• Born: 10 Sep 1759, Boston MA
• Died: 16 May 1839, Boston MA

  General notes:

Silversmith

  Events in his life were:

• Alternate Mark.

• Alternate Mark.

• Apprenticed: Benjamin Burt, in 1774-1781, in Boston MA. Burt remained close to his former charge and in his will left ". . . to my trusty friend Joseph Foster of Boston, Goldsmith one hundred dollars." Foster was sole executor of Burt's estate. ⁹

• He worked circa 1781-1830 as a silversmith in Boston MA with a shop on Ann Street and later on Fish Street near his former master. ⁹

• Example: Tankard, circa 1787, in Yale University. H: 8 3/4"
  d: 4 7/8" (of base)
  wt: 23 oz 18 dwt
  Engraved "The Gift of Brother / James Foster / who deceased Apl 30th 1751 / to the South Church in / Ipswich." In his will, Foster left "to the South Church in Ipswich the sum of ten pounds lawfull money to be paid out of my estate after my wife's decest." ¹³

• Example: Porringer, circa 1791, in Essex Institute. L: 8 1/8"
  wt: 9 oz
  Engraved J * H / to / S * F. Given by the watchmaker Joseph Hiller to his neice, Sarah Foster ¹⁹

• Example: Creamer, in 1807, in Private Collection. L: 5 3/8"
  h: 4 3/4"
  wt: 5.9 oz
  Engraved on base "Thomas W. & E. Sumner 1807"