Greetings Canterbury history enthusiasts.

Several offspring of Elizabeth and Asa Foster arrived in Canterbury in the early 1760’s, and thus began a cascade of Foster offspring that exceeded 200 individuals!

Soon after the first Division of 100 acre lots was created during the early history of Canterbury, this couple purchased 240 acres in the northerly part of the Hackleborough School District #5. This holding straddled land that would include the south end of roads now known as Sunset Hill Road, and Barnett Hill Road, and just touch Hackleborough Road. Three more generations of Asa Fosters, and several dozen other Fosters were born and raised there, with another 145 who were born there were raised in other locations throughout the east. We note that at least one member of this founding generation (John) was a landowner of Canterbury as early as 2 December 1731.

The couple and their extended families included graduates from Dartmouth College, West Point, Amherst College, Vassar, Cornell; service in Local, Provincial, State, and Federal Government; service and leadership in Town matters related to military, religion, law, abolition of slavery, and education; and also service in the Revolution, and in the Civil War.

Because the founding Foster family maintained an active presence for 145 years from this location, the author of the first history of Canterbury, James Lyford, had access to much historical material about this part of town. In this summary of his findings, the first Foster house was built on land town founders Captain Asa Foster and Elizabeth acquired on November 18, 1761. This was lot #198 of the first division of hundred acre lots. Probably within a year or two afterwards their son Deacon Asa Foster built a house for both his and his parent’s families near the northerly edge of this lot on the top of a hill with an expansive view to the south. Several years later, son Johathan built on lot #199, just northwest of his brother’s house. Finally, to complete the enclave, about 1790 the Captain’s grandson Colonel Asa Foster built a house about 90 feet south of his dad’s house. This is where the story
becomes fictional!

Reading between the lines, with only sketchy historical details to back it up, this writer believes the son’s house may have blocked his parent’s view. Because apparently not long after Grandson Asa built his house, the family moved the original house some 1200 feet south, down the hill to a house foundation we are currently documenting. And now the story again becomes factual!

After only 65 years, the Jonathan home passed out of the family in 1842.

The house that was moved down the hill became the home of several tenants of the Foster Family Enclave and was no longer occupied by Fosters. This dwelling burned in 1896. The first Foster house burned in 1906. By then the family had spread far and wide, both throughout Canterbury, and in the eastern half of the country.

Several major events in the life of third-generation Asa Foster will be presented by the spirit of Asa in the Center Cemetery on Thursday, October 23 at 6:00 pm.

P.S. If you’ve been enjoying these newsletters and our full homestead site reports but want to know more about the role of women in Canterbury land ownership, learn about the Notable Women Of Canterbury group by sending us a note by text to 603-848-2966.