The Official Story
Chapter 7

Foster's creditors line up to collect

The court records suggest that Foster's creditors attempted to retrieve what he owed them.

In the Lincoln County Court records for 1788, there are records of a Boston merchant attempting to collect a sizeable debt from Foster. Henry Sewall kept tabs on the case in his diary. He records his correspondence with the Boston merchant's attorney, his attendance at the trial in Pownalborough, and his attendance at the appeal, which Foster lost. (Notice that Henry Sewall was in Pownalborough for other reasons, too. His defamation case with Foster was still brewing.)

Looking through the town's property deeds, we find records showing Isaac Foster sold some unimproved property in 1790 for 60 pounds. He'd acquired the same property a couple of years earlier for 200 pounds, but the town treasurer held a mortgage on the property. It seems Foster was being forced to hand over the land because he was unable to raise the funds required to pay off a 30 pound debt.

Martha's diary entries suggest that the local townsfolk were lining up to make their claims against Isaac Foster.



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 Foster haggles with the town
     
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 The evidence suggests that Foster began looking for another job.

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Land deeds of Rev. Foster
Lincoln County Courthouse
August 2, 1790		 View Image
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 Grantee Index D-G     Oct 15, 1788 Page 139 (back)   Oct 15, 1788 Page 140 
 

 

October 15, 1788 Page 139 (back)

 

any thing before written to the contrary notwithstanding, than if the said James Doc his heirs Executors or administrators or any of them do well & truly pay or cause to be paid a Bond bearing even date with these presents for two hundred and eighty pound lawfull Money conditioned to pay the said Flint Barton his heirs Executors or Administrators the sum of one hundred and forty Pounds lawfull money on or before the sixteenth Day of August one thousand seven hundred and eighty nine without fraud coven or further delay, according to the true intent and meaning of said Bond, then the above bargain and sale to be void and of none Effect, otherwise to remain in full force and Virtue. In witness whereof I the said James Doe have hereunto set my hand and seal this sixteenth Day of August Anno Domini one thousand seven hundred and eighty six James Doe and a seal. Signed Sealed and delivered in presence of Step.n Barton Solomon Partner, Lincoln Ss Jany 20.th 1787 Then the above named James Doe Subscriber to the above Instrument and acknowledged it to be his free act and Deed before me Ezekiel Pattec Justice of Peace~~~~

Recd. July 9. 1788 and entered and examined

by Thos.Rice Regr.

Ephm. Cowen
to
Isaac Foster

Know all Men by these Presents that I Ephraim Cowen of Hallowell in the County of Lincoln and Commonwealth of Massachusetts Yeoman in consideration of the Sum of two hundred Pounds lawful Money paid by Isaac Foster of Hallowell aforesaid clerk, the Receipt whereof I do hereby acknowledge do hereby give grant sell and convey unto the said Isaac Foster his Heirs and Assigns a certain Tract of Land in Hallowell aforesaid bounded bounded [sic] as follows (Viz) beginning at the East End of the South Line of Lot No. five thence running West Northwest three hundred and twenty Poles to a Road thence Southerly
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