Henry Foster Family from Walpole As It Was and As It Is (1880)

Contributed for use in USGenWeb Archives by MLM, Volunteer 0000130. 
For the current email address, please go to 
http://www.rootsweb.com/~archreg/vols/00001.html#0000130
Copyright. All rights reserved.

************************************************************************
Full copyright notice - http://www.usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm
USGenWeb Archives - http://www.usgwarchives.net
************************************************************************

Surname: FOSTER
Source: Walpole As It Was and As It Is by George Aldrich, 
        The Claremont Manufacturing Co., Claremont, N.H., 1880, pages 256-259

FOSTER, HENRY, was the sixth child of Rev. Jacob Foster and of the sixth generation from 
Reginald, who came to this country from Essex, county of Devon, England, in a ship embargoed by 
King Charles the first, and settled in Ipswich, Mass., about the year 1638. He possessed Plum and Hog 
islands, which remained in the family for several generations. Rev. Jacob Foster was born in Holliston 
Mass., March 10, 1732; graduated at Harvard University in 1754 in the class with Gov. John Hancock. 
He was ordained pastor of the church in Berwick, Me., in 1756. At his own request he was dismissed 
from his charge and entered the Continental Army as chaplain in 1777. Subsequently he was installed 
pastor of a church in Packersfield, N.H., (afterwards Nelson) in 1781, where he remained ten years: 
when he took a dismission, and died there in 1798. He married Hepzibah, daughter of Dea. Henry 
Prentiss, of Cambridge, Mass., who was a cousin of Hon. John Prentiss, of Keene, N.H., many years 
editor of the New Hampshire Sentinel. Henry Foster was born at Berwick, Me., Sep. 17, 1766. He 
attended the Academy at Exeter, N.H, for a season, after which he came from Nelson to this town, 
about 1790, to engage in teaching school. Susannah, daughter of Capt. Levi Cooper, was one of his 
pupils, of whom he became enamored, and afterwards married, May 24,1792. His marriage induced 
him to buy a farm in the neighborhood of his father-in-law, where he remained during life. He taught 
several winters after his marriage. Although bred in the severe orthodoxy of his day, in his mature years 
he took a wide departure from the teachings of his father, and nothing delighted him more than a 
discussion on religious topics with his townsmen, he always taking the most extreme opposite views 
from the religious conventionalities of the day. He preferred Blackstone to theology, and acquired a 
better knowledge of the law than many of his contemporary practitioners. He was also a diligent student 
in science, and, being far in advance of his neighbors in knowledge, and of decided opinions of his own, 
he was not so popular as he might otherwise have been with many of his townsmen; still his weight of 
character had a potent sway, and everybody feared his criticisms. He held the office of deputy sheriff 
many years, was selectman one year, and for some time justice of the peace. Ch.
I. Sally, b. June 1; 1792; m. Dr. Ebenezer Crain, of Springfield, Vt., and had thirteen children; d. 
Aug. 19, 1839. Ch. 1st, Henry Foster, a physician, m. Helen, dau, of Judge Porter, of 
Springfield, Vt., and had eight ch., six living, one of whom, Richard, is a physician. 2d, Joshua, 
3d, Susan. 4th, Mary Ann; m. Joseph Merrick, of Pennsylvania: they have two ch. living. 5th, 
Louisa Maria. 6th, Pauline. 7th, Frank Eleazer. 8th, Noble, m. Kate Snyder, of Pennsylvania, 
niece of Gov. Snyder; they have two children living 9th, Frederick, m. Martha Williams, of 
Springfield, Vt., and had six ch. 10th, Sarah. 11th, Francis. 12th, Franklin E., m. Fanny 
Whitney, of Cambridge, Mass.; they have five ch.; residence, Chicago, Ill. 13th, Charles S., m. 
first, Lina Matterson, of New York City; issue, one ch., m. second, Laura B. Merriam, of 
Greenfield, Mass., and had four ch. He has been a successful wholesale merchant in Boston, 
Mass.
II. Susan, b. Aug. 24, 1794; m. Levi Hall, and had six ch.; d. Nov. 27, 1838 (See Hall.)
III. Henry Prentiss, b. Oct. 10, 1796; m. first, Philena, dau. of Thomas and Eunice ( Alexander) 
Russell, of this town; d. April 27,1839 Ch. 1st, Caleb, b. March 22, 1825; m. Isabel Eliza, dau. 
of Edmund E. and Isabella (Hosmer) Marsh, they have four ch. (See Ap.) 2d, Henry Thomas, 
b. Oct. 15, 1826; m. Hannah M. Fuller, of Westmoreland, April 29, 1855; d. April 17, 
1879, issue, six ch. (See Ap.) 3d Elizabeth Philena, b. Nov. 1,18--; m. Dr. Andrew J. 
Huntoon, of Langdon, N. H.,---issue, four ch., one living, residence, Topeka, Kan. Henry 
Prentiss Foster m. second time, Eliza, dau. of Daniel Marsh, Nov. 11, 1840. ch. 4th, Charles 
Marsh, b. Oct. 17, 1841; graduated at Harvard University in 1863, and at the Law School, 
Cambridge, in 1865; removed to Topeka, Kan., in 1868, and is now in practice there.
IV. Levi Hooper, b. Feb. 1, 1799; m. first, Fanny M., dau. of Henry and Fanny (Gage) Fitch, May 
8, 1822; she d. June 2, 1868; m. second, widow Harriet Temple, Jan. 18, 1872; she d. Aug. 
12, 1876; m. third, widow Mary S. Crossett, Dec. 5, 1876. Ch. 1st, Geo. H., b. April 2, 1825; 
m. Lydia Ham, issue, four ch., two living. 2d, Helen M., b. June 17, 1830; m. Edward F. 
Hooper, Dec. 16, 1857, issue, one ch., d. in infancy; resides in Putney, Vt. 3d, Fanny Sophia, 
b. Dec. 25, 1834; m. Edward Kenard Reynolds, of Maryland, April 1, 1858, issue, two 
daughters. 4th, Isabella H., b. Aug. 24, 1840; m. Henry M. Elwell, of Langdon, May 18, 
1863, issue three ch.; she d. Oct. 26, 1869.
V. Sophia, b. June 25, 1800; d. Aug. 9, 1802.
VI. Sophia, b. Feb. 28, 1803; m. Dexter Anderson, June 25, 1826. Ch. 1st, Helen S., m. Dr. 
Orison H. Smith, Sept. 10, 1850; resides in Brooklyn, N.Y., has three ch. 2d, Charles Dexter, 
m. Ada A., only dau. of Dr. Thomas Powers, of Woodstock, Vt.; m. second, Helen H. 
Holmes, 1864. 3d, Lucy Merrill, m. Dr. Blanchard, and has one ch. 4th, Henry Foster, 
graduated at Dartmouth, studied law, and is now in practice in New York. He m. Belle Fitz 
Randolph, of New York; residence, Rockaway, N.J. 5th, Caroline L., m. Robert S. Southgate, 
1865, issue, three ch. 6th, Belle S., m. Dr. Herman J. Smith, 1865; resides in Lowell, 
Mass., issue, three ch. 7th, Lizzie T., m. Rev. Mr. Southgate in 1865, pastor of the 
Congregational church in Dedham, Mass. Mr. Anderson’s children were all born between 1827 
and 1847; the two oldest are not living.
VII. Caleb, b. 1803; d. 1820.
VIII. Jacob, b. 1807; d. 1809.