Notes for: George FOSKETT
This branch of the family is headed by George Forscott or Foskett, the illegitimate son of Hannah Gilks. There is no proof of paternity of George, but it is highly probable that the father was George Foskett of Hoggeston and Swanbourne. It has now been proven conclusively due to DNA testing that George is a descendant of the Hoggeston Fosketts and George Foskett of Hoggeston is the only likely candidate for his paternity.
The reasons for the earlier supposition are:
a) There were close links between Hannah's grandparents and Benjamin Coles of Hoggeston as Stephen Gilks appoints Benjamin as an executor of his will.
b) George's mother was Frances Coles of Hoggeston, the daughter of Benjamin Coles.
c) Hoggeston is less than 2 miles from Grandborough.
d) The next nearest Foskett family to Grandborough at this period was at Wing (6 miles) and Aston Clinton (10 miles) and there does not seem to be likely candidates for the father in those families.
George was born in Grandborough about 1777 and was baptised in that parish in 1778. His mother went on to marry Thomas Jenkins in Grandborough in 1787 and no doubt George was raised in the Jenkins household.
In 1802 he married Mary Smith of Swanbourne in that parish and they had eight children all born and baptised in Grandborough: Thomas (1804-1880), Sarah (1805-), William (1807-1807), John (1808-1879), Elizabeth (1809-1822), Hannah (1811-). George (1814-1880) and William (1815- 1885).
George's two surviving daughters both married; Sarah in Grandborough in 1822 to William Stone and Hannah to Hugh Williat of Adstock in Great Horwood in 1833.
Mary died and was buried in Grandborough in 1827 at the age of 52 and George remarried a Judith Smith, a widow and a nurse by occupation, in 1828. It is not known at this stage whether the two wives were related in any way.
1841 Grandborough
HO107/38/5
Schedule 22 King St
George Foskett 65 Ag Lab Y
Judith Foskett 64 y
In 1851 George is found on the Census for that year living with his wife Judith in Kings Street, Grandborough. His occupation is given as agricultural labourer and living with them are three lodgers.
14 King Street
George Forsket H M 75 Farm Lab Granborough
Judith Forskett W M 74 Nurse "
Judith died and was buried in Grandborough in 1853 at the age of 75 and George followed her two years later at the age of 79.