Source: History of Chelmsford by Wilkes Allen. Chelmsford, Mass. Another view of the drilling area and armory.

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2 This church sits on the site of the original Chelmsford church which was destroyed by fire. The forefathers burial ground sits behind it. The Fosters are buried in the lower left side of the picture.

3 The garrison house in Chelmsford, Mass. This is where the local militia would drill in preparation for skirmishes with the French and Indians. Later it would be a training ground for the Patriots during the Revolution. Source: History of Chelmsford by Wilkes Allen Chelmsford, Mass. Another view of the drilling area and armory.

4 Chelmsford, Massachusetts----Forefathers burying ground. (Behind the site of the church founded in 1600's) This is not the original church building but sits on the original site. The Foster's are buried in a prominent spot directly behind the church. Another view of the Forefathers cemetery in Chelmsford, Mass.

5 Some of the Foster grave markers. I was unable to find Ebenezer and Lydia in any of the records. They were buried in the Foster plot.

6 Some of the markers were in bad shape. I believe this is Anna Foster wife of Isaiah Foster. Below is Isaiah, who died in the Revolutionary War. It is probable that this is her son as the ages are pretty far apart.

7 Two William Fosters, young sons of William and Hanna Foster. Both died at a young age, and 1756.

8 William Foster, husband of Hannah. Hannah Foster

9 Hannah Foster was buried with her son Noah. Noah Foster was killed in the service of his country at the battle of Stillwater during the Revolutionary War, Oct. 7, Remembrance Fletcher , wife of Edward Foster

10 Aaron Foster 2yrs 9mos, son of William and Hannah Foster William Foster, the Revolutionary service symbol is next to his marker. I have not found much about him.

11 Mary Foster 88yrs died June 23, 1787, wife of Ebenezer Foster 65yrs died May Sarah Foster 63 yrs died January 27, 1718 (or 1738)

12 Sarah Foster (Sarah Keyes) She was married to Samuel Foster son of Deacon Samuel Foster.

13 Deacon Samuel Foster Died July 10, Esther Foster (Esther Kemp) Wife of Deacon Samuel Foster.

14 Rebeckah Foster 62 yrs. died October 30, 1722, probably the wife of Edward Foster another son of Samuel who was born in Edward Foster 59 yrs died February 22, 1715 or Son of Samuel and Esther.

15 Edward Foster Married to Remembrance Foster (Fletcher.) There are many references to him in the historical materials available.

16 Standing in the rain, taking pictures and writing notes at the Chelmsford Cemetery.

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18 This is the North Bridge in Concord, Mass. It is probable that Edward Foster was with the Minutemen who fought the British here in an attempt to prevent them from seizing patriot stores of ammunition and other supplies.

19 Another view of the North Bridge. Chelmsford was only a few miles from Concord and Lexington.

20 This is the monument to the citizen soldiers who as a small group of farmers became the foundation for the Continental Army. The plow and the musket represent their dual role in the founding of the United States.

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22 And finally, a cup of coffee with Red Auerback in Boston.

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24 Edward Foster settled in Union, Conn. in He took the money from his service during the Revolution to purchase 200 acres from Elijah Loomis. Our direct descendent, his son Charles went to Stockbridge, NY to farm. Another of his sons Eleazer Foster went to Yale and became a prominent lawyer in New Haven, Conn. His son, Eleazer K. Foster also went to Yale and became a Judge in New Haven. He served as Speaker of the House of the General Assembly of Connecticut and in 1858 was a candidate for the Republican Party nomination for Governor. An interesting story concerns William Larned Marcy who came to Union, Ct. in app.1802 to teach in the Foster School House. He stayed with the Edward Foster family and as the story goes became inspired to finish his schooling after hearing stories from Edward about how proud he was of his son Eleazer who was practicing as an attorney after graduating from Yale. Marcy later became Governor of New York and Secretary of State under President Franklin Pierce. Source: The History of Union, Conn. by Charles Hammond

25 More sites of Union, Conn.

26 Union, Conn. Cemetery. Several Fosters are buried here. Among them, Edward Foster and Rachel (Newell) Foster, his wife Several members of the Sessions family are also here.

27 Rachel Foster, wife of Edward. Rachel. Rachel, 8 yr old daughter of Edward and

28 Esther Foster 5yr old daughter of Edward and Rachel. and Rachel. Rebeckah Foster 2yr old daughter of Edward

29 Edward Foster served in the Revolution and was a corporal in the Sturbridge Regiment. He marched in response to the Lexington alarm April 19, The alarm went out when the British set out from Boston to seize arms being accumulated by the Patriots in Concord. Paul Revere set out on his famous ride but was captured before he could reach Concord. William Dawes was also captured but Dr. Samuel Prescott succeeded in sounding the alarm. About 70 minutemen confronted the British at Lexington and the "shot heard round the world" was fired starting the war. We don't know if Edward Foster was in Lexington when this happened. The records only show that he marched to Lexington and served for 14 days. We know the minutemen attacked the British at the North Bridge in Concord and skirmished with them as they retreated to Boston. The star shaped stand at the grave commemorates his service. Sources: Foster Genealogy by Frederick Clifton Pierce

30 The History of Union Connecticut by Charles Hammond

31 Some of the Newell family.

32 These marked the grave sites of Patriots. There were only a few in each of the sites we visited.

33 Some of the Sessions Family. Charles married Louisa Sessions. Union Cemetery

34 A lot of the graves had small stones for children. The site on the right had the main marker with two small markers for children behind. When you look at the records, many of the Fosters had several children die of the various diseases and fevers.

35 Union, Ct. school house. This community has about 500 residents.

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37 Main headquarters for the Oneida Silver Company. Oneida, N.Y. The town of Stockbridge is about 5 miles from Oneida. Some of the Fosters are buried in an Oneida cemetery. We were unable to find them. This is a view of the Charles Foster farm looking south. You can see the Stockbridge cemetery in the distance.

38 Another view of the Foster farm. The house appears to be newer as are the barns and outbuildings. A view of the Stockbridge area.

39 Stockbridge N.Y town square. Not much here. Looked a lot like Naches Heights. World War I monument to the men of Stockbridge. A Henry A. Foster was killed in the war. Don't know if a family connection exists.

40 Looking down in the valley at the Foster farm. Close up of the Foster farm.

41 More views of the farm.

42 Stockbridge N.Y. cemetery. Part of this cemetery was donated to Stockbridge by Charles Foster.

43 Stockbridge Cemetery

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46 No knowledge on this one. She was in the Foster family plot.

47 Here is a mystery. Rachel Manross was supposedly married to Edward Foster of Sturbridge Mass.

48 Fletcher Foster died Nov. 1, 1858 age 67 years.

49 Didn't get much on this one.

50 No knowledge on this one. She was in the Foster family plot. Hannah was the sister of Charles May Foster.

51 Fletcher Foster died Nov. 1, 1858 age 67 years.

52 Didn't get much on this one.

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54 This one was interesting. He was in the Foster plot but now information or relation to any of the others that we could find. He served in the war of 1812.

55 Hinsdale Foster. I was wondering if some of the Hartford Conn. relatives ended up here.

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58 These were all in the Foster Family Plot.

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60 The Foster family plot. Old church in Stockbridge. We could find no one around to ask questions.