page_title: Abiel Foster
section_title: Career
hierarchical_section_title: Abiel Foster / Career
caption_attribution_description: English: "The Resignation of General Washington, December 23, 1783," oil on canvas, by the American artist John Trumbull. 20 in. x 30 in. x 1 in. Yale University Art Gallery, Trumbull Collection. Smaller version of General George Washington Resigning His Commission in the United States Capitol rotunda. Depicts George Washington&#39;s resignation as commander-in-chief.
context_page_description: Abiel Foster was an American clergyman and politician from Canterbury, Province of New Hampshire. He represented New Hampshire in the Continental Congress and the U.S. Congress.
context_section_description: From 1761 to 1779, Minister of Canterbury, New Hampshire
  1775, Deputy to the Provincial Congress at Exeter
  From 1783 to 1785, Foster was a delegate for New Hampshire to the Continental Congress.
  In October 1783, the Continental Congress passed a resolution to build a second Federal city on the Potomac River, near Georgetown. The proposed city would be named Washington, D.C., becoming the new Capitol City of the young country. 
  October 23, 1783, Abiel Foster, at Philadelphia State House, writes and sends a letter to New Hampshire Governor, Meshech Weare, informing him that the Congress has passed a resolution to build a second Federal city on the Potomac River, at or near Georgetown. Foster also advises Weare, not to make any resolutions at the state level that would be contrary to the resolutions passed by the Continental Congress. "An authenticated copy of the provisional articles and of the ratification of the same by Congress, is ordered to be transmitted to the respective States. The desire is, that they may take no measures inconsistent with those articles of which would render the fulfillment of there of impracticable".
  December 23, 1783, Abiel Foster is present at Maryland State House in Annapolis, when General George Washington resigned his commission as Commander In Chief of the Continental Army. Abiel Foster is sitting directly in front of George Washington, in John Trumbull's painting of the resignation. The life size painting sits inside the rotunda of the Capitol building in Washington.
  1784 to 1788, Judge of the Court of Common Pleas, in Rockingham County N.H.
  January 8, 1784, Abiel Foster informs Meshech Weare of a report drawn up by Thomas Jefferson. The report dealt with a longstanding legal battle before the courts, dealing with the questions of (1)- The date in which the articles of Confederation became operative. (2)- The jurisdiction of the court of appeals set up by congress (3)- The right of congress in anyway to reverse or control decisions, judgments or decres made by such a court of appeal.
  A court document dated November 3, 1784, Abiel Foster levies a fine of 40s against Simeon Currer in a suit brought against him by Reuben Moore.
  December 6, 1784, Abiel Foster writes Meshech Weare, notifying him of his delayed arrival and attendance at Congress.
  January 14, 1785, letter from  Abiel Foster to Meshech Weare, regarding the construction of congressional buildings near Trenton, New Jersey.
  March 26, 1785, Abiel Foster writes a letter to one of the Founding Fathers of the United States, Thomas Jefferson.
  April 4, 1785, a letter from Abiel Foster to Joseph Howell.
  August 20, 1785, letter from Abiel Foster to unknown. The letter is in regards to unpaid money to the troops of John Barry (naval officer), who faced three mutinies during his career.
  On March 3, 1789, he became a member of the First United States Congress, under the first Constitution of the United States of America (March 4, 1789, to March 4, 1791), as a Representative from New Hampshire until March 3, 1791. He returned to the New Hampshire Senate in 1791, serving there until 1794 when he was elected again to the U.S. House of Representatives. He served there from March 3, 1795, to March 3, 1803.
  January 7, 1790, Abiel Foster, is mentioned in the diary of George Washington.
  New York June, 14th 1790, From Abiel Foster and Benjamin Huntington to President George Washington:
  Sir
  We hope it's not disagreeable that we mention the Hone William Ellery of Newport as a good man for a Commissioner of loans or a District Judge, or a Collector of the Duties for the Port of Newport in Rhode Island1 His Character is well known from past services in, & under various appointments from, the late Congress He was commissioner of Loans at the adoption of the Constitution and will doubtless give Satisfaction in any of the above mentioned Offices. We2 are most Respectfully your most hume Servts. Abiel Foster and  Benjamin Huntington
  July 14, 1798, Abiel Foster votes in favour of the Alien and Sedition Acts. The act  passed by the 5th United States Congress, 
  4
caption: Abiel Foster seated directly in front of George Washington
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