CROASDELL FAMILY - POTTED HISTORIES - BRANCHES
John Croasdell and Agnes Roberta Dickenson
John Croasdell 1849 - 1901 was the third child and only surviving son of John Croasdell and Hannah Ellwood. He was born at Plum Green in Finsthwaite village and baptised at Finsthwaite church on 30th September 1849. He appears in the 1851 census with his parents and elder sister at Plum Green and 10 years later was at nearby Town End. By 1871 the family had moved to Finsthwaite Cottage and John had become a Basket maker - also described in the vernacular as a "swiller" or "swill maker". On 29th June 1872 John married Agnes Roberta Dickenson at Egton and the couple had 11 children, although several died in infancy. Many of the children were baptised at Egton-cum-Newland and were described as being born at Pennybridge. There were three pairs of twins (whose births were registered in the same quarter). Agnes Roberta was the daughter of James (a hooper) and Mary Dickenson of Little Dicks, Pennybridge. She had been born on 22nd April 1852 and was baptised 23rd May at Egton-cum-Newland. In 1881 John, Agnes and family were living at Tom Cragg, not far from John's sisters in Finsthwaite and by 1891 they had moved to High Elinghearth in the parish of Haverthwaite. By this time John's occupation was described as Oak Basket Maker. Later in life he became a Postmaster, as recorded at the marriage of two of his children in 1907 and 1915 - although 5 months after his death he is still described as a basketmaker (deceased) at the wedding of his eldest daughter. No doubt the two activities could be carried on at the same time in a small village. In 1901 after John's death Agnes was postmistress and grocer at Haverthwaite Post Office. Daughters Mary and Eleanor were postal clerks, son John was a postman and son Edward was a Joiner's apprentice
John died on 30 January 1901 and was buried on 3rd February at Haverthwaite St Anne's.
Agnes Roberta died on 24th June 1928 and was buried on 27th, also at Haverthwaite
Their children were
Dates and information in [ ] are as given by present day descendants
- James Dickenson 1873 - 1873
- Born at Pennybridge. Baptised 31 August 1873 at Egton-cum-Newland and buried there on 14 September the same year aged 5 weeks. [Born 7th August and died 12th September 1873]
- Mary 1875 - ?1951
- Baptised 28 February 1875 at Egton. [Born 15 January]
- Married John Henry Barrow, a joiner of Bouth, son of Thomas Barrow (deceased) also a joiner, on 17 July 1901 at Haverthwaite
- [Died in Oldham 29 October 1942]
- John 1876 - 1938
- Twin of Agnes Roberta. Born in Pennybridge and baptised at Egton on 27 February 1876 [Born 27 January]
- Married Sarah Ridding 13th April 1903 at Finsthwaite
- For John and Sarah's descendants click here
- Agnes Roberta 1876 - 1877
- Twin of John. Baptised 27 February 1876 at Egton [Born 27 January]
- Buried at Egton February 2nd 1877? aged 1, of Pennybridge [Died 30 January]
- Alice 1878 - 1891
- Baptised 3rd February 1878 at Egton. [Born 3 January]
- Buried 26th May 1891?2 at Finsthwaite when living at Elingharth [Died 26 May]
- Jane 1879 - 1879
- Twin of Eleanor. Baptised 31 May 1879 at Finsthwaite [Born 19 May]
- Buried 2nd June 1879 at Finsthwaite [Died 1 June]
- Eleanor 1879 - ?1956
- Twin of Jane. Baptised 1 June 1879 at Finsthwaite [Born 19 May]
- Married John Foxcroft, [1868 - 1958] a postman, son of Thomas Foxcroft on 2nd August 1915 at Haverthwaite
- Son Henry Dickinson Croasdell born 1898 died 1964. He left £1458 which was administered by the Duchy of Lancaster, implying he had no close living relatives.
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Several Foxcroft children including Thomas pictured. 
- [Eleanor died 3 August 1956 at Haverthwaite]
- Edward 1881 - 1922
- Baptised 7th August 1881 at Finsthwaite when his parents were at Tom Cragg [Born 1 June 1881]
- Married Margaret Jane Stephenson, daughter of Reuben Stephenson (deceased) powder maker on 12th February 1907 at Haverthwaite
- Edward and Margaret emigrated to Canada where they established their family and where their present day descendants now live.
- [Edward died on 22 June 1922 in Ninette, Manitoba and Margaret Jane on 13th July 1934 at St Andrew's Manitoba]
- Harry 1883 - 1886
- Baptised 19 February 1883 at Finsthwaite when his parents' address was Cobby House [Born 29 January 1883]
- Buried at Finsthwaite 9th October 1887 [Died 6 October 1887]
- William 1886 - 1886
- Twin of Sarah Elizabeth. Baptised 7th March 1886 at Egton cum Newland, of Pennybridge [Born 7 March]
- Buried 11th March 1886 at Egton aged 3 days [Died 10 March]
- Sarah Elizabeth 1886 - 1898
- Twin of William. Baptised 7th March 1886 at Egton [Born 7 March]
- Buried 30th March 1898 at Haverthwaite aged 12 years [Died 28 March]