Twelfth Generation

2572. Andrew Foster^1210,1813 was born in 1579 in England.¹⁸¹⁴ He signed a will on 18 April 1685 in Massachusetts Colony, Essex Co., Andover.¹⁸¹⁵ His will left to his 'deare and loving wife Ann Foster" the use and sole liberty of living in that end of my house I now live in." This house was a very pleasant and comfortable home by Rogers' Brook. He left to his son Andrew four acres of meadow land, five acres swamp land, forty acres of "poelhill ground" and one acre of land in Cocheckek field. His daughter Sarah two sheep besides what she was already given. Daughter Hannah already had her portion. Daughter Mary was given twenty acres of land in Shawshen field. Besides the house, he gave his wife Ann, three cows, twelve sheep and his household goods. Abraham received "my farme of about one hundred acres of upland, with all the meadow adjoining or near adjoyneing," 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 the 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-lott threshed and winnowed," half the fruit of the orchard made into "sydar" and sufficient firewood. His wife Ann was executrix and his son Abraham executor. Witnesses were Thomas and William Chandler. The Chandlers inventoried his estate for probate at £504.
He died on 7 May 1685 at the age of 106 in Massachusetts Colony, Essex Co., Andover.¹⁸¹⁴ A town record reads "aged one hundred and six years" at his death. It's possible 106 is exaggerated since his birth record hasn't been found, but Andrew was "very aged" at his death. Court files in 1653 released Andrew from training in respect to age and infirmites. Andrew Foster is on the list of first settlers who came to Andover about 1640. He was made a freeman in 1669. Twelve grants are made out to him though only one is dated for July 10, 1682. This piece was for two acres "on the west side of Shawshen River". His first grant was for a five acre house lot with an acre to build on, probably along Cochickewick Brook between the Great Pond and the Merrimack River where many of the first settlers resided. It bordered land owned by John Lovejoy and Thomas Rowell. Most of his grants were in the extreme southery corner near Wilmington and around Foster's Pond far from the town center. He is not found in town records holding offices which could be due to be his living a distance from town. His inventory at death showed him to be a good manager of his estate. Anne Alcock? and Andrew Foster were married about 1637 in England.¹⁸¹⁶ Not much is known about Andrew Foster's life in England. Pierce feels he married Anne not far from 1639 and so was probably married before sometime during 1604-9. (1032)

2573. Anne Alcock?¹⁸¹⁷ died in jail charged with witchcraft on 3 December 1692 in Massachusetts Colony, Essex Co., Salem.¹⁸¹⁴ She was born in England. During the life of her husband Ann no doubt contributed greatly to their estates success. Her husband's generosity to her in his will showed his esteem. Her widowhood only lasted seven years though before she became a broken down old woman accused of witchcraft. Ann did not have friends of influence to give her aid. Her sons spoke of her piety, but her very religion which taught woman of being naturally guilty of almost all sin worked against her. Being weak of mind and body she believed anything suggested and confessed of evil doings. Her stories were confirmed by her daughter Mary Lacey and her granddaughter Mary Lacey, Jr. who were also accused of witchcraft. Ann was examined four times, July 15, 16, 18, and 21. During questioning Ann said she rode on a stick with Martha Carrier to Salem Village (now Danvers) and how when the stick broke she clung to the neck of Martha. She said they met three hundred witches at Salem Village. Ann confessed that she had bewitched the hog of John Lovejoy, caused the death of one of Andrew Allen's children, and made another child sick, and "hurt" Timothy Swan. She said that she made "poppets", images of the people she hurt, out of rags, and either stuck pins in them, tied knots, or burnt them in the fire. Interestingly, though her daughter accused her mother of bewitching her, Ann would not confess that her daughter was a witch. She was condemned to be hanged but died in prison.
Years later the State paid the children of the accused some money in compensation. Ann Foster's son's petition read:
To the Honorable committee now setting at Salem:
Whereas my mother Ann Foster of Andover suffered imprisonment 21 weeks, and upon her Tryall was condemned for supposed witchcraft upon such evidence as is now Generally thought Insufficient and died in prison, I being well persuaded of my mother's innocency of the crime for which she was condemned, I humbly desire that the attainder may be taken off. The charges and expenses for my mother during her imprisonment is as follows: The money which I was forced to pay the keeper before I could have the dead body of my mother to bury her £12 10S, money and provisions expended while she was in prison, £4. Total expense, £16.10S.
This sum was received by her son and his sister, Mary Lacey, received £18 10S, due to her husband's, Lawrence Lacey's, petition.

Children were:

1286
i.
Andrew Foster Jr..
ii.
Hannah Foster¹⁸¹⁸ was born about 1643 in Massachusetts Colony, Essex Co., Andover.¹⁶³⁶ She died murdered by her husband on 20 April 1689 at the age of 46 in Massachusetts Colony, Essex Co., Andover.¹⁶³⁶ Hugh Stone and Hannah quarreled about selling a piece of land. They were walking together one evening having words when he cut her throat with a sharp knife. His neighbors surprised him before he could deny the fact so he pleaded guilty at his trial. Hannah had borne him several children and would have delivered another had she lived a few weeks longer.
A minister walked Hugh to the scaffold and inquired if he was prepared to be judged by God. Hugh answered that he had repented of his sin and hoped so. Asked why he committed murder Hugh answered "It was contention in my family." The prisoner addressed the company gathered for the execution admonishing young people to obey their parents and servants their masters according to the will of God. He tells them that marriage is an ordinance of God and husband and wife should not provoke one another. "Here is this murderer; look upon him, and see how many are come with eyes to behold this man that abhors himself before God." "I will tell you that I wish I never had had the opportunity to do such a murder. If you say when a person has provoked you 'I will kill him,' tis a thousand to one, but the next time you will do it." Hugh admits that he was full of drink when he killed his wife. "That I am guilty of it because I gave way to that sin more than any other, and then God did leave me to practice wickedness and to murder that dear woman whom I should have taken a great deal of contentment in, which if I had done, I should not have here to suffer this death." The minister prayed and recommended him unto the divine mercy before he was turned over into Eternity.
iii.
Sarah Foster was born about 1645 in Massachusetts Colony, Essex Co., Andover.¹⁶³⁶ Samuel and Sarah Kemp resided in Groton in 1691.
iv.
Abraham Foster was born about 1648 in Massachusetts Colony, Essex Co., Andover.¹⁶³⁶ He signed a will on 8 October 1723.¹⁶³⁹ He died in October 1723 at the age of 75. Abraham had his estate probated on 21 October 1723.¹⁶³⁹
v.
Mary Foster¹⁴⁵⁵ was born on 9 July 1652 in Massachusetts Colony, Essex Co., Andover.¹⁴⁵⁵ She died on 18 June 1702 at the age of 49.¹⁴⁵⁵ Mary confessed to being a witch and was condemned. She said the devil carried her in his arms to Newbury Falls where he had baptized some of the "hypher powers."