EDGOOSE:
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EDGOOSE, Jonathan
1850 - 1871 (20 years) Has 8 ancestors but no descendants in this family tree.
1814 - 1888 (75 years)-
Name EDGOOSE, Jonathan Birth 5 Aug 1850 Swineshead, Lincolnshire, England 
Gender Male Death 29 May 1871 Algarkirk, Lincolnshire, England Burial 2 Jun 1871 Algarkirk, Lincolnshire, England Person ID I618 Edgoose Last Modified 16 Jul 2026
Father EDGOOSE, Joel, b. 19 Jan 1804, Swineshead, Lincolnshire, England d. 24 Dec 1883, Amber Hill, Lincolnshire, England (Age 79 years) Mother JONES, Mary Elizabeth Grace, b. Between 1813 and 1814, At Sea d. 27 May 1888, Aberdeen, Brown County, South Dakota, USA (Age 75 years) Marriage UNKNOWN Family ID F408 Group Sheet | Family Chart
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Biographies 
EDGOOSE, Jonathan (1850-1871)
Jonathan EDGOOSE was born at Swineshead, Lincolnshire, on 5 August 1850, son of Joel EDGOOSE, labourer, and Mary EDGOOSE formerly JONES. The informant was Mary EDGOOSE, mother, Swineshead.
(GRO September Q 1850 [JONES] Boston 14 289)
(Birth Certificate)
The marriage between Joel EDGOOSE and Mary Elizabeth Grace JONES has not been traced.
At the time of the 1851 census Joel EDGOOSE was an agricultural labourer living at Hammond Beck, Swineshead:
Joel EDGOOSE, head, aged 47, agricultural labourer, born at Algarkirk, Lincolnshire;
Mary EDGOOSE, wife, aged 37, born at Newport, Shropshire;
Sarah EDGOOSE, daughter, aged 18, born at Newport;
James EDGOOSE, son, aged 14, agricultural labourer, born in the City of Durham;
John EDGOOSE, son, aged 11, agricultural labourer, born in the City of Durham;
Alice EDGOOSE, daughter, aged 9, born at Swineshead, Lincolnshire;
Joel EDGOOSE, son, aged 6, born at Swineshead, Lincolnshire;
Mary EDGOOSE, daughter, aged 3, born at Swineshead, Lincolnshire;
Robert EDGOOSE, grandson, aged 3, born at Swineshead, Lincolnshire;
*Jonathan EDGOOSE, son, aged 7 months, born at Swineshead, Lincolnshire.
(HO107/2099/633)
The family were living at Sutterton, Lincolnshire, at the time of the 1861 census:
Joel EDGOOSE, head, married, aged 57, agricultural labourer, born at Algarkirk, Lincolnshire;
Mary EDGOOSE, wife, married, aged 47, born at Newport, Hampshire (sic);
Joel EDGOOSE, son, unmarried, aged 16, born at Algarkirk, Lincolnshire;
*Jonathan EDGOOSE, son, aged 10, born at Algarkirk, Lincolnshire;
Elizabeth EDGOOSE, daughter, aged 7, born at Algarkirk, Lincolnshire;
William EDGOOSE, son, aged 5, born at Algarkirk, Lincolnshire;
Harritt EDGOOSE, daughter, aged 2, born at Algarkirk, Lincolnshire.
(RG9/2340/68/10)
"SLEAFORD
TOWN HALL, MONDAY.
- Before the Ven. Archdeacon TROLLOPE, Captain PARKER, and the Rev. B. G. BRIDGES. - John EDGOOSE, charged by John BRAY with cutting and wounding at Digby, on the 24th ult., was committed for trial at the quarter sessions."
(Lincolnshire Chronicle, 3 April 1868)
(www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk)
"KESTEVEN
Sleaford 9 April
John EDGOOSE, 18, labourer, was charged by John BRAY with having unlawfully and maliciously cut and wounded him at Digby, on the 24th day of March. The prisoner pleaded guilty. Two letters from former masters were read, and spoke very highly of the character of the prisoner; and as he had received considerable provocation, he was sentenced to be imprisoned for the term of two calendar months with hard labour."
(Lincolnshire Chronicle, 17 April 1868)
(www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk)
"Sleaford 9 April
John EDGOOSE charged with having unlawfully and maliciously cut and wounded Jno BRAY at Digby on the 24th March 1868 - a second count charged the Prisoner with having unlawfully and maliciously inflicted upon the said Jno BRAY grievous bodily harm - Pleads guilty - sentenced to two Calendar Months Hard Labour"
(Kesteven Quarter Sessions Minute Book, KQS A/1/42)
His name appears in a printed Calendar of Prisoners in the House of Correction at Falkingham prepared by James HIGGINS, the gaoler. He was 18 years old, a labourer who could neither read nor write. He had been apprehended on 30 March 1868, the same day that a warrant for his arrest was issued. He was "charged with having unlawfully and maliciously cut and wounded John BRAY, at Digby, on the 24th day of March, 1868". A hand written addition shows that he pleaded guilty and that the sentence of the Court was two calendar months' hard labour.
(KQS/A/2/619/155)
The Parts of Kesteven
In the County of Lincoln
The Jurors for our Lady the Queen upon their Oath present that John EDGOOSE late of of the Parish of Digby in the Parts of Kesteven in the County of Lincoln on the Twenty fourth day of March in the year of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and sixty eight at Digby aforesaid in the Parts and County aforesaid one John BRAY unlawfully and maliciously did wound against the form of the Statute in such case made and provided and against the peace of our Lady the Queen her Crown and Dignity And the Jurors aforesaid upon their Oath aforesaid do further present that the said John EDGOOSE at Digby aforesaid on the day and year aforesaid upon the said John BRAY unlawfully and maliciously did inflict grievous bodily harm against the form of the Statute in such case made and provided and against the Peace of our Lady the Queen her Crown and Dignity. The said John BRAY, Prosecutor.
(KQS/A/2/619/126 front)
THE EXAMINATION of John BRAY, Farm Servant, George POTTERTON, Labour [sic], both of Digby in the said Parts, Thomas PECK, Surgeon and Charles BIRD Police Constable both of Ruskington in the said Parts taken upon Oath this 30th day of March in the year of our Lord One Thousand Eight Hundred and sixty eight at NEW SLEAFORD, in the said Parts, before the undersigned one of Her Majesty's Justices of the Peace for the said Parts, in the presence and hearing of John EDGOOSE who is charged this day before me with having on the 24th day of March One Thousand Eight Hundred and sixty eight at the Parish of Digby in the said Parts, unlawfully and maliciously wounded the said John BRAY contrary to the staute in such case made and provided
THE DEPONENT John BRAY on his Oath, SAITH as follows:- I am a Farm Servant in the service of Mr Robert IDLE at Digby - On Tuesday last the 24th. inst about seven o'clock in the morning the Prisoner John EDGOOSE was passing the Field in which I was ploughing when I said to him "You told me a story yesterday" he replied "I know I did" I said "You want to set that other man on to fight me and it would serve you right to give you a good husking" he replied "you cant you can come and try if you like" I got over the hedge and went to him and got hold of him by the Coat he put his right hand into his Pocket before I got to him and immediately struck me on the left side of the neck and I saw that blood was running down my Clotheothes - upon this I left him when he said " you have not hurt me yet" I said "I will do" I returned to the Prisoner, John EDGOOSE, but did not strike him and said to him "if I haven't hurt you - you've hurt me plenty" he said "Yes I meant to do" I had felt of my neck and found that I had been cut - Before I left him he struck me a second time when I saw he had a knife in his hand - with this blow he cut through my slop and waistcoat against the Pocket on my left hand side and when I saw he had a knife I left him and went to a neighbour's house and got it tied up and afterwards went to Mr. PECK the Doctor at Ruskington - I have not been able to do my work since JohnXBray his mark
(KQS/A/2/619/128 & 129)
The Deponent George POTTERTON on his oath saith as follows: I am a laborer and work for Mr Robert IDLE of Digby. On Tuesday last I was working in the same Field with the last witness. I saw the last Witness BRAY get over the hedge and go to the Prisoner EDGOOSE, I heard them quarreling but could not hear what they said and saw them scuffling together for a short time when BRAY left the Prisoner I heard the Prisoner say "You haven't hurt me yet you may come again if you like" the witness BRAY went to him again and they had another scuffle. shortly after BRAY came to me and I saw blood running from his neck and I advised him to go and get it tied up as soon as possible GeorgeXPotterton his mark
(KQS/A/2/619/130
The Deponent Thomas PECK on his oath saith as follows:- I am a Surgeon practising at Ruskington - On Tuesday morning last the 24th. inst. the witness BRAY came to me about nine o'clock - he said to me "A man has cut me with a knife" I examined hhis neck and found he had been stabbed there the wound was two inches long and two inches and a quarter deep - four small arteries were divided and bleeding freely - he bled very much and became faint before I could secure the vessels - I did not at the time consider the wound in itself dangerous I dressed it and it has since progressed favorably - The wound is such that could have been in my opinion produced with a knife like the One now produced but it must have required great force to have penetrated to the depth of the wound [signed] Thomas Peck
(KQS/A/2/619/131)
The Deponent Charles BIRD On his oath saith as follows. I am a Police Constable stationed at Ruskington. From information I received I apprehended the Prisoner EDGOOSE as Ruskington and charged him with Cutting and wounding John BRAY at Digby - he said "I did do it And am very sorry" I said "what did you do it with" he said "a knife" I said "where is it." he replied "I have cleaned it and thrown it away" - I requested the Prisoner to go back with me to find the knife which he did he found it in the Field where he was at work and handed it to me - The knife I now produce is the same he handed to me - On our way the Prisoner related the circumstances of the quarrel and said "when BRAY was coming over the dyke I pulled my knife out of my Pocket - and opened it and had it in my hand and put it into my Coat pocket and "when he came at me the second time I jabbed him with the knife." at the same time shewing me how he struck BRAY. [signed] Charles Bray
The foregoing Depositions of
John BRAY George POTTERTON Thomas PECK and
Charles BIRD were
severally taken signed and
sworn on the day and year
first before written
Before me
Edward TROLLOPE
(KQS/A/2/619/132 & 133)
John EDGOOSE Who stands charged before me the Undersigned, one of Her Majesty's Justices of the Peace for the said Parts of Kesteven, this thirtieth day of March in the Year of our Lord One Thousand Eight Hundred and Sixty Eight at NEW SLEAFORD, in the said Parts and County, for that he the said John EDGOOSE on the twenty fourth day of March instant at the Parish of Digby in the said Parts unlawfully and maliciously did wound one John BRAY contrary to the statute in such case made and provided
And the said Charge being now read over to the said John EDGOOSE and the Witnesses for the Prosecution having been severally examined in his presence, the said John EDGOOSE is now addressed as follows:-
"Having heard the Evidence, do you wish to say anything in answer to the Charge? you are not obliged to say any thing unless you desire to do so: you have nothing to hope from any promise of favour, and nothing to fear from any threat which may have been holden out to induce you to make any admission or confession of Guilt; but whatever you say will be taken down in writing, and may be given in Evidence against you upon your Trial."
WHEREUPON the said John EDGOOSE SAITH as follows:
I never told BRAY he was to come on again - The first time he come up to strike me I didn't intend to meddle with him if he had left me alone - The Second time I Cut him
on the neck - The third time I cut him on the slop. I am very sorry for it - I didn't intend cutting him. I got my Knife to scare him JohnXEdgoose his mark
Taken and signed on the day and year
first above written before me
Edward TROLLOPE
(KQS/A/2/619/134)
The census taken on the night of the 2 April 1871 reveals that he was living with his parents at Maryland Bank, Algarkirk Fen:
Joel EDGOOSE, head, married, aged 67, labourer, born at Algarkirk Fen, Lincolnshire;
Mary EDGOOSE, wife, married, aged 57, born at Newport, Salop, South Wales (sic!);
*Jonathan EDGOOSE, son, aged 20, born at Swineshead, Lincolnshire.
(RG10/3346/87/3)
He died of pthisis at Algarkirk Fen on 29 May 1871 aged 20 and was buried at Algarkirk on 2 June. Harriet EDGOOSE, who was present when he died, gave his occupation as farm labourer. She was almost certainly his 12 year old sister.
(GRO June Q 1871 Boston 7a 254)
NOTES & QUERIES:
It has been assumed that John EDGOOSE and Jonathan EDGOOSE are one and the same because no John EDGOOSE was born circa 1850. However, the court records show that he was unable to read and write and could not have known that the shortened form of his christian name Jonathan sounded exactly the same as his brother John's name. There is also evidence that his brother John Robert was sometimes known as Robert.
(revised 16.07.2026)