Biography:
Bertie Foskett
1881 –06/05/1928
Bertie Foskett
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Plot 550 Bertie Foskett (1881-1928)
Bertie was born in late 1881 in Berkhamsted and was baptised at St Peter’s on the 31st January 1882. He was the son of Amelia (née Preston) and George Foskett and his father was a labourer.
In 1891 the family were living in Red Lion Yard, a rather insalubrious area off the High Street. At home were Bertie, his older sister, three younger brothers and a younger sister, all aged between 8 months and 11 years.
In Easter 1893 Bertie was elected one of the Bourne Scholars, a beneficiary of Thomas Bourne’s charity founded in 1725. Originally there had been a school, but in 1875 the children were transferred to the National School, where Bertie was a pupil. The selected Scholars received a £5 grant and were expected to wear the distinctive cap.
By 1901 Bertie had moved to London to become a “cart porter” for James Schoolbred & Co. The firm began as drapers, but expanded into carpets and furniture: (https://bifmo.furniturehistorysociety.org/entry/shoolbred-james-co-1814-1934) The census records Bertie along with several hundred other male members of staff in all branches of the business, lodged at 106-118, Gower Street. Female employees were housed in other buildings in the street.
Bertie became an omnibus conductor in Battersea and married Ellen Louisa Watlow, born in Berney Arms, Norfolk in Caistor 17 September 1906. Ellen had been a domestic servant in Hampstead, so perhaps they met on the omnibus.
In the early years of the marriage the couple lived in Battersea where Edgar George James Foskett was born in 1908, but by 1909 they had moved to the High Street, Bracknell where Alice Vera was born that year.
However, in April 1911 Bertie, shown on the census as married, and a fish merchant, was with his parents, now living at 44, Highfield Road. Also in the household was his unmarried younger brother Ernest, a baker, and Edgar, aged 3, Bertie and Ellen’s son.
Ellen, meanwhile, was employed as a live-in domestic servant in the household of Edgar and Emily Louisa Talmage in Crowthorne, Berkshire. Emily was Bertie’s older sister, which explains why Ellen was able to keep baby Alice with her. One can only assume that Bertie and Ellen had fallen on hard times and that this was a way for them to make ends meet.
Ellen soon rejoined Bertie and Mabel Amelia was born in Berkhamsted in late 1911.
In May 1912 Bertie sued Knowles & Son, milers of Bourne End under the Workman’s Compensation Act for an injury sustained when he was working for them as a carman and delivering coal. He suffered a sprained ankle which, he claimed, “Set up such injuries that he was incapacitated from work.” (Bucks Herald.) The company denied responsibility claiming that it was a long-standing problem with his feet, but the medical referee testified in Bertie’s favour and the judge found for him. The report does not mention compensation.
Herbert John was born in 1913 but sadly, in 1916, Mabel Amelia died aged only 5 in West Herts Hospital. She is buried in this cemetery.
In 1921 the family lived at 1, Holliday Street and Bertie was running a fish and chip shop from home (possibly where there is currently a Chinese takeaway).
In March 1924 Bertie was in the courts again, suing William Henry Watson, a green grocer, also from Holliday Street, for £15 which he said he had loaned him just before Christmas 1922 and which had not been repaid. The judge found for Bertie and ordered the money to be repaid at 15 shillings a month.
Bertie died in May 1928 aged 46, at 1, Holliday Street.
Ellen kept the business going until at least 1939 and died 18 August 1943. She is buried here with him.
View this burial in the cemetery
Plot 550 Bertie Foskett (1881-1928)
Bertie was born in late 1881 in Berkhamsted and was baptised at St Peter’s on the 31st January 1882. He was the son of Amelia (née Preston) and George Foskett and his father was a labourer.
In 1891 the family were living in Red Lion Yard, a rather insalubrious area off the High Street. At home were Bertie, his older sister, three younger brothers and a younger sister, all aged between 8 months and 11 years.
In Easter 1893 Bertie was elected one of the Bourne Scholars, a beneficiary of Thomas Bourne’s charity founded in 1725. Originally there had been a school, but in 1875 the children were transferred to the National School, where Bertie was a pupil. The selected Scholars received a £5 grant and were expected to wear the distinctive cap.
By 1901 Bertie had moved to London to become a “cart porter” for James Schoolbred & Co. The firm began as drapers, but expanded into carpets and furniture: (https://bifmo.furniturehistorysociety.org/entry/shoolbred-james-co-1814-1934) The census records Bertie along with several hundred other male members of staff in all branches of the business, lodged at 106-118, Gower Street. Female employees were housed in other buildings in the street.
Bertie became an omnibus conductor in Battersea and married Ellen Louisa Watlow, born in Berney Arms, Norfolk in Caistor 17 September 1906. Ellen had been a domestic servant in Hampstead, so perhaps they met on the omnibus.
In the early years of the marriage the couple lived in Battersea where Edgar George James Foskett was born in 1908, but by 1909 they had moved to the High Street, Bracknell where Alice Vera was born that year.
However, in April 1911 Bertie, shown on the census as married, and a fish merchant, was with his parents, now living at 44, Highfield Road. Also in the household was his unmarried younger brother Ernest, a baker, and Edgar, aged 3, Bertie and Ellen’s son.
Ellen, meanwhile, was employed as a live-in domestic servant in the household of Edgar and Emily Louisa Talmage in Crowthorne, Berkshire. Emily was Bertie’s older sister, which explains why Ellen was able to keep baby Alice with her. One can only assume that Bertie and Ellen had fallen on hard times and that this was a way for them to make ends meet.
Ellen soon rejoined Bertie and Mabel Amelia was born in Berkhamsted in late 1911.
In May 1912 Bertie sued Knowles & Son, milers of Bourne End under the Workman’s Compensation Act for an injury sustained when he was working for them as a carman and delivering coal. He suffered a sprained ankle which, he claimed, “Set up such injuries that he was incapacitated from work.” (Bucks Herald.) The company denied responsibility claiming that it was a long-standing problem with his feet, but the medical referee testified in Bertie’s favour and the judge found for him. The report does not mention compensation.
Herbert John was born in 1913 but sadly, in 1916, Mabel Amelia died aged only 5 in West Herts Hospital. She is buried in this cemetery.
In 1921 the family lived at 1, Holliday Street and Bertie was running a fish and chip shop from home (possibly where there is currently a Chinese takeaway).
In March 1924 Bertie was in the courts again, suing William Henry Watson, a green grocer, also from Holliday Street, for £15 which he said he had loaned him just before Christmas 1922 and which had not been repaid. The judge found for Bertie and ordered the money to be repaid at 15 shillings a month.
Bertie died in May 1928 aged 46, at 1, Holliday Street.
Ellen kept the business going until at least 1939 and died 18 August 1943. She is buried here with him.
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