EDGOOSE:
In search of Ancestry
EDGOOSE, James
1837 - 1895 (57 years) Has 36 ancestors and 12 descendants in this family tree.
1803 - 1886 (83 years)-
Name EDGOOSE, James Birth 8 Sep 1837 Gedney, Lincolnshire, Norfolk 
Gender Male Burial 1895 Sunderland, County Durham, England Death 16 Jan 1895 Sunderland, County Durham, England Person ID I295 Edgoose Last Modified 4 Jul 2026
Father EDGOOSE, John, b. 1802, West Walton, Norfolk d. 5 Oct 1841, Gedney, Lincolnshire, Norfolk (Age 39 years) Mother HOLBORN, Mary, b. 1803, Terrington St. Clement, Norfolk d. 20 Nov 1886, Walsoken, Norfolk (Age 83 years) Marriage 25 Jun 1837 Wisbech St. Peter, Cambridgeshire, England Family ID F182 Group Sheet | Family Chart
Family TAYLOR, Martha Ellen, b. 30 May 1841, Long Sutton, Lincolnshire, England d. 16 Jan 1926, Easington, County Durham, England (Age 84 years) Marriage 17 Sep 1868 Walsoken, Norfolk Children 1. EDGOOSE, John James, b. 16 Mar 1875, Shiney Row, Penshaw, County Durham d. 16 Mar 1875, Shiney Row, Penshaw, County Durham (Age 0 years) [Father: natural] [Mother: natural]2. EDGOOSE, John Holborn, b. 28 Jan 1877, Penshaw, County Durham, England d. 10 Apr 1960, Easington, County Durham, England (Age 83 years)3. EDGOOSE, George Albert, b. 11 Feb 1879, Painshaw [Penshaw], County Durham, England d. 10 May 1879, Painshaw [Penshaw], County Durham, England (Age 0 years)4. EDGOOSE, Elizabeth, b. 10 Sep 1881, Sunderland, County Durham, England d. 26 Nov 1957, Newbottle, County Durham, England (Age 76 years)Family ID F186 Group Sheet | Family Chart Last Modified 27 Jan 2026
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Event Map 
Birth - 8 Sep 1837 - Gedney, Lincolnshire, Norfolk 
= Link to Google Earth
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Biographies 
EDGOOSE, James (1837-1895) aka EDGOOSE, EADGOOSE, HEADGOOSE, EDGOOS.
James, son of John EDDGOOSE, pig jobber, and his wife Mary EDDGOOSE formerly HOLBOURN [sic], was born at Gedney, Lincolnshire, at 8am on 8 September 1837.
The birth of a James EADGOOSE (sic) was registered in 1837
(GRO September Q Holbeach 14 308)
The same birth was registered under EADGOOSSE and EDDGOOSE.
He was baptised there on 1 October 1837, son of John and Mary HEADGOOSE. The parish register refers to his father as John HEADGOOSE, publican, of Gedney Rampart
John EDGOOSE had married Mary HOLBORN at Wisbech St. Peter, Cambridgeshire, on 25 June 1837.
(GRO September Q 1837 [HOLBOURN] Holbeach 14 308)
The family was listed at two places in the 1841 census, an apparently not uncommon occurrence. On one return they are listed as living with John EDGOOSE's sister Ann OLDFIELD at West Walton:
Ann OLDFIELD, aged 40, farmer, born in Norfolk;
William OLDFIELD, aged 12, born in Norfolk;
John BALLS, aged 35, agricultural labourer, born in Norfolk;
John EDGOOSE, aged 35, agricultural labourer, born in Norfolk;
Mary EDOOSE, aged 35, born in Norfolk;
*James EDGOOSE, aged 3, not born in Norfolk;
John EDGOOSE, aged 1, not born in Norfolk.
(HO107/770/13/10/11)
On the other return they are listed at Church Street, Gedney, Lincolnshire:
John EDGOOS (sic), aged 35, stock jobber, born in Lincolnshire;
Mary EDGOOS (sic), aged 35, not born in Lincolnshire;
Sarah EDGOOS (sic), aged 10, not born in Lincolnshire;
*James EDGOOS (sic), aged 3, born in Lincolnshire;
John EDGOOS (sic), aged 1, born in Lincolnshire;
James GUNMAN, aged 75, labourer, born in Lincolnshire;
A.......... MORE, aged 20, born in Lincolnshire;
Mary SMITH, aged 75, born in Lincolnshire.
(HO107/607/2/47/6)
By 1851 the family had moved to Walsoken, Norfolk:
Mary EDGOOSE, head, aged 49, widow, pauper, born at Terrington, Norfolk;
*James EDGOOSE, son, aged 13, scholar, born at Gedney, Lincolnshire;
John EDGOOSE, son, aged 10, scholar, born at Gedney;
Elizabeth EDGOOSE, aged 9, scholar, born at Gedney;
Mary Jane EDGOOSE, aged 3, born at Tydd St. Mary, Lincolnshire;
William BODGER, lodger, aged 19, jobbing gardener, born at Walsoken.
There was no mention of Sarah Ann.
(HO107/1767/289/19)
Jas EDGOOSE of Walton is listed in the Register of Seamen's Tickets 1845-1854. His ticket was No. 572378.
(National Archives BT114)
James EDGOOSE, born at Wisbeach, aged 18, sailed on the Sunderland of Sunderland in 1855 as an ordinary seaman. In 1856 the records show that he arrived home on the Zephyrus of Whitby and the Sunderland of Sunderland.
(Merchant Navy Seamen 1853-1857, National Archives BT116/30)
At the time of the 1861 census he was visiting his uncle and aunt at Marsh Field, Terrington St. Clements:
Robert HOLBORN, head, aged 50, agricultural labourer, born at Moulton, Lincolnshire;
Ann HOLBORN, wife, aged 52, born at Tottenhill, Norfolk;
Sarah A. HOLBORN, daughter, aged 22, domestic servant out of place, born at Terrington St. Clements;
John HOLBORN, son, aged 17, agricultural labourer, born at Terrington St. Clements;
James HOLBORN, son, aged 12, bricklayer's boy, born at Terrington St. Clements;
*James EDGOOSE, nephew, aged 23, unmarried, sailor, visitor, born at Gedney, Lincolnshire.
(RG9/1051/50/31)
He married Martha Ellen TAYLOR, daughter of mariner John TAYLOR and his wife Mary Ellen, by licence at Walsoken, Norfolk, on 17 September 1868. James EDGOOSE was described as a mariner and Martha Ellen TAYLOR was a 26 year old servant from Tydd St. Giles, Cambridgeshire. Witnesses were Elizabeth EDGOOSE (James's sister), and John William THOMPSON who married James's younger sister Mary Jane EDGOOSE in 1871.
(GRO September Q 1868 Wisbech 3b 1009)
The 1871 census of 2 Allonby Street, Bishop Wearmouth, Sunderland, Co. Durham:
*James EDGOOSE, head, aged 33, mariner, born at Gedney, Lincolnshire;
Martha E. EDGOOSE, wife, aged 29, born at Sutton Bridge, Lincolnshire.
(RG10/5000/75/50)
His son John James EDGOOSE was born at Shiney Row, Penshaw, County Durham, on 16 March 1875. He lived only 5 minutes.
His son John Holborn EDGOOSE was born at Penshaw on 28 January 1877. He died in 1960.
His son George William EDGOOSE was born at New Pensher, Painshaw, on 11 February 1879. He died there on 10 May the same year.
The Sunderland street directories list E. BOUILLET, glassmaker, at 22 Cirencester Street in 1879-1880 and T. McQUIRE, grocer, in 1883-1884.
In 1881 he was living at 22 Cirencester Street, Bishopwearmouth, County Durham:
*James EDGOOSE, head, aged 43, engine man at factory (engine driver), born at Gedney;
Martha E. EDGOOSE, wife, aged 39, engine man's wife, born at Sutton Bridge, Lincoln;
John H. EDGOOSE, son, aged 4, born at Shiney Row, County Durham;
John TAYLOR, visitor, aged 44, mariner, born at Sutton Bridge, Lincolnshire (presumably Martha Ellen's brother).
(RG11/4990/61/26)
His daughter Elizabeth EDGOOSE was born at 22 Cirencester Street, Sunderland, on 10 September 1881. She died in 1957.
He spent about a year in London as a prison warder but did not like the job. A photograph exists of him in uniform. In January 1999 George EDGOOSE said that his grandfather was a prison warder at Pentonville for a short time - hence the uniform.
Both he and his sister Elizabeth had a drooping eyelid, apparent in most photographs. (A photograph of Walter Leeder EDGOOSE has the same drooping eyelid).
He joined the Luneburg on 21 July 1880 in London. He said he was 44 years old. His wages amounted to £ 1.10. 0d per week and, like all the crew, he had to find his own provisions. He was discharged at Sunderland on 14 August 1880. It was noted that his general conduct and ability in seamanship was "VG".
(Maritime History Archive, Memorial University of Newfoundland)
According to his grandson James Henry EDGOOSE (1905-1971) he was a mariner and worked largely on colliers taking coals from Sunderland to Wisbech and London. Most of the ships he sailed on belonged to Lampton, Hetton & Joicey Collieries. The ships had black funnels with three red bands.
During a period of depression when the ships were laid up he worked at a colliery in Penshaw. He was described as a colliery stoker on the birth certificates of his children in 1875 and 1879, but as a seaman merchant service of 22 Cirencester Street, Sunderland, in 1881.
He served as a fireman on two ships in 1881. The Langley, Official Number 62500; and the Luneburg, Official No. 62653 . He left Sunderland on the Langley on 3 January 1881 and returned to Sunderland on 11 July 1881. [The Registered Owner of the Langley was T. J. REAY of the Lambton Office, Sunderland]. Also, he wrote that his last ship had been the Sherburn and that he joined the present ship on 28 April. At his discarge on 11 July 1881 his general conduct and ability in seamanship were said to be VG.
(Maritime History Archive, Memorial University of Newfoundland)
His ship was sunk on 18 August 1886 off Scarborough after colliding with the steamer "J.M. Strachan" of London. The ship, the "Houghton", was on a voyage to Dieppe with a cargo of coal. According to Lloyd's Casualty Reports 1886 the weather was very thick at the time. Captain SWINSON and crew were landed at Sunderland. His grandson, James Henry EDGOOSE, said he injured his heart being pulled from a hatch, an injury which ultimately caused his death. Martha Ellen EDGOOSE, his wife, remembered saying goodbye to him and a few hours later finding a strangely clad man on the doorstep - her husband clad in whatever clothes could be found for him.
"THE DOUBLE COLLISION OFF WHITBY
[Paragraph 3]
Some wreckage was landed at Scarborough on Saturday morning from the steamer Houghton, sunk off Scarborough, and taken charge of by the Superintendent of Mercantile Marine.
Some wreckage from the steamer Houghton, which was sunk by collision with the steamer J. M. Strachan, has been picked up, and landed at Scarborough on Saturday morning. The J. M. Strachan sustained severe damage to starboard bow, and has gone into dock for repairs.
A meeting of the North of England Seamen and Sea-going Firemen's Society was held on Friday night at Lockhart's Cocoa Rooms, High Street West, Sunderland, Mr H. FRIEND presiding. The first business of the meeting was to consider the claims of two of the crew of the steamer Houghton, who were members of the association. - The Chairman said he had much pleasure in recommending that the claims be paid. He suggested that all seamen and firemen should join such associations, and thus render themselves independent of help from charitable institutions in times of need. - Mr EDGOOSE thanked the society for the prompt manner in which the claim had been paid, and moved a vote of thanks to the crew of the steamer Grenadier for the kindness shown to the crew of the Houghton whilst on board that steamer. - Mr CHAMBERS seconded the motion, which was carried, and the meeting terminated.
Captain SWINSON, late master of the Houghton, on behalf of himself and crew, tenders sincere thanks to Captain WILLIAMSON, officers, and crew of the Grenadier, for their great kindness towards them while conveying them to Newcastle after their vessel had been run down off Scarborough."
(Shields Daily Gazette, Monday 23 August 1886)
(www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk)
He claimed to have seen the name EDGOOSE above a shop in a Dutch port. Rotterdam and Delfzijl were the two Dutch ports receiving coal from Sunderland at this time, but the name EDGOOSE is not listed in the directories for either place between 1851 and 1895. (Gemeentarchief Rotterdam 07.10.1968)
(Gemeente Delfzijl 10.11.1968)
(Dutch Centraal Bureau Voor Genealogie 05.09.1968)
In 1891 James EDGOOSE was living at 7 Duke Street, Bishopwearmouth, Sunderland, with his wife Martha EDGOOSE. He was 52 years old, employed as a stoker on a steamship, born at Gedney in Lincolnshire. His wife was 49 years old, born at Sutton Bridge in Lincolnshire. Their son John was a 14 year old scholar born at Pensher in Co. Durham and their 9 year old daughter Elizabeth was a scholar born at Sunderland, Co. Durham.
(RG12/4128/9/9)
He moved to 19 Duke Street, Sunderland, after 1893. The street directory for 1893-1894 shows J. SHICKLE, trimmer, to have been living there. The directory for 1895-1896 lists J. EDGOOSE, mariner. According to the Register of Electors for 1895-1896 the house was occupied by Charles MARSHALL.
He died on 16 January 1895 at 19 Duke Street aged 57. His sister Elizabeth EDGOOSE of 15 Dickinson Terrace, Gainsborough, Lincolnshire, was with him when he died and informed the registrar.
Causde of Death:
Heart Disease.
(GRO March Q 1895 Sunderland 10a 338)
He was buried at Bishopwearmouth Cemetery. According to his grandson Martha Ellen EDGOOSE's circumstances did not permit her to purchase a stone to mark the grave - hence the addition of James EDGOOSE to the family memorial in Easington Colliery Cemetery, County Durham.
Monumental Inscription, Easington Colliery Cemetery:
In loving memory of
JAMES EDGOOSE
died Jan. 16th 1895 aged 57 years
beloved husband of
MARTHA E. EDGOOSE
died Jan. 16th 1926 aged 84 years
also of SARAH A. EDGOOSE
died Dec. 22nd 1943 aged 63 years
also of JOHN H. EDGOOSE
husband of the above
died April 10th 1960 aged 83 years
"Angels ever bright & fair"
NOTES & QUERIES:
Which EDGOOSE had a shop in a Dutch port?
(revised 05.07.2026)