Foster plot

Location

Plot number (FHS)	183
Row	4
Section	214
Date

......

Foster plot

Plot number:
4,214
Family name:
Foster
Burial date:

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Who is buried here?

Read about the lives of the 2 people buried here — click on a name to view a biography.

George Frederick Foster

1838 –25/03/1871

Eldest son of brewer James Foster; died age 32 years

1838 –25/03/1871

Eldest son of brewer James Foster; died age 32 years

Relatives

James Charles Foster (183) 23/09/1849 — father

Hannah Lane — mother

Edward Foster — brother

John Edward Lane (senior) — other

Daniel Charles Foster — brother

Lieutenant-Colonel Henry James Foster — brother

Research:

Melanie Hilton

Plot 183 George Frederick Foster (1838-1871)

Born in Berkhamsted in 1838, George was the first child of brewer and innkeeper James Charles Foster and his wife Hannah (née Chilton).

His father ran The Swan Inn in the High Street and was a brewer and maltster who was vigorous in buying up land and developing the business. However, he died in 1849 aged only 40 leaving his property in trust to his wife for his seven children, all minors.

In 1851 George was a pupil at Berkhamsted School as a boarder.

Hannah married a second time to local businessman John Edward Lane and he developed the brewing firm energetically. In 1861 George was living with his mother and step-father and was described in the census as “Brewer/pupil”. At the age of 28 it must have chaffed to be in that position in the business begun by his father.

John Lane had handed the brewing business over to his stepsons by 1871. However all but George’s brother Henry James were to die comparatively young.

George himself died 25 March 1871 aged 32 and is buried here with his father. His mother lies in plot 181 and his brothers are also buried in this cemetery: Edward (plot 239), Daniel (plot x5) and Henry (x240).

James Charles Foster (183) 23/09/1849

1809 –23/09/1849

Brewer and publican at The Swan Inn; died age 40 years

1809 –23/09/1849

Brewer and publican at The Swan Inn; died age 40 years

Relatives

Edward Foster — son

Lieutenant-Colonel Henry James Foster — son

George Frederick Foster — son

Research:

Melanie Hilton

Plot 183 James Charles Foster (1809-1849)

James was born in 1809 in Redbourn the son of James and Mary Foster. He was baptised in the parish church 23 April that year at the same time as his sister Elizabeth. It is not clear whether or not they were twins. Their younger sister Sarah was baptised in 1813. James Foster snr. was a victualler, that is a person licenced to sell alcohol, not an uncommon trade in the town, as during the coaching era Redbourn, on a major route from London to the Midlands, was known as the “Street of inns” with at least 25 inns and ale houses.

James Charles married Hannah Chilton in Berkhamsted on 20 December 1836 by licence and their first child, George Frederick, was born in 1838, followed by Daniel Charles in 1839.

The Tithe Map of 1839 lists James as the occupier of the Swan Inn in the High Street, and of meadow land to the rear of the inn. Three years later the census of 1841 records that James, Hannah and their two sons were living there along with Harriet Foster and Hannah’s younger sister, Caroline, both 20 years old, a servant and her daughter and an ostler responsible for the horses.

Anna was born in 1842, Isabell in 1843, Henry James in 1845, Edward in 1846 and Caroline in 1848.

James must have been feeling unwell early in 1849 as he made his will 20 February that year. In the lengthy document setting up a trust for his wife and young children (Prerogative Court of Canterbury PROB 11: Will Registers 1850-1852 Piece 2109: Vol. 4, Quire Numbers 151-200 (1850)) James states that he was a maltster, brewer and innkeeper. He makes provisions for “All those premises, cottages, messuages recently purchased”, freehold cottages in Gossoms End and other real estate and mentions books, paintings and plate as well all the objects associated with his trade.

He died 23 September 1849 aged only 40. Hannah continued to run The Swan very capably and remarried in 1852 to John Edward Lane, a vigorous businessman from the Lane’s

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