EDGOOSE:
In search of Ancestry
EDGOOSE, John James
1830 - 1930 (99 years) Has 26 ancestors and 26 descendants in this family tree.
1785 - 1862 (77 years)-
Name EDGOOSE, John James [1] Birth 7 Oct 1830 Gosberton, Lincolnshire, England 
[1] Gender Male Death 1 Mar 1930 Blackburn, Victoria, Australia Burial 3 Mar 1930 Boxhill, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia Person ID I403 Edgoose Last Modified 30 Jan 2026
Father EDGOOSE, James, b. 1780, Gosberton, Lincolnshire, England d. 15 Jun 1832, Gosberton, Lincolnshire, England (Age 52 years) Mother WINFREY, Mary, b. 1785, Long Sutton, Lincolnshire, England d. 28 Aug 1862, Leicester, Leicestershire (Age 77 years) Marriage 14 Dec 1807 Moulton, Lincolnshire, England Family ID F174 Group Sheet | Family Chart
Family ADAMS, Sarah Ann, b. 11 Oct 1844, Geelong, Victoria, Australia d. 2 Apr 1922, Blackburn, Victoria, Australia (Age 77 years) Marriage 18 Jun 1870 Geelong, Victoria, Australia [1] Children 1. EDGOOSE, Arthur James, b. 21 Apr 1871, Leopold, Victoria, Australia d. 6 Oct 1957, Box Hill, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia (Age 86 years)2. EDGOOSE, Alice Bessie, b. 17 Aug 1873, Leopold, Victoria, Australia d. 15 Jul 1957, Blackburn, Victoria, Australia (Age 83 years)3. EDGOOSE, Ernest Winfrey, b. 26 Jun 1875, Leopold, Victoria, Australia d. 21 Aug 1962, Blackburn, Victoria, Australia (Age 87 years)4. EDGOOSE, Lucie Clarissa, b. 17 Sep 1878, Australia d. 3 Aug 1973, Blackburn, Victoria, Australia (Age 94 years)5. EDGOOSE, Elmitt Jesse, b. 20 Apr 1881, Leopold, Victoria, Australia d. 4 Nov 1952, Dandenong, Victoria, Australia (Age 71 years)6. EDGOOSE, Laura Jane, b. 23 May 1883, Australia d. 22 Apr 1909, Box Hill, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia (Age 25 years)7. EDGOOSE, Herbert Harry, b. 26 Aug 1884, Rosebrook, Victoria, Australia d. 9 Sep 1944, Richmond, Victoria, Australia (Age 60 years) [Father: natural] [Mother: natural]8. EDGOOSE, Percy Llewellyn, b. 7 Aug 1886, Costerfield, Victoria, Australia d. 11 May 1976, Camberwell, Victoria, Australia (Age 89 years) [Father: natural] [Mother: natural]Family ID F272 Group Sheet | Family Chart Last Modified 27 Jan 2026
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Biographies 
EDGOOSE, John James (1830-1930)
John James EDGOOSE was born on 7 October 1830.
He was baptised at Gosberton, Lincolnshire, on 24 October 1830, son of James and Mary EDGOOSE of Gosberton. His father was described as a yeoman.
(FreeReg)
James EDGOOSE had married Mary WINFREE by licence at Moulton, Lincolnshire, on 14 December 1807.
From the 1841 census returns for Gosberton Risegate:
Elizabeth EDGOOSE, aged 20, dressmaker, born in Lincolnshire;
Elmet (sic) EDGOOSE, aged 15, agricultural labourer, born in Lincolnshire;
Keziah EDGOOSE, aged 15, born in Lincolnshire;
Kerenhappuch EDGOOSE, aged 13, born in Lincolnshire;
*John EDGOOSE, aged 10, born in Lincolnshire.
(HO107/607/11/31)
Their mother Mary EDGOOSE was elsewhere.
A James EDGOOSE aged 20, unmarried, a hosier, was listed as a visitor to the household of Mary BORROWBRIDGE at 58 Granby Street, Leicester St. Margarets, in the 1851 census:
Mary BORROWBRIDGE, head, aged 44, unmarried, dressmaker, born in Lincolnshire;
William BORROWBRIDGE, brother, aged 42, unmarried, cordwainer, born in Leicestershire;
Ann GILLING, visitor, aged 37, married, dressmaker, born in Lincolnshire;
James GILLING, visitor, aged 2, born in Leicestershire;
*James EDGOOSE, visitor, aged 20, unmarried, hosier, born in Lincolnshire;
Isaac COOPER, visitor, aged 26, unmarried, porter, born in Leicestershire.
(HO 107/2088/147/9)
He made notes of the Rev. J. RYAN's sermon at Bishop Street, Leicester, on 25 November 1856; of a sermon by the Rev. N. CURNOCK on 14 January 1857; and of a sermon by the Rev. J. I. DREDGE on 17 January 1858. (Nehemiah Curnock (senior) was in Leicester in 1855/6 and in 1857 he moved to Teignmouth. John DREDGE was in Bingham 1855/6, Mansfield in 1857 and Monmouth in 1858. According to the Stationing list he was never in Leicester. He left the ministry in 1866. John RYAN was with Nehemiah CURNOCK in 1855/6.
(Letter from Methodist Archives and Research Centre, 13 July 1972)
"DEPARTURES AND ARRIVALS
THE Rev. John James EDGOOSE embarked at London, on February 19th, in the "Broadwater," for Hobart-Town"
(The Wesleyan Missionary Notices 25 March 1859 page 72)
"The following thirty-two Missionaries, and thirteen wives of Missionaries, have been sent out by the Society since the last Anniversary:-
Mr. EDGOOSE, to Tasmania"
(The Wesleyan Missionary Notices 1859 page 101)
According to his daughter-in-law Ethellyn EDGOOSE there was some sort of mutiny involving John EDGOOSE on the ship which took him to Australia. She suggested that it was because he had been a lay preacher in England and preached on board.
He arrived at the Port of Hobart Town, Tasmania, on 26 June 1859 on board the ship Broadwater, 571 tons, ship's master J. S. STOCKMAN. The ship carried a general cargo and a few passengers: "Cabin passengers-Rev. John J. EDGOOSE, Wesleyan Minister; 2 steerage, John and Mary CURLE, & Mary and Margaret BOULTON, Margaret and Catherine McM..RA (illegible), Mary and Catherine WARD, Mary and Margaret BRENNAN, Government Immigrants. Mail 3 parcels, 2 brokers bags. Agents, S. MOSES & Co."
(Source: The Mercury 27 June 1859 under "Shipping Intelligence")
"The ship Broadwater from London, arrived yesterday, after a somewhat lengthened passage of 121 days. Light winds and calms prevailed during the greater portion of the voyage, 80 days being occupied to the Cape, add 11 off this port. She is a very fine vessel, is fitted with patent reefing topsails, and when under all sail spreads about 4000 yards of canvas; she brings a large miscellaneous cargo."
(Source: The Mercury 27 June 1859 under "Miscellaneous Shipping")
"The ship Broadwater, whose arrival from London appeared in our issue of yesterday, was towed into harbour in the afternoon, and was berthed at the New Wharf. She will commence discharging cargo almost immediately. The Broadwater, a wholesome Sunderland built vessel, now on her first voyage, had a somewhat lengthy passage. She left the English coast on the 9th March, and was 80 days to the Cape of Good Hope; so light was the wind during the whole of this time that no opportunity was offered of trying her speed, but in the succeeding 20 days she averaged 220 mile a day, or on the whole, 4,400 miles, thus showing that with a fair breeze 11 knots an hour was easily got out her. For thirty days so light were the winds that the vessel did not traverse 300 miles. Her cargo, about 700 tons, is miscellaneous, but consists amongst other things, of a great quantity of season goods. She brought a few passengers, four of whom received an unlucky introduction to the colony, by a slight mishap, the breaking of a rope, as they were getting over the ship's side, in consequence of which they were precipitated into the water. Fortunately, beyond a good drenching, none of them sustained any injury"
(Source: The Mercury 28 June 1859 under "Miscellaneous Shipping")
"Port of Hobart Town. Arrivals.
Passengers per ship Broadwater from London -- Rev. John J. EDGOOSE, Wesleyan Minister; 2 steerage; John and Mary CURLE and Mary and Margaret BOULTON, Margaret and Catherine McMEARA, Mary and Catherine WARD, Mary and Margaret BRENNAN, Govertgs."
(Source: The Launceston Examiner, 2,113 2a, 28 June 1859 under "Shipping Intelligence")
The log of the Broadwater appears to be no longer extant (see Ian Nicholson's Log of Logs - Queensland: Roebuck Society 1990 and 1993)
There is no mention of a mutiny, either caused or quelled by John James EDGOOSE, but it is interesting to speculate on the effect a long and tedious voyage may have had on a new crew and several female passengers. It is interesting that a rope should break on a brand new ship just as four passengers were disembarking!
He wasted no time in beginning his ministry. The following report appeared in the Hobart Town Daily Mercury on Friday 8 July 1859 under the heading 'Anniversary Services':
"WILL be conducted at the Bethel on the New Wharf, on Sunday next, July 10th. in the Morning (at 11 o'clock) by the Rev. J. J. EDGOOSE. In the Afternoon (at 3 o'clock) by the Rev. J. COPE.
Seamen are earnestly invited to attend.
Collections will be made in aid of the funds of the Hobart Town Bethel Union.
July 6th, 1859".
The 28 year old Rev. J. J. EDGOOSE sailed from Launceston, Tasmania, and arrived at Melbourne, Victoria, on 5 August 1859.
(FindMyPast: Victoria Coastal Passenger Lists 1852-1924)
He was a probationary minister at Carisbrook Methodist Church in Victoria from 1859 until 1861. As a Probationary he was entitled to use the title Reverend. From 1861 to 1862 he was at Williamstown. The souvenir programme of the Centenary of the Williamstown Methodist Church 1850-1950 shows the REV. J.J. EDGOOSE in the list of former ministers.
"At Forres Cottage, Back Creek, Australia, the residence of the bride's brother, Robert Urquhart MILLER, Esq, on the 25th Jan., by special licence, by the Rev. J. J. EDGOOSE, of Maryborough, James SCOTT, Esq., third son of James SCOTT, Esq., of Roxburghshire, Scotland, to Jane, twin daughter of Mr. James MILLER, late clothier, Forres, Scotland, now Sheriff and commissary officer for the united counties of Elgin and Nairn."
(Elgin Courier, 3 May 1861)
In 1862 he was appointed to Drysdale in the Geelong district:
DRYSDALE - John J. EDGOOSE; J. D. Dodgson, Supernumerary. Bro. EDGOOSE shall be under the direction of the Chairman of the District.
(Minutes of Several Conversations between the Ministers of the Australasian Wesleyan Methodist Church, Eighth Annual Conference, Adelaide 20 January 1862)
1860. The Circuit, which at first was named Avoca Circuit, became in 1858, the Carisbrooke; in 1861, the Maryborough and Amherst; and later on was divided into the Maryborough, and the Talbot and Amherst. The Rev. John C. Symons was appointed to the Circuit in 1860, with the Rev. J. J. EDGOOSE as his colleague. He describes the Circuit as then consisting "of small digging communities, with comparatively sparse population, and for the most part people were in humble circumstances."
(The Early Story of the Wesleyan Methodist Church in Victoria' by the Rev. W. L. BLAMIRES and the Rev. John B. SMITH, a Jubilee Volume, Melbourne, page 204, published in 1886)
The Lamplough Name Index of Goldminers includes the following note:
"Wesleyan Chapel. Services in the district include Avoca, Rev. J. C. SYMONS, and Rev. J. J. EDGOOSE, Amherst. (MADA 22/6/1860)"
He left the church in 1866 before ordination and entered the Education Department as a trainee teacher. His training lasted from 1 July 1866 until June 1868. His first appointment began on 1 September 1868 and was to School No. 278 at Ryrie Street, Geelong, where he stayed until 30 April the following year.
On 18 May 1869 he took over the headmastership of School No. 349 at Kensington Street, Geelong.
He married Sarah Ann ADAMS, daughter of Charles and Jane ADAMS, at the Wesleyan Methodist Church, Chilwell, Geelong, on 18 June 1870 by licence. Charles ADAMS was a gardener, his wife's maiden name KING. Sarah Ann ADAMS was described as a 25 year old milliner from Newtown and John James EDGOOSE as a schoolmaster from Kensington. Witnesses were Charles ADAMS and M(?) BROWNHILL.
In 1870 the name of John James EDGOOSE appeared in a list of persons classified or certificated under the Board of Education. He was employed as Teacher.
(Victoria. Ninth Report of the Board of Education. Presented to Both Houses of Parliament by His Excellency's Command. 1870, 1871, Melbourne, app. 5)
His son Arthur James EDGOOSE (father of Lynda TIPPETT) was born at Leopold on 21 April 1871. He died in 1957.
Records show that John James EDGOOSE remained at School No. 349 until it closed on 30 June 1872. It was replaced by Kensington State School No. 1146 which opened on 1 July 1872 with John James EDGOOSE as headmaster.
At a meeting of the school comittee on 24 June 1872 John James EDGOOSE was nominated Head Teacher with 88% of school fees, Miss Rachel TREMELLEN as sewing mistress with 5% of school fees in consideration of her acting as Female Teacher daily during school hours, and Andrew MOLLER as Pupil Teacher. John WEST, a builder and member of the local school committee, wrote to the Board on 14 November 1872 to complain that teachers at the school had not been paid for four months. Answer: returns for six months must be furnished before payment can be made.
On 20 January 1873 John James EDGOOSE wrote to the Board requesting an extra classroom, school house, and fencing of the school ground. The house and fencing were approved but the extra room refused.
His daughter Alice Bessie EDGOOSE was born at Springfield, Leopold, Victoria, Australia, on 17 August 1873. She died in 1957 without marrying.
In February 1874 a teacher's dwelling costing £ 224 was erected by Henry LOW who also fenced the whole school property for £ 25. The Head Teacher paid £ 15 per annum rent. In November 1874 the name of the school was changed to Leopold Hill.
His son Ernest Winfrey EDGOOSE was born on 26 June 1875. He died in 1962.
Mr. J. J. EDGOOSE, cabin passenger (as opposed to steerage), sailed aboard the Macedon from the Port of Melbourne to Sydney, New South Wales, leaving (arriving?) on 29 December 1876.
(http://mariners.records.nsw.gov.au/1876/12/098mac.htm)
In 1877 he was aquitted of a charge of assaulting W. C. WILLIAMS, perhaps the same WILLIAMS who helped to organise a petition against him in 1881.
On 10 July 1877 the schools inspector wrote that John James EDGOOSE deserved promotion. In 1880 he wrote that John James' heart was not in his work. In 1881 a resolution was passed at a meeting of the inhabitants urging an enquiry into the conduct and management of the Head Teacher. Later that same year John James was informed "that the D.I's investigation of the charges preferred by Messrs. KNIGHT, WILLIAMS & Ors has made apparent to the Dept. that the school has not been so judicioiously managed or so successfully taught as it ought to be. That his relations with the parents & children have been conspicuous for a lack of courtesy & considerate feeling, that the Dept. has decided to remove him to another school of corresp'd size" (Records of the Department of Education, Victoria).
His daughter Lucie Clarissa EDGOOSE was born at Risegate Cottage, Kensington (Leopold), Victoria, on 17 September 1878. She died in 1973.
He remained at Leopold Hill as headmaster until 1881. The school provided accomodation for 80-90 children.
His son Elmitt Jesse EDGOOSE was born at Risegate Cottage, Leopold, on 20 April 1881. He died in 1952.
From December 1881 until 1885 he was headmaster of Rosebrook School near Port Fairy on the south coast of Victoria, and in 1885 moved to Costerfield in Central Victoria, again as headmaster. In 1886 he was described simply as a State School Teacher at an unnamed school.
(Victoria Parliamentary Papers 1852-1899, Volume 30 pages 28 and 151; Volume 74 page 28; Volume 89 page 43)
His daughter Laura Jane EDGOOSE was born on 23 May 1883. She died in 1909.
His son Herbert Harry EDGOOSE was born on 26 Augut 1884. He died in 1944.
He was appointed Deputy Registrar of Births and Deaths for Costerfield in 1887. He resigned the following year, presumably because of his move to Mitcham.
(Victoria Police Gazette 23 June 1887 page 187 and 4 July 1888 page 205)
His son Percy Llewellyn EDGOOSE was born at Costerfield, Victoria, on 7 August 1886. He died in 1976.
On 24 August 1888 he became headmaster of Mitcham School in a suburb about twelve miles east of Melbourne. He stayed there until 4 May 1891.
(www.mitcham.ps.vic.edu.au/history.htm)
In 1892 he was headmaster of Scoresby Primary School. Edwin WARRINER succeeded him in 1893.
(www.scoresbyps.vic.au/History/HistoryPage.htm)
"When Box Hill became a separate circuit under the Rev. W. E. BROWNLOW in 1889 there were twelve local preachers in the circuit, of whom five lived in Box Hill. One who came in 1889 shortly after Mr. BROWNLOW was Mr. J. J. EDGOOSE, teacher at Mitcham, who died in 1930 at the ripe old age of 99" (History of the Box Hill Methodist Church 1883-1933, page 37).
After this he became almost a full time worker for the Methodist Church and, although never ordained, he was given the courtesy title Reverend - the Rev. J.J. EDGOOSE. He featured in a photograph of "Representative Local Preachers, 1897" in the Methodist Spectator in 1897 and in a photograph of former teachers in The Argus on 4 October 1922.
The family finally settled in the Melbourne suburb of Blackburn where he named his house Risegate after the place in Lincolnshire (Gosberton Risegate) he had left many years before. Ethellyn EDGOOSE remembered in 1968 how John James EDGOOSE used to talk of Gosberton and Pinchbeck. She said that he had never been ill in his life - he ate boiled onions to cure a cold.
His grandaughter Lynda TIPPETT wrote that as the youngest of such a large family he was reared more by his elder brother than by his parents; he was given an excellent education and was a very learned and well read man; he was also a sincere worrker and lay preacher for the Methodist Church in Australia, conducting services in the country towns in addition to his school work, and preached each Sunday in the district churches. Lynda TIPPETT said that, as a child, she heard him many times when he conducted services in the Box Hill church.
From the 1903 Electoral Roll of Blackburn, Box Hill, Kooyong, Victoria, Australia:
*EDGOOSE John James, independent means
EDGOOSE Sarah
EDGOOSE Arthur James, clerk
EDGOOSE Annie
EDGOOSE Winfrey Ernest (sic), grocer
EDGOOSE Lucy
EDGOOSE Elmitt, blacksmith
From the 1909 Electoral Roll of Blackburn, Mitcham, Flinders, Victoria, Australia:
*EDGOOSE John James, independent means
EDGOOSE Sarah
EDGOOSE Alice Bessie, teacher
EDGOOSE Lucy
EDGOOSE Herbert Harry
EDGOOSE Percy Llewellyn
From the 1912 Electoral Roll of Blackburn, Mitcham, Flinders, Victoria, Australia:
*EDGOOSE John James, independent means
EDGOOSE Sarah Ann
EDGOOSE Alice Bessie, teacher
EDGOOSE Lucy
EDGOOSE Percy Llewellyn
From the 1914 Electoral Roll of Blackburn, Mitcham, Kooyong, Victoria, Australia:
*EDGOOSE John James, independent means
EDGOOSE Sarah Ann
EDGOOSE Alice Bessie, teacher
EDGOOSE Lucie Clarissa, house duties
EDGOOSE Herbert Harry, clerk
From the 1915 Electoral Roll of Blackburn, Mitcham, Kooyong, Victoria, Australia:
*EDGOOSE John James, independent means
EDGOOSE Sarah Ann
EDGOOSE Alice Bessie, teacher
EDGOOSE Lucy Clarissa, house duties
EDGOOSE Herbert Harry
From the 1919 Electoral Roll of Blackburn, Mitcham, Kooyong, Victoria, Australia:
*EDGOOSE John James, independent means
EDGOOSE Sarah Ann
EDGOOSE Alice Bessie, teacher
EDGOOSE Ernest Winfrey, farmer
EDGOOSE Lucy Clarissa, house duties
EDGOOSE Herbert Harry, clerk
From the 1924 Electoral Roll of Albert Street, Blackburn, Mitcham, Flinders, Victoria, Australia:
*EDGOOSE John James
EDGOOSE Alice Bessie, teacher
EDGOOSE Ernest Winfrey, farmer
EDGOOSE Lucy Clarissa, house duties
From the 1925 Electoral Roll of Mitcham, Flinders, Victoria, Australia:
*EDGOOSE John James
He died at Blackburn on 1 March 1930 and was buried in Box Hill cemetery on 3 March. His death certificate shows that he had been in Victoria since 1860.
From the Melbourne newspaper The Argus dated 3 March 1930, page 6:
"80 YEARS A PREACHER
By the death on Saturday of Mr. John James EDGOOSE in his 100th year, the Methodist Church has lost its oldest preacher, for he had conducted services in the Wesleyan and Methodist Churches in England and Australia for 80 years. Mr. EDGOOSE, who lived at Risegate, Blackburn, was born in England, and came to Australia in 1858. He was a minister in various Wesleyan Methodist circuits in Victoria until 1868, when he joined the Education Department. He retired in 1898, but continueed a as a Methodist local preacher until shortly before his death. Mr. EDGOOSE, who was a widower, is survived by an adult family of seven. The funeral will take place at the Box Hill Cemetery at 11 o'clock this morning, the arrangements being in the hands of J. FERGUSON and Son."
(http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article4072221)
The Will of John James EDGOOSE:
"I John James EDGOOSE of Blackburn near Melbourne in the State of Victoria late teacher in the Education Department of the said State revoke all former wills and declare this to be my last will
After payment of my just debts funeral and testamentary expenses I give all my real and personal estate to my executrix and executors in trust for my wife and children Sarah Ann EDGOOSE; Arthur James, Alice Bessie, Ernest Winfrey, Lucy Clarissa, Elmitt Jesse, Herbert Harry, and Percy Llewellyn
I give a life interest in my estate to my wife, so long as she remains my widow, without any power to let any part thereof.
I give all my household furniture and pictures to my daughters Alice Bessie and Lucie Clarissa
I give to my son Herbert Harry all my books manuscripts, and writings whatever
Upon the dearth death or remarriage of my wife, the remainder of my estate to be sold and the money divided into eleven equal shares two of which I give to the following sons and daughters, Arthur James, Alice Bessie, Ernest Winfrey, and Lucy Clarissa. To Elmitt Jesse, Herbert Harry, and Percy Llewellyn I give one share each
Any property or money that may come to me from Relatives or Friends to be equally divided between my surviving sons and daughters.
I appoint Alice Bessie EDGOOSE Blackburn near Melbourne State School teacher Executrix
Arthur James EDGOOSE Box Hill near Melbourne, and Herbert Harry EDGOOSE Ballarat Civil servant Executors of this my will in witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand this ninth day of October in the year of our Lord one thousand nine hundred and twelve
(signed) John James EDGOOSE"
Signed by the above named (testator's name) J.J. DONAVAN Station Master
in the presence of us, who in his presence, and H.J. CLARK Ass Station Master
in the presence of each other have hereunto
subscribed our names as witnesses"
An Index of the Will of Alice Bessie EDGOOSE (1873-1957), spinster, made on 5 May 1931:
01*Alice Bessie EDGOOSE, the Testatrix
02 Lucy Clarissa EDGOOSE, sister of the Testatrix
03*John James EDGOOSE, late father of the Testatrix
04 Ernest Winfrey EDGOOSE, brother of the Testatrix, executor
05 Elmitt Jesse EDGOOSE, brother of the Testatrix
06 Herbert Harry EDGOOSE, brother of the Testatrix, executor
07 Percy Lewellyn EDGOOSE, brother of the Testatrix, executor
08 Florence Sarah WOODBRIDGE, witness
09 Dorothy STERLING COOK, witness.
(revised 09.02.2026)
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Sources - [S1] Edgo21.FTW.
- [S1] Edgo21.FTW.