Charles Berjew Fooks

#189, (7 May 1804-11 September 1875)
FatherJames MacKenzie Fooks (7 Dec 1780-22 Oct 1824)
MotherJane Berjew (26 Dec 1778-15 Apr 1875)
Last Edited13 Oct 2022
WikiTree ID:https://www.wikitree.com/wiki/Fooks-99.
     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.
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Charles was born on Monday, 7 May 1804 at Melcombe Regis, Weymouth, Dorset.1,2 He was the son of James MacKenzie Fooks and Jane Berjew. Charles Berjew Fooks was baptised on Sunday, 17 August 1806 at the village of Up Cerne near the town of Cerne Abbas, Dorset. His family travelled at least 15 miles - a journey of several hours - so he could be baptised in the church his mother's father was rector of.3 He presumably lived with his parents at Melcombe Regis, Weymouth, Dorset, in 1814.4

His father died 22 October 1824 at the age of 43. Charles was aged 20 when this happened.5

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. Charles was granted £20. This was equivalent to half the annual wage of a labourer..6,7

He married Ann Chandler, at St. Mary's on Thursday, 12 October 1826 at Lambeth, London. He was 22 and his wife Ann was 23..8,9

In July 1827 took over the business and premises of Morris Clark who ran a cabinet and upholstery warehouse in St. Thomas Street, Melcombe Regis, Weymouth, Dorset.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.. Charles was granted £20. This was equivalent to half the annual wage of a labourer..6,7 He was a builder and perhaps also a property owner in 1831 at Melcombe Regis, Weymouth, Dorset.11,12

In February 1832, Charles was elected a principle Burgess in the Corporation of Weymouth, Dorset.13

Due to an expansion of his building business, he sold his cabinet and upholstry business in January 1835 to his assistant, George Voss.14

Charles was responsible for several public buildings in Weymouth. This included the new Holy Trinity church and the Masonic Hall.15 He was an Alderman in 1838 at Weymouth, Dorset.16,15

He was in partnership as a merchant with Joseph Brittan that dissolved in 1841, with Charles to carry on the business.

A member of the Corporation of Weymouth.15

Charles had a life insurance policy for £1,000, with an annual premium of £23 13s 4d.17

Charles emigrated with Ann's sister and her husband from England on the 'Sir Charles Seymour.18' Charles arrived at New Zealand in December 1850.19
Charles (and presumably his spouse Ann) lived in 1853 at Cashel Street, Christchurch, New Zealand. They were to stay at this residence for eleven years.20
Linwood House, built in 1857, designed by Charles Berjew Fooks
(Source: Schwede66, 4 Nov 2012, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Linwood_House_architect%27s_sketch.jpg)


Charles was the architect of Linwood House for Joseph Brittan, who was a surgeon, newspaper editor, and provincial councillor and consequently one of the prominent early figures in early Christchurch. The house was built in the Georgian / Regency style and was originally situated on 30 acres.21

Charles was charged with embezzlement in December 1860:
"The last New Zealand papers report that a certain Mr. Charles Berjew Fookes, who was Secretary to the Land Board at Port Cooper, had been convicted, on two indictments, of embezzling funds officially in his charge. He had been sentenced to four years' imprisonment, with hard labour"

however there is some indication that the fault lay with administrative procedures.22,23

His mother died 15 April 1875 at the age of 96. Charles was aged 70 when this happened.

Charles died on 11 September 1875 at Peterborough Street, Christchurch, New Zealand, at age 71 at his home.24,25

Timeline

DateEventPlace
Family
1804BirthMelcombe Regis, Weymouth, Dorset1,2
1806Baptism the village of Up Cerne near the town of Cerne Abbas, Dorset3
1826MarriageSt. Mary's, Lambeth, London8,9
1827Note memo only CR CRSt. Thomas Street, Melcombe Regis, Weymouth, Dorset10
1831OccupationMelcombe Regis, Weymouth, Dorset11,12
1832Note memo only CR CRWeymouth, Dorset13
1835Note memo only CR CR14
1836Note memo only CR CRWeymouth, Dorset15
1838OccupationWeymouth, Dorset16,15
1841Note memo only CR CR
Note memo only CR CRWeymouth, Dorset15
1848Note memo only CR CR17
Emigratn-newEngland18
1850Immigratn-newNew Zealand19
1853ResidenceCashel Street, Christchurch, New Zealand20
1857Note memo only CR CR21
1860Quotation type 122,23
1875DeathPeterborough Street, Christchurch, New Zealand24,25

Family

Ann Chandler (11 Jun 1803-c 1876)
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. [S1107] England, Select Dorset, Church of England Parish Registers, 1538-1999 Ancestry.com, (www.ancestry.com) Name: Charles Berjew Fooks; Gender: Male; Event Type: Baptism; Baptism Date: 17 Aug 1806; Baptism Place: Upper Cerne, Dorset, England; Father: James Fooks; Mother: Jane Fooks; FHL Film Number: 002427587.
  4. [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.
  5. [S274] Grahame R. Fooks, The Fooks Family Records p.4.
  6. [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.
  7. [S561] Dorset Online Parish Clerks (http://www.opcdorset.org/) Cerne Abbas - Wills Extracts A - M (https://www.opcdorset.org/BradfordAbbas/…).
  8. [S728] GEDCOM file created by Donald L. Reid, 17 Feb 2014 (companion to 'Descendents of James MCKENZIE.rtf' p.3) (for exact date and place).
  9. [S338] Ancestry.com.au Ancestry.com, (http://www.ancestry.com.au/) http://trees.ancestry.com.au/tree/34108638/person/… (comment by Anne7232 on 02 Jul 2013).
  10. [S1401] The Dorset County Chronicle, Dorchester, Dorset, England, 9th July 1829 p.1.
  11. [S578] Poll Book / Electoral Register for United Kingdom, 1538-1893 Name: Charles Berjew Fooks, Poll Year:     1831, Division: Dorchester, Parish or Rectory: Melcombe Regis, County: Dorset.
  12. [S728] GEDCOM file created by Donald L. Reid, 17 Feb 2014 (companion to 'Descendents of James MCKENZIE.rtf' p.4) (for note about being a property owner).
  13. [S1402] The Sherborne Mercury, Sherborne, Dorset, England, 13th Feb 1832 p.4.
  14. [S1401] The Dorset County Chronicle, Dorchester, Dorset, England, 28th Jan 1835 p.1.
  15. [S1394] The Roberts Family (https://sites.google.com/view/therobertsfamily/home) James Mackenzie Fooks (1780-1824) https://sites.google.com/view/therobertsfamily/…
  16. [S1401] The Dorset County Chronicle, Dorchester, Dorset, England, 15th Nov 1838 p.4.
  17. [S1401] The Dorset County Chronicle, Dorchester, Dorset, England, 9th March 1848 p.1.
  18. [S415] Wikipedia (http://en.wikipedia.org) 'Linwood House' (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Linwood_House) (for exact departure place).
  19. [S415] Wikipedia (http://en.wikipedia.org) 'Linwood House' (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Linwood_House).
  20. [S728] GEDCOM file created by Donald L. Reid, 17 Feb 2014 (companion to 'Descendents of James MCKENZIE.rtf' p.4).
  21. [S415] Wikipedia (http://en.wikipedia.org) 'Linwood House' (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Linwood_House).
  22. [S637] The Moreton Bay Courier (Brisbane), Brisband, Queensland, 1860 'NEWS AND NOTES.', The Moreton Bay Courier (Brisbane, Qld. : 1846 - 1861), 25 December, p. 4, viewed 10 July, 2013, http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article3717736
  23. [S616] The Empire, Sydney, NSW, 1860 'LYTTELTON.', Empire (Sydney, NSW : 1850 - 1875), 20 December, p. 2, viewed 10 July, 2013, http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article60503700 ("LYTTELTON.
    Our Lyttelton papers are to tho 8th Docember, Mr Charlea Berjew Fooks, late Secretary to the Waste Lands Board, has been convicted of embezzlement, on two indictments, and sentenced to four years' imprisonment, with hard labour. With reference to this case, the Lyttelton Times has the following:
    The Secretary of the Waste Lands Board was nothing more than clerk to the Chief Commissioner ; though the mora euphonious title waa given him, on account of his age and for other similar reasons, when the appointment was first conferred upon him. His duty was simply that of any clerk, to assist his prlncipal in the performance of the routine duties of the office, for which in this case the Chief Commissioner was made clearly responsible. The receipt and custody of moneys was a distinct branch of the office business, and was entrusted to a separate officer, whose duties. were latterly made still more special through his appointment by quite another authority from that which created the Commissioners and the Secretary. The Treasurer, or receiver of land revenue, as he came to be called, was charged with the duty of receiving moneys, and was under heavy recognizances with sureties for the proper custody of those moneys. The Secretary was neither charged with the duty of receiving money, nor under any kind of bond to account for it properly. It was never intended that he should have the chance of receiving public money, and no prccautions were taken against his misusing it. The receiver of Land revenue, whose duty it was to take into bis charge the sums paid across the Board table immediately upon their payment, cbose to ignore the responsibility which lay upon him, absented himself from his duty, and left the funds of the public to be handled by an officer who had not that safeguard to offer which tho public service requires, in the shape of a bond. This was a most improper proceeding, not only as the issue proves, but on the broad ground that a public officer has no right to deal lightly with the public funds, even though he might feel quite satisfied to exercise the same confidence in respect to bis private
    affairs. The Chief Commissioner and the other members of the Board permitted the moneys in question to pass into the bands of an officer, of whose want of due qualification they must have been well aware. Nor did they take any ordinary precautions to satisfy themselves that the duty was at any rate being done. This was, at least, blameable negligence.").
  24. [S667] The Press, Canturbury, New Zealand, Volume XXIV, Issue 3131, 13 September 1875, Page 2.
  25. [S633] New Zealand Death Certificate, Central Registry 1875/4718 (index only).