Lucy Foster was a formerly enslaved person in Andover who gained independence and persevered through changing and difficult times.

Lucy’s story is one in which an archeological dig at her home site, and changing interpretations of the artifacts found, help us to understand the life of a free Black woman in a racialized society post-emancipation. She was born into slavery in Boston in 1767 and, at the age of 4, was given to Hannah Foster, the wife of Job Foster, a well to do farmer in Andover. It is unknown whether her parents had died, or if she was separated from them by force and sold. She was baptized into South Parish church that year (1771) and given the surname Foster.

Four-year-old Lucy may have worked alongside Mrs. Foster cooking, cleaning, doing laundry and garden and livestock management. As she got older, she likely had to take on more responsibility and heavier tasks. Lucy worked in the Foster household and remained with Hannah even after most enslaved persons were emancipated in Massachusetts. Hannah was widowed and married Philomen Chandler. After 18 years of enslaved labor and then domestic servant work, Lucy did not move with Hannah to a new home with Chandler.

It was 1789, and at 22 Lucy was on her own. Her life and work has yet to be uncovered. It is possible that she hired herself out as a domestic to other families in town. In 1791 she was “warned” out of town for failing to obtain proper consent to live in Andover. “Warning Out” was a practice that relieved a town from all obligation to aid this person if they became poor or in need of help or support. The town removed itself from any obligation of caring for her, but she was free to continue to live in Andover.

Lucy gave birth to a son named Peter who was baptized into the South Parish Church on October 20, 1793. In 1800, at age 33, she returned to Hannah’s home following Chandler’s death. Lucy stayed with Hannah for 12 more years until Hannah’s death on Christmas day in 1812. In her will, Hannah bequeathed “to Lucy Foster, the Black Girl, who lives with me, 1 cow, 1 acre of land……to have and to hold the same to the said Lucy for and during her natural life.” Hannah also bequeathed to Lucy $150, but her estate was penniless after her debts were settled. Some believe the community donated money for the construction of a cabin. At the age of 48, Miss Foster established her own homeplace, where she lived for 30 years.

A 21^st century review of the items found in the dig suggest that Lucy’s home may have been a gathering place for the African American community for religious and national holidays and Black commemorative celebrations. Records show that Lucy received some assistance from South Church and after age 60 some firewood and supplies from the Overseers of the Poor. Lucy died of pneumonia on November 1, 1845. Her story continues to be revealed.

Sources:

Clements, Elaine. Andover Center for History and Culture, Lucy Foster Talk, updated 2011, 2018, 2021

Martin, Anthony, Homeplace Is also workplace: Another Look at Lucy Foster in Andover, Massachusetts. Published online 18 January 2018, Society of Historical Archaeology 2018.

“A Brief History of Andover.” Andover Center for History and Culture. Accessed on 2022, January 29. https://andoverhistorical.org/history-slavery-post-emancipation#:~:text=Lucy%20Foster%20was%20born%20into,%2C%20laundry%2C%20and%20clothing%20production.

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