This house is shown in the 1893 Ipswich Birdseye Map, but not in the 1872 map. The house first appears in the 1884 Ipswich map, with the owner shown as “Mrs. Foster” (Nancy M. Foster).
On November 8, 1887, Olive and Charles McIntire sold the house at 97 Central Street to Nancy M. Foster. (Book 1211, page 274): On Nov. 17, Nancy Foster and her husband David Foster mortgaged the property to the Ipswich Savings Bank for $250.00. (Book 1211, page 278)
In 1894, Nancy M. Foster acquired a mortgage with the Ipswich Savings Bank for the lot at 9 Liberty Street, with a house on it, at the intersection of Gravel (today’s Liberty) and Maple Streets (view deed). In 1897 Nancy M. Foster, listed as a widow, conveyed the property with a house on it to Thomas H. Lord for $1300 (view deed). The owner in the 1910 Ipswich map is Thomas H. Lord, who received a discharge on the mortgage to the property with a house on it on Liberty Street from Ruben and Carrie Andrews in August 2, 1911 (2100:244). The 1910 map doesn’t show any houses on Liberty Street owned by a Foster. It is unclear who Nancy M. Foster or David Foster were.
The story-and-a-half form with dormers facing the street is also found in houses on East Street constructed during the same era.
Samuel Perkins Foster
The 1884 map shows S. Foster living nearby on the east side of the tracks at 3 Gravel (Liberty) Street. It is unknown if there is any direct relationship to Nancy M. Foster at 9 Liberty Street. The Agawam manual and directory, 1888 by M. V. B Perley lists Hattie and Lydia Foster (dressmakers) and Samuel P. Foster, (laborer) on Gravel Street. The 1896 Directory of the Town of Ipswich, by H. C. Waite shows Samuel P. Foster on Gravel Street, occupation farmer, but oddly, lists a Nancy Foster living on “High Street, opposite Gravel Street”. Samuel Perkins Foster was born in Linebrook in 1836, and died in 1906. Samuel P. Foster’s gravestone lists Harriet N. Potter as his first wife, who died in 1875, and Sara E. Howe (1850-1928). Samuel P. Foster was wounded at the Battle of Gettysburg but survived. The death certificate for Samuel P. Foster lists his father as Samuel Foster who died in 1869 at age 68,and his mother as Lydia B.Perkins, who died in 1888, and are buried at the Old Linebrook Cemetery.
Historic Ipswich 
