THERE WAS AN OLD WOMAN

Original Rhyme

There was an old woman who lived in a shoe.
She had so many children, she didn't know what to do;
She gave them some broth without any bread;
Then whipped them all soundly and put them to bed.

As is always with legends, there is no proof linking any one person to this rhyme.

The speculation is, however, that it might be either Queen Caroline who with King George II had eight children, or Elizabeth Goose (Vergoose) who lived in Boston with six children.  Elizabeth Goose is sometimes associated with  the Mother Goose title.

There is no information that either of these women were necessarily harsh to their children.