreet, of New London, thus notices the event in his journal. "Mr. Isaac Forster pastor of ye old chh at Hartford dyed. He was aged about 30, a man of good Abilities. His death has made such a breach yt will not easily bee made His widow married thirdly, Rev. Timothy Woodbridge, his successor in the church of Hartford." up. When a committee of the town of Charlestown was about selecting a successor to the Rev. Thomas Shepard in 1678 the opinions of Rev. John Sherman Mather and Rev. President Oakes were requested as to the "fittest" person for their minister and these gentlemen recommended Mr. Foster as the "fittest and suitablest person" for that place. *Sometimes in Hartford Conn., Records, Mabell. Mrs. Russell had one child by Rev. Russell, Mehitable O., m. Rev. John Hubbard, of Jamaica, L. I.. June 12, 1701. He d., and Mehitable m., 2d, Dec. 9, 1707, Rev. Samuel Woodbridge. Vol. iii, p. Hartford Law Records. Whereas Samuel Wyllys Esq., late of Hartford My ever Honored Father Deceased did in his lifetime make conveyance of Severai Parcels of Land lying in the township of Hartford, afsd. particularly one tract of land lying on the East Side of Connecticut River to Mr. Daniel Russell, also one home Lott adjoyning to and being part of the Home Lott. lately belonging to the said Samuel Wyllys, to his daughter Mabell Foster, and did receive full satisfaction or payment for the same, and also a tract of Land lying at a place commonly known by the name of Rocky Hill, in Hartford aforesd. Conveyed to John Blackledge, late of Hartfd Deceased as by the respective deeds on record will now more fully appear And Whereas I Hezekiah Wyllys, of Hartford, aforesd, Son and heir to said Samuel Wyllys, Esq. Deceased by Virtue and Right of the Last Will of George Wyllys, Esq My Ever Honrd grandfather setling by Entail Speciall all his Lands in Hartford aforsd. On me I have now just right and Claim to all or part of the aforementioned Lands which are now in possession of Timothy Woodbridge, of Hartford aforesaid or sold by him-Wherefore, Know all men by those presents that I, the said Hezekiah Wyllys, upon the Consideration of what hath been formerly paid for the above mentioned Lands by the Said Daniel Russell, and Mable Foster, and further for the Consideration of the Same of five shillings lawful money of Connecticut to me in hand paid before the Insealing and delivery of these presents, Give, grant, Remise, Release, and Quit Claim, for myself and my heirs forever unto the said Timothy Woodbridge, his heirs, and assigns, all my right title and Claim whatsoever unto the aforementioned tract of Land lying on the East Side of the Connecticut River in Hartford aforesaid now Sold by Timothy Woodbridge to Hezekiah Sorter, of Hartford Containing four (4) miles in Length and about Eighty two rods in breadth be the same more or less abutting North on Land late belonging to the Said Samuel Wyllys; East on the Common Lands West on Connecticut River 444 etc Hezekiah Wyllys. II March, 1714-5 (the other properties included in this Quit Claim) Note-Mr. George Wyllys was an Original Proprietor in Hartford. Vol. 4; p. 86, Hartford Probate Records. -An Inventory of Estate of Rev. Isaac Foster, was Exhibited in Court proved and ordered to be recorded as the Court Grant Administration upon the Estate to Mrs. Mehetable Foster, 6 March, 1684. Page 123-The Court being moved to come to a Distribution of the Estate of the late Reverend Mr. Isaac Foster, deceased Considered the Same and what hath been preserved (?) before them by those concerned & finding by a writing made by the sayd Mr. Foster, a Mrs. Mehetable Russell, before marriage bearing date 27th January 1679 recorded wherein it is agreed that in case the sayd Mr. Foster, should decease before the sayd Mrs. Mehetable & leave issue behind him of her the sayd Mrs. Mehetable the Estate should descend to her the said Mrs. Mehetable & their heirs which agreement though it seems to be Contradicted by another writing made by them and recorded made after their marriage yet it doth not alter the force and Virtue of the former & therefore, this Court doth Judge the former writing to give the rule for Dividing the Estate & their being one third part of the Estate of Mrs. Mehetable Russell, that She received by Mr. Daniel Russell, Last Will at her dispose & so no more belonging to Mr. Foster. We therefore Distribute his Estate as followeth Two Hundred pounds to Miss Ann Foster, to be paid her at the age of Eighteen years or day of Marriage which shall first & the remainder of the Estate to be Mrs. Mehetable Woodbridge & her heirs forever. Miss Ann Foster, to be paid in good and current pay of the country. At a Special Court Held at Hartford, 27 December, 1686. Vol. 4, p. 181-2; An Inventory of the Estate of Mr. Isaac Foster, taken the 12 of February, 1683, by us whose names are Under written. Amount. Smalll articles of Household use A Negro.... A Farm at Hoccasseell. The Home Lot.. 50 acres of Land at Rocky Hill. Due the Estate in Money.. half the farm at Cambridge.. .L1507-15-04 Land at Middletown.. Land at Winter Harbor, Sundries, Etc.. Total... £74-00-00 £131 .£1507—15-04 Debts due from the Estate to Mrs. Mehetable Russell by £573-16-00 £ 30-00-00 £30-00-00 £20-00-00 £ 36-18-00 £ 10-00-00 £618-14-00 the Sundries are not counted in the Sums I give the principal Items for the hints therein Contained. 1716, April 11. On the land records of Hartford, vol. 3, p. 11, is a quit claim by Mabel Foster, showing her the daughter of Mr. Samuel Wyllys, of Hartford; the quit claim was to Woodbridge. It may safely be assumed that Mabel was Mrs. Mehetable, contracted to Mabel; that the daughter of Samuel Wyllys first married Daniel Russell. She as his widow married Rev. Isaac Foster and as his widow married Woodbridge. Possibly I may be wrong. Epitaphs from old (1st-Church) Cemetery Hartford: The old Brownstone table in this cemetery in the rear of the 1st Church premises has upon its upturned face deeply cut, and very plain to read the following inscriptions: Here lies Intered the In the 51 year of his also of the Rev. Isaac Foster Pastor of the First Church Wife of ye Revd Timothy Woodbridge Isaac Foster died Dec. br 21st A D, 1698 He died Jan. 20, 1683. 3917. i. ANN, b. Hartford. Aged 40 years Res., Hartford, Conn. ; m., Nov. 29, 1699, Rev. Thomas Buckingham, of 3878. CAPT. RICHARD FOSTER (William, Thomas), b. Charlestown, Mass., Aug. 10, 1663; m., May 4, 1686, Parnel Winslow, only child and dau. of Isaac and Mary, b. Nov. 14, 1667; d. April 24, 1751. He was admitted to the church Feb. 16, 1700; was a mariner; was captain of the pink, "Mary and Elizabeth" in 1687; arrived home from Saltintootha, May 24, 1693; was captain of a pink sailing vessel from Boston to Nevis, May 30, 1713. His wife owned the covenant and was admitted to the church May 17, 1702. Richard Foster's Will-In the Name of God Amen I Richard Foster of Charlestown in the County of Middlesex in His Majesty's Province of the Massachusetts Bay in New Engld. Esqr. being weak in Body yet of perfect Memory Thanks be to God therefor Calling to mind the mortality of my Body and knowing that it is appointed for all men once to Dy, Do make and Ordain this my last Will and Testament. Principally I Recommend my Soul into the hands of God that gave it hoping for Mercy thro the Merits of my Dear Redeemer, and my Body I commit to the Dust to be buried with a Decent and Christian Burial (at the Discretion of my Executors hereafter named) Firmly believing that at the General Resurection I shall receive the Same again by the Mighty power of God, and as Touching such worldly goods and Estate as God hath pleased in his Providence to bless me with all I demise give and dispose of in the following manner: |