Oxford Democrat

Early Bethel Families.

FOSTER.

Abner Foster, who married Lydia Nelson, came to Sudbury Canada plantation, now Newry, about the year 1785. From the older living members of the family I learn that he was the son of Zebulon Foster of Rowley, who came from England. I find that Ephraim Foster was at Andover, Mass, where he died in 1746 aged 88. Among his immediate descendants I find the names of Abner, Asa, Moses, Stephen, Nathan, Daniel and David, and from the prevalence of these Christian names among the descendants of Abner who settled in Newry, I am of the opinion that they are branches of the same family. A little investigation would settle the matter.

Abner Foster had several children born before he came to Maine. 1st, Hannah, married Samuel Barker of Methuen; 2d, Lydia married Benjamin Barker, who was an early settler in Newry; 3d, Anna married a Richardson and 4th, Mary, a Wyman; there was also a 5th Phebe and 6th Lucy, who married Abraham Littlehale. 7th, ASA, married Annie, daughter of Enoch Bartlett of Newry in 1787; 8th, Abner married Polly Hilton in 1790 and had Henry and George who married and settled in Freeman; Thomas, Abner, Nancy, who married first Lemuel Jackson of Paris and second Thomas Frost of Bethel, Hannah, who married Seth Willis of Paris, Polly, and Eunice who married a Brown and settled in Waterford. 9th, Daniel married Abigail Small in 1793, and settled first in Newry and then went to Vermont. 10th, Dudley, married Betty Harvey in 1798, lived in Newry and had no children. 11th, David married Betsey Bradstreet in 1799 and settled in Waterford and had Edward who married Martha Frost; Polly, who married Lovel Fortner; also David and Sally.

Asa, who married Annie Bartlett, lived on Sunday river in Newry and reared a large family as follows: Joel married Marcia Jackson of Newry. Asa married Beulah, daughter of Stephen Bartlett and lived in Newry on the old homestead. Nathan married Polly Stearns and lived in Newry; REUBEN married Sarah, daughter of Stephen Bartlett; Betsey married James A. S. Bartlett, settled in Bethel on the road between Locke's Mills and the Androscoggin river, and had Asa F., Dorcas, Anna, Cyrene, Lucretia, Sophia, James A. and Betsey, most of whom are married and live in Bethel; Enoch married Persis Swan of Newry, and is the father of Oren Foster, Esq., of Newry, and Hon. Enoch Foster, Jr., of Bethel; ELI, who married Dorcas, daughter of Stephen Bartlett; Silas, who graduated in Medicine, and died at Bridgton unmarried; Benjamin, who married Louisa Coburn, is a well known Methodist minister, and the father of Moses C. Foster now of Waterville; Submit, who married Sylvanus Lane of Bethel; Lydia married Jesse Barker of Newry. Annie married Samuel Eames of Newry and Polly married Newell Stowe of Newry.

Reuben and Eli were the only two of the third generation who became prominent citizens of Bethel, and Reuben living in that part of the town which was incorporated as Hanover, ceased to be a citizen of Bethel in 1853. He bought the interval farms which were formerly owned by Gideon and Silas Powers, and has been one of the most successful farmers in the County. By his wife Sarah Bartlett he had two sons and six daughters, but one son and several of the daughters have deceased. Hon. Reuben Foster, who married Dorcas Howe of Hanover, and now lives in Waterville, is the surviving son.

Eli, who married Dorcas Bartlett began on the wild lot on which he lived nearly half a century, situated next to the farm of James Bartlett, which we have already described. He was a good agriculturalist and a valuable citizen. His farm was one of the best in lower Bethel, and was always kept in excellent condition. He was a deacon of the Baptist church many years and one of the chief pillars of the church. He died two years ago and his only son succeeds him in the ownership and management of the farm. He left but three children, as follows: Virtue W., married Ira Cushman and lives in Bethel; Sophia B., who is the wife of Rev. Dr. Estes of Paris, and David T., who married Harriet B., daughter of Daniel H. Crockett, and is the only male representative of the family name in Bethel.

Joel Foster, who married Marcia Jackson of Newry, still lives, and is the oldest representative of the third generation.