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William Lawrence Foster (June 1, 1823 – August 13, 1897)[1][2] was a justice of the New Hampshire Supreme Court from 1869 to 1874, and again from 1876 to 1881.
Born in Westminster, Vermont.[1][2]
His grandfather was Rev. Edmund Foster, a prominent clergyman residing in Littleton, Mass., and a State senator. The grandmother was Phebe Lawrence, of the John Lawrence family, of Charlestown, Mass. John Foster, the ninth of thirteen children of this family, lived in Westininster, Vt., before removing to Fitzwilliam in 1825 or 1826. His wife was Sophia Willard. In 1834 John Foster removed to Keene, where he died in 1854. While residing there he was Sheriff of Cheshire County for several years.
The boyhood of Judge Foster was therefore passed in Fitzwilliam, and from its common schools he wont to academies in Hancock, Keene, and Walpole. After a year at Cambridge Law School he entered the office of Levi Chamberlain in Keene, and was admitted to the bar in 1844. In 1847 He was appointed one of Governor Dinsmore's aides with the rank of colonel. From 1850 to 1854 he was Official Reporter of the Decisions of the State Courts.
Removing from Keone to Concord, March, 1853, he was appointed United States Commissioner, but after nine years' service he resigned to enter the State Legislature, in which ho served for two years. In 1869 he was appointed one of the Judges of the Supreme Judicial Court, which offiqe he held for five years, when he became Chief Justice of the Circuit Court. This last-mentioned court having boon abolished in 1876 Judge Foster was appointed a Judge of the Supreme Court, which office he resigned in 1881 and resumed the practice of law, in which he is now engaged. In 1883 he was reappointed United States Commissioner.
On January 13th, 1853, Foster married Harriett M. Perkins, of Hopkinton, N.H.[2]
He came of patriotic stock, for his great grandfather fought at Bunker Hill, and his grandfather, while a freshman at Yale, joined the minute men and saw service at Lexington. At the age ot 17, Foster, whose family then lived in Keene, began the study of the law, and in 1844 and 1845 be attended the Harvard Law school. In the latter year he was admitted to the bar in Keene, and practiced with John J. Baxter and afterwards with Levi Chamberlain. From 1845 to 1849 he was postmaster at Keene; from 1849 to 1853 clerk of tbe New Hampshire senate. He was a member of the staff of Governor Dinsmore, by whom he wai appointed state law reporter in 1850. This position he held till 1856, editing volumes 17-19, 21-31, inclusive, of the New Hampshire reports. In 1853 he removed to Concord and formed a partnership with Col. John H. George. Charles P. Sanborn subsequently joined the firm from which Colonel George retired in 1867. In 1854 Mr. Foster was appointed commissioner of the United States circuit court. In 1862 he was elected a member of the house of representatives and was re-elected in 1863. He was appointed a iudge of the supreme court on October 1, 1869, and four years later he was made chief justice of the circuit court. In 1876 he was again appointed to the supreme bench, resigning in 1881. He was appointed a United States commissioner in 1884. He left a widow and four children, all residing at Concord.[1]
Foster died in Concord at the age of 74.[1]
References
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Category:1823 births
Category:1897 deaths
Category:Justices of the New Hampshire Supreme Court
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