EDGOOSE:
In search of Ancestry
EDGOOSE, Elizabeth
1815 - 1900 (85 years) Has 4 ancestors and 41 descendants in this family tree.
1766 - 1833 (67 years)-
Name EDGOOSE, Elizabeth Birth 1815 Holland Fen, Lincolnshire, England 
Gender Female Death 15 Jan 1900 Amber Hill, Lincolnshire, England Burial 19 Jan 1900 Algarkirk, Lincolnshire, England Person ID I586 Edgoose Last Modified 3 Feb 2026
Father EDGOOSE, John, b. 1766, Kirkby On Bain, Lincolnshire d. 21 Jun 1833, At Sea (Age 67 years) Mother LAWSON, Sarah, b. 1769, Brothertoft, Lincolnshire, England d. 1820, Algarkirk, Lincolnshire, England (Age 51 years) Marriage 19 Jul 1791 Sutterton, Lincolnshire, England Family ID F400 Group Sheet | Family Chart
Family CRAFT, John, b. Between 1811 and 1812, Old Bolingbroke, Lincolnshire, England d. 1 Sep 1893, Amber Hill, Lincolnshire, England (Age 82 years) Marriage 6 Aug 1835 Algarkirk, Lincolnshire, England Children 1. CRAFT, William Jonathan, b. 23 Apr 1836, Boston, Lincolnshire, England d. Oct 1907, Wellington, New South Wales, Australia (Age 71 years)2. CRAFT, James, b. 22 Oct 1838, Algarkirk, Lincolnshire, England d. 1922, Boston Registration District, Lincolnshire (Age 83 years)3. CRAFT, John, b. 11 Sep 1840, Algarkirk, Lincolnshire, England d. 1876, Sheffield Registration District, Yorkshire (Age 35 years)Family ID F413 Group Sheet | Family Chart Last Modified 27 Jan 2026
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Biographies 
EDGOOSE, Elizabeth now CRAFT (1815-1900)
Elizabeth Edgoose was baptised at Holland Fen Chapel, Lincolnshire, on 6 August 1815, daughter of John and Sarah EDGOOSE. John EDGOOSE was described as a labourer from Alderkirk Fen.
(FreeReg)
John EDGOOSE had married Sarah LAWSON at Sutterton, Lincolnshire, on 19 July 1791.
Elizabeth EDGOOSE and John CRAFT were married by banns at Algarkirk parish church on 6 August 1835. Both she and John CRAFT were single and lived at Algarkirk. Witnesses were William TAYLOR and Richard HANSON.
(Parish Register)
William Jonathan, son of John CROFT (sic), labourer, and his wife Elizabeth of Algarkirk Fen, was baptised at Swineshead, Lincolnshire, on 17 May 1836.
(Parish Register via www.findmypast.com)
From the 1841 census of Algarkirk, Lincolnshire:
John CROFT (sic), aged 25, agricultural labourer, born in Lincolnshire;
*Elizabeth CROFT (sic), aged 25, born in Lincolnshire;
William CROFT (sic), aged 5, born in Lincolnshire;
James CROFT (sic), aged 2, born in Lincolnshire;
John CROFT (sic), aged 1 month, born in Lincolnshire.
(HO107/606/2/7/6)
Elizabeth's 70 year old aunt, Alice EDGOOSE, lived next door with Mathew and Mary TEBB.
In her will made on 11 April 1842 Alice EDGOOSE of Algarkirk, who was baptised at Kirkby-on-Bain on 14 July 1776, refers to her niece Elizabeth, the wife of John CROFT (sic).
(LCC Will 1845)
James and John CROFT (sic) were baptised at Algarkirk, Lincolnshire, on 27 March 1845. The parish register records that:
James, Son of John and Elizabeth CROFT (sic) of Algarkirk Fen, labourer, "Born Octr the 22nd in the year of our Ld 1838".
John, Son of John and Elizabeth CROFT (sic) of Algarkirk Fen, labourer, "Born Sepr the 11th in the year of our Lord 1840".
(Algarkirk Parish Register via www.findmypast)
Jonathan and Helen EDGOOSE were living next door to Jonathan's sister Elizabeth CRAFT at Wyatt Drove, Algarkirk, in 1851:
Jonathan EDGOOSE, head, married, aged 38, agricultural labourer, born at Algarkirk;
Helen EDGOOSE, sister-in-law, aged 46, born at Uppingham, Rutland.
Next door were:
John CROFT (sic), head, aged 39, owner of 9 acres, born at Sutterton, Lincolnshire;
*Elizabeth CROFT, wife, aged 36, farmer's wife, born at Algarkirk;
William CROFT, son, aged 14, farmer's son, born at Algarkirk;
James CROFT, son, aged 12, farmer's son, born at Algarkirk;
John CROFT, son, aged 10, farmer's son, born at Algarkirk.
(HO107/2099/761v)
From the 1861 census of Algarkirk Fen, Lincolnshire:
John CRAFT, head, aged 49, farmer of 9 acres, born at North Kyme, Lincolnshire;
*Elizabeth CRAFT, wife, aged 46, born at Algarkirk;
John CRAFT, son, aged 20, unmarried, labourer, born at Algarkirk.
(RG9/2340/81/8)
Next door were:
James CRAFT, head, aged 22, labourer, born at Hornsby (?), Lincolnshire;
Eliza CRAFT, wife, aged 19, born at Hornsby (?), Lincolnshire;
Elizabeth Anne CRAFT, daughter, aged 5 months, born at Carrington, Lincolnshire.
(RG9/2340/81/8)
On 17 November 1869 she wrote to her son William CRAFT in Australia:
"Algarkirk Fen November 17 1869
My Dear William and Catherine and Grandchildren it with pleasure I rite these few lines to you hoping to find you all injoying good helth as this leaves us in a midling way
my Dear William it gave us great pleasure to hear from you once more I think it was very ungreatful of you not ansuring my letter when Father and Mother gits old and out of sight their are soon out of mind
it is three years last June since we received your letter I never thought you would been so unkind to one who as greveied for you
I felt a freid to write to you for fear of hearing bad news so I got your Brother James to rite to see if he could git any imformation what had become of you for I red in the Stamford paper of a man been murded in a most brutal maner and his name was CROFT at a place called gipland in Austrilia so I will leave you to think what my feelings was for I shaked like I had the Ague for a long time so you may be sure to hear from you once more and to see your likeness it caused the tears of joy to flow to think that God infinite mercy he had spared your life and that he shiltred you in the holow of is hand when dangers was neigh
you have becomed a married man you have been a long wile before that you maid your choice I ham very glad to hear that you are so luccy getting Wife and such a good Mother i hope that you will make her a kind husband and good father and may God give you grace and may every blessing attend your Married life I wish i had the pleasure of seeing you personly and yours let me know whthir your Wife is a natife of Australia or what cuntray whoman she is in life the looks of her for I think she looks very neat young woman
I should like to see little Georg and make him a plum cake the same as I do my other Grand Childen at christmas they all reckon to com to see us I should like to you to see your Brother James and is Wife an children came to see us this sum and ssee their aperance their is none in the Fen that can cut them down your Brother John he lives at Boston he keeps the Duke of Yorc and he is a doing very well and he as 3 children there is severel Deaths in the Fen since you left but we are spared a little longer we had a very dray sumer before last but our corn was in a bundance we have not many pumkins nor horanges hear but we have 2 good sows and some good fat pigs you say you have meat at 3d per lb I ham a Fraid that there is a deal of boun to the meat
your uncle Jonathan lives in our house were they did when you left home your uncle Joel and ant is a live and sends their love to you you must excuse us not sending our likness at the present I should like for you to come personable that you may be a comfort in our declining years
they is a new church built in Algarkirk Fen near the locks
so no more at the present we remain your loving Father and Mother John and Elizabeth CRAFT
kisses for Georg
pleas to Answer by return of post"
The family were living at Ulyatt's Drove, Algarkirk Fen, in 1871:
John CRAFT, head, married, aged 59, farmer, born at Old Bolingbroke;
*Elizabeth CRAFT, wife, aged 56, born at Algarkirk Fen;
Elizabeth Ann CRAFT, granddaughter, aged 10, scholar; born at Carrington;
James William CRAFT, grandson, aged 5, born at Algarkirk Fen.
(RG10/3346/90)
From the 1881 census returns for Algarkirk Fen:
John CRAFT, head, aged 69, cottager, born at Old Bolingbroke, Lincolnshire;
*Elizabeth CRAFT, wife, aged 66, born at Algarkirk Fen;
James W. CRAFT, grandson, aged 15, born at Algarkirk Fen;
Emma J. CRAFT, granddaughter, aged 14, born at Algarkirk Fen.
Next door neighbours were Jonathan EDGOOSE and his widowed sister-in-law Eleanor EDGOOSE nee WARD.
(RG11/3220/152/8)
On 1 September 1890 she wrote from Algarkirk Fen to her niece Harriet COCKER (nee EDGOOSE, 1858-1916) in Aberdeen, South Dakota. The envelope was addressed to Mrs. COCKER, c/o Miss EDGOOSE, Aberdeen, South Dokota (sic) U. S. America.
"Algarkirk Fen 1st Sep 90
My Dear Niece
I recived your kind and welcome letter and glad you arrived safe and was in good helth I am sorry the voyage was so rough I hope when you come back the sea will be camer. When I heard you had gone It quite up set me I could not eate any dinneeer If I had have known I should liked to have seen you before you had gone so far away. But I hope with Gods blessing you will return safe to your native home. I am very pleased to hear you are enjoying your self so well and found them all well your Uncle has been very porley for 3 weeks but he is a little better I am pleased to say. we have got the wheat cut but not in a stack yet for labour is so scarce and dear you can scarce get a man
I am very pleased to hear your Brother John is getting on so well and glad Betsy is so well respected, give our fond love to her I think it very hard she never sent me a few lines you never said any thing about Lizzie But we hear she as married well. I think Betsy is wating for some Yankee Gentleman you talk about the heat we could do very well with some of it here laitly Its very cold for the time of the Year you will be very surprised to hear Mrs. PERCE is dead died from her confinement left 10 children I hope you will get safe back and I shall have the pleasure of seen you and then you can tell me about America give my kind regards to miss SCHOFIELD and give fond love to each and all not forgetting your own dear self please let me have a line as soon as you get over for I shall be anxiously wating James and Lizzie sends their love
I Remain Your Loving
Aunt & Uncle J. E. CROFT"
According to Clara Strohmeier CLARK her mother Elizabeth STROHMEIER (formerly Elizabeth EDGOOSE, 1852-1944) had an AUNT CRAFT who had a toffee shop.
At the time of the 1891 census John and Elizabeth CRAFT were at Amber Hill. John CRAFT was a 79 year old farmer born at Bolingbroke in Lincolnshire and his wife Elizabeth was 76 and born at Algarkirk. Also present was their 22 year old grandson James A. CRAFT, an agricultural labourer born at Bramley in Yorkshire, and their 24 year old granddaughter Jane CRAFT born at Algarkirk (RG12/2576/132/2). Jane is probably synonymous with Emma Jane.
She died at Amber Hill on 15 January 1900 at the age of 85. She was described as the widow of John CRAFT a cottager. Her grandson J. CRAFT of Amber Hill informed the registrar.
(GRO March Q 1900 Mar Boston 7a 336)
(revised 09.02.2026)
Photos: People 
Edgoose ElizabethEdgoose 662 3 18691117
WHO: ELIZABETH CRAFT formerly EDGOOSE (1815-1900). She was the daughter of the infamous John EDGOOSE (1766-1833) and of his wife Sarah LAWSON (1769-1820) who married John CRAFT at Algarkirk, Lincolnshire on 6 August 1835.
WHEN: 1897. Photograph taken by F. & G. BEALES, 31 High Street, Boston, Lincolnshire, England.