USA > Maine > Oxford County > Buckfield > A history of Buckfield, Oxford County, Maine, from the earliest explorations to the close of the year 1900 > Part 45
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Bethiah Ellen, b. Nov. 24, 1841 ; m. -- Hodgdon.
Joseph F., b. Nov. 7, 1843; m. Emma H. Morrill.
JAMES H. DECOSTER, Eso., son of the preceding b. Oct. 12, 1837, m. Angelia, daughter of Isaac and Joanna ( Teague) Shaw. He was educated in the district and high schools of the town and for several years taught school during the winter. In 1857 he began mercantile life as a clerk in the store of Hiram Hines at Buckfield village. After his marriage in 1859 he moved to Hart- ford where he was in trade for about a year. In the spring of 1861 with Charles H. Prince, he purchased the hardware stock of Lorenzo Atwood in what was then known as the Douglass store, where he remained in business for many years. President Abra- ham Lincoln appointed Mr. Prince, postmaster and Mr. DeCoster became assistant. The post office was in one corner of the store. The firm did a good business for both members were popular with all classes.
At the outbreak of the Rebellion, a Buckfield company was raised and organized of which James H. DeCoster was orderly sergeant. For some reason the company was disbanded. In 1865 Mr. DeCoster was appointed postmaster, a position he held to the entire satisfaction of the patrons of the office till 1877, when having sold his interest in the store, he resigned. In 1880 he was nominated as the republican candidate for representative to the legislature and in ordinary times would have been elected. He ran about 20 votes in town ahead of the Governor. Soon after he moved to Mechanic Falls and engaged in various busi- ness pursuits, where he has since resided. He has been promi- nent in the affairs of that village, served for 14 years as Trial Justice and for a long period was secretary of the Masonic Mu-
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James H. DeCoster
Virginia (De Coster) Jones
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Virgil P DeCoster
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Varanes De Coster
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HISTORY OF BUCKFIELD
tual Relief Association. He is a leading member of the Masonic and other secret organizations. In 1899 he was appointed post- master at Mechanic Falls, a position he held for many years. Children :
Bertha Lee, b. May 16, 1801: m. E. Adron Gammon ; resides at Me- chanic Falls.
Harry Wilson, b. Oct. 26, 1866; m. Idora M. Perry: resides in Boston.
James Carroll, b. Sept. 30. 1868; m. Marion E. Bray; resides in Boston.
Percy Shaw, b. Mar. 6, 1871; m. Edith A. Blanchard ; resides in Lynn, Mass.
VARANES DECOSTER, youngest son of Samuel was born on the same place where he lived all his life. He was one of the most prosperous farmers in town of his time and accumulated a hand- come property. He married Louisa Thompson. ]Ie died Jan. 12, 1888. His wife died Feb. 24, 1898. Children :
Varanes Francisco, b. Nov. 19, 1838; m. Ist Ellen Torrey ; 2d Emerette Campbell; s. in the West.
William B .. b. Sept. 27, 1840, soldier in Civil War; d. at Edwards Ferry, Md., Jan. 27. 1863.
Louisa !'., h. Dec. 16, 18442; d. Feb. 28, 1849.
Georgianna, b. Sept. 21, 1844: ni. Stephen Morrill of Auburn.
l'irgil P., b. Apr. 12, 1848; m. Edith B. Hooper.
l'irginia, b. Apr. 12, 1848; m. Barnum Jones of Auburn.
Cleore H., b. Sept. 2, 1856; m. David M. Hildreth of Washington, D. C.
VIRGIL P. DECOSTER, son of the preceding b. Apr. 12, 1848, m. Edith B. Hooper of Turner. Mr. DeCoster lives on the old homestead and like his father is one of Buckfield's most pros- perous farmers. He has served as a member of the board of se- lectmen and as representative in the legislature of the state, also as a member of the State Board of Agriculture. His wife is a woman of intellectual ability and has contributed much to the press. Both are very prominent members of the grange and also of the State Pomological Society. Children :
Cleora M., b. July 8, 1891.
Edith H., b. Sept. 16, 1893.
Helen F., b. Nov. 19, 1895.
ROGERS DECOSTER, son of Jacob, sen., b. Feb. 24, 1782, m. Elizabeth Rowe. He resided on the old homestead and was the leading citizen in his part of the town. He served one term in the Legislature. He died about 1862. His wife died June 20, 1877. Children :
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HISTORY OF BUCKFIELD
Orris, b. Mar. 7, 1806; m. Luke Bicknell; 4 c. (see Bicknell).
John. b. Apr. 6, 1809; m. Cyrenia Harris.
Elbridge G. b. Feb. 12, 1811 ; m. Susanna Sturtevant; I c., Kimball.
Cyrus, b. Nov. 2. 1812; m. Mary Prescott; 4 c., Sarah, James, Ellen and Verrin.
Hannah, b. Apr. 29, 1814; m. John Cushman ; 2 c., Henrietta and John.
Thomas, b. June 13, 1817; m. Almeda Packard; 6 c., Charles, George, Cyrena, Justin, Cora and Dr. John.
Julia Ann, b. May 6, 1821; m. Elbridge D. Whitman.
Cyrena, b. Dec. 29, 1823; m. William Randall; no issue.
William, b. Jan. 30, 1826; in. Martha Fuller; 3 c., Willis, Ella and Eddie.
JACOB DECOSTER, JR., b. May 27, 1774, m. Dec. 20, 1801, Susan Morse. They settled in Hebron on what was later called the Page place. She died in Jan., 1841. He died in July, 1842. Children :
Parnelle, b. Nov. 14, 1802: m. David Bicknell; 2d Orin Irish; 3 c., 2 by Ist, I by 2d, Simeon, William and Samuel.
George, b. Oct. 28, 1804; m. Harriet Bicknell; 5 c., Elmira, Parnelle, . Rebecca, Flora and William K.
Solomon, b. Jan. 17, 1806; m. Cynthia Dunham.
Howard C., b. Oct. 19, 1808; m. Mary Ann Buck ; 9 c., Harriet A., Columbia H .. Mary A., Jared M., Jacob C., William P., Frederick HI., Sarah B. and Lillian E.
Jacob, b. July 6, 1811; m. Salina Record; 6 c., Mary, Sylvira, Susan, William H., Azulea and Malzema.
Asa, b. Aug. 13, 1813; m1. Martha Fullerton; s. in N. Y .; 2 c., Horace and George.
Fear, b. Sept. 9. 1818; m. Samuel S. Bicknell, 2d Charles Goss; I c., by Ist husband, Adelbert.
Fearing, b. Oct. 18, 1820; m. Lyla Packard; 2d Joanna Connor ; 7 c., Harriet, Minnie, Frank, Ellis, Charles, Ellen and Emma.
Ephraim, b. Nov. 20, 1822; m. Lydia Heath.
SOLOMON, son of the preceding b. Jan. 17, 1806, m. Cynthia Dunham. He finally settled at West Minot, where he died about 1880. His wife died within a year afterwards. Children :
SOLOMON THURSTON, b. May 17, 1830, m. Lucy B. Chase. He resided in Buckfield village awhile during the sixties. Is an ornamental and carriage painter. The genealogy of the DeCoster families was principally contributed by him and he has taken great interest in this history. His wife died at Turner where he now resides, June 12, 1901. 4 c. Clarence L., m. Belle Teague (2 daughters, Addie and Carrie B.). Charlotte, m. Fred W. Bonney (2 c. Carrie and Willie). Alice S., m. Frank E. Bray
579
HISTORY OF BUCKFIELD
( I c., Paul D.), and Lillian M., m. Albion B. Jones (I c., Myra B.).
Alvarado F., b. Jan. - 1832; m. Emma Bearce : 5 c., Orland, Imo- gene, Emma, Eva and Lorinda.
Marcena, b. May 18, 1834; m. Edward Bonuey : 7 c., Frank, Rose, Ed- ward, Grace, George, Sherman and Edith.
Rose S., b. - 1840; m. Darius F. Pike: 3 c., Henry, Lizzie F. and Elsie G.
Cynthia P., b. 1849; d. unmi.
James L., b. 1851; m. Emma Mitchell; 2 c., Gertrude and Harlan.
DOBLE.
WILLIAM DOBLE. (see sketch) settled on the Twenty Mile river. He married Sarah He lived and died on his settling lot. He died after 1811. Children all but first four b. in Buckfield :
William, Jr., b. Aug. 14, 1775.
Phineas, b. July 4, 1777 ; 111. Mary ---.
Rebecca, b. Aug. 16, 1779.
Abraham, b. Dec. 22. 1781 : in. Lucinda Woodbury.
Sarah, b. Apr. 6, 1784; m. Daniel Pond.
Lydia, b. July 27, 1,86.
Aaron, b. Dec. 8, 1788; m. Abigail Hall.
Lucy, b. Mar. 31, 1792.
Elijah, b. Nov. 3, 1793; m. Hannah Drake.
Betsey, b. Nov. 3, 1793.
Solomon. b. May 3, 1796; in. Louisa Rowe.
PHINEAS DOBLE, son of the preceding b. July 4, 1777, m. Mary Children : Willard, b. Jan. 1I, 1801. Anna, b. Sept. 3, 1802.
ABRAHAM DOBLE, brother of the preceding b. Dec. 22, 1781. m. Lucinda Woodbury. Children :
Elvira, b. Oct. 12, 1807. Orin, b. Apr. 14, 1810. Alden, b. Jan. 26, 1813. Harriet, b. Aug. 11, 1814.
AARON DOBLE, brother of the preceding b. Dec. 8, 1788, m. AAbigail Hall. Children :
Miriam Hall, b. Aug. 27, 1810. Sally, b. July 2, 1812. John, b. Ang. 2.1, 1814. Mary, b. Dec. 1I, 1816. Henry Parsons, b. Jan. 25, 1819.
580
HISTORY OF BUCKFIELD
DRAKE.
JOIN DRAKE of Bridgewater, Mass., b. Aug. 12, 1757, was one of the early settlers in the western part of the town. He served in the Revolutionary War. He m. Molly Cole, 1782. Lived in B., Hebron and Sumner. He died Feb. 18, 1834. She died Feb. 6, 1840. Children recorded on Buckfield records :
John, Jr., b. Oct. 8, 1783; m. Martha Packard.
Deborah, b. Jan. 30, 1786; m. Wm. Berry, Jr.
Mary, b. Oct. 1, 1788.
Hannah, b. Ang. 8, 1791; d. Nov. 2, 1791.
Ephraim Cole, b. Sept. 17, 1792; m. Nancy Hersey.
Stephen, b. Apr. 29, 1795: m. Martha Hix.
Hannah, b. Nov. 24, 1797; m. Elijah Doble.
I'm. Harlow, b. Aug. 22, 1801 ; n !. Desire D. Bisbee.
JOHN DRAKE, JR., b. Oct. 8, 1783, m. Martha Packard. Children :
John S., b. Nov. 19, 1809; m. Amanda M. Wood.
Diana, b. Feb. 18, 1811.
Polly, b. Sept. 13. 1812.
Martha, b. Nov. 15, 1814; d. Apr. 19, 1826.
H. G. O., b. Nov. 12, 1816. Geraldine, b. June 17, 1819. Melissa, b. July 4, 1821. Alexander F., b. Feb. 8, 1824. Hannah, b. Mar. 14, 1826.
ABIAL DRAKE of another family moved into the township soon after the census was taken in 1790. Ile purchased a large tract of land of the proprietors (about 300 acres), east of the East Branch on which he lived to his death. He married Dolly, daughter of Jonathan Philbrick. Children :
Martin, b. Feb. 19, 1794; m. Celia Bisbee. Anna, b. Mar. 3, 1796; m. Jonah Hall. Dorcas, b. July 26, 1798; m. Amos Atkinson. Enoch, b. Aug. 17, 1800 ; m. Rhoda Hussey. Abial, Jr., b. Jan. 14, 1804; m. Nancy Swett.
MARTIN DRAKE, oldest son of Abial, b. Feb. 19, 1794, mn. Celia Bisbee in 1823. He lived to a good old age. All of his life had been spent on the place where he was born. He was a good cit- izen and noted for his great strength. He died Sept. 24, 1874. His wife died June 2, 1874. Children :
Dorcas Ann, b. Aug. 15, 1824.
Sarah Jane, b. July 18, 1826; m. Charles Dunn.
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HISTORY OF BUCKFIELD
Achsa Maria, b. Aug. 19, 1828; m. John M. Damon.
Celia T'., b. Apr. 20, 1831; m. Geo. W. Long. Esther M. J., b. Jan. 27, 1839.
ENOCH DRAKE, brother of the preceding, b. Aug. 17, 1800, m. Rhoda Hussey. Children :
Merritt Snell, b. Nov. 22, 1827; Nancy, b. June, 1829; Sabrina, b. Feb. 1831.
FARRAR.
The Farrars of Buckfield are descendants of John Farrar, then commonly written Farrow who with wife, Frances, and dan. Mary from Hingham, England, settled in Hingham, Mass., about 1635. He died July 7, 1687. She died Jan. 28, 1689. They had 5 children and two sons, John, baptized June 6, 1639, m. Aug. 14. 1664: Mary. dau. of William Hilliard. She died Sept. 14, 1689. He d. Jan. 27, 1716, aged 76. He was a "carpenter." Nathan, m. Dec. 5, 1683, Mary, dau. of John and Mary Gardner. She died Feb. 27, 1710, aged 55. He died Oct. 18, 1715, aged 61. They had 5 children, Jonathan, the third, b. June 10, 1689, m. Oct. 27. 1714, Joanna, dau. of Thomas and Joanna ( May) Whiton. She died Apr. 11, 1737, aged 46, and he m. 2d Mrs. Judith (Whiton) White. He died Apr. 14, 1751, aged 62. Six children all by first wife, three of whom were sons, Jonathan, b. Aug. 26, 1717 ; David, b. May 19, 1722 and John baptized May 24, 1724. This David had a son, David, b. in 1750. The name of the latter's wife as given in the History of Hingham was De- sire Tower.
DAVID FARRAR, fifth in descent from John Farrar, had seen service in the Revolutionary war and settled in Bucktown in 1788. He was born about 1750. He m. Judith Stoddard of Scituate. He d. in 1810. Children only last four b. in B. :
Judith. b. July 1, 1773; m. Thomas Lowell.
David, Jr., b. May 20, 1775: 111. Ist Sarah Chesley; 2d Mary Gammon.
Samuel, b. Aug. 8, 1779; m. Rebekah
Philip, b. Jan. 14, 1781 ; m. Tamar, b. Oct. 31, 1784; m. John Brock, Jr.
Mehitable, b. Jan. 30, 1787; m. Nathaniel Mayhew.
Nathan, b. Sept. 16. 1789; m. Susannah Brock.
Bela, b. Dec. 26, 1791 ; m. Lydia Thayer; s. in Paris.
Desire, b. Oct. 3, 1796; m. Martin Crockett.
John, b. July 10, 1800; m. Ist Polly Brock, 2d Rebecca Coburn (?).
582
HISTORY OF BUCKFIELD
DEA. DAVID FARRAR, son of the preceding, b. May 20, 1775, m. Ist Sarah Chesley, 2nd Mary Gammon. He was a very worthy man and a deacon of the church for many years. He died Nov. 8, 1842. His 2d wife died Apr. 24, 1865 in the 77th year of her age. Children by Ist wife :
David 3d, b. Jan. 24, 1802; m. Cynthia Waterman. Sarah, b. Jan. 23, 1804; m. Hon. Noah Prince.
Judith, b. -; m. David Brock. Orin, b. Aug. 16, 1807; d. May 3. 1871. Miriam, b. Apr. 13, 1812; m. C. C. Harlow.
Children by 2d wife:
Merritt, b. July 27, 1817; m. Arabella Bicknell. Reuben L., b. Dec. 20, 1819; m. Hananh L. Cresey.
Sophronia, b. Mar. 14, 1822; m1. Winslow Evans. Byron, b. July 27, 1824; s. and m. in Arkansas City, Kansas. Julia Ann, b. June 16, 1827; m. Joseph Cary.
Milton, b. May 5, 1829; s. in Westfield, Mass
Job P., b. Nov. 25, 1831; s. in Abington, Mass., and afterwards moved to Arkansas City, Kan.
DAVID FARRAR, oldest son of the preceding, b. Jan. 24, 1802, m. Cynthia Waterman. He died Sept. 12, 1893. She died Jan. 2, 1896, aged 91. Children :
Lavornia, b. Sept. 25, 1825; m. Edson Murdock, 2d Dea. Henry Bangs. Ingeline O., b. May 8, 1829.
Sarah Chesley, b. July 30, 1832; m. -- Fisk.
Cynthia E., b. June 4, 1836.
Jason, b. Oct. 30, 1838; m. Clara E. Ricker.
Clara M., b. Apr. 17, 18440; m. Wyer Greene, Portland.
JASON FARRAR, son of the preceding, b. Oct. 30, 1838, m. Clara E. Ricker. He represented his town and district in the Legislature. Held many positions of trust in town and was town clerk for many years. He went West and settled in In- diana. Children recorded here :
Jason Montelle, b. Dec. 26, 1870.
Marion, b. Aug. 26, 1872.
MERRITT FARRAR, son of Dea. David, b. July 27, 1817, m. Ara- bella Bicknell. He settled in the western part of the town near the old homestead. He has served as town treasurer and select- man and took a prominent part in county politics when the Re- publican party was organized. His wife d. in Feb., 1900, in her 75th year. Children :
583
HISTORY OF BUCKFIELD
Mary .A., b. June 1, 1841.
Clara L., b. May -, 1861; m. Scott Briggs.
Hattie M., b. Nov. 14. 1868: m. Isaac Turner.
REUBEN L. FARRAR, bro. of the preceding. b. Dec. 20, 1819, m. Hannah L. Cresey. He d. Mar. 27, 1900. Children : Julia C., b. Aug. 1, 1851; d. Sept. 6, 1852.
Cynthia R., b. Sept. 20, 1853; m. Edsil Smith.
SAMUEL FARRAR, son of David, Sr., b. Aug. 8, 1779. 111. Rebekah ---. He d. Aug. 15, 1865. She d. Mar. 27, 1865. Child :
Samuel, b. Mar. 3. ISO1.
PHILIP, bro. of the preceding. b. Jan. 7, 1781, m.
He was the first drover of cattle to the Brighton, Mass., market. He d. Sept. 24, 1846. Children :
Judith, b. Nov. 28, 1804: d. Nov. 2, 1825.
America, b. Feb. 22, 1857; n1. Araminta Dean.
Ethic, b. Jan. 28, 1811 ; m. Betsey O. Bessey.
Aratus, b. Jan. 15, 1813; m. Diantha Spaulding.
.Ilthea H., b. Jan. 27, 1815; m. Elbridge R. Ricker of Hartford.
Luten, b. July 30, 1824; m. Lucy Hayford.
Julia A. C., b. Apr. 23, 1828.
AMERICA FARRAR, son of Philip ante, b. Feb. 22, 1807, 111. Araminta Dean. He was famous in his day as a dealer in fast horses, kept a public house for many years and was widely known as "Mec" Farrar and delighted to be so called. He d. Dec. 24, 1864. She d. Mar. 24, 1891. Children :
Lucius Loring, b. Dec. 9. 1830: m. Mary -. Atwood, b. May 13, 1833; m. Clarissa Morrill.
James Jewett, b. Dec. 13, 1834 ; d. Apr., 1836.
Melissa, b. Feb. 7, 1837: m. Hiram Dunham.
Larkin IV .. b. Jan. 7, 1848; m. Dean.
Esther A., b. Sept. 20, 1850; m. Rosalvo Crockett.
Lucius L .. son of the preceding, b. Dec. 9, 1830. m. Mary Children :
Minot I'., b. Dec. 10, 1859; Araminta L., b. June 26, 1856.
ATWOOD FARRAR, bro. of the preceding, b. May 13, 1833, m. Clarissa Morrill. Children :
Atwood America, b. May 5. 1850 : Horace L., b. Oct. 29, 1860; Lissie B., b. July 25, 1864; Shirley, b. May 15, 1874; Charles L., b. Dec. II. 1877.
ETHIC FARRAR, son of Philip, ante, b., Jan. 28, 1811. m. Betsey O. Bessey. Children :
Hanniba! Ethic, b. Mar. II, 1835; m. Martha Gilman.
584
HISTORY OF BUCKFIELD
Miranda, b. Aug. 26, 1835; m. Charles Foster.
Roana, b. Aug. 6, 1838; m. Simeon Hussey.
D. Webster, b. Aug. 22, 18440; killed at Bull Run.
Charles, b. Aug. 5, 1842.
ARATUS FARRAR, bro. of the preceding. b. Jan. 5, 1813, m. Diantha Spaulding. He d. Nov. 2, 1899. Children :
Emily R., b. May 6, 1835; m. Horace Morrill ; James Madison, b. Mar. 28, 1837; Diantha Jane, b. Mar. 9, 1839: Amanda Maria, b. 1840; Mary M., b. June 28, 1843, d. Oct. 2, 1861: I'm. I., b. June 17, 1847 ; Eva I., b. Aug. 21, 1851; Ida I., b. Sept. 8, 1853.
NATHAN FARRAR, son of David, Sen., b. Sept. 16, 1789, m. Susannah Brock. Children :
Caroline, b. Jan. 2. 1822; Orison, b. Mar. 6, 1823, d. Oct. 22. 1823: Orissa, b. July 23, 1824.
FORBES.
JONAH FORBES ( see sketch ) was a native of Easton, where he was born about 1741. He was a Revolutionary soldier and was enrolled at the beginning of that contest as one of the Minute Men. After the war he settled in the eastern part of Bucktown. There is no mention of his family on the Buckfield records. He was living in 1820 at the age of 79. Probably d. soon after. Children :
Zadoc, b. -; m. Judith -
Arsa, b. about 1782; m. Rebecca Roberts.
Miriam, b. m. Seth Roberts.
Susannah, b. --- m. Nathan Hall.
ARZA FORBES, son of the preceding, b. about 1782, m. Rebecca Roberts. She died Aug. 14, 1854. He died Nov. 24, 1862. Children :
Bethiah, b. June 12, 1811: m. Josiah Keen, Jr.
Jonah, b. Mar. 21, 1813; m. Sylvira Hall.
Eliab. b. Feb. 3. 1815: m. Ann G. Seavey.
Judith, b. May 6, 1817.
Richard, b. May 28, 1820; m. Brittania Turner.
Silas, b. June 23, 1822: d. Dec. 2, 1852.
Delphina P., b. Apr. 27, 1824; m. Charles T. Hall.
Nathan, b. Sept. 3. 1826; d. Feb. 1I, 1853. Mclvander G., b. Nov. 1, 1829; m. Julia C. Bicknell.
JONAH FORBES, son of the preceding, b. Mar. 21, 1813. m. Sylvira Hall. He d. Dec. 24, 1896. She d. Apr. 4. 1852. Children :
585
HISTORY OF BUCKFIELD
Clinton, b. Dec. 3. 1838: d. in Washington, D. C., Oct. 28, 1862.
Elisabeth, b. Feb. 28. 1841 : in. Orlando Irish.
Henry B., b. July 31. 1845: m. Addie T. Abbott.
S. Ella, b. Oct., 1849: m. William C. Bartlett.
RICHARD FORBES, son of Arza, b. May 28, 1820, mn. Brittania Turner. Hle d. Dec. 9. 1858. Children :
Frank M., b. Feb. 3. 1853; Frederick I ... b. Nov. 25, 1857, d. May 12, 1858.
HENRY B. FORBES, son of Jonah, b. July 31, 1845, m. Addie T. Abbott. He lives on the homestead of his father. Children : Mattie .4., b. Oct 23, 1870; m. Claude E. Holmes. Harry C., b. July 3. 1822: Clinton F., b. Nov. 2. 1884: Ida B., b. Aug., 1891.
MELVANDER G. FORBES, son of Arza, b. Nov. 1, 1829. m. Julia C. Bicknell. He died March 27. 1873. Children :
Avorline R., b. Aug. 24. 1855; m. Walter H. Purkis.
Rev. Eleanor B., b. Nov. 11, 1860; a Universalist minister ; s. at Gray, Maine.
FOSTER.
The Fosters of England and America are descended from Baldwin I of Flanders, called the "Iron Arm," on account of his great strength, or as some say on account of his being constantly in armor. He married the Princess Judith, daughter of Charles the Bold of France, a grandson of Charlemagne. Baldwin II. m. Aethelfryth, dau. of King Alfred the Great. Sir Richard Forester was 5th in descent from King Baldwin. While a young man he came over to England from Normandy with William the Conqueror, who had married his sister, Matilda. He was then called Forestarius from his occupation as Keeper of the Forest. His spurs were won at the battle of Hastings and he was knighted at the age of 16.
The Fosters who settled in Bucktown were of the Dorchester branch as it is called. The line is as follows: Rev. Thomas Fos- ter and wife, Elizabeth Wimes of Ipswich, England. had three sons and three daughters. The latter married and settled in Eng- land. The sons were Richard, Thomas1 and William. Richard (lied and the cther two brothers and Richard's widow and chil- dren came to Mass. Sergt. Thomas1 born about 1600, with wife, Elizabeth, settled at Dorchester, afterwards removed to Boston
586
HISTORY OF BUCKFIELD
where he was "gunner of the castle" and was in King Philip's In- dian war. He died in Billerica, April 20, 1682. Of their six chil- dren was Dea. John Foster, the 2d child, b. Oct. 7, 1642, who married Mary Chillingworth. He died June 13, 1732, at the age of 90. She die:1 Sept. 25, 1702. Her father was a man of prom- inence and representative to the General Court from Marshfield. Dea. John Foster left 7 living children, 45 grandchildren and 83 great-grandchildren and had 26 grandchildren die before himself. They had 10 children. The 3d was Josiah3 Foster, b. June 7, 1669, who married Sarah, daughter Samuel Sherman of Marsh- field and settled in Pembroke. He was a farmer but his father and grandfather were blacksmiths. He lived to be 88 years old, dying in 1757. His wife had died July 30, 1713, and he married four years later Ursula Rand of Scituate but left no children by her. Josiah Foster had eight children-four boys and four girls. Isaac,4 the 5th child, b. Aug. 5, 1705, married in 1732 Frances Josselyn of Hanover, a descendant of Sir Thomas Josselyn, Knight, of London, the father of Henry Josselyn of Black Point, now Scarboro, one of the foremost and ablest men in the early government of Sir Ferdinando Gorges of his Province of Maine. Isaac Foster was the administrator of his father's estate. They had 8 children, Micah?, b. Sept. 22, 1742, m. Hezediah Crocker, a descendant of John Howland and several others of the Pilgrims. He was a Revolutionary soldier and Minute Man. He died June 22, 1827, aged 85. She died Aug. 8, 1788. aged 45. Joel", b. May 31, 1766, was the oldest child of a large family. He came here after Jan. 1, 1784, and before 1788. July Ioth of the latter year he married Phebe Buck, daughter of Abijah Buck for whom the township was named. She was born Dec. 17, 1766. He was the first tanner and innkeeper in the village. He died Feb. 6, 1816. She d. Nov. 12, 1863. Children :
Ellen. b. Feb. 4, 1790; d. young.
Hesedial: Crocker, b. Apr. 18, 1791; never married; d. Sept. 23, 1863. Rebecca, b. Mar. 9, 1793.
Micah, b. May 15, 1795; 111. s. in eastern part of the state. Abijah, b. May 15, 1795: d. Aug. 7, 1831. Joel, b. Apr. 29, 1798; m. Ist Martha Lothrop. 2d Mercy Davis.
Rolan, b. Aug. 29. 1804: m. Polly Cushman.
Phebe, b. Sept. 22, 1806; d. Nov. 15, 1806.
Jermalier, b. Aug. 27, 1807 ; in. Tristram Warren. Granville Augustine, b. July 4, 1812.
587
HISTORY OF BUCKFIELD
JOEL FOSTER, JR., m. Martha Lothrop and settled in Buckfield. She died Nov. 27, 1845, "aet. 54 years." He died July 14, 1877. Children :
Phebe, b. July 21, 1822; m. Joshua F. Whitman.
Joel, b. July 21, 1822; m. Armina Whitman; s. in Hebron.
Charles, b. May 17, 1829; m. Miranda Farrar; s. in Mlo.
Margaret Ann, b. Aug. 28, 1831; m. J. J. Fuller; s. in Hebron.
Abijah, b. Aug. 28, 1831; m. Rozana C. Whitman.
Hesediah, b., May 20, 1835: m. Henry Cushman.
Warren Augustine Clack, b. Feb. 6, 1837; m. Sarah Bicknell; s. in Hebron.
ABIJAH FOSTER married Rozana C. Whitman and settled in Buckfield. She died Oct. 8, 1872. Children :
Frank Forest Foster, b. Nov. 25, 1857; m. Laura A. Place; s. in Woodstock.
Fred Fenton Foster, b. May 10, 1867; m. Lola Leigh Brann; s. in Milton Pl.
ROLAN FOSTER, son of Joel, married Polly Cushman and set- tled in Buckfield. He d. Mar. 2, 1869. She d. in Sept., 1887. Children :
Ellen, b. Mar. 28, 1830: d. Feb. 11, 1834.
Marquis De Lafayette, b. Nov. 15, 1832; 3. in Mass.
Virgil P., b. July 26, 1835; s. in Mass .; k. on railroad, Dec. 21, 1897. Mary Ann, b. Nov. 16, 1837; never married.
Rolan Augustine, b. Apr. 11, 1842; s. in Mass.
CLARENCE E. FOSTER, born in East Machias, Feb. 12, 1849, is a direct descendant of Reginald1 Foster, a native of Brunton, England, who was one of those leaving his native land during the reign of King Charles I to escape the tyranny of that mon- arch. With wife, Judith, five sons and two daughters, he settled at Ipswich, Mass., about 1638. His family was anciently connected with those of the same name in the north of England, which had won fame in their contests with their Scottish foes and are mentioned by Sir Walter Scott in "Marmion" and the "Lay of the Last Minstrel." The line of descent from Reginald is as follows :
Isaac, b. in England, 1630, m. 1658. Mary Jackson. He had 14 children by two wives, none by 3d who survived him.
Benjamin, b. June, 1665.
Benjamin, b. about 1699.
Wooden, b. in Maine, m. Frances Scott, was a blacksmith by trade at Scarboro, when he was engaged to go to Machias and
588
HISTORY OF BUCKFIELD
assist in building a saw mill. He settled there. He was a brother of Col. Benj. Foster who was the commander of the forces that seized the first British vessel on the outbreak of hos- tilities with the mother country. This affair took place in the harbor of Machias.
Moses, m. Drusilla West.
Aaron Moses, m. Elizabeth Comstock.
CLARENCE E., married Lelia, daughter of Amos K. and Melis- sa ( Jordan ) Winslow. He is one of Buckfield's best farmers and business men. For several years, he has been in the wood and lumber business and has acquired a large property-probably the wealthiest man in town. (He died in 1914.) Children :
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