Timothy Foster (settler) facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Timothy Foster
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| Born | May 14, 1720 |
| Died | April 3, 1785 |
| Known for | First settler of Winthrop, Maine |
| Spouse(s) | Sibboleth Freeman |
| Children | 11 |
| Parents |
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| Military service | |
| Force | Massachusetts Militia |
| Rank | Captain |
| Unit | 7th Company in Joseph North's 2nd Lincoln County Regiment (1776-), William Lithgow's detachment (1778-) |
| Conflict | Revolutionary War |
| Signature | |
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Timothy Foster (born May 14, 1720, died April 3, 1785) was a brave leader and the very first settler of Winthrop, Maine, along with his family. He also served as a captain in the Massachusetts militia during the American Revolutionary War, fighting for America's freedom.
Contents
Timothy Foster's Early Life
Timothy Foster was born on May 14, 1720, in a place called Attleborough. This town was part of the Massachusetts Bay Colony at the time. He was the ninth of thirteen children in his family.
His mother, Margaret Ware (born 1685, died 1761), was from Wrentham. His father, John Foster (born 1680, died 1759), was from Salem. Both towns were also in the Massachusetts Bay Colony. John Foster worked as a blacksmith. He was also an elected representative in the Massachusetts General Court, which was like the government assembly back then.
Becoming the First Settler of Winthrop, Maine
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In 1764, Timothy Foster bought a large piece of land. It was 200 acres of forest and open fields. This land was in a place then called Pondtown Plantation, which is now Winthrop, Maine. He bought it for £26, which was a lot of money back then.
The land was located right next to the western shore of Cobbosseecontee Lake. The next year, in 1765, Foster moved from Attleborough to Pondtown. He brought his wife, Sibboleth Freeman, and their ten children with him. They were the very first pioneers to settle in this area.
In 1766, Foster's land was officially recorded. The rules for owning the land meant he had to build a house. He also had to clear and farm at least five acres of land. And he had to live on the property himself. In 1769, the Foster family built the first frame house in Pondtown. In 1771, Pondtown became an official town called Winthrop. Timothy Foster was chosen to be on its first board of selectmen, which is like a town council.
Timothy Foster's Military Service
In January 1773, the town of Winthrop sent a message to the Massachusetts General Court. They complained about the rules made by the Parliament of the United Kingdom. Two years later, Timothy Foster became an ensign in the local militia. An ensign was a junior officer.
In July 1776, Foster was promoted to captain. He led the 7th Company in Colonel Joseph North's 2nd Lincoln County Regiment of the Massachusetts Militia. That same year, his company was at Fort Ticonderoga in New York. This was an important fort during the Revolutionary War.
From 1778, Captain Foster served in William Lithgow's detachment. In 1779, this group helped defend Lincoln County. They protected the area from British attacks. This happened after American naval forces lost a big battle called the Penobscot Expedition at Penobscot Bay.
Timothy Foster's Family Life
Timothy Foster married Sibboleth Freeman (born 1723, died 1813) on June 23, 1743. They got married in Attleborough. They had eleven children together.
Their children were:
- Timothy Foster Jr., born 1745
- Bela (Billy) Foster, born 1747
- Eliphalet Foster, born 1749
- Susan Foster, born 1751
- David Foster, born 1753
- Thomas Foster, born 1755
- Stuart Foster, born 1757
- John Foster, born 1759
- Oliver Foster, born 1761
- Sibler Foster, born 1763
- Stephen Foster, born 1766
All their children were born in Attleborough, except for their last child, Stephen. Stephen was the very first child born to settlers in Winthrop. Eight of their sons bravely served in the American Revolutionary War.
Timothy Foster's Death and Legacy
On April 1, 1785, Timothy Foster had a terrible accident. A tree limb fell and hit him, breaking his skull. He became unconscious. His son, Stuart Foster, and two neighbors walked all the way to Falmouth, Maine, to find a surgeon.
The surgeon could not come back with them. But he gave them a special tool called a trephine. This was a saw used to make a hole in Foster's skull. Sadly, the men did not get back in time to save him. Timothy Foster died on April 3, 1785.
After his death, Timothy's sons built a new home for their mother, Sibboleth. This house is still standing today. Outside her home, the Daughters of the American Revolution placed a special memorial plaque on a stone. This plaque honors Timothy Foster as a patriot and the first settler of Winthrop.
Images for kids
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Timothy Foster's signature from 1776.
