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The name of Andrew Foster of Andover appear in the list of first settlers who came about 1640. There are twelve "items" of grants to him. Only one is dated, a grant of two acres "on west side of Shawshen River, 10th July 1682." The first grant, a house lot, was probably among those of the first settlers on Cochickewick Brook, between the Great Pond and the Merrimac River. His grants, as a whole, appear to be widely scattered in different parts of the town. Most of them, however, were in the extreme southerly corner, hear Wilmington, and around Foster's Pond, which was named for him, no doubt.
We do not find him in official station, simply probably because he was located so far from the town center, from town offices. The probate inventory of his estate shows him a diligent man, a good citizen; his will exhibits his Christian spirit and submission. He was made freeman in 1669. His will is dated 18 April 1685. In it he speaks of himself as "very aged," and names his wife Ann his executrix. He died in Andover 7 May, 1685, and his will was proved 30 June, 1685. He is thought by one of the Andover historians, to have been, at death, more than a score of years younger. He could hardly have been so old, unless there was a great disparity in the ages of himself and wife, which, to be sure, very often occurs. His wife died 3 Dec. 1692.
His will says, "I give my soul into the hands of my blessed Lord Jesus Christ who has purchased the same with his precious blood. And my body I leave to my relatives and friends to be decently interred by them. I give my eldest son, Andrew Foster, besides the five acres of meadow I have formerly given him, four acres of meadow more or less, lying at the southeast end of my home meadow which I formerly bought of Andrew Allen lying without the meadow which was fenced and five acres of swampland lying near his house. Also I give unto him forty acres of land to be the same more or less called by the name of polehill ground and one acre of land in Cocneckek field.
I give my daughter Sarah besides what she hath of me, two sheep.
To my daughter, Hannah, I have given her portion already.
To my daughter, Mary, I give twenty acres of land lying in Shawshen Field lying near the land called Copers land."
To his "deare and loveing wife Ann Foster" he gave the end of the house they occupied, three cows, twelve sheep and his household goods for her disposal at death among his children.
He gave his son, Abraham, "my farme of about one hundred acres of upland with all the meadow adjoining or neare adjoining," also the house and home lot and orchard, and all the land adjoining, and the remainder of the home meadow bought of Andrew Allen, and the remainder of his stock." Abraham was, during the natural life of his mother, to winter her cows and sheep, to deliver her half the "corn, English and Indian, grown upon the home lot threshed and winnowed," half the fruit of the orchard made into "fydar," and sufficient firewood.
He named his "loveing wife, Anne Foster, executive" and his son Abraham executor. His will is signed with "the mark of Andrew Foster" and is witnessed by Thomas and William Chandler. It is recorded in Probate Records. It was proved June 30, 1685.
Mrs. Ann Foster was the executrix of her husband's will, she was in court, June 30, 1687, and made oath to the inventory of her husband's estate. She attended to the probate in person, and of course understood the methods and the reason of the law. She had business experience, and was certainly a woman of acknowledged integrity and of average capacity and ability. Nevertheless, seven years later, she was accused, tried, and condemned as a witch. Her case, with others, is spread upon Miss Bailey's excellent History of Andover. Miss Bailey says, "Several women who confessed, accused Marther Carrier as the cause of their being led into witchcraft. Three of them were Ann Foster, her daughter, Mary Lacey, and her granddaughter Mary Lacey Jr. Ann Foster said she rode on a stick with Martha Carrier to Salem Village (now Danvers), that the stick broke and she saved herself by clinging around Martha Carrier's neck. She said they met 300 witches at Salem Village. The story was confirmed by the daughter and granddaughter.
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1636 - 1697 (60 years)
