Individual Details

Immigrating as a young man, Samuel Foster married in Dedham, Massachusetts in 1647 to Esther Kemp. He subsequently moved to Wenham in 1650, selling his Dedham property which included some acres of upland on the plain. He was a freeman in Wenham in 1650. He bought land and horses from Richard Petingall of Wenham and a house from Alice Johnes, widow. Samuel was one of the petitioners for the incorporation of a new town on the west side of the Concord River which became Chelmsford. He moved to Chelmsford in 1655 where he became one of the leading men of the town. He was chosen for the first deacon of the church when it was organized in Chelmsford and held that position ever after. He was also a representative to the Great and General Court in 1679 (Pierce 981).
The Chelmsford area was free of trouble between the colonists and the Penacook Indians until 1675. Wonalancet had promised never to fight the English settlers and refused to participate in King Philip's War. He was invited to a meeting with the English settlers but was treacherously imprisoned after he arrived. While the Indians were away the Chelmsford settlers destroyed their village and killed their old men. Samuel Foster and a few others were opposed to this butchery but could find no jury that would bring those responsible to justice. When Wanalanett returned months later he found his lands taken by whites. The General
Court assigned him Tyng's Island where he lived for a few years but despairing of his relations with the European settlers he took his people to Canada (Pierce 981).

Birth	1619	England, United Kingdom
Marriage	30 May 1647	Dedham, Norfolk, Massachusetts, British America - Esther Kemp
Will	Apr 1692	Chelmsford, Middlesex, Massachusetts, British America
Death	10 Jul 1702	Chelmsford, Middlesex, Massachusetts, British America
Probate	14 Jul 1702	Chelmsford, Middlesex, Massachusetts, British America
Residence		Chelmsford, Middlesex, Massachusetts, British America

Spouse	Esther Kemp ( - )
Child	Hannah Foster (1649 - )
Child	Samuel Foster (1650 - 1730)
Child	Eli Foster (1653 - 1717)
Child	Edward Foster (1657 - 1715)
Child	Esther Foster (1659 - 1733)
Child	Andrew Foster (1662 - 1671)
Child	Abraham Foster (1664 - 1671)
Child	Nathaniel Foster (1667 - )
Child	John Foster (1671 - 1671)