Foster Family Photo

The Children of Asa & Sarah (Morrill) Foster

 Asa and Sarah (Morrill) Foster had 12 children, all born in Canterbury, New Hampshire.  This picture is of ten of them!  (See my post on Sarah's efforts to receive Asa's pension after he died here).

Seated (l-r):       Asa Foster            b.  September 2, 1795
                         Lucy Foster           b. January 30, 1797
                        Adams Foster         b. February 22, 1800
                        Mehitable Foster    b. October 21, 1803
Standing (l-r):    Caroline Foster      b. January 13, 1816
                         Newel Foster        b.  February 7, 1814
                         David Foster         b. October 11, 1811
                         Stephen Foster      b.  November 17, 1809
                         Galen Foster         b.  October 10, 1807
                         Sarah Foster         b.  December 7, 1805

I am not sure exactly where or when the photo was taken, but I think it is wonderful that they all came together to have this picture taken!!  

This amazing photo came to me via a cousin of my husband.

Tombstone Tuesday - Asa Foster & Sarah Morrill Foster

From Center Cemetery

Canterbury, Merrimack, New Hampshire

Asa Foster

b. June 3, 1765 Canterbury, Merrimack, New Hampshire

d. August 20, 1861 Canterbury, Merrimack, New Hampshire

Sarah Morrill Foster

b. May 17, 1772 Canterbury, Merrimack, New Hampshire

d. March 28, 1868  Canterbury, Merrimack, New Hampshire

Sarah Foster and Her Deceased Husband's Pension

Asa Foster was born June 3, 1765 in Canterbury, Merrimack, New Hampshire (see my post about the Foster family here).  He was married to Sarah Morrill on November 10, 1794 in Canterbury.  Asa served in the Revolutionary War as a private in Captain Ebenezer Webster's Company.  He enlisted July 5, 1780 and was discharged on October 25, 1780.

The following is from Asa's pension file, found on footnote.com.  Asa did not collect a pension or the land bounty offered him.  However, after his death his wife Sarah did apply for the pension.  The following affidavit is from their son Galen. 

I Galen Foster a resident of Erie in the County of Erie and State of Pennsylvania a son of Asa Foster late of Canterbury in the County of Merrimack and state of New Hampshire deceased, testify, and say, that since my earliest recollection I have often heard my father the said Asa Foster say that he was a soldier in the Revolutionary army at West Point in the State of New York at the time of General Arnold's treason, and that he saw Arnold go down the river in a boat at the time he fled to the British, and that he was on General Arnold's lifeguard a few days before that event, but that at the time that event took place he was unwell and excused from that duty.  I have frequently heard him speak of seeing Gen. Washington at West Point shortly after Arnold left.
I have many times heard my father say that he served under Captain Webster father of  the late Honorable Daniel Webster of Massachusetts deceased I have also heard him mention the name of his Colonel but as it was not one with which I was historically acquainted, as in the case of Capt. Webster, I do not recollect it. 
I have often hear him mention incidents of his march from Amherst in the state of New Hampshire to West Point and when he has known of my passing through Springfield Mass he has often inquired of some large elm trees which made an impression on his mind at the time he passed there in his march, were still standing.  On the 4th of July last (1861) he mentioned in his family that it was just eighty one years that day since he enlisted in the Revolutionary army.  He then stated he enlisted at Canterbury and that he was at the time just fifteen years and one month and one day old at the time.  He then stated that his father went down to Amherst New Hampshire riding one horse and leading another for him to ride home on thinking that he was so small that he would be rejected when he got to Amherst. 
I have many times heard my father, in answer to inquiries of his friends, why he did not apply for a pension, say that he held that all war was wrong, and therefore it would be wrong to receive a pension for having been a soldier - after that passage of the Act of Congress giving bounty lands to soldiers, I asked him if he would apply for his land, he replied no that he would not, that he could see no difference between that and receiving a pension, and that he had long since settled it, in his own mind, that it would be wrong for him to receive a pension for having done wrong in going into the army and he did not wish to revise the decision he had  made when his mind was strong.
I further state that my father died on the 21st of August 1861 and that my mother Sarah still survives and remains a widow.  And that I have no interest in her claim to bounty land.

Galen Foster

State of New Hampshire, Merrimack County.  Subscribed and Affirmed to this twenty fifth day of April A.D. 1862 And I certify that the said Galen Foster is a credible witness and that I have no interest in this claim.
Ebenezer Batchelder, Justice of the Peace

Surname Saturday - Foster

Today is the surname Foster, from my husband's family.

The line begins with the immigrant ancestor Reginald Foster.  He was born about 1595 in Exeter, Devon, England.  He was married to Judith Wignol.  Reginald and Judith had children William, Mary, Sarah, Abraham, Isaac, Jacob and Reginald, all born in England.  Reginald and his family came to Ipswich, Massachusetts from England in 1638.  Reginald died in 1681 in Ipswich.

Son William Foster was born about 1633 in England. He married Mary Jackson on May 15, 1661 in Rowley, Essex, Massachusetts.  They had children Mary, Judith, Jonathan, William, Timothy, Hannah, David, Joseph and Samuel.  William died on May 17, 1713 in Rowley.

William Foster was born 1670 in Rowley, Essex, Massachusetts.  He was a weaver by trade.  William married Sarah Kimball on July 6, 1690.  They had children Sarah, Mary, John, Hannah, Lydia and Asa.  William died August 29, 1755 in Andover, Essex, Massachusetts.

Asa Foster was born June 16, 1710 in Andover, Essex, Massachusetts.  He married Elizabeth Abbott on October 26, 1732 in Andover.  They had children Asa, Abiel, Daniel, David, David, Elizabeth, Jonathan and Sarah.  Asa was a Captain in the French and Indian War.  He led an expedition to Canada in 1758. His original dairy of this expedition is held at the New England Historic Genealogical Society.  While on an expedition against Ticonderoga in 1758, Asa learned that his wife had died.  Asa married 2nd Lucy Rogers Wise and had a daughter Lucy.  Asa died July 17, 1787 in Andover.

My husband's family is descended from two children of Asa and Elizabeth - Asa and Sarah.

Asa Foster was born August 29, 1733 in Andover, Essex, Massachusetts.  He built the first gristmill in that town.  He was also a Deacon.  He married Hannah Symonds on November 16, 1762 in Boxford, Massachusetts.  They had children Asa, Susanna and Mehitable.  Asa died September 23, 1814.

Asa Foster was born June 3, 1765 in Canterbury, Merrimack, New Hampshire.  He was a private in the American Revolution, serving in Captain Ebenezer Webster's Company of Colonel Moses Nichol's Regiment.  He was at West Point when Benedict Arnold left for the British side.  He married Sarah Morrill on November 10, 1794 in Canterbury.  They had Lucy, Hannah, Asa, Adams, Harrison, Mehitable, Sarah, Galen, Stephen, David, Newel and Caroline.  Asa died August 20, 1861 in Andover.

Adams Foster was born February 18, 1800 in Canterbury, Merrimack, New Hampshire.  He married Sarah Eastman on November 21, 1832 in Concord, New Hampshire.  They had children Cyrus, Ann Maria, Emma, Asa and Charles.  Adams died November 18, 1873 in Holden, Worcester, Massachusetts. 

Ann Maria Foster was born August 3, 1836 in Canterbury, Merrimack, New Hamphsire.  She married Farnk Joel Kinney on May 30, 1858.  They had children Herbert, Lorenzo, Henry, Emma, Asa, Clarence and Sarah.  Ann Maria Foster Kinney died June 13, 1890 in Worcester, Worcester, Massachusetts and is buried in Hope Cemetery in that town.  Ann Maria Foster Kinney was my husband's great-great grandmother.

Back to Asa and Elizabeth's daughter Sarah, from whom my husband also descends.  Sarah Foster was born February 15, 1750 in Andover, Essex, Massachusetts.  She married Timothy Bradley on December 23, 1773 in Andover.  They had children Elizabeth, Asa, Sarah, Abiah, Hannah, Timothy, Foster and Abiel.  Sarah died on February 7, 1825 in Concord, Rockingham, New Hampshire.

Sarah "Sally" Bradley was born on April 26, 1779 in Concord, New Hampshire.  She married Charles Eastman on November 29, 1798.  They had Lucy, Eliza, Maria, Sarah, Lycergus and Lucretia.  Sarah died on December 7, 1809 in Concord. 

Daughter Sarah Bradley married Adams Foster of this Foster line!