1732 - 1791

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• Birth	7 Sep 1732	Attleboro, Ma
  Gender	Male
  Died	24 May 1791	Washington, Connecticuty #4 Me
  Person ID	I30826	Brainard (Brainerd) / Foster / Fish
  Last Modified	01 May 2005 00:00:00
  Father	John FOSTER, b. 4 Mar 1705/1706, ,Dorchester,Suffolk County,Massachusetts
  Mother	Hannah LOVETT, b. 15 Apr 1708, ,Attleboro,Bristol County,Massachusetts
  Family ID	F1497	Group Sheet
  Family	ELIZABETH
  Children	1. Hannah FOSTER, b. 28 Jun 1763, Westmorland, Sackville, Nb   2. John FOSTER, b. 8 Mar 1765, Westmorland, Sackville, Nb > 3. James FOSTER, b. 13 Mar 1767, Westmorland, Sackville, Nb   4. Susanna FOSTER, b. 8 May 1769, Westmorland, Sackville, Nb   5. Mercy FOSTER, b. 2 Jun 1770, Westmorland, Sackville, Nb   6. Robert Foster JR., b. 19 Dec 1772, Westmorland, Sackville, Nb   7. Ruth FOSTER, b. 10 Jan 1775, Westmorland, Sackville, Nb
  Family ID	F12173	Group Sheet

• Notes

  2/24/99 ROBERT FOSTER (1732 ?-1791) ELIZABETH ( d. aft 1791) 1732 Born 7Sept. or Oct. Attleboro, Ma (North Providence,RI) 1755 The Frenchsettlers or Acadians of Sackville were driven out of the Tantramarregion. This left thousands of acres to be resettled by the NewEnglanders. 1758 The Proclamation of The Council in Halifax of October12th appeared as an ad in Boston,New York, and Providence to promotesettlement of the now vacant lands. ÖConsists of 100 thousand acres ofinterval plough lands, cultivated for more than 100 years past and neverfail crops nor need manuring; also one hundred thousand acres cleared andstocked with English grass,planted with orchards,vineyards etc. All these are situated about The Bay of Fundyupon rivers navigable for ships of burdenx 1759 The initial plan forthe settlement of the land vacated by the Acadians was drawn up. Itincluded 3 Townships of 100,000 acres each. Cumberland,Amherst, andSackville through which the Tantramar River flowed. 1760 By this timeNorthern Rhode Island was in an extensive socioeconomic upheaval. Theyears prior to the outbreak of the seven years War saw agriculture areasespecially Providence County change from agrarian to commercial. Themost arable farm land had been exhausted and the price of land in westernConnecticut was out of reach so Nova Scotia became extremely attractive. This was all followed byextreme draughts in 1761/2 causing a severe depression in Rhode Island. 1761 25 families arrived from R.I. and settled on vacatedFrench farms. Each family of six with 7 head of cattle were to receive a grant of 750 acres. Also the list of subscribers forthe twp. of Sackville on the Tantramar River were represented byBenjamin Thurber,Cybrian Sterry, and Edmond Jenkes (son of Dr. JohnJenkes of Smithfield) from Providence and included: JOHN FOSTER, ROBERTFOSTER, James Foster and Asa Foster of Mass. 1762 Record shows that200 acres were cleared and 12,000 acres of marsh. I believe ROBERTFOSTER was among the early settlers probably the second group fromProvidence. At a meeting of the twp. of Sackville held on September 11that the home John Jenkes (Probably of Providence and related to EdmondJenkes,representative of the Providence Subscribers) both JOHN andROBERT FOSTER received their rights to #22 and #24 Westcock Villagealong with building lots. ROBERT lot on plot 11 and JOHN in lot 11 or111 which he shared with James Olney who received right #25. The landwas not actually granted until 1774. The Olney family came fromSmithfield,RI and were among first arrivals. William Olney arrived in1761 at age 36. Brothers Abraham,Eleazer,and Coggshall also moved to Sackville. JamesOlney was probably an absentee owner along with JOHN FOSTER. The Olney family received a total of 3,500 acres to make themone of largest land owners. Many members of this family returned toNorth Providence rather than stay at Sackville. 1763 This was the yearwhen the entire Baptist Church congregation from Swansea,Ma arrivedconsisting of 13 members and pastor Nathan Mason. By 1771 most of thesefamilies had returned to Mass. Also a large group from the Providencearea went to Sackville including Edmond Jenkes. Jonathan Eddy came fromNorton,Ma. 1765 The first actual grant of land was issued and prior tothis date the settlers had no real title to the land beyond orders incouncil. The grant was 32,250 acres. The consideration was a quit rent of one shilling for 10 years for every50 acres. If no rent was paid for 3 years and no hardship found or ifgrantors sell same within 10 years the grant is then void. The twp. ofSackville consisted of 100,000 acres divided into three sections A,B,andC. The grant were divided into 200 shares of 500 acres each. A familyman received 1 share and a single man 1/2 share. Some did receive 1 1/2shares. ROBERT FOSTER shows up in a ÖTrue List of People actually livingin Sackvillex along with John and William Olney. James Jenkes was only family member still in Sackville even thoughhis family was among the first settlers. 1767 This was the first year of a detailed census. The population of Sackville was349 with 343 Americans. The average age was 32.8 years. ROBERT being 35at this time. Most of the early settlers heritage could be traced to aBaptist Heritage with an estimated 113 out of the 174 grantees includingJenkes,Olney and Eddy. Sackville was the 8th largest of the Yankeesettlements in N.S. William Allan father of Col. John Allan purchased asawmill in Cumberland for 20 lbs. 1768 Was living inSackville,Westmorland,NB. On 11 Jan 1768 ROBERT FOSTER and othersreceived 47,000 acres at Sackville.(part of NS till 1785) 1770 Wasliving in Sackville twp.,NS and was town clerk. The Census shows ROBERT FOSTER as a Protestant, American with a wife 2boys and 1 girl under 18. The census also listed a John and William Olney who may have been associated with JOHN FOSTER. Fromthe Olney family only John and William were still in N.S. Eight membersreceived grants and four were still their in 1765. Poor economicconditions drove many families back to New England. Between 1770-1774 181individuals left Sackville reducing the New England population by half.By By 1774 only 43 of the original 174 grantees remained in Sackville.This meant their were 179 Yankees left and it opened the door for theinflux of the English from Yorkshire. 1770-1772 He was listed as"Member of Legislative Assembly of Nova Scotia living in Sackville Twp.1770-1772; 1776-1782. Whether he was ever actually sworn into membershipand took his seat is doubtful. He was involved in the CumberlandRebellion of 1776,and fled to Machias,Me 1772 The Township of Sackville elected for the first time arepresentative to the Assembly at Halifax,a schoolmaster named Foster (either Asa or ROBERT) Probably Asa as a Mr. A Fosterappears at the proceedings of the legislature at Halifax in 1774. 1774On July 22nd ROBERT and John Foster(bro.b. Jan 18,1727) received 12,500acres at Sackville. On the same date ROBERT and Andrew Foster plusothers received 12,500 acres at Sackville. The third grant was dated 22July comprised 24 1/2 shares or right with each share equal to 500acres. ROBERT FOSTER received #22 and JOHN FOSTER 1/2 of #24 located atLetter C,Westcock Village. The terms were the same as the earlier grantsexcept rent was 1 farthing per acre and actual settlement had to be madewithin two years. Each share contained 500 acres. The Granters ofWestcock Village each received a 12 1/2 acre lot in Westcock marsh.There were a total of 55 lots and each share received 7 acres of upland adjacent to thetown plat. Westcock Village was south of lower Mill Creek while WestcockHill was the original proposed site for Sackville and was only two milesby water from Ft. Cumberland. It had been the site of the AcadiansVillage of Veskak. The New Brunswick Land Index shows both grants ofJOHN and ROBERT FOSTER as ÖEscheatedx being lost to them probably dueROBERTS involvement in the Cumberland Rebellion. JOHN probably neverused his land and would be considered one of the ÖNew Englandspeculatorsx 1775 Both ROBERT FOSTER and John Olney were signers ofAnti-Militia protest in Sackville. 1776 Left for Mass (now Maine) OnSeptember 5th by order of the General Court of Mass at Boston Col. Eddyreceived ammunition and provisions. Ne then returned to N.S. and with ameager force of 80 men attacked Ft.Cumberland. After Jonathan EddyÙsdefeat at Ft. Cumberland the small force retreated to the St. JohnÙsRiver. Along the way they raided homes in Sackville for provisions. The group included 59 local inhabitants that gave them assistanceincluding ROBERT FOSTER so they were forced to retreat first toMaugherville and then Machias,Me where ROBERT joined up with Col.Allen.The Council of the Privince offered rewards for the arest of the leadersof 200 lbs. for Jonathan Eddy and 100 lbs. for John Allan. It isinteresting to note that one property that was inadvertantly destroyedwhen they tried to burn Ft. Cumberland belonged to William Allen, fatherof ÖRebel John Allanx For many years William bitterly blamed his son andin his will he forgave him but still only left him 5 shillings. FromMachias a group of 28 went to Boston and asked the General Court for assistance in organizing a second expeditionagainst Cumberland top help remove the families of rebel supporters fromCumberland to Mass. The Committee of The General Court recommended Eddybe granted a Colonels commission. The petition was then referred to theCongress of the U.S. The Congress voted $200 for expenses and referredthe matter back to Mass. 1777 On March 13th John Allen petitioned theGeneral Court of Mass re N.S. and they recommended that a sufficientforce be sent to N.S. to ensure security for the inhabitants in thepossession of their estates. This recommendation was never carried out.On May 13th ROBERT FOSTER of Cumberland presented a petition to Congress asking for considerationof the plight of the inhabitants of Cumberland and Sunbury counties whowere suffering because of their support of the ÖAmerican Causex, and thatthose who desired to Ömove to a place of greater safety be assisted insuch removal of their families and effects. The Council was nextauthorized to raise a force of 600 men as long as it did not interferewith the raising of their quota of troops for the Continental Armyx1777-1781 ROBERT FOSTER Quartermaster on payroll starting 31 July 1778 discharged 1 Dec. 1778 served under Col. JohnAllen at Machias 1 Dec. 1778 to 1 June 1779. He was on pay accounts 4 July 1777 to 1 June 1779 and 1 June 1779 to 1 Dec. 1779.Assistant to Deputy Quartermaster General Machias,5 May 1780 to 31 Jan17781. 1785 A ROBERT FOSTER received a grant of 500 acres from Congressat Eddington,Me along with Jonathan Eddy and others. Col. Eddy living inSharon,Ma. made a list of those who left Nova Scotia in 1776 whichincluded ROBERT FOSTER of Mass, now living near Cherryfield. This sameyear he made application to Congress for relief for the refugees fromN.S. On June 14th the General Court of Mass. past a resolve giving landto some of the refugees. The land was from unimproved state land east ofthe Penobscot River in the County of Lincoln. The total amount of landset aside was 9,360 acres among 20 refugees. Jonathan Eddy received1,500 acres and ROBERT FOSTER was granted 500 acres (29 June, Chap. 80,State of Mass.) Jonathan EddyÙs grant was the largest and ROBERTÙS ranked5th which leads me to believe that he played a major role in theCumberland Rebellion. The grant called for each grantee to erect a dweeling house and clear 1/50 of the land within two years. Oneof the major problems was access which Col. Eddy kept fighting on behalf of the grantees. The House of Representatives passeda New Post Office Bill on March 13th 1800 which extented the Post roadfrom Bucktown to Eddytown. 1786 At this time many of the R.I. settlersof Sackville had left as they sided with the Revolutionary forces in1776. Their land had been resettled by English mostly from Yorkshire. Anumber of the new settlers felt the land was inferior and complained tothe Government in Halifax. The Sackville Town Records reveal that muchof the land was being cared for by attorneys and some relatives. BothROBERT and JOHNÙS land was being cared for by their attorney Wm.Comforth. Part of ROBERTÙs land having been sold to Simon Baisley. 1790 Census for Plantation Westof Machias #4 (Steuben) listed ROBERT as a resident. 1791 Died inWashington Cty #4 (Steuben),Maine as will was entered for administration24 May 1791. His oldest son John was administrator ROBERT'S real estatewas liquidated to pay his debts. Estate papers mention 500 acres inEddington,Maine which was granted to ROBERT late of New Brunswick alsoJonathan Eddy JP for Hancock County is also mentioned in regard to theEddington land. He was a leader of the Cumberland Rebellion in whichROBERT was involved and caused him to leave New Brunswick. 1792 Theclaims for the estate were published in the Portland Gazette (1791) and the claimhearing was before ALEXANDER CAMPBELL (JP) on 8 Jan 1792. Among other claims were 23 lbs 13 she owed and John Foster, his son 3lbs 17 shs for funeral expense. On 24 May John was appointed adm to replace Elizabeth (Vol 1,pg 305) One of creditors ofROBERT FOSTERÙs estate was Issac Patten of Billerica,Ma. who was fatherof William Patten married to dau of ROBERT, Ruth Foster. James Campbellbrother of ROBERTÙs two daughter-in-laws Polly Campbell & MargeretCampbell was appointed by the Court to take inventory. ( Vol 2,pg 29)From examination of his debt his connection with Col. Allen furthered asin 1778 he charged rum to his account for Col. Allen and in 1780 elevenyards of topsoil for Col. Allen. These debts were to Stephen Jones and also show that ROBERT must have been infarming as these entries show up: 1780 April 1 1/2 day 2 yoke Oxen along with 2 qts of wine. 1781 More days of yoke oxen alongwith a days work of my man Benny plus wool,molasses,wine and a yearsinterest. Sources: IGI pgs 378-38 Pierce Report Sept. 1989 NarragansettHist. Register Vol VII.,1889 N0.2,pg 90-113 Maine Hist. Mag. Vol IX.Bangor,Me Apr,May,June 1894. #4,5,6. ÖRebels in Nova Scotia during theRevolutionary War.x pgs 62-70 R.I. Genealogical Register Vol 3,#2 Oct.190 Öthey left R.I. Part 13. Settlers to Nova Scotia by Thaire Adamsonpgs. 145-148 Planters and Pioneers by Esther Clark Wright 1978 pgs115-116 Foster Genealogy "Reginald Foster" by WB Conkey pgs 58,94 "FosterLand Grants in Nova Scotia 1707-1785 Directory of Members of LegislativeAssembly of Nova Scotia. 1758-1958 by C Bruce Fergusson Published byArchives of NS 1958 Halifax. VR Attleborough,Ma to 1849,Essex Institute1934 Hist of Sackville,NB by Dr. W.C. Miner 1894 (Reprint 1934) Tribune Pub.,Sackville,NB Snowdon,Graduate Thesis ÖPolitics and LandSettlement in Sackville 1769-1800; 1974 at Mt Allison University,Sackvill,N.B. Sackville Twp. Records 1748-1883 Micro 5331,Mt AllisonUniversity Lib.,Sackville,N.B. pgs 6,89,90,74 & 61. Province of N.B.Crown Land Grant Index pg 297-8 Ref A-119;PANB,Fredricktown. Douglas B.Ayer typed report 15 July 1968 located at My Allison UniversityLib.,Sackville,N.B. Sackville Manuscripts MG 100 Vol 216,42-426 PANS AHistory of Ft. Lawrence Times,Tides and Towns by GladyÙs Trenholm 1985PANS,Mss Vol 222 pg 27 ÖA True List of People on The Spot,Sackville,Feb18,1765