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biography
Hannah
Blair Foster is buried in Presbyterian Cemetery in Findley Township, along
with sons Alexander Foster and Samuel Blair Foster |
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Hannah Blair,
daughter of the Rev. Samuel Blair, was born
in Fagg's Manor, Chester county, Pa., March 15, 1745. Her father dying in
1751, she was brought up under the careful training of one of the best of
mothers [Francinke Van Hook], a daughter of Lawrence
Van Hook, of New York. In 1767 she married the Rev.
William Foster, recently licensed by the New Castle Presbytery, and
then under a call to the congregations of Upper Octorara and Doe Run. The Rev.
William Foster was born in Little Britain township, Lancaster
county, Pennsylvania, August 17, 1740. He was the son of Alexander Foster,
who emigrated from the North of Ireland and settled in that township. He
graduated from Princeton in 1764, having as his contemporaries David
Ramsey, the historian; Judge Jacob Rush,
Oliver Ellsworth, Nathan Niles and Luther
Martin. In the war of the Revolution Mr. Foster engaged heartily in
the cause of civil liberty, and. encouraged all who heard him to do their
utmost in defense of their rights. In the beginning of 1776 he preached a
very patriotic and stirring sermon to the young men of his congregation
and neighborhood upon the subject of their duty to their country, in its
then trying situation. It had its effect in kindling the fire of
patriotism, and many of his hearers joined the army of the Declaration.
On another occasion he was called to Lancaster to preach to the troops
collected there previous to their joining the main army. It did much to
arouse the spirit of patriotism among the people. Indeed, with all
deference to those of our own fold, the Presbyterian clergymen contributed
greatly to keep alive the flame of liberty, and frequently but for them it
would have been impossible to obtain sufficient recruits to keep up the
patriotic forces requisite to oppose a too often victorious foe.
It may here be stated, that it was a great object among certain British
officers to silence the Scotch-Irish Presbyterian preachers as far as
possible, and they frequently dispatched persons into the country to
surprise and take them prisoners. While the British were in possession of
Wilmington, Delaware, a party of light horse was sent one Sunday evening
to take Mr. Foster prisoner and burn his church. Mr. Foster received word
of it on the morning of that day at Doe Run, and, hastening home called
his neighbors, who removed his family and library remote from the public
road. The expedition after proceeding twelve or fifteen miles on their way
were informed by a Tory that their purpose was known, and that militia
were stationed to intercept them. They then returned to Wilmington without
accomplishing their object.
Mr. Foster was much esteemed and beloved by his
congregation for zeal, talents and piety, and at his death, September 30,
1780, at the early age of forty years, was universally lamented. In the
great respect of the people for Mr. Foster, his wife was a sharer. She was
distinguished by an equanimity of temper that adorned those principles
which she constantly practiced through life.
After the close of the Revolutionary war, and the
quieting of the Indian depredations on the western frontiers of
Pennsylvania, Mrs. Foster removed to the Cussewago settlement (now
Meadville) with her family. She died at the residence of a daughter in
Mercer, Pa., on the 14th of May, 1810. Two of her sons, Samuel
Blair and Alexander W., became members of the bar, were among the
most eminent lawyers in Western Pennsylvania, and long recognized as the
leaders of the profession in that section of the State. A son of the first
named, Henry D. Foster, of Westmoreland
county, was a member of Congress, and prominent at the bar—the soul of
honor, and a life without stain of reproach.
Some
Pennsylvania Women During the War of the Revolution, 1898, pages 67-69. |
