William Samuel Fooks

#623, (26 February 1809-31 October 1856)
FatherJames MacKenzie Fooks (7 Dec 1780-22 Oct 1824)
MotherJane Berjew (26 Dec 1778-15 Apr 1875)
Last Edited15 Oct 2022
WikiTree ID:https://www.wikitree.com/wiki/Fooks-129.
     NOTE: The information on this page is my research to date and is subject to change as I become better informed. I very much welcome any corrections or additional info you might have - my email address is at the bottom of this page. Whilst historical facts are not copyright, my writing about these facts are. If you wish to use any text from this site on Ancestry or on any other website, please ask me first - Tim Hill.
+ + + + + + + + + +


William was born on Sunday, 26 February 1809 at Melcombe Regis, Weymouth, Dorset.1,2 He was the son of James MacKenzie Fooks and Jane Berjew. William Samuel Fooks was baptised on Wednesday, 19 April 1809 at Melcombe Regis, Weymouth, Dorset.3,4 He presumably lived with his parents at Melcombe Regis, Weymouth, Dorset, in 1814.5 He was a witness at the wedding of Lazarus Roberts and Mary Fooks at the parish mother church of St. Mary's on Thursday, 6 March 1823 at Radipole, Weymouth, Dorset. They went on to have a dozen children together..6

On Wednesday, 21 July 1824 William was articled as a clerk to John Henning, and attorney for the Kings Bench. He was articled to stay in this post for 5 years.7

His father died 22 October 1824 at the age of 43. William was aged 15 when this happened.8

In Jane Iles's will on 6 November 1824 at Dorset Mary Ann Barbara Berjew, Catherine Jane Iles Fooks, Charles Berjew Fooks, William Samuel Fooks, Rev. Samuel Berjew Fookes, James MacKenzie Fooks, Ann Williams MacKenzie and Jane Fooks were named as heirs. William was granted £20. This was equivalent to half the annual wage of a labourer..9,10

The will of Jane Iles, in which Mary Ann Barbara Berjew, Catherine Jane Iles Fooks, Charles Berjew Fooks, William Samuel Fooks, Rev. Samuel Berjew Fookes, James MacKenzie Fooks, Ann Williams MacKenzie and Jane Fooks were named as heirs was proved on 24 April 1829 at Dorset.. William was granted £20. This was equivalent to half the annual wage of a labourer..9,10

On Tuesday, 21 July 1829 William's five years as an articled clerk would have expired.7 He was a solicitor in 1831.11 William and Maria lived in March 1831.11

William joined the Freemasons on Friday, 11 March 1831, and remained a member for at least 5 years.11

He married Maria Jane Richardson, at All Saints on Thursday, 8 December 1831 at the village of Wyke Regis near the town of Weymouth, Dorset..12,4 William and Maria lived in 1837 at Melcombe Regis, Weymouth, Dorset.13 William Samuel Fooks emigrated from London on 5 July 1840 on the 'Waterloo' with his wife and four children, his mother and his younger brother Samuel.14,15,16 After a voyage of about 5 months John arrived at Port Adelaide, South Australia, on 9 November 1840 with his family.15,17,16



He was recognised in March 1841 at the age of 32 as one of a number of people qualified to act in the Supreme Court of South Australia, and to act as "barristers, attorneys, solicitors and proctors", although he had acted in court in the previous month.18,19,20

His his office was in Gawler Place, in Adelaide.21

He was bailed on the Thursday, 4 March 1841 and was committed for trial six weeks later.22

On 12 March 1841 he bought, with a Captain Hughes, 2,000 sheep at 14s. 6d. a head.23

He appeared for a Captain Symers, who was called to court on account of a debt.23

He was charged with stealing, and then selling a number of sheep. When the trial opened, William conducted his own defence. At the end of the day in court, he was remanded for a fortnight.24

William was "remanded for a fortnight on a charge of sheep stealing". He was allowed bail, but did not succeed in obtaining it. He seems to have obtaining 30 sheep from Samuel Beattie Garratt and Charles Huon, valued at £219.25

On Tuesday, 17 August 1841, William was fully committed for trial.25

In further developments in the trial, it seems that a man, Kelly had given the sheep to William in April, who had sold them. William was asked "to produce two sureties in £50 each, for his appearance at the next sessions, and in default was sent back to prison."26,27,28

At trial in March 1842, further details emerged; how William asked a man Kelly to brand the sheet with an 'F', and that they were sold without being advertised for a reduced price. William was never authorised to act as a solicitor the owners of the sheep. 33 he claimed he had the sheep branded to prevent them being seized by the sheriff as a payment of debt of Mr. Garratt. the sheep were sold just after this. The trial was covered at length in the papers; William was found not guilty.29,30

In February 1845 he signed a petition - along with many others - against the importation of English convicts to South Australia.31

He was appointed to be a clerk in the Council Department, from Wednesday, 1 January 1851.32

It still seems as if he was practising law in September 1853.33 William (and presumably his spouse Maria) lived in 1856 at off Stokes Street, in Port Melbourne.34

William died on 31 October 1856 at the Melbourne suburb of Sandridge (Port Melbourne) at age 47 he died of a diseased hip joint.35,4

His death was reported in the Adelaide Register on 21 November 1856:
" On the 31st October at his residence, Sandridge, Victoria, after a long illness William Samuel Fooks, for many years a resident in South Australia and formerly of Weymouth, Dorsetshire, England. Aged 47 years.4'

Timeline

DateEventPlace
Family
1809BirthMelcombe Regis, Weymouth, Dorset1,2
1809BaptismMelcombe Regis, Weymouth, Dorset3,4
1824Note memo only CR CR7
1829Note memo only CR CR7
1831Occupation11
1831Residence11
1831Note memo only CR CR11
1831Marriage at All Saints in the village of Wyke Regis near the town of Weymouth, Dorset12,4
1837Occupation-hide13
1837ResidenceMelcombe Regis, Weymouth, Dorset13
1841Note memo only CR CR18,19,20
1841Note memo only CR CRGawler Place, in Adelaide21
1841Note memo only CR CR22
1841Note memo only CR CR23
1841Note memo only CR CR23
1841Note memo only CR CR24
1841Note memo only CR CR25
1841Note memo only CR CR25
1841Note memo only CR CR26,27,28
1842Note memo only CR CR29,30
1845Note memo only CR CR31
1851Note memo only CR CR32
1853Note memo only CR CR33
1856Residenceoff Stokes Street, in Port Melbourne34
1856Deaththe Melbourne suburb of Sandridge (Port Melbourne)35,4
1856Quotation type 24

Family

Maria Jane Richardson (c 1813-17 Feb 1861)
Children

Citations

  1. [S806] Jane Fookes,"Extract from Jane Fookes' bible," Bible extract, vital dates , n.d.. Currently held by unknown repository, unknown repository address (for date).
  2. [S274] Grahame R. Fooks, The Fooks Family Records p.3 - place is assumed.
  3. [S1210] Dorset, England, Church of England Baptisms, Marriages and Burials, 1538-1812 (www.ancestry.com) Name: William Samuel Fooks; Event Type: Baptism; Baptism Date: 19 Apr 1809; Baptism Place: Melcombe Regis, Dorset, England; Father: James Fooks; Mother: Jane Fooks.
  4. [S728] GEDCOM file created by Donald L. Reid, 17 Feb 2014 (companion to 'Descendents of James MCKENZIE.rtf' p.2).
  5. [S1170] Dorset, England, Church of England Births and Baptisms, 1813-1906 (www.ancestry.com) Name: James Mackenzie Fooks; Baptism Date: 30 Jan 1814; Baptism Place: Up Cerne, Dorset, England; Search Photos: Search for 'Up Cerne' in the UK City, Town and Village Photos collection; Father: James Fooks; Mother: Jane Fooks.
  6. [S1394] The Roberts Family (https://sites.google.com/view/therobertsfamily/home) Mary Fooks (1801-55) https://sites.google.com/view/therobertsfamily/…
  7. [S1211] UK, Articles of Clerkship, 1756-1874 Ancestry.com, (https://www.ancestry.com) Name: William Samuel Fooks; Father: James Makenzie Fooks; Other: John Henning; Residence: Weymouth and Melcombe Regis Dorset; Other: 21/07/1824 (21 Jul 1824).
  8. [S274] Grahame R. Fooks, The Fooks Family Records p.4.
  9. [S781] England & Wales, Prerogative Court of Canterbury Wills Ancestry.com, The National Archives; Kew, Surrey, England; Records of the Prerogative Court of Canterbury, Series PROB 11; Class: PROB 11; Piece: 1754.
  10. [S561] Dorset Online Parish Clerks (http://www.opcdorset.org/) Cerne Abbas - Wills Extracts A - M (https://www.opcdorset.org/BradfordAbbas/…).
  11. [S1144] England, United Grand Lodge of England Freemason Membership Registers, 1751-1921 Ancestry.com, (www.ancestry.com) Name: Wm. Samuel Fooks; Gender:      Male; Initiation Age:     22; Birth Year: abt 1809; Initiation Date: 11 Mar 1831; First Payment Year on Register: 1831; Year Range: 1813-1836; Profession: Attorney; Lodge Location: North Devon Militia[this may not be correct]; Folio Number: 274; A Lodge Number: 283A; B Lodge Number: 199B.
  12. [S574] England Select Marriages, 1530-1973 Ancestry.com, (www.ancestry.com) Name: William Samuel Fooks; Gender: Male; Marriage Date: 1831; Marriage Place: Wyke Regis, Dorset, England; Spouse: Maria Jane Richardson; FHL Film Number: 1239262; Reference ID: 2:2CVV08Q.
  13. [S1170] Dorset, England, Church of England Births and Baptisms, 1813-1906 (www.ancestry.com) Name: William Samuel Fooks; Gender: Male; Spouse: Maria Jane Fooks; Child: Mary Richardson Fooks.
  14. [S1217] Oz Ships - Australian shipping 1788-1968 (http://www.ozships.net/) 'Waterloo' - 5/7/1840 to 9/11/1840 http://www.ozships.net/ozships/events/2/171.htm#10449 (The family's name is transcribed as 'Tooks').
  15. [S386] South Australian Migrant Shipping (1836-1860) (http://www.perthdps.com/shipping/mig-sa1.htm#sa1) Waterloo 9th Nov 1840 (This citation is for the date and details of the ship; the presence of the Fooks family on it has not been verified.).
  16. [S256] Grahame R. Fooks, The Fooks Family, 1780-1980 p.4.
  17. [S1216] The South Australian Record and Australasian and South African Chronicle, Adelaide, South Australia, Australia, 1840 'SHIPWRECK.—LOSS OF THE BARQUE LANCIER.', South Australian Record and Australasian and South African Chronicle (SA : 1840 - 1841), 18 July, p. 7. , viewed 22 Nov 2020, http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article245932986
  18. [S1213] The Adelaide Chronicle and South Australian Literary Record, South Australia, Australia, 1841 'THE “JOHN COOPER.”', Adelaide Chronicle and South Australian Literary Record (SA : 1840 - 1842), 10 March, p. 3. , viewed 22 Nov 2020, http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article195860629
  19. [S1213] The Adelaide Chronicle and South Australian Literary Record, South Australia, Australia, 1841 'THE “VILLE DE BORDEAUX.”', Adelaide Chronicle and South Australian Literary Record (SA : 1840 - 1842), 24 February, p. 3. , viewed 22 Nov 2020, http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article195860598
  20. [S244] The South Australian Register, Adelaide, South Australia, Australia, 1841 'RESIDENT MEGISTRATE COURT.', South Australian Register (Adelaide, SA : 1839 - 1900), 27 February, p. 4. , viewed 22 Nov 2020, http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article27442278
  21. [S464] The South Australian, Adelaide, South Australia, Australia, 1841 'Advertising', Southern Australian (Adelaide, SA : 1838 - 1844), 16 March, p. 1. , viewed 22 Nov 2020, http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article71614283
  22. [S464] The South Australian, Adelaide, South Australia, Australia, 1842 'PRISONERS FOR TRIAL', Southern Australian (Adelaide, SA : 1838 - 1844), 4 March, p. 3. , viewed 22 Nov 2020, http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article71620912
  23. [S1213] The Adelaide Chronicle and South Australian Literary Record, South Australia, Australia, 1841 'THE “VILLE DE BORDEAUX.”', Adelaide Chronicle and South Australian Literary Record (SA : 1840 - 1842), 17 March, p. 2. , viewed 22 Nov 2020, http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article195860656
  24. [S1212] The Adelaide Independent and Cabinet of Amusement, Adelaide, South Australia, Australia, 1841 'RESIDENT MAGISTRATES COURT.', Adelaide Independent and Cabinet of Amusement (SA : 1841), 5 August, p. 4. , viewed 22 Nov 2020, http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article245309846
  25. [S1212] The Adelaide Independent and Cabinet of Amusement, Adelaide, South Australia, Australia, 1841 'RESIDENT MAGISTRATES COURT.', Adelaide Independent and Cabinet of Amusement (SA : 1841), 19 August, p. 3. , viewed 21 Nov 2020, http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article245309906
  26. [S1213] The Adelaide Chronicle and South Australian Literary Record, South Australia, Australia, 1841 'Tuesday, September 9.', Adelaide Chronicle and South Australian Literary Record (SA : 1840 - 1842), 10 November, p. 4. , viewed 21 Nov 2020, http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article195861330
  27. [S464] The South Australian, Adelaide, South Australia, Australia, 1841 '"THE GLORIOUS UNCERTAITNY OF THE LAW."', Southern Australian (Adelaide, SA : 1838 - 1844), 12 November, p. 3. , viewed 22 Nov 2020, http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article71615666
  28. [S1212] The Adelaide Independent and Cabinet of Amusement, Adelaide, South Australia, Australia, 1841 'SUPREME COURT.—CRIMINAL SIDE.', Adelaide Independent and Cabinet of Amusement (SA : 1841), 11 November, p. 2. , viewed 22 Nov 2020, http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article245310161
  29. [S464] The South Australian, Adelaide, South Australia, Australia, 1842 'SUPREME COURT—CRIMINAL SITTINGS.', Southern Australian (Adelaide, SA : 1838 - 1844), 18 March, p. 4. , viewed 21 Nov 2020, http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article71620975
  30. [S244] The South Australian Register, Adelaide, South Australia, Australia, 1842 'SUPREME COURT-CRIMINAL SIDE.', South Australian Register (Adelaide, SA : 1839 - 1900), 19 March, p. 4. , viewed 22 Nov 2020, http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article27443250
  31. [S464] The South Australian, Adelaide, South Australia, Australia, 1845 'MEMORIAL BY THE COLONISTS OF SOUTH AUSTRALIA AGAINST THE INTRODUCTION OF CONVICTS.', South Australian (Adelaide, SA : 1844 - 1851), 14 February, p. 2. , viewed 22 Nov 2020, http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article71600655
  32. [S1214] The South Australian Gazette and Mining Journal, Adelaide, South Australia, Australia, 1851 'LOCAL NEWS.', South Australian Gazette and Mining Journal (Adelaide, SA : 1847 - 1852), 4 January, p. 3. , viewed 21 Nov 2020, http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article195941448
  33. [S239] The Adelaide Times, Adelaide, South Australia, Australia, 1853 'SUPREME COURT.', Adelaide Times (SA : 1848 - 1858), 16 September, p. 3. , viewed 22 Nov 2020, http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article207120679
  34. [S483] Australia - Electoral Rolls 1900-1980 - Ancestry.com, Electorate of South Melbourne, Subdivision of Sandridge 1856 p.18.
  35. [S336] The Argus, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia, 1856 'Family Notices', The Argus (Melbourne, Vic. : 1848 - 1957), 1 November, p. 4. , viewed 22 Nov 2020, http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article7139334
  36. [S728] GEDCOM file created by Donald L. Reid, 17 Feb 2014 (companion to 'Descendents of James MCKENZIE.rtf' p.5).
  37. [S1170] Dorset, England, Church of England Births and Baptisms, 1813-1906 (www.ancestry.com) Name: William Samuel Fooks; Gender: Male; Spouse: Maria Jane Fooks; Child: Adeline Ellen Fooks.