EARLY INHABITANTS OF IPSWICH, MASS. By Abraham Hammatt, pages 105-108

FOSTER, Reginald, according to an article in the New England Gen Register, vol. I, p. 352, was descended from an ancient and respectable family settled in the west of England. He came from England in 1638; and with his family was on board a vessel embargoed by King Charles I. He settled at Ipswich with five sons and two daughters: Abraham, Reginald, William, Isaac, Jacob, Mary and Sarah; his daughter Sarah married William Story, ancestor of Judge Story.  Mary, married (1) a Wood, and (2) Francis Peabody. He resided near the bridge, and is one of 24 of the inhabitants who in I646, "promise carting voluntary toward the cart Bridge, besides the rate, a day work a piece." He was a commoner in 1641. In 1648, he and his son Abraham are subscribers to an allowance for Major Denison.  1661, he was a surveyor of Highways; his name with the names of his sons, Abraham, Reginald, Isaac and Jacob, are in a list of the inhabitants that have shares in Plumb Island, &c, Feb. 14, '64. The same names are on a list of those that by law are allowed to have their votes in Town affairs, Dec. 2, 1679. October, 1664, .Judith, his wife, died. He lived, says the writer above quoted, to an extreme old age: but the time of his death does not occur on our records.

Abraham 2, son of Reginald 1, was born at Exeter, England, about 1620, and died in Ipswich, January 15, 1710, aged 90. He joined the Church in full communion, April 12, 1674 ; his children were :

Ephraim. born Oct 9, 1651, m. Hannah Eames, lived Andover

Abraham, born October 14, 1659

James, born ,June 12, l662

Benjamin, 1670

Ebenezer, .July 15, 1672

Mehitable, October 12, 1675

Caleb, Nov. 9, l677, pub. Mary Sherrin, April 26, 1702.

He had a seat assigned to him "behind ye pulpit," in the meeting house then recently built, 1700.

Reginald 2, son of Reg. 1, married Sarah Martin, Sept. 1665; his will is dated July 11, 1704, was proved Jan 19, 1707-8. In it are mentioned his wife Elisabeth, and three sons and three daughters:

Isaac.

John, born July 15, 1664

N"thaniel, born September 19, 1678

Elisabeth,

Judith, born January 20, 1659

They had lost children:

Mary, born June 18, 1662

Rebecca, born Feb. 25, 1666, died July 1, 1684

Ruth, born December 19, 1671, died 1671

Hannah, born October, 1675

Naomi, born May 6, 1679

Isaac 2, son of Reginald 1, married (1) Mary Jackson, May 5, 1658, she died November 27, 1677; (2) Hannah Downing, Nov. 25, 1678; (3)Martha Hale, March 16, 1679; he died Feb. 8, 1691, being then according to his will about 62 years of age; he was freeman, May 31, 1671. He had:

Jonathan, born January 9, 1658, d. e.

Mehitable, born September 1, 1660, d, e.

Benjamin, born August 3, 1661.

Jacob, born February 9, 1662

Eliezer, born April, 1665

Elizabeth, born April 20, 1667

Daniel, born Nov. 14, 1670

Martha, born August 1, 1672

Ruth, born February 20, 1673

Prudence, born May 23, 1675

Hannah, October 24, 1676

Jacob. Daniel and Eliezer, and twin daughters whose names are not mentioned were living at his death.

Jacob 3, son of Isaac 2, is designated as Jacob tertius on the Records; he married March 5, 1696, Mary Caldwell, daughter of John and Sarah (Dillingham) Caldwell, and they had

Jacob, born May 9, 1697

William, born May 11, 1699

Mary, born March 9, 1700-1, m. Jacob Louden, 1721

Abigail, born September 27, 1703, m. Wm. Holland, 1724

Israel, born March 3, 1706-7

The inscription on the gravestone of Mary (Caldwell) Foster: -

Here lies Buried Mary

ye wife of Jacob Foster

who Dyed April ye 2

1709 aged 37

Jacob 2, son Reginald 1, was born about 1635; he married (1) Martha Kinsman, daughter of Robert Kinsman, .January 12, 1658.  They had:

Judith, born October 29, 1659, d. e.

Jacob, born May 15, 1662, d. e.

Mary,  d. e.

Sarah, born August 3, 1665, married John Caldwell

 He married (2) Abigail Lord, Feb. 26, 1666, who survived him, They had:

Abraham, born December 4, 1667

Jacob, born March 25, 1670

Amos, born August 15, 1672

Abigail, born July 3, 1674

Nathaniel, born October 7, 1676

Samuel, born September 10, 1678

Joseph, born September 14, 1680

James, born November 12, 1682

Mary, born December 20, 1684

He died July 9, 1710, in the 75th year of his age. His widow, Abigail, died June 4, 1729.

Here Lies Dec'n

Jacob Foster

who died July

ye 9th 1710

In ye 75 yr of

his Age.

    He was a Deacon of the Church, and his name-Jaakob ffoster.,- is among the Selectmen, 1679. He gave by his will to his sons Abraham and Jacob, "land at Muddy river that was my father Foster's adjoining to land that was my father Lord's."

    Abraham 3, son Jacob 2, with Mary his wife had Abraham, born June 11, 1696. Dec. 17,1697, Abraham Foster, a soldier wounded in the public service is to receive £8 out of the public treasury. "Here lies Mr. Abraham Foster, Died December ye 25, 1720, aged 53 yrs."

    Daniel 3, son Isaac 2, with Mary his wife, had Ketherine, born August 21, 1696; Mary, d. e. Mary., born Jan. 23, 1698.

    Thomas and Elisabeth had Liddia, born January 6, 1691, Hannah, born February 25, 1694.

    March 10, 1700, Daniel Foster, adm. of est. of Benj. Foster, exhibits his account: estate according to inventory, £6, 7, 2. Debts and charges paid, £2, 4. Signed by Jacob Foster, Elisabeth Foster,  Robert Grant in right of Mary Foster, Daniel Foster, Prudence Foster alias Borman.

Index of Names