Hopestill Foster, 1620-1676
no 23770
Here Lie Interr’d the Remains of
Cap’tn Hopestill Foster
Who Departed this Life October the
14th Anno Domini 1676
Aged 56 Years
Hopestill Foster was born on 30 July 1620, in Biddenden, Kent, England as the son of Richard Foster and Patience Briggs. He married Mary Bates about 1639, in Dorchester, Massachusetts Bay Colony, British Colonial America. They were the parents of at least 7 sons and 3 daughters. He died on 14 October 1676,
The following is from Descendants of Hopestill Foster of Dorchester, Mass. by William H. Whitmore. (Boston, David Clapp & Son, 1898)
Hopestill Foster was evidently a very active man, and his name for years is on nearly every page of the Dorchester records. In 1654, he is called “ensign,” and so on for eight years, in 1662, he is called “lieutenant,” under Capt. Clapp; and in 166, he became “captain,” by which title he was known till his death.
He held many town offices, as treasurer, &c.; was selectman in 1655 and many subsequent years and was deputy to the General Court annually from 16959 to 1676, excepting 1671, when he was commissioner for small causes, eventually dying in office.
Hopestill Foster married Mary, daughter of James Bates of Dorchester, who was a cousin to John Bigge. She came in the ship with the Fosters.