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Thomas Foster                                    see FAMILY TREE

Born: 15 9th month 1703 Mansfield, Burlington, New Jersey  
   
Married: Abt. 1725  
   
Died: Aft. 1753  

FATHER

William Foster

MOTHER

Mary

WIFE

Mary

CHILDREN

1. Amariah Foster
    b. Abt. 1728
    m. 10 Jan 1747 to Mary Prickett
    d. 22 Mar 1806

2. Joshua Foster
    b. Abt. 1729
    m. 24 May 1750 Jane Hancock
    d. 1802

3. Abner Foster
    b. Abt. 1732

4. Content Foster
    b. Abt. 1735

5. Elizabeth Foster
    b. Abt. 1739

Thomas Foster Sr.
by Susan Brooke
Dec 2020

 Lettice Foster, a granddaughter of Thomas Foster, was a Quaker member of the Springfield Monthly Meeting, so Thomas Foster may have been related to the Foster family of Rhode Island, Quakers, that migrated to Burlington County.  A Thomas Foster was baptized a Quaker to William and Mary Foster on 15 of 9th month 1703 and this date would fit perfectly into the timeline of this Thomas Foster. (1)  His son Amariah was old enough in 1747 to be a witness to a will and Amariah married in 1748. (2) Furthermore, we find that Thomas Foster's father, William Foster, was well acquainted with John Shinn Junr. and William Budd as he served on jury duty in the 1690's with both of them. (3) Thomas Foster also often appeared in the records with the Shinn family. (4)  And, the first record we have of Thomas Foster in Springfield is in 1736 when he was a witness to the will of John Shinn. (5) Thomas obtained 65 acres of land in 1746 that abutted the land of Thomas and William Shinn. (6)
When he was witness to the will  of John Cossins in 1747 Thomas signed as Thomas Foster Senior. (7)   A John Foster and Amariah Foster also were witnesses.  The year before on 30 May 1746 Thomas and his wife Mary had taken their five youngest children to Mount Holly to be baptized in the Episcopal Church. (8) John was not listed. He could have been the oldest son of Thomas and Mary Foster or possibly a brother of Thomas Foster.  Since Thomas signed as Thomas Senior, there also must have been a Thomas Foster Jr., but he was not present for the witnessing of the will nor being baptized the year before.  Thomas Foster Jr. may also have been of another Foster family. We know the names of the rest of his children from the baptismal records.
The last record that has been found is when Thomas Foster was executor to the will of Richard Walker. (9) Thomas was the recipient of all but one chest of the personal and real estate of Richard Walker.  Thomas's son Abner received a chest. His sons Amariah and Joshua were witnesses and also took the inventory.  Richard Walker must have been related to this family.  Thomas Foster's wife Mary may have been the daughter of Richard Walker.

Sources

(1) Baptism of Thomas Foster
1703 Sep 15
  Children of William Foster
Chesterfield Monthly Meeting 1 4th mo. 1749/50


(2) Amariah Foster witness to a will
10 Jan 1747 Springfield, Burlington, New Jersey

Cossins, John of Springfield, Burlington co., farmer; will of.  Children__John, Samuel, Mary Foort and Mary Holt.  Real and personal estate.  Wife, Elizabeth, sole executrix.  Witnesses -- Thomas Foster, Sen'r, Amariah Foster, John Foster. Proved March 14, 1747-8 Lib 5, p 405. 1747-8 March 14. Inventory, £49.17.2; made by Thomas Foster and John Foster.

(3) Jury Duty with William Budd and John Shinn

1688/9 Feb Burlington Court  William Foster and John Shinn Junr are serving on a jury together pg. 95

1692 Nov Burlington Court William Budd and William Foster are on the Grand Jury together pg. 145

1696 Burlington Court John Shinn, Junr. and William Foster are serving on the Grand Jury together pg. 188

 

(4) Records of Thomas Foster with John Shinn

1743 May 30 will of Lucas Gilham. Inventory by Edward Mullen and Thomas Foster. Estate paid Thomas Shinn, Elizabeth Shinn


Douments Relating to the Colonial and Revolutionary History----Vol 30
  Will of Lucas Filham

15 Apr 1745 Freeholders of Springfield, Burlington, NJ
The Pennsylvania Magazine of History and Biography, 
  Freeholders of 1745

 

1748 Sep 6 Inventory Will of Ann Lippincott
Inventory Will of Ann Lippincott Inventory includes notes from Joseph Shinn, James Shinn, Thomas Foster. Thomas Shinn one of witnesses
  Will of Ann Lippincott

 

 

(5) Will of John Shinn
1736 Jan 29
will of John Shinn Shinn, John, of Springfield, Burlington Co.: will of. Wife Mary. Children - Jacob and Caleb. Grandson John, son of George Shinn, deceased. Executors - sons John and Caleb, with my cousin Samuel Shinn.  Witnesses - Thomas Foster, Mary Bray, Thomas Shinn. Proved Mary 19, 1736

Documents Relating to the Colonial and Revolutionary History---Vol 30
  Will of John Shinn

  

(6) 1646 Land Record
1746 Aug 27





1746 27 Aug WJ Loose Records OV-A (63185) (PWESJ004) 



 

TO: Thomas Foster
FROM:
SURVEY AND MAP. 65 acres. Near Barkers Creek; Springfield Township; Burlington County.
OTHERS NAMED: William Atkinson (Owner of adjoining land); Samuel Barker (Owner of adjoining land); Samuel Black (Owner of adjoining land); John Day (Former owner of adjoining land); Isaac DeCow (Deputy Surveyor) (Signatory); Thomas Shinn (Caveated by Thomas Shinn; [notation on verson]); William Shinn (Owner of adjoining land; caveated by William Shinn; [notation on verso])
LOCATIONS: West Jersey; Burlington; Springfield Township; Barkers Creek




 

(7) Will of John Cossins
1747 Jan 10
Will of John Cossins of Springfield, Burlington Co.
Cossins, John of Springfield, Burlington Co., farmer; will of.  Children__John, Samuel, Mary Foort and Mary Holt.  Real and personal estate.  Wife, Elizabeth, sole executrix.  Witnesses -- Thomas Foster, Sen'r, Amariah Foster, John Foster. Proved March 14, 1747-8 Lib 5, p 405. 1747-8 March 14. Inventory, £49.17.2; made by Thomas Foster and John Foster.
  Will of John Cossins

 

(8) Baptisms of children of Thomas and Mary Foster
1746 May 30
Baptisms in Mount Holly, Burlington, New Jersey
Mount Holly Baptized to Joseph and Mary Shinn, adults, Patience, Rebecca and William, to the said Joseph Shinn, the same day, Baptized children, Vestai, Joseph, Benjamin, John, Francis and Abigail.
The same day Baptized to Thomas and Mary Foster, two adults, Amariah and Josuah; and younger children, Abner, Content, and Elizabeth
  Babtisms of St Mary's Church
Historical and Genealogical Miscellany, Data Relating to the Settlement and Settlers of New York and New Jersey by John E Stillwell, M.D. Vol II New York 1906


(9) Will of Richard Walker
1753 Sep 17
Walker, Richard, of Springfield Township, Burlington Co., will of.  To Abner Foster my chest.  to Thomas Foster rest of personal and real estate.  Executor--said Thomas Foster.  Witnesses--Amariah Foster, Joshua Foster, Thomas Nickolson.  Proved Oct 6, 1753   1753, Sept 28 Inventory, £27.18.4 by Joshua Foster and Amariah Foster  Lib 7 p. 359     Will of Richard Walker