Essex County, Massachusetts was created on May 10, 1643 by the General Court of the Massachusetts Bay Colony, when it ordered "that the whole plantation within this jurisdiction be divided into four sheires."
She married a carpenter, Abraham Foster, on May 14, 1718 when she was 21. Abraham was born on January 12, 1695/96 in Ipswich. He was the son of Abraham Foster and Mary Robinson.
According to the Topsfield records their intention of marriage was dated April 5, 1718. She was admitted to the church at Topsfield on July 2, 1732.
Sarah and Abraham's children included: Abraham Foster (1719, married Priscilla Tod),
Sarah Foster (1721, married Abraham Adams), Thomas Foster (1724, married Mehitable Peabody),
Hannah Foster (1726),
Amos Foster (1728),
Ruth Foster (1734), and
Abigail Foster (1737).
Sarah died July 17, 1753 at age 56 and Abraham died on April 23, 1767. They both died in Topsfield.
Old Style Calendar
Before 1752 the year began on Lady Day, March 25th,. Dates between January 1st and March 24th were at the end of the year. Old Style (O.S.) and New Style (N.S.) are used to indicate whether the year has been adjusted. Often both dates are used.
The town common (commons) was a small, open field at the center of the town which was jointly owned. It was used as a marketplace, a place for the militia to drill, or for grazing livestock.
