Who are the forefathers to whom the speaker refers in Elergy Written in a Country Churchyard?

In "Elegy Written in a Country Churchyard" by Thomas Gray, the speaker refers to the residents of the churchyard as "forefathers" to highlight their significance as ancestors of the community. The poem reflects on the lives, accomplishments, and eventual deaths of these ordinary individuals, emphasizing the universal experience of mortality and the idea that even the humblest individuals leave a lasting impact.