Foster, Abiel, 1735-1806

Abiel Foster (August 8, 1735 – February 6, 1806) was an American clergyman and politician from Canterbury, Province of New Hampshire. He represented New Hampshire in the Continental Congress and the United States House of Representatives.

Born in Andover in the Colony of Massachusetts Bay, he graduated from Harvard College in 1756, studied theology, and was ordained and installed as a pastor in Canterbury, New Hampshire, serving in this role until 1779. A deputy to the Provincial Congress at Exeter, Foster went on to serve as a delegate for New Hampshire to the Continental Congress from 1783 to 1785. Between 1784 and 1788, he served as Judge of the Court of Common Pleas in Rockingham County, New Hampshire. In 1789, Foster was elected to the First Congress in a special election, serving from June 23, 1789 to March 3, 1791. Foster returned to the New Hampshire Senate in 1791, serving there until 1794 when he was elected again to the U.S. House of Representatives. His second tenure in the House lasted from March 4, 1795 to March 3, 1803.

Foster died in Canterbury and is interred in the Center Cemetery there.