EDGOOSE:
In search of Ancestry
EDGOOSE, Halbert
1891 - 1976 (84 years) Has one ancestor and 3 descendants in this family tree.
1869 - 1943 (73 years)-
Name EDGOOSE, Halbert Birth 22 Mar 1891 West Walton, Norfolk 
Gender Male Death 21 Jan 1976 Long Sutton, Lincolnshire, England Person ID I523 Edgoose Last Modified 17 Sep 2026
Mother EDGOOSE, Elizabeth Ann, b. 26 Feb 1869, West Walton, Norfolk d. 1943, Swainsthorpe, Norfolk, England (Age 73 years) Marriage NO MARRIAGE Family ID F3205 Group Sheet | Family Chart
Family SHARP, Mary, b. 6 Jan 1889, Emneth, Norfolk, England d. 21 Oct 1942, Long Sutton, Lincolnshire, England (Age 53 years) Marriage 18 Jun 1913 Emneth, Norfolk, England Children 1. EDGOOSE, Stanley Robert, b. 3 Mar 1915, Sutton St. James, Lincolnshire, England d. 27 Sep 2003, March, Cambridgeshire, England (Age 88 years)2. EDGOOSE, Graham Thomas, b. 13 Jan 1920, Wisbech Registration District, Cambridgeshire d. 12 Nov 2001, North Walsham Registration District, Norfolk (Age 81 years)3. EDGOOSE, Raymond Lynn, b. 19 Nov 1922, Wisbech Registration District, Cambridgeshire d. 24 Jun 1943, Active Service In World War 2 (Age 20 years)Family ID F360 Group Sheet | Family Chart Last Modified 27 Jan 2026
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Event Map 
Birth - 22 Mar 1891 - West Walton, Norfolk 
= Link to Google Earth
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Biographies 
EDGOOSE, Halbert (1891-1976)
Halbert EDGOOSE was born at West Walton, Norfolk, on 22 March 1891, son of the Elizabeth Ann EDGOOSE who was the daughter of James Lewin and Emily EDGOOSE.
(GRO June Q 1891 Wisbech 03B 631)
His death certificate gives his date of birth as 22 August 1891.
The returns for the census taken on 5 April 1891 show him at Dam Road, West Walton:
James L. EDGOOSE, head, aged 51, gardener, born at West Walton;
Emily EDGOOSE, wife, aged 47, born at Walpole St. Peter, Norfolk;
Elizabeth A. EDGOOSE, daughter, aged 22, unmarried domestic servant, born at West Walton;
John L. EDGOOSE, son, aged 15, scholar, born at West Walton;
Harold EDGOOSE, son, aged 14, scholar, born at West Walton;
*and an un-named two week old grandson - presumably Elizabeth Ann's son Halbert EDGOOSE.
(RG12/1306/65/1)
The 1901 census returns for Dam Road, West Walton:
James Lewin EDGOOSE, head, aged 62, market gardener on own account, born at West Walton;
Emily EDGOOSE, wife, aged 58, born at Walpole St. Andrews;
Elizabeth Ann EDGOOSE, daughter, aged 32, shirt seamstress working at home, born at West Walton;
John Lewin EDGOOSE, son, aged 25, working as a "gardener's son", born at West Walton;
Phyllis EDGOOSE, daughter, aged 20, born at West Walton;
*Halbert EDGOOSE, grandson, aged 10, born at West Walton.
(RG13/1557/56/9)
He lived with his grandfather James Lewin EDGOOSE at Garden Cottage, River Road, West Walton, until he was 15.1/2 years old. He then went to stay with his Aunt Lucinda and her husband William Thomas RACEY at Emneth, Norfolk, and decided to make his home with them. He was in the choir at Emneth Parish Church (as he had been at West Walton and was at Long Sutton in 1968). He worked in RACEY's baker's shop and later took over a shop belonging to RACEY's brother who sold out to RUSSELL.
The 1911 census of the Post Office, Emneth, Norfolk:
William Tho. RACEY, head, aged 40, grocer and baker, employer at home, born at Emneth, Norfolk;
Lilian Maud RACEY, wife, aged 24, married 3 years, 0 children, assistant in business (?), born at Wisbech, Cambs;
Gladys Miriam RACEY, daughter, aged 13, born at Emneth, Norfolk;
Aubrey William RACEY, son, aged 12, born at Emneth, Norfolk;
Rose Beatrice HURST, servant, aged 21, single, female domestic, born at Emneth, Norfolk;
*Halbert EDGOOSE, nephew, aged 20, single, shop assistant, born at West Walton.
(RG14/9325)
He described himself as a 21 year old grocer from Emneth when he married 24 year old spinster Mary SHARP at Emneth Parish Church on 18 June 1913. She was the daughter of Robert Lynn SHARP, a farmer. Witnesses were Robert Lynn SHARP, Elizabeth Ann WEBB, and Mary Jane FOX.
(GRO June Q 1913 Wisbech 3b 1053)
At the age of 21 he went to Sutton St. James, Lincolnshire, and rented a post office and store which he had had built (see photograph of Halbert and Mary on the shop step).
His son Stanley Robert EDGOOSE was born at Sutton St. James on 3 March 1915.
On 16 August 1917 he joined the Royal Engineers on enlistment at Spalding in Lincolnshire, service number 321904, motor cyclist. He was later transferred to the Machine Gun Corps (Motor), Gunner No. 79404. His medical history taken at Lincoln thhe following day shows that he was born at West Walton, Norfolk; he was 26 years and 147 days old; his civilan employment was sub post master; he was 5' 4" tall; he weighed 128 lbs; his chest meaurement, girth when fully expanded, was 36.5 inches with a range of expansion of 2"; his physical description was fair; he had an upper denture; and he had 6/6 vision in both eyes.
(Army Form B178)
A later form B178 shows that he was admitted to Coleba War Hospital from Cooperage Camp on 9 February 1918 and spent 22 days there (of which 14 in isolation) suffering from an "uncomplicated case" of measles. He was discharged well.
After two years at Sutton St. James he was called up and joined the Machine Gun Corps (Motors) as Gunner 79404 Halbert EDGOOSE and later the 13th Light Armoured Motor Brigade. After a course at Belton Park, Grantham, Lincolnshire, he travelleleled through France to Toranto in Italy, thence to Alexandria in Egypt, and from Suez by ship to Aden. Because there was measles on board the ship's destination was changed from Mesopotamia to India - the Colabur Hospital. Halbert said that he was the contact or carrier but did not catch the disease (but see above). He embarked at Bombay on 10 March 1918, disembarked at Basra on 17 March, and spent the next eighteen months in Baghdad without firing a shot. He was at Youvally on the night the armistice was declared.
(Source: interview 27.1.1968)
(Army Form B2513)
(PRO WW1 Medal Rolls)
On 30 March 1919 at Lincoln he signed a form stating that he was not suffering from a disability due to his military service. His medical category on enlistment was said to have been A1. Another form dated 29 January 1924 shows that he served for 1 year and 256 days, one year and thirty three days of which were served overseas. It stated that his character from A.B. 358 was Good.
The Descriptive Return of a Soldier Discharged or Transferred to the Reserve on Demobilization shows that he was a member of an Approved Society, namely the Ancient Order of Foresters. It states, perhaps not entirely correctly, that he served in India and South Africa with no mention of Iraq. The colour of his eyes was brown. Many other details are the same as those on other forms.
As Private H. EDGOOSE No. 19063714 Royal Lincolnshire Regiment he received the General Service Palestine Monument.
He wrote to o/c MGC (M) Records, Westminster, or 23 Courtfield Road, London, on 21 January 1924:
"Sir,
I beg to ask if you will be good enough to supply me with my Army Character, as I require it just now. I did apply for it a short time ago, but but as I received no reply I conclude, that I did not reply to the proper quarter. The particulars from my Army Form Z21. are
Regt No 79404 Gnr. EDGOOSE, Halbert
Unit 13th LAMB M.GC.(M). Mess Ex Force
Enlisted on 6-8-17. For Royal Engineer.
Transferred to Army Reserve "Z" on 29/4/19.
in consequence of Demobilization.
Your Early reply will greatly oblige
Your Obedient Servant
H. Edgoose
Mill House
Emneth. Wisbech"
204 R O Edgoose, Halbert
205 HO Ho Edgoose, Mary
B20GY issued 31 JAN 1924
358 Char Good
His son Graham Thomas EDGOOSE was born in 1920, and Raymond Lynn EDGOOSE in 1922.
He moved to Long Sutton, Lincolnshire, in 1937. Kelly's Directory of Lincolnshire 1937 lists Halbert EDGOOSE, stationer, of the Post Office, Market Place, Long Sutton.
From the 1939 Register of 19 Post Office, High Street, East Elloe R.D., Lincolnshire:
*Halbert EDGOOSE, born 22 March 1891, married, Postmater of Long Sutton.
Mary EDGOOSE, born 6 January 1889, married, Post Office assistant.
(RG101/6374A/006/18 THDP)
In October 1942 he was described as a sub-postmaster on his wife Mary's death certificate.
"Long Sutton. - The death occurred at her home , High-street, Long Sutton, of Mrs. Mary EDGOOSE , aged 53, wife of Mr. H. EDGOOSE, sub-post-master. A native of Emneth, Wisbech, she was [the] daughter of Mr. and Mrs. R. L. SHARPE [sic], who have resided at Long Sutton with Mr. and Mrs. EDGOOSE since their retirement from farming in October last year. Mrs. EDGOOSE was an accomplished organist. Before her marriage she was a teacher at Friday Bridge. She leaves a husband, and three sons--Cpl. Stanley EDGOOSE (missing since the fall of Singapore), Signaller Graham (in the Royal Navy). and Sergt-Observer Raymond EDGOOSE, R.A.F."
(Newspapers.com: Extract from the Linconshire Echo, 2 November 1942, page 3)
His son Raymond Lynn EDGOOSE was killed in June 1943.
An Index of the Will of Elizabeth Ann EDGOOSE (1869-1943), widow:
01*Elizabeth Ann WEBB formerly EDGOOSE.
02 Harold James EDGOOSE (1876-1950), brother of the Testatrix, executor & trustee.
03 Robert James EDGOOSE (1900-1962), nephew of the Testatrix, executor & trustee.
04*Halbert EDGOOSE (1891-1976), son of the Testatrix.
05 Alfred SOUTHWELL, solicitor, Wisbech, witness.
06 Harry FUNDREY, solicitor's clerk, witness.
(District Probate Registry, Norwich)
In the following letters from Halbert EDGOOSE to Michael James EDGOOSE the unusual use of capital letters has been amended and a little more punctuation has been added for the sake of clarity:
A letter from Halbert EDGOOSE of 23 Park Lane, Long Sutton, dated 8 February 1967:
"Dear Michael
Thanks for your letter & contents. I can answer some of your questions altho it may not mean anything new. I will answer them on a separate sheet, but I wanted to just say I do appreciate your efforts to try & get such a lot of Information which is quite interesting.
I trust you are all keeping fit & well & we shall look forward to seeing you again sometime
with best wishes to you all
Halbert"
You are I am sure quite right
Edith Pierce (sic) (Daughter of Uncle Ben) who has died leaving a son Geoffrey.
Bertha, now Mrs Curtis. I knew her in my school days but lost sight of her till now.
Mrs A F Edgoose "Roanje" Walton Highway is the widow of Robert J. Edgoose who died recently. You saw his stone in Walton Churchyard. She has sold out (just before xmas) & now lives at Stowmarket, Suffolk. She has one daughter. Jean.
C.J. Edgoose. Brother to Lewin Edgoose is still there
Sorry I can't at the moment find out who is the Gosberton Edgoose or the 3 others. But as days get longer I will go over to Gosberton & see what I can find out
Barry Edgoose too. Never heard of him
HE"
A second letter, undated:
"Dear Michael
I went up to the P.O. to post my letters which I wrote last night & to my surprise in my wallet I found your letter of 27 Jany & it made me wonder if I had omitted to answer all the questions. In case I did not:
Mrs A F Edgoose, widow of Robert J. Edgoose Walton Highway (now left that address)
The Gosberton Edgoose I did not know existed
James H Edgoose 37 Weldon Ave Sunderland I did not know him but my Aunt Elizabeth who died aged 95 used to tell me about him. He called her his cousin & did write to her every year & I feel sure he died also.
In the case of Wick Frederick Edgoose I agree it could be William Frank.
Should there be anything else do let me know"
A letter dated Sunday 8 October (1967):
"23 Park Lane, Long Sutton, Spalding
Dear Michael
I am sorry I was out when you called on Sunday. I was back within the hour and hoped you would return for tea. However, I hope you had an enjoyable day
Stanley has been over for tea today so I was able to show him the results of your hard work.
Like myself & Graham he was amazed to read of the work you have put into it, and how far you have gone back. Fancy so many Edgooses in the Pinchbeck area, so near. I was surprised. I assume these are for us to keep, or do you want them back? & next time you are this way I hope we shall see you.
Please accept our thanks & until we see you every good wish to you all
Yours Sincerely,
Bert.
Sunday Even.
8th Oct
A letter dated 14 October 1967:
"23 Park Lane, Long Sutton, Spalding
Dear Michael
It was very nice of you to reply so quickly & first I can explain what puzzled you. My uncle Harold James married Elizabeth Duncan Yallup & we always called her Aunt Lizzie. Now you will trace it. My Mother was Elizabeth Ann, Harold's sister. I am glad you enjoyed your day. You do certainly get about & I still say you have done a wonderful job to get all this information. I expect my son from March will be over tomorrow for tea. He was very interested.
401 Miles was a heavy days driving & in these days very tiring. I shall be looking forward to seeing you on your next visit, and in the meantime I will look through some old albums that I have, & see if there are any that will connect - I feel sure I have some.
Today is very wet & miserable so it was a good thing you came before the weather altered for the worse.
Wishing you the best of luck
Yrs sincerely
Halbert"
A letter dated 10 August 1968:
"23 Park Lane, Long Sutton, Lincolnshire
Dear Michael
You will I am sure forgive me for not replying to your last letter which I could not help you with & after reading it I put it in a letter rack which I don't often see and it slipped my memory (which isn't quite so good as was). However, I felt so sorry that you had to write and tell me. I found all your correspondence together in the rack & I have been going through them again & the more I read them the more astonished I felt as to how you have done it all, so neatly put together & time it has taken you to collect it all does not make me fed up, but I admire your skill and pluck to stick at it until you got a proper tree.
What surprised me most was the fact that so many Edgooses was in South Lincs, for instance Pinchbeck. So near & yet I never knew or heard of them.
You mentioned Wicks Frederick Edgoose. I got the idea of calling him that (which may be wrong) when he had the coal business running. A friend of mine at West Walton often talked about him to me & he always said "old Wicks Frederick".
Now this cutting from the Daily Mail must be his son Ron who in pre-war days was at Wisbech G.P.O. with my son Stanley & he may be over to tea tomorrow & I will see if he knows his wherabouts & will leave this open & finish it off tomorrow. It's funny how these little things catch your eye. Now, I do hope you are both keeping well. It's been very trying recently with all the freak storms & so much rain & flooding in parts of the country I hope you have escaped. The Ouse overflowed near Huntington (sic) last week & caused a lot of flooding. We have been fortunate here, except for trees blown down, & it caught our church spire & tore the lead up on the north side & we had the steeple jacks here all the week assessing the damage & patching it up with roofing felt to make it safe & watertight & we now await the report from the Wisbech architect. Our vicar says it's the only one left in the country of this type. it was on Anglia T.V. last week. We always said it would have to be a National Appeal as it will cost a few thousand to renew it properly. When you were here last you mentioned you was both hoping for a Happy Event Has anything happened yet?
Warmest Regards & thanks
yrs Sincerely
Halbert
Stanley has been over to tea & he had a look again at your work which he admired & as regards the newspaper cutting which he saw & also the Daily Mail rang him & the T.V. trying to make up for the Press no doubt.
He went to school with Ron & also worked with him at the Wisbech G.P.O. but he moved away & he has not seen him since. He has changed his job & says "it must be him". The age is correct. He was a queer chap, kept always very much to himself & this sort of interest would appeal to him.
HE"
He died at home, 23 Park Road, Long Sutton, Lincolnshire, on 21 January 1976. He was described as the Postmaster
(Retired) of 23, Park Lane, Long Sutton. The informant on 22 January 1976 was his son, Graham Thomas EDGOOSE of 16 Langwith Drive, Holbeach, Lincolnshire.
Cause of Death:
I(a) Pneumonia
II Senile Myocardial Failure.
(GRO March Q 1976 East Elloe 7 1607)
He was buried in Long Sutton Cemetery. According to his gravestone he was postmaster of Long Sutton for 30 years.
Monumental Inscription:
TREASURED MEMORIES
OF
A BELOVED WIFE
MARY EDGOOSE,
WHO PASSED AWAY
OCT. 21st.. 1942
AGED 53 YEARS
ALSO OF
A BELOVED SON
SGT. R. L. EDGOOSE, RAF.
KILLED ON AIR OPERATIONS
JUNE 24th.. 1943
AGED 21 YEARS
INTERRED . CAGGEVINE . CEMETERY
BELGIUM
ALSO HALBERT EDGOOSE, husband & father of the above
and postmaster of this town for 30 years.
WHO PASSED AWAY JAN. 21st.. 1976 AGED 84 YEARS
"REUNITED"
The Will of Halbert EDGOOSE:
"THIS IS THE WILL of me Halbert EDGOOSE of Number 23 Park Lane Long Sutton in the County of Lincoln Retired Post-Master made this Thirtyfirst day of May One thousand nine hundred and sixty nine.
1. I APPOINT my Sons Graham Thomas EDGOOSE and Stanley Robert EDGOOSE (hereinafter called my Trustees) to be the Executors and Trustees of my Will
2. I BEQUEATH the following legacies each free of duty:-
(a) To my Grand-Daughter Judith EDGOOSE the sum of One hundred pounds and my piano
(b) To Robert and Susan EDGOOSE adopted children of my said Son Stanley Robert EDGOOSE the sum of Fifty pounds apiece
(c) The sum of Twenty five pounds to any house-keeper I may have in my employ at the date of my death provided that she shall have been employed by me for not less than three years and not be under notice either given or received
3. (a) I DEVISE AND BEQUEATH all my real estate and the residue of my personal estate Unto my Trustees Upon the Administration Trusts expressed in Form 8 of the Statutory Will Forms 1925 which form is incorporated in my Will and shall apply to the said estate
(b) MY TRUSTEES shall (subject as aforesaid) hold my said estate or the net proceeds of sale thereof including the sum of Three thousand nine pounds which I have lent to my said Son Stanley Robert EDGOOSE In Trust to divide the same among all or any of my children or child living at my death and if more than one in equal shares Provided always that if any child of mine dies in my lifetime leaving issue living at my death who attain the age of twenty one years or marry under that age then the share of the child so dying shall be held In trust for such issue as aforesaid and if more than one in equal shares
(c) THE Statutory Powers of Maintenance and Advancement shall apply to my Will
4. ANY of my Trustees may notwithstanding his being a Trustee of my Will become the Purchaser or Tenant of any real or personal estate for the time being held on the trusts of this my Will at any public sale or letting thereof or by private conttract provided in the latter case that the sale or letting shall be conducted on behalf of my estate by my Trustees or Trustee other than the one purchasing or hiring or shall be at a price or rent fixed by a competent person named by such other Trustees or Trustee
HEREBY revoking all former Wills I have hereunto set my hand the day and year first above written 31st May 1969
SIGNED by the above named Halbert EDGOOSE as his last Will in the presence of us both present at the same time who in his presence and the presence of each other have hereunto subscribed our names as witnesses"
Probate was granted on 17 March 1976 to Graham Thomas EDGOOSE of The Beeches 16 Langwith Drive Holbeach Lincolnshire and Stanley Robert EDGOOSE of 119 High Street March Cambridgeshire the Executors named in the said Will. The gross value of the estate was £ 13,265.28. The net value was £ 13,051.90.
NOTES & QUERIES:.
According to Graham Thomas EDGOOSE his father Halbert EDGOOSE said that his mother used to work for William PRATT, a farmer, and that he was his father. Apparently PRATT was wealthy, and there was supposed to have been some sort of settlement, but it was never made. As a child Halbert used to play with one of PRATT's daughters. However, a William PRATT has not been traced at West Walton in the 1891 and 1901 census, although PRATTs were farming at West Walton at this time.
(Interview with Graham Thomas EDGOOSE in 1977)
(revised 26.06.2026)
Photos: People 
Edgoose HalbertEdgoose 571 358
WHO: HALBERT EDGOOSE (1891-1976).
WHAT: Shown here in military uniform. Note the difference in cap badge from the subsequent photograph of him with his wife and child.
WHEN: The photograph was taken in 1914.