Foster, Abraham

Notes:

BIRTH: VITAL RECORDS OF LYNN, 2 vols. (Salem, MA, 1905-1906), 1:149 (FHL #397791).
MAR: Thomas W. Baldwin, comp, VITAL RECORDS OF READING (Boston, 1912), 345 (FHL #974.44/R1 V2b).
DEATH: Ibid, 523. Aged 49 yrs. Also see the adm of estate of Abraham Foster of Reading, 16 Apr 1753, inv 9 Apr 1753, Middlesex Co. Probate Files, 1st series, #8140 (FHL #397062).

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BEPS: IGI

Abraham married Hartshorn, Susannah on 18 Jun 1733 in Reading,Middlesex,MA. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Notes:

BIRTH: VITAL RECORDS OF SALEM, 6 vols. (Salem, MA, 1916-25), 1:319 (FHL #974.45/S1 V2e).
MAR: Thomas W. Baldwin, comp, VITAL RECORDS OF READING (Boston, 1912), 346 (FHL #974.44/R1 V2b).
DEATH: No death rec found. See the will of Samuel Foster of Reading, 6 Feb 1762, proved 22 Feb 1762, Middlesex Co. Probate Files, 1st series, #8257 (FHL #397064).
OCC: Husbandman, yeoman.
NOTE: There were several Samuel Fosters in the area about the same age as this one. That Samuel Foster of Reading is identical to the Samuel Foster born in Salem in 1680 is suggested by the fact that the Reading Samuel Foster was earlier of Lynn, which borders Salem on the south. He apparently moved to Reading after Samuel Foster of Lynn purchased land there from John Brown, 22 Aug 1709 (Middlesex Co. Deeds, 15:347 [FHL #554005]). Other Samuel Fosters identified in Essex County have been disqualified, and it is known from his father's will that the Samuel Foster born in Salem was living in 1728. It is presumed, therefore, that the ancestor is the Lynn/Reading Samuel Foster.

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BEPS: IGI

Samuel married Roberts, Sarah on 13 Oct 1701 in Reading,Middlesex,MA. Sarah (daughter of Roberts, Abraham and Burnap, Sarah) was born about 1679 in of Reading,Middlesex,MA; died before 6 Feb 1762 in Reading,Middlesex,MA(?). [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Notes:

BIRTH: No birth rec found. Sarah is identified in the agreement of heirs of her father, Abraham Roberts of Reading, 22 Oct 1731, Middlesex Co. Probate Files, 1st series, #19343 (FHL #421508). Date and place of birth are approximations.
MAR: Thomas W. Baldwin, comp, VITAL RECORDS OF READING (Boston, 1912), 346 (FHL #974.44/R1 V2b).
DEATH: No death rec found. Sarah is not mentioned in her husband's will, 6 Feb 1762.

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BEPS: IGI

Notes:

BIRTH: VITAL RECORDS OF SALEM, 6 vols. (Salem, MA, 1916-25), 1:319 (FHL #974.45/S1 V2e).
MAR #1: Ibid, 3:379.
MAR #2: No mar rec found. On 30 Dec 1692 Samuel Foster was charged with fornication with widow Margery Pitts, whom he later married (Essex Co. Court of General Sessions of the Peace, vol. 1, unpaginated, [p. 17] [FHL #877466 item 2]). As this charge came shortly after the birth of their first child, it is almost certain that Samuel and Margery were married in 1692. The identity of Margery and her previous husband Pitts have not been determined.
DEATH: No death rec found. See the will of Samuel Foster of Walpole, 22 Jul 1728, proved 19 Aug 1728, Suffolk Co. Probate, #5650, (o.s.) 26:391-92 (FHL #584137).
OCC: Husbandman

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BEPS1: IGI
SEAL S2: FGRA

Samuel married Steward, Sarah on 14 May 1676 in Salem,Essex,MA. Sarah died before 1692 in Salem,Essex,MA. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Notes:

MAR: VITAL RECORDS OF SALEM, 6 vols. (Salem, MA, 1916-25), 3:379 (FHL #974.45/S1 V2e).
DEATH: No death rec found. Sarah was dead by 1692 when Samuel Foster married his 2nd wife. Sarah was almost certainly a resident of Salem when she died.

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BES: IGI

Notes:

BIRTH: No birth rec found. Abraham is apparently one of the five children mentioned, but not named, in the will of Giles Roberts of Black Point (Scarborough), Maine, 25 Jan 1666/7, proved 26 Jul 1667 (PROVINCE AND COURT RECORDS OF MAINE, 6 vols. [Portland, ME, 1928-75], 1:323-24 [FHL #974.1 P2p]). Accompanying estate documents show that Arthur Alger, brother-in-law of Giles Roberts, was guardian of the children. The inv of estate of Arthur Alger of Scarborough, Maine, 26 Jun 1676, names three of the children including Abraham Roberts (Essex Co., Mass. Probate, 301:81-82 [FHL #860485]). Also see the deposition of Abraham Roberts of Reading and David Roberts of Woburn, 31 Dec 1716, who affirm they lived with Arthur Alger, late of Scarborough, for 9 or 10 years (Middlesex Co. Deeds, 26:488-89 [FHL #554014]). Date and place of birth are approximations.
MAR #1: No mar rec found. The death of Sarah, wife of Abraham Roberts, 4 Apr 1696, is recorded in Thomas W. Baldwin, comp, VITAL RECORDS OF READING (Boston, 1912), 562 (FHL #974.44/R1 V2b). Sarah Roberts is identified in the will of her father, Robert Burnap of Reading, 4 Oct 1695, proved 11 Nov 1695, Middlesex Co. Probate Files, 1st series, #3609 (FHL #386046).
MAR #2: Edward F. Johnson, ed, WOBURN RECORDS, 8 vols. (Boston, 1890-1916), 3:242 (FHL #974.44/W3 V2j). Husband was "of Reading." Susannah died at Reading, 27 Feb 1725/6.
MAR #3: VITAL RECORDS OF READING, 435. The wife is called Elizabeth Pierce in this entry, but she was no doubt a widow when she married Abraham Roberts. In a deed to the children of Abraham Roberts, 14 Oct 1731, the widow Elizabeth mentions the household stuff she brought into her marriage with Abraham (Middlesex Co. Deeds, 31:539 [FHL #554017]). This phrase usually denotes a previous marriage of the wife.
DEATH: VITAL RECORDS OF READING, 562.

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BEPS1,2,3: IGI

Abraham married Burnap, Sarah about 1679. Sarah (daughter of Burnap, Robert and Ann) was born on 6 Nov 1653 in Reading,Middlesex,MA; died on 4 Apr 1696 in Reading,Middlesex,MA. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Notes:

BIRTH: Thomas W. Baldwin, comp, VITAL RECORDS OF READING (Boston, 1912), 46 (FHL #974.44/R1 V2b).
MAR: No mar rec found. The death of Sarah, wife of Abraham Roberts, 4 Apr 1696, is recorded in Baldwin, VITAL RECORDS OF READING, 562. Sarah Roberts is identified in the will of her father, Robert Burnap of Reading, 4 Oct 1695, proved 11 Nov 1695, Middlesex Co. Probate Files, 1st series, #3609 (FHL #386046).
DEATH: VITAL RECORDS OF READING, 562.

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BEPS: IGI

Notes:

BIRTH: No birth rec found. John stated he was about 52 years old in deposition, 11 Nov 1670 (Essex Co. Deeds, 3:99 [FHL #866015]).
MAR #1: No mar rec found. However, it is clear from the estate records of Ralph Tomkins of Salem, 1666, that John Foster was married to one of Tomkins' daughters (THE PROBATE RECORDS OF ESSEX COUNTY, 3 vols. [Salem, MA, 1916-20], 2:76-76 [FHL #974.45 P2p]). Ralph Tomkins emigrated to New England on the ship "Truelove" in 1635 with his wife Katherine and children Elizabeth, Marie, and Samuel (Peter Wilson Coldham, ed, THE COMPLETE BOOK OF EMIGRANTS, 1607-1660, [Baltimore, 1987], 166-67 [FHL #973 W2col]). Of these two daughters, it is suspected that Mary became the wife of John Foster, as he named his first daughter Mary. Mary was also closer in age to John Foster, Elizabeth being about five years older than John.
MAR #2: No mar rec found. Children were born to John Foster and wife Martha in Salem, 1658-77. Martha is clearly not the dau of Ralph Tomkins (see above), as she was too young to have been the mother of John Foster's older children. Martha deposed in 1670 that she was about 34 years old (Essex Co. Deeds, 3:100 [FHL #866015]). John Foster and Martha were apparently married during the six-year gap between the birth of Samuel in 1652 and Benjamin in 1658.
DEATH: No death rec found. See the will of John Foster of Salem, 16 Nov 1687, proved 14 Mar 1687/8, inv 19 Jan 1687/8, Suffolk Co. Probate, #1625, (o.s.) 10:266-68, 286-87 (FHL #584130).
OCC: Husbandman, yeoman

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BES1: IGI

John married Tomkins, Mary about 1647. Mary (daughter of Tomkins, Ralph and Foster, Katherine) was born about 1619 in of Wendover,Bucks,Eng; died before 1657 in Salem,Essex,MA. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Notes:

BIRTH: No birth rec found. Mary is listed with her family on the passenger list of the ship "Truelove" to New England in 1635, age 14 (Peter Wilson Coldham, THE COMPLETE BOOK OF EMIGRANTS, 1607-1660 [Baltimore, 1987], 167 [FHL #973 W2col]). Her age is probably a little understated, as no Mary Tomkins baptism is found at Wendover 1620-1622. Wendover BTs for 1619 are missing.
MAR: No mar rec found. However, it is clear from the estate records of Ralph Tomkins of Salem, 1666, that John Foster was married to one of Tomkins' daughters (THE PROBATE RECORDS OF ESSEX COUNTY, 3 vols. [Salem, MA, 1916-20], 2:76-76 [FHL #974.45 P2p]). Of the 2 daughters of Ralph Tomkins who emigrated to New England on the ship "Truelove" in 1635, it is suspected that it was Mary who became the wife of John Foster, as he named his first daughter Mary, and Mary was closer in age to John Foster, Elizabeth being about five years older than John.
DEATH: No death rec found. Mary was dead by 1657 when her husband was married to his second wife. It is assumed that she died at Salem where the family resided.

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BEPS: IGI

Notes:

BIRTH: Date and place of birth are approximations.
MAR: No mar rec found. Giles's mar to a dau of Godfrey Sheldon of Scarborough is evident by Giles Roberts calling William Sheldon "brother-in-law" in his will, below. Since William Sheldon was married to Rebecca Scadlock and not a sister of Giles Roberts, it is presumed that Roberts married a sister of William Sheldon, who is identified in the will of his father Godfrey Sheldon. Godfrey Sheldon also mentions daughters but does not name them. See the will of Godfrey Sheldon of Scarborough, 13 Mar 1663/4-3 Apr 1671 (PROVINCE AND COURT RECORDS OF MAINE, 6 vols. [Portland, ME, 1928-75], 2:423-24 [FHL #974.1 P2p]).
DEATH: No death rec found. See the will of Giles Roberts of Black Point (Scarborough), 25 Jan 1666/7, proved 20 Jun 1667, inv 26 Jul 1667 (PROVINCE AND COURT RECORDS OF MAINE, 1:323-24).

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BES: IGI

Giles married Sheldon, (unknown). (unknown) (daughter of Sheldon, Godfrey and Frost, Alice) was born about 1630 in England; died before 25 Jan 1666/1667 in Scarborough,Cumberland,ME. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Notes:

BIRTH: No birth rec found. Her identification as a dau of Godfrey Sheldon comes from the will of her husband Giles Roberts in which he calls William Sheldon "brother-in-law." Since William, a son of Godfrey Sheldon, married Rebecca Scadlock and not a dau of Giles Roberts, it is assumed that Giles Roberts married a sister of William Sheldon. See the will of Giles Roberts, 25 Jan 1666/7, proved 20 Jun 1667 (PROVINCE AND COURT RECORDS OF MAINE, 6 vols. [Portland, ME, 1928-75], 1:323-24 [FHL #974.1 P2p]). Her given name has not been discovered. Also see the will of Godfrey Sheldon of Scarborough, 13 Mar 1663/4, proved 3 Apr 1671 (PROVINCE AND COURT RECORDS OF MAINE, 2:423-24). The will mentions daughters but does not name them. Date and place of birth are approximations.
MAR: Ibid.
DEATH: No death rec found. She is not mentioned in the will of her husband, above.

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BEPS: IGI

Notes:

BIRTH: Place of birth is from chr entry, below.
CHR: Gt. Amwell par reg (FHL #991303).
MAR #1: No mar rec found. Ann, wife of Robert Burnap, died at Reading, 25 Jun 1661 (Thomas W. Baldwin, comp, VITAL RECORDS OF READING [Boston, 1912], 504 [FHL #974.44/R1 V2b]).
MAR #2: Ibid, 300.
DEATH: Ibid, 504. Also see the will of Robert Burnap of Reading, 4 Oct 1695, proved 11 Nov 1695, inv 7 Nov 1695, Middlesex Co. Probate Files, 1st series, #3609 (FHL #386046).
OCC: Husbandman

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BEPS1,2: IGI

Robert married Ann about 1652. Ann died on 25 Jun 1661 in Reading,Middlesex,MA. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Notes:

DEATH: Thomas W. Baldwin, comp, VITAL RECORDS OF READING (Boston, 1912), 504 (FHL #974.44/R1 V2b).

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BES: IGI