The Minor Family of Somerset

As his father, a Carpenter, Town records for 1 Feb 1675 state: "
Agreed then with John Fosdick and Nathaniel Frothingham, to prov
ide all timber and build three galleries, one in front and one o
n each side of the meeting-house...thetown to find boards and n
anils, and to pay for the said work when completelyfinished, fo
rty six pounds in tow pay; and if it sHall appear a hard bargain
, twenty shillings more' (Annals, p 31).
Became Freeman in 1690 (age 64). Spent timebetween Charlestown a
nd Malden where he had propety (now part of TuftsCollege). p 31
. Probably the "Sergeant Fosdick of Malden" (Fosdick Annals, p3
1). Ann Shapley (or Shapleigh), in delivering her first child
, James, in1649 confessed to the midwife that the father was no
t her husband, but JohnFosdick. John and Ann were brought befo
re the Middlesex County Court. John and his father Stephen put u
p the bond of 40 pounds, but forfeited it. No punishment is rec
orded, but there was "merciless publicity" in the Puritan commun
ity (Annas, p 33). After the birth of a second child (by the fi
rst husband who subsequently disappeared from records) she and J
ohn were married. Johnand Ann seem to have left Charlestown an
d settled for a number of yers in nearby Malden, across the Myst
ic River. It was many years before he returned to reside in Cha
rlestown (Annals,; 34)
Admitted a member of the Church in Charlestown in full communio
n on the 11th of 8th mo, 1696 being recorded as "John Fosdike, s
en'r (Ch. Rec. Budington, 247" (Fosdick-Picket). Fosdick Pieckt
, 5A lists him as Sergeant. Admitted Church 11(8) 1696. Invent
ory 12 oct 1716: 8 3/4 acres, 2d div, st'dpasture; 28 acres wood
s Mystic side (CharlestownGens).
ImmiGrantion 1635 Charlestown,Middlesex Ma Ref. Num CVM5-RR