Notes for: Henry FOSKETT
1797 Tue, Apr 4 Oracle and Public Advertiser
Promotions from the London Gazette
War Office April 1, 1797
15th Regiment of Light Dragoons
Cornet John Smith to be Lieutenant, by purchase, vice Hopkinson, who retires. Henry Foskett, Gent, to be Cornet, vice Smith. Lieutenant Thomas M Hays to be Adjutant, vice Hopkinson who retires.
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1798 Tue Nov 27 Sun
From the London Gazette, Nov 13
15th Regiment of Light Dragoons
Cornet Henry Foskett to be Lieutenant, by purchase, vice Smith, promoted in the 20th Light Dragoons.
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1810 Wed May 30 The Morning Chronicle
Petition to Parliament - Price 1s
Facts, explanatory of the CONDUCT of Capt FOSKETT, of the 15th Light Dragoons, as one of the Seconds in a Duel, in the year 1806. By Captain FOSKETT.
Printed for J J Stockdale, 41 Pall Mall,
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1811 Thu Jan 17 Exeter Flying Post
To be had of TREWMAN & SON, Exeter
This day is published, six shillings
The RIGHTS of the ARMY VINDICATED, in an Appeal to the Public, on the Case of Captain FOSKETT. To which is subjoined the whole of Captain F,'s Correspondence with the respective Commander-in-Chief, (his Royal Highness the Duke of York and Sir David Dundas) and also with the Officers successively commanding the 15th Lt Drns.
By Henry FOSKETT Esq.
Late Senior Captain in the 15th Light Dragoons
“Where the distance throws
“Me back so far, but I may boldly speak
“In right, though proud oppression will not hear me”
Venice Preferred
Published by J M Richardson, 23 Cornhill; J Ebers, 23 Old-Bond Street; and J Bell, 148 Oxford Street, London; and Trewman and Son, Exeter.
1811 Fri Jan 25 The Morning Chronicle
Captain Foskett's Pamphlet
There are two main points in this gentleman's appeal to the Public, which we not recollect to have seen noticed by any of our contemporaries, though they appear to us to be not the least interesting parts of this very interesting publication. The one relates to the conduct of Sir David Dundas; and the other, to the no less extraordinary conduct of General Craufurd.
With respect to the former, we maintain, that the merits of the complaint preferred by Captain Foskett, could not be admitted as an excuse for the neglect of a duty which the article of war has made imperative upon the Commander-in-Chief. That article left him no discretion; but absolutely required of him to report to the King. He did not so report; and alleged as his reason, that he did not see sufficient grounds for so doing, thereby claiming a right to dispense, at his pleasure, with the article which required him to make such a report; and indeed, so strong appears to have been the military sense of the positive obligation imposed by this article, that we find General Craufurd who will be admitted as not having been the advocate of Captain Foskett at least - we find this gallant Officer, reported as having said, in another place “that no Commander in Chief would dare to refuse reporting to the King, upon the unredressed wrongs of any officer:” so that there is no doubt as to the construction of the article; and, indeed, that must be sufficiently obvious; for if the Commander in Chief had this discretion, he might interpose it between complaints of a British Officer against himself, and the august head of the army. The second point respecting General Craufurd's charged against Captain Foskett, is one upon which the General will, we apprehend, find it absolutely necessary to give some explanation to the Public. They have not forgotten how strong the charges were in their own nature; how, and where they were preferred. They cannot shut their eyes to the irresistible evidence, consisting of original documents to be found in this book, by which they are proved to be utterly without foundation. This Pamphlet makes Captain Foskett the accuser, and the accusation is one, where silent contempt must be a miserable affectation. As we, however, feel convinced, that no British Officer can be capable of calumny, we would recommend General Craufurd to do himself that justice which we have no doubt he will do. Let him manfully come forward, and with the frankness of a soldier, acknowledge his errors and his sorrow for having inadvertently led into the commission of them.
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1811 Wed Feb 6 The Aberdeen Journal
Case of Captain Foskett
This gentleman, who some time since quitted the 15th regiment of light dragoons, commanded by the Duke of Cumberland, because his promotion was prevented - and he could never obtain an investigation into his conduct - has recently published a pamphlet, under the following title: - “
The RIGHTS of the ARMY VINDICATED, in an Appeal to the Public, on the Case of Captain FOSKETT. To which is subjoined the whole of Captain F,'s Correspondence with the respective Commander-in-Chief, (his Royal Highness the Duke of York and Sir David Dundas) and also with the Officers successively commanding the 15th Lt Drns.
By Henry FOSKETT Esq.
Late Senior Captain in the 15th Light Dragoons
“Where the distance throws
“Me back so far, but I may boldly speak
“In right, though proud oppression will not hear me”
It will be remembered, that Captain Foskett's case was brought forward in the last session of Parliament, but the call for inquiry was refused by the House of Commons - Mr Whitbread, on that occasion, made some remarks on the dreadful practice of picketing, which is still kept up in this regiment, although abolished in every otyher regiment in the service. The following passage from the pamphlet respects the ordinary number of changes which has taken place since his Royal Highness had the command: - "Since his Royal Highness the Duke of Cumberland took the command of the 15th light dragoons, an entire change has taken place in the regiment. Captain does not take it upon himself to decide, whether this change has been for the better or for the worse; but certainly, of all the officers who were previously in the corps, only two are now remaining in it. Of all those gallant, able, and experienced officers, who had so gloriously distinguished themselves in the ranks of the 15th light dragoons, when contending with the enemies of their country, before that regiment was under the command of his Royal Highness, not one remains to grace the corps with his presence, or to animate it by his example. Indeed, it may truly be said, that in the space of nine years, the duration, hitherto, of his Royal Highness's command, no fewer than seventy officers have quitted the regiment, many of whom have benefited other regiments by their exertions; the names of some of them have graced the pages of the Gazette, recording their illustrious achievements in defeating and destroying the squadrons of the enemy; and some, finding it impossible to overcome the deep-rooted disgust they have been made to feel in the 15th light dragoons, have retired from the service altogether. That this last-mentioned effect should in some instances have been produced, will not excite surprise, whne it is known that several officers alluded to have, on a sudden, and without the least imputation of misconduct or incapacity, received the simple and unceremonious intimation that their services in the regiment could be dispensed with!! Nor is this all. Several field officers of high rank and character, of distinguished professional abilities have been compelled to relinquish the command of a corps to which they were attached by the strongest predilections, and the most endearing ties. Such has been the change introduced into the 15th light dragoons, since the accession of the Duke of Cumberland to the colonelcy of that regiment"
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In 1819 Captain Henry Foskett went on a grand tour of Egypt where he carved his name on many of Egypt's statues and monuments. The picture shows one of the carvings.
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Morning Chronicle Monday 19th May 1823
Marriage: On Monday 12th inst, at Belchester, Berwickshire, by Rev James Thompson, Henry Foskett, Esq, late of the 15th Light Dragoons, to Mary, youngest daughter of the late Rev James Young, of Ledgerwood, in the same county.
ScotlandsPeople Index: Henry Foskett and Mary or Maria Martin Young married 12 May 1823, married Eccles, Berwick.
St Sidwell's, Exeter have their marriage as 14 Jan 1825, but this is obviously incorrect. Unless for some reason they thought their Scottish marriage wasn't strictly legal, so married in an English church to insure the legailty?
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1841 Census Tonbridge Wells
HO107/463/9/8
Ephraim House, London Road
Henry Foskett 60 Ind N
Maria Foskett 40 N
Maria Foskett 15 N
Jane Foskett 14 N
Sophia Foskett 12 N
Eliza Foskett 9 N
Emma Foskett 5 Y
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1851 Gt Malvern
HO107/2043/98
Schedule 57
Henry Foskett H M 70 Gent London, MDX
Maria M G Foskett W M 59 Glanton?. NBL
Maria Jane Foskett D U 26 Exeter, DEV
Emma Bowles Foskett D U 15 Milton, KEN
Plus servant
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Gentleman's Magazine 1854
Dec 14th 1853
On 11th at 19 Alpha Rd, Regents Park in 79th year, Henry Foskett Esq, late of Tunbridge Wells and formerly Captain 15th Hussars.
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Daily News Wed 14 Dec 1853
Deaths: FOSKETT Dec 11 at 10 Alpha Road, Regents Park, Henry Foskett, Esq, late of Tunbridge Wells, and formerly Captain in the 15th Hussars, in his 76th year
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Manchester Times 17 Dec 1853
Deaths: On the 11th inst at Alpha Road, Regents Park, London, in his 76th year, Henry Foskett, Esq, of Tunbridge Wells, and formerly captain in the 15th Hussars
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Foskett - Captain Henry - 15th Light Dragoons - died 11th December 1853.
Memorial at Holy Trinity, Much Wenlock, Shropshire - "To the memory of Henry Foskett Esqre late senior Captain in the 15th Light Dragoons Born December 12th 1777 Died in the parish of Mary-Le-Bone, London December 11th 1853."
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Bunhill Fields Burial Grounds, London
Burials
15 Dec 1853 (19 Dec) 2051 Capt Henry FOSKETT age 75 of 10 Alpha Rd, Marylebone
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Will proved: PCC 10 Jan 1854. Described as "of Weston Super Mare"