Rectory Lane Cemetery, Berkhamsted

Joseph Foskett

1847 –1939

A carpenter

Relatives

Sarah Foskett — wife

Sarah Allam — other

• Melanie Hilton

Plot x72 Joseph W Foskett (1847-1939)

Joseph was born c.1847 in Berkhamsted, the son of William, born in Berkhamsted, and Anna Foskett (née Horn), born in Little Gaddesden.

At the time of his birth he had four older sisters and an older brother.

In 1851 the family were living in Frithsden. His father was a “rough carpenter” and his mother and all his sisters were straw plaiters.

In 1871 Joseph was with his parents and younger brother William and living in Potten End. His father was a “Rough carpenter (master)” and both sons were the same, but journeymen. His mother was a straw plaiter.

Joseph married Sarah Allam in Hemel Hempstead in 1871.

Harry (1875), Charles (1879), Sarah (1880) were all born in Berkhamsted and in 1881 Joseph was a journeyman carpenter living in the High Street. Harry, Charles and Sarah were all at home. Living with them his mother-in-law Sarah Allam and his wife’s nephews Alpheus Riddle and Frederick Allam.

The family was completed with William (1883), Walter (1886) and Annie (1887).

In 1891 they were still living in the High Street. The children were all at home and Harry was a carpenter, probably working with his father. Thomas Edney and Archibald Allam, nephews, were living with them.

In 1901 Joseph and Sarah were at 44, High Street. Their daughter Sarah and her husband Ernest Roberts, a groom, were living with them, as was their son Charles, now a cooper, and his wife Elizabeth and daughter Lilley. Sons William and Walter were both at 44 too, working as carpenters, and daughter Annie was also at home, along with niece 8 year old Florrie Bats. 

In 1911 Joseph and Sarah were boarders in the home of their daughter Sarah Roberts at 22, Station Road. Joseph was still working as a carpenter. His son-in-law was in West Herts hospital.

Sarah died in 1918.

In 1921 Joseph was still living with daughter Sarah Roberts at 5, Gravel Path. Also in the household was Annie L Allam, his late wife’s widowed sister-in-law. Ernest Roberts, employed as a green keeper at the golf course, was with his brother ,living in Gravel Path.

Joseph died 11 June 1939 at Fairway, Bell Lane, Northchurch, aged 92 and was buried here with Sarah.

His mother-in-law, Sarah Allam, who died in 1886, also lies in this cemetery.

Sarah Foskett

1848 –1918

Domestic servant and straw plaiter who married carpenter Joseph Foskett

Relatives

Sarah Allam — mother

Joseph Foskett — husband

• Melanie Hilton

Plot X72 Sarah Foskett (née Allam) (1848-1918)

Sarah was born in 1848 in Hemel Hempstead and baptised there in June. Her mother was Sarah (née Wharton) (born Bovingdon), her father Joseph Allam, an agricultural labourer. She was to be the seventh of their eight children. Her father died in 1848 leaving her mother to raise the family.

In 1851 the two oldest had left home, but her mother was having to work as a straw plaiter while Sarah’s three eldest brothers were letter-type makers.

By 1861 Sarah, aged 15, was a live-in servant at 9, Victoria Terrace, Hampstead, looking after an unmarried chemist, his niece and a widow who was their boarder.

Ten years later she and her mother were living in Cross Street, Hemel Hempstead and both were working as straw plaiters producing plait for the straw hat industry of Luton and Dunstable. This was a very common way for the women and young boys of labouring families to supplement the family income, but it was very poorly paid and had significant health implications. The plaiters ran the split pieces of straw between their lips to soften it and the caustic it had been soaked in destroyed the enamel of their teeth. Even worse, minute splinters of straw could be inhaled and cause lung damage.

Sarah married Joseph Foskett, a carpenter, in Hemel in 1871. Their first children Harry (1875), Charles (1879) and Sarah (1880) were all born in Berkhamsted.

In 1881 the family were living in the High Street. Harry, Charles and Sarah were all at home and living with them was her mother Sarah Allam and her nephews Alpheus Riddle and Frederick Allam.

The final three children were William (1883), Walter (1886) and Annie (1887).

In 1891 the children all at home and Harry was a carpenter, probably working with his father. Thomas Edney and Archibald Allam, nephews, were living with them.

In 1901 they were recorded at 44, High Street. Daughter Sarah and her husband Ernest Roberts, a groom, were living with them as was son Charles, now a cooper, and his wife Elizabeth and daughter Lilley. Sons William and Walter were both there too, working as carpenters, and daughter Annie was also at home, along with niece 8 year old Florrie Bats. 

In 1911 Joseph and Sarah were boarders in the home of their daughter Sarah Roberts at 22, Station Road. Joseph was still working as a carpenter.

Sarah died aged 69 in 1918.

Joseph survived her until 1939 and is buried here with her.

Her mother Sarah Allam, who died in 1886, is buried in this cemetery.