An American Family History

Elizabeth Fiske Foster was born on December 12, 1684 in Wenham, Essex County, Massachusetts. Her parents were William Fiske and Sarah Kilham.

She married Eleazer Foster on December 6, 1703 in Ipswich. Eleazer was born April 6, 1684 in Ipswich. His parents were Isaac Foster and Martha Hale. Eleazer was a weaver.

Elizabeth and Eleazer's children were Elizabeth Foster (1705), Abijah Foster (1707), and John Foster (1714).

Elizabeth died on February 19, 1758.

In 1758 their son, Abijah, and his son Ebenezer both died of smallpox at Crown Point.

Eleazer died on November 15, 1771.

(from Foster Genealogy, Part 1 by Frederick Clifton Pierce )
Eleazer Foster (Isaac, Reginald), b. Ipswich, Mass., Apr., 1684; m. Dec. 6, 1703, Elizabeth Fiske; b. Oct. 9, 1679; d. Feb. 19, 1758. He was a weaver. He d. Nov. 15, 1771. Res., Ipswich. Mass.
169. i. Elizabeth, b. Feb. 17, 1705.
170. ii. Habijah, bapt. Jan., 1707; m. Mary Knowlton.
171. iii. John, b. May 20, 1714; m. .

Isaac Foster (Reginald), b. England 163o; m. May 5, 1658, Mary Jackson. She d. Nov. 27 1677 m. 2d. Nov. 25, 1668, Hannah Downing, who d. Nov. 27, 1678; m. 3d, ,March 16, 1679, Martha Hale, who survived him.

He lived in Ipswich, near Topsfield, at the east end of "Symond's Farm," the town line dividing the farm. He was sixty-two years old when he made his will; proved March 29, 1692. Isaac Foster had fourteen children; eleven by his first wife, and three by the second: Jonathan, Mehitable, Jacob, Benjamin, Elizabeth, Mary. Daniel, Martha, Ruth, Prudence, Hannah.—second wife—Hannah. Elcazer and Sarah. He d. March, 1692. Res., Ipswich, Mass.

Jonathan b. 9 January, 1658-9; d. May 15, 1661; not mentioned in father's will.
Mehitable b. 19 September, 1660; d. February. 1660-1.
Jacob, b. 9 February, 1662-3; m. Sarah Wood and Mary Edwards.
Benjamin, b. June, 1665; m.
Elizabeth, b. 20 April. 1667.
Mary, b. 26 June, 1669; m. Richard Grant, 27 February, 1688.
Daniel, b. 14 November, 1670; m. Katherine Freese and Mary
Dresser.
Martha, b. 1 August, 1672 ;m. Thompson Wood, 8 December, 1691.
Ruth, b. 20 February, 1673-4; m. Groue.
Prudence, b. 23 May, 1675; m. Joseph Borman, 17 February,
1696-7.
Hannah, b. 24 October, 1676; d. before 1681.
Eleazer, b. April, 1684; m. Eliza Fiske.
Sarah, b. 19 March, 1687.
Hannah, b. February 16, 1681.

Abijah Foster (Eleazer, Isaac. Reginald), bapt. Ipswich, Mass., Jan., 1707; m. Dec. 13, 1733, Mary Knowlton of Ipswich, dau. of Robert. He was baptized in Ipswich. Removed to New Ipswich, N. H., probably being sent there by the grantees about 1734. He was the first that went and he soon returned, for his son Ebenezer, was the first child born in New Ipswich.

In 1758 or 9 with his son Ebenezer, enlisted in the army against the French and Indians. While encamped near Crown Point both father and son died of the smallpox. He married Mary Knowlton of Ipswich. During the revival of 1786 she joined the Rev. Mr. Farrar's church.

This is what the history of New Ipswich says: Abijah Foster was from Ipswich; he was great grandson of Reginald Foster, who came to New England in 1638, and with his five sons settled in Ipswich. He was of a very respectable family of Exeter in England, and d. at Ipswich in extreme old age.

"Abijah Foster was born in 1707. and no doubt was sent here in the employ of the Ipswich grantees. His was the first family which came here, and he must be regarded as the first settler in town, but it is not so easy to fix the time of his advent. After a very thorough examination of the records of Ipswich, and almost everything that could throw any light on the subject, it would seem that his location here was in the spring of 1738. It is certain he was there in the fall of 1736 and was not there in the fall of 1738. He was accompanied by his wife and daughter. He undoubtedly had his choice of a lot for a farm, and fixed on what was known for a long time as the Hill's Farm, a considerable part of which is now occupied by Joseph Barrett, Esq. His house, which was built of logs, stood near the present Bank building; the old cellar hole was visible within a few years.

"Mr. Foster was a man of an unsettled disposition; he disposed of his farm in 1750 to Joseph Bates and removed to what was formerly known as the Fletcher Farm, now owned by Mr. Joseph Davis; some vestiges of his cellar still remain. This farm he disposed of in 1755, to Capt. Thomas Fletcher, and removed his family to the land now owned by Caleb Campbell. His house there stood a few rods east of Mr. Campbell's barn; the side of it can still be traced.

"Mr. Foster was in town in June 1758, but either in that or the succeeding year he enlisted in the army then employed in a campaign against the French and Indians; he was accompanied by his eldest son Ebenezer, the first child born in town, who was then about 19 years old. While the army was encamped near Crown Point, they both took the smallpox and died. His widow continued to reside 1n the house he last erected for many years. She joined the Rev. Mr. Farrar's church in the great revival in 1786 and was baptized by immersion at her request . It is supposed she removed from town with her son Danie.

"The name of the first permanent resident, with his family, has been determined, so as to leave no question on that point; but the precise date of his advent is less positively settled. From extensive researches into the history of his'family, and from other collateral circumstances we have been able to arrive at a conclusion which admits of but very little controversy. Abijah Foster with his wife and daughter Mary, then one year old, came from old Ipswich some time during the summer of 1738 and became the pioneer settler in this place. His wife was the first woman in town, and his son Ebenezer was the first mail child born in town. He first located himself on the lot in the center village. " [History New Ipswich, N. H.] He d. 1759. Res. New Ipswich, N. H.

John Foster (Eleazer, Isaac, Reginald), b. Ipswich, Mass., May 2o, 1714.;

He was probably a weaver for that was his father's occupation and Essex Deeds 83, 1o5, Dec. 1, 1741, Eleazer Foster, Ipswich, weaver, sells to John Foster, weaver, one-quarter acre land bounding on that of John Manning. Res. Ipswich, Mass.