Ipswich deeds list the transfer of a house at this location from Roger Preston to Reginald Foster in 1657/8, but the date of construction of the house is listed as 1690, assuming the timbers are original. Small-beaded chamfering in the second-story framing would indicate a very late first period style for that area of the house of about 1730.
When Roger Preston arrived in Ipswich he first purchased a lot along the river near what is now the intersection of Turkey Shore and Labor in Vain roads at or near where the Nathaniel Hodgkins house still stands. Thomas Franklin Waters notes that “evidently the neighborhood did not prove popular” and by 1644 every lot had been transferred. He then purchased this lot from Roger Wallis and built a house, but in 1655 Roger Preston sold the lot with a house to Reginald Foster, and by 1658 Preston had divested of all his properties in Ipswich.
Reginald Foster was from a respected family in the west of England. He came to Ipswich in 1638 on a vessel embargoed by King Charles, and first purchased a house lot from John Tuttle “near the great Cove of the Town River“ beneath the falls with the river to the southeast.
Old town records show a “town way” continuing from Water Street along the river to where the County Street bridge is now. The location of Falls Island probably made the construction of small foot bridges possible at this location. This old town way is now the Sidney N. Shurcliff River Walk.
Reginald Foster worked as a surveyor of highways, was very involved in town matters and owned shares in Plum Island. In his will dated April 30, 1680, he bequeathed to wife, Sarah what she brought to the marriage and other property. His son Jacob inherited the house. The Foster family acquired property around the corner on Annable’s Way (Summer Street) and together they built three of the still-standing First Period and early Second Period homes. The Preston-Foster house is believed to have been built about 1690. The James Foster House built in 1717 at 46 Summer Street and the Foster-Grant house at 39 Summer Street, built in 1720 were constructed by descendants of Reginald Foster.
The transfer of a house from Roger Preston to Reginald Foster in 1657/58 is described in town records as follows:
“Be it known to all men whom it may concern that I Roger Preston of Ipswich in New England in the county of Essex, planter, and Martha my wife, for divers considerations me thereunto moving, but especially in consideration of the full and just sum of one and fifty pounds of current country pay to be paid to me or my assigns at two several payments, viz: thirty pounds at Christide next following the date of these presents and the remainder by that time twelve months in current English corn sweet dry and merchantable by Reginald Foster of Ipswich aforesaid husbandman all that my dwelling house and house lot with the barns, cow-houses and other buildings thereunto belonging and also my other house lot, both which house lots contain two acres, more or less with the gardens orchards and fences and other privileges thereunto belonging which I purchased of Robert Wallis of Ipswich aforesaid as they be situated and inclosed on the north side of the river of Ipswich, having the highway next the river toward the South, and Thomas Knowlton’s land and Robert Pierce’s toward the North.
The lane next Thomas Clark’s East and another lane West and also one other planting lot of three acres be it more or less on the North side of the town hill abutting on ye land of Rose Whipple, widow, toward the West, Andrew Hodges land East, upon ye marsh of John Morse toward the North, and land of Thomas Treadwell toward the South and in the town of Ipswich aforesaid, to have and to hold and to quietly possess and enjoy the aforesaid with the commonage and all other privileges and appurtenances thereunto belonging, unto the said Reginald Foster his heirs and assigns forever and the said Roger and Martha his wife do covenant and promise to warrant this sale of the premises and every part thereof to be free from time to time and at all times henceforth use, occupy possess and enjoy the same and every part thereof to the proper use and behoof of the said Reginald Foster his heirs and assigns forever from all molestation or interruption of the said Roger and Martha, my wife, our heirs executors and assigns or any other person having any just claim thereto in by from or under us or any or either of us our heirs executors or assigns in witness whereof I the said Roger and Martha my wife have hereunto set our hand and seal dated the 11 day of March A.D. 1657/8. Subscribed sealed etc.”
The Preston-Foster house is protected by a preservation agreement between the owners and the Ipswich Historical Commission. Protected elements include:
- Front and side facades of the original 1690 building
- Central frame including primary and secondary members
- Feather edged paneling in the front right first floor room
- Wooden architectural elements including molding, paneling, doors on the inner walls of the two second floor bedrooms of the original building
- View the preservation agreement for this house
Sources and further reading:
- Ipswich in the Massachusetts Bay Colony by Thomas Franklin Waters
- MACRIS
- Partial List of Historic Buildings, prepared by Susan Nelson for the Ipswich Historical Commission
- Nutfield Genealogy
- Something to Preserve, published by the Ipswich Historical Commission
- Reginald Foster, Prolific Puritan
- Old House Journal
- Descendants of Reginald Foster
- Foster Genealogy
Homes of the Fosters
61 Turnpike Road, the John Foster house (1780) - The sign that hung at Foster's Tavern has been stored in a barn at the Ipswich Museum for a century.and reads, "I shoe the horse, I shoe the ox
I carry the nails in my box
I make the nail, I set the shoe, And entertain some strangers too."… Continue reading 61 Turnpike Road, the John Foster house (1780) 
6 Water Street, the Reginald Foster house (1690) - Ipswich deeds list the transfer of a house at this location from Roger Preston to Reginald Foster in 1657, but construction of this house dates to about 1690. Massive chamfered summer beams in the right section, the sharp-pitched roof and purlins provide evidence of the early date.… Continue reading 6 Water Street, the Reginald Foster house (1690) 
39 Summer Street, the Foster – Grant house (1717) - In 1717 Nathaniel Knowlton sold a small lot to James Foster who is believed to have built the house. In 1826, the family sold to Ephriam Grant, and the house was long known as the "Grant house." Early Colonial features are preserved throughout the house.… Continue reading 39 Summer Street, the Foster – Grant house (1717) 
375 Linebrook Rd., the Thomas Foster house (1800) - This area was settled by Fosters in the mid 17th century and remained in the family until the late 19th century, when it became part of the adjoining David Tullar Perley property. This is one of three traditional five-bay, two-floor Federal houses in Linebrook.… Continue reading 375 Linebrook Rd., the Thomas Foster house (1800) 
3 Liberty St., the Foster house (c 1880) - This house is shown in the 1872 and 1884 Ipswich maps owned by "S. Foster."… Continue reading 3 Liberty St., the Foster house (c 1880) 
Historic Ipswich 
Reginald Foster died in 1686. So the date of the house must be earlier than 1690. I was told by the current owner that the section to the left of the doorway was a later addition.
We don’t know who built the existing house. We have only the chain of deeds for the lot. The estimated date of construction is based on structural details. Dendrochronology would help solve the puzzle. https://archive.org/stream/ipswichinmassach00water#page/418/search/reginald+foster
I am the 12th generation grandson of Roger Preston; He came from England on the Elizabeth in 1635. It is documented that Roger was in Ipswich from 1639 although he was probably there from when he first arrived in New England. In 1657 he sold land, dwelling house, buildings to Reginald Foster. Roger Preston was married about 1643, so it seems probable that he built the original portion of the Preston-Foster house around that time.