Harold Foster Hodgett

Harold Foster was the son of Frederick and Louisa Hodgett (née Foster). His father Frederick was born in Keyworth, Nottinghamshire, on 29 August 1869, the son of John and Mary Hodgett. His mother Louisa Foster was born in Newark in 1872. They were married at St Saviour parish church, Meadows, Nottingham, on 8 November 1890 and had seven children, one of whom died in infancy. Their surviving children were: Arthur Frederick b. Nottingham 21 December 1890 (registered 1891); Lawrence George b. Nottingham 11 October 1892; Olive Grace b. Newark 7 September 1896 bap. Newark St Mary Magdalene 18 October 1896; Harold b. Newark birth registered 1898 (J/F/M); John Bertram (k/a Bertram) b. Newark 1901 and Lewis b. Nottingham 19 March 1906. At the time of the 1891 census Frederick (21), a shoe maker, and Louisa were living at 59 Kirkewhite Street, Meadows, Nottingham, with their son Arthur Frederick (3 months). Also in the household were Frederick's parents, John and Mary Hodgett, and his older brother, John (25). By 1901 Frederick and Louisa had moved to Newnham Road, Newark; Frederick was employed as a boot worker. Three of their four children were in the home on the night of the census: Lawrence (8), Olive (4) and Harold (3). Their eldest son, Arthur (10), was registered at Low Street, Sutton on Trent, in the home of his widowed maternal grandfather, John Foster, a publican, and John's unmarried daughter, Emma. By 1911 the family had returned to Nottingham and were living at 78 Waterway Street, Meadows, where Frederick was working from home as a boot repairer (employer). All six children were in the home on the night of the census; Arthur a Leivers lace draughtsman, Lawrence who was on leave from the Royal Navy (Ordinary Seaman, HMS Albermarle), Olive, an assistant in the 'brown room' (lace manufacturer) and Harold, Bertram (9) and Lewis (5) who were at school. The family home was at 99 Waterway Street at the time of Harold's death in 1917 and Frederick and Louisa were still living there at the time of her death on 20 January 1946. Frederick was living at 25 Ryehill Cottages, Kirkewhite Street, Meadows, when he died on 27 February the following year; Probate was awarded to his sons Arthur and Lawrence. Of Harold's siblings: Arthur Frederick probably served in the Royal West Kent Regiment (203684 Private) and was discharged on 15 March 1920. He married Ethel Nadin in 1914. In 1939 when the England & Wales Register was compiled, Arthur, an assistant relieving officer (civil servant), and his wife Ethel were living at 47 Wilford Crescent, Meadows, with their children Leonard Arthur (24) and Eunice (13). Their son Leonard was killed in a motor cycling accident on the Fosse Road, near Cotgrave, on 17 June 1940; his pillion passenger, Mary Eastwood, died later in hospital. (Nottingham Evening Post, 18 and 24 June). Arthur died on 10 November 1965; probate was awarded to his married daughter Eunice King. Lawrence George joined the Royal Navy at HMS Ganges as a Boy 2nd Class on 12 September 1908 and entered on a 12 year engagement on his 18th birthday, 11 October 1910. He was discharged on 6 February 1920 as an Able Seaman and transferred to the Royal Fleet Reserve on 7 February 1920. He married Ada Greatrix at St Matthias Church, Nottingham, on 12 November 1917. In 1939 they were living at 1 Ferndale Grove, Bakersfield; he was employed as a bus driver. Also in the home were their children Irene (20) and Frederick (18). Lawrence was living at the same address when he died on 21 June 1952; his wife survived him. Olive Grace married Leslie Buxton (b. 30 June 1899) in 1924. In 1939 they were living in Nottingham with their sons Denis b. 6 April 1925 and Alan b. 26 October 1930. Olive died in 1992. John Bertram served in the Lincolnshire Regiment (64730 Private) and was discharged on 5 July 1921. He married Elsie Newton in 1925. John died on 13 January 1969. Lewis William married Edna M Porter in 1927. He died in 1998.