EDGOOSE:
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EDGOOSE, Harold James
1876 - 1950 (73 years)EDGOOSE, Harold James (1876-1950)
Harold James EDGOOSE was born at West Walton, Norfolk, on 4 December 1876, son of James Lewin EDGOOSE, farmer, and his wife Emily EDGOOSE formerly WILLIAMSON. The informant on 13 January 1877 was his father James EDGOOSE of West Walton.
(GRO March Q 1877 [WILLIAMSON] Wisbech 03B 647)
(Birth Certificate)
James Lewin EDGOOSE had married Emily WILLIAMSON at Walpole St. Andrew, Norfolk, on 13 October 1864.
Harold James, son of James Lewin EDGOOSE gardener and his wife Emily, was baptised at West Walton, Norfolk, on 7 January 1877.
(FreeReg)
In 1881 James Lewin and Emily EDGOOSE were living at Dam Road, West Walton:
James Lewin EDGOOSE, head, aged 42, gardener, born at West Walton, Norfolk;
Emily EDGOOSE, wife, aged 38, gardener's wife, born at Walpole St. Andrews, Norfolk;
Robert James EDGOOSE, son, aged 14, scholar, born at Walpole St. Andrews;
Elizabeth Ann EDGOOSE, daughter, aged 12, born at West Walton;
Lucinda EDGOOSE, daughter, aged 9, scholar, born at West Walton;
Agnes Mary EDGOOSE, daughter, aged 7, scholar, born at West Walton;
John Lewin EDGOOSE, son, aged 5, born at West Walton;
*Harold James EDGOOSE, son, aged 4, born at West Walton;
Miriam EDGOOSE, daughter, aged 2, born at West Walton;
Phillis EDGOOSE, daughter, aged 1 month, born at West Walton.
(RG11/1697/81/8)
NB: Robert James EDGOOSE's place of birth differs from that given in the 1891 census.
The 1891 census returns show him at Dam Road, West Walton:
James L. EDGOOSE, head, aged 51, gardener, born at West Walton;
Emily EDGOOSE, wife, aged 47, born at Walpole St. Peter, Norfolk;
Elizabeth A. EDGOOSE, daughter, aged 22, unmarried domestic servant, born at West Walton;
John L. EDGOOSE, son, aged 15, scholar, born at West Walton;
*Harold EDGOOSE, son, aged 14, scholar, born at West Walton;
and an un-named two week old grandson - presumably Elizabeth Ann's son Halbert EDGOOSE.
(RG12/1306/65/1)
He married Elizabeth Duncan YALLOP of West Walton in West Walton Parish Church on 11 October 1900. Elizabeth YALLOP was 36 years old and Harold James EDGOOSE was a 23 year old labourer. Witnesses were Elizabeth Ann EDGOOSE and Agnes Mary EDGOOSE.
(GRO December Q 1900 Wisbech 3b 1367)
This is the key to the wedding photograph taken in 1900:
Standing: Fred Sutterby; James Lewin & Emily Alice Edgoose; Alice Yallup; ?Yallup?; Eliza, w. of Robert James Edgoose; Mary Ann Lewin Edgoose; Unknown; Phyllis Edgoose.
Seated: John Lewin Edgoose; Agnes Edgoose; Harold James & Elizabeth Duncan Edgoose; Elizabeth Ann Edgoose; Robert James Edgoose.
From the 1901 census of Church End, West Walton, Norfolk:
Harold EDGOOSE, head, aged 24, agricultural labourer, born at West Walton;
Elizabeth D. EDGOOSE, aged 30 (sic), born at Holbeach, Lincolnshire.
(RG13/1557/65/10)
From the 1911 census of Church End, West Walton:
*Harold James EDGOOSE, head, aged 34, married, carrier (school children) for County Council, born at West Walton, Norfolk;
Elizabeth Duncan EDGOOSE, wife, aged 46, married 10 years, no children, born at Holbeach, Lincolnshire.
(RG14/9309)
From the 1921 census of Walton Church End, Wisbech:
*Harold James EDGOOSE, Head, aged 44 years 6 months, Married, born West Walton, Norfolk, Fruit Grower, Own Account at Home, West Walton, no children under 16.
Elizabeth Ducan [sic] EDGOOSE, Wife, aged 57 years 2 months, Married, born at Penny Hill, Holbeach, Lincolnshire, Home Duties at Home, West Walton.
(187/3/14)
On 5 July 1922 he purchased from Robert John HORRY and John Thurbon HORRY acting as trustees of the late Mary Ann Lewin EDGOOSE's estate "All that piece or parcel of land marked No. 68 in the Award of the Commissioners for the Enclosure of the Commons and Wastelands of West Walton aforesaid lying in West Walton aforesaid in Church End Common containing Two roods and thirty six perches (more or less) formerly said to contain Three roods and twenty seven perches (more or less) bounded oon the North by the Public Road, on the East by another Road and on the South and west by an allotment to Sigismund Trafford SOUTHWELL No. 67 now belonging to the Purchaser Which said parcel of land intended to be hereby appointed is numbered 6227 on the Ordnance Survey plan (first Edition) and is now in the occupation of the Purchaser and for the purpose of identification and not of limitation is more particularly delineated and coloured red on the plan drawn on these presents" He paid £ 200 for the copyhold and was described as a fruitgrower (West Walton Coleraine Court Book 36: 73-79).
Kelly's Norfolk Directory for 1937 lists him as a fruit grower of Church End, West Walton, Norfolk.
From the 1939 Register of Garden House, Marshland R.D., Norfolk:
*Harold James EDGOOSE, born 4 December 1876, married, fruit grower
Elizabeth Duncan EDGOOSE, born 4 April 1864, married, unpaid domestic duties
(RG101/6566H/003/39 TRQO)
An Index of the Will of Elizabeth Ann EDGOOSE (1869-1943), widow:
01*Elizabeth Ann WEBB formerly EDGOOSE.
02*Harold James EDGOOSE (1876-1950), brother of the Testatrix, executor & trustee.
03 Robert James EDGOOSE (1900-1962), nephew of the Testatrix, executor & trustee.
04 Halbert EDGOOSE (1891-1976), son of the Testatrix.
05 Alfred SOUTHWELL, solicitor, Wisbech, witness.
06 Harry FUNDREY, solicitor's clerk, witness.
(District Probate Registry, Norwich)
He was a member of West Walton Parish Church Choir from 1885 until his death in 1950 according to a photograph of him which in 1967 was hanging in the vestry of that church.
He is said to have seen an obituary in a newspaper of a Reverend EDGOOSE shortly before he died in 1950.
(Source: James Henry EDGOOSE of Sunderland 1968)
He died on 11 August 1950 at Warburton Nursing Home, Wisbech, Cambridgeshire, aged 73. He was described as a retired fruitgrower of Garden House, West Walton, Marshland R. D.. Cause of death was Uraemia, Pyelonephritis, and Prostatic Obstruction. The informant on 12 August 1950 was his nephew in attendance R. J. EDGOOSE, of Rosedene, Walton Highway, Wisbech.
(GRO September Q 1950 Wisbech 4a 256)
(Death Certificate)
He was buried in West Walton Cemetery on 15 August.
Monumental Inscription:
In loving memory of Harold James Edgoose who died 11th Aug
1950. Aged 73 years
Blessed are the dead which die in the Lord
Also of his wife Elizabeth Duncan who died 23rd May 1959
Aged 95 years Reunited
Newspaper cutting dated Friday, 18 August 1950:
"FUNERAL OF MR. H. EDGOOSE
Sung in Choir Since A Boy
MANY FRIENDS attended the funeral at West Walton Parish Church on Tuesday, of Mr. Harold J. EDGOOSE, of Garden House, West Walton.
Loved and respected by everyone in the district, Mr. EDGOOSE was affectionately known to most of the villagers as "Uncle Harold."
Mr. EDGOOSE, who was 73 years old, was born at Garden House. He had been in failing health for the past year, but had only been confined to bed for a week before he died on Friday.
He was a staunch supporter of the Parish Church and had sung in the choir since a boy.
Mr. EDGOOSE was a partly retired fruit-grower, but he worked in his orchard up to a week before his death. He will be greatly missed by his favourite horse "Daisy," which used to bring him to Wisbech every Saturday until about a year ago.
He is survived by a widow (Mrs. Elizabeth EDGOOSE), by a brother (Mr. John L. EDGOOSE) and many nephews and nieces.
The Rev. H. J. SCOTT (Vicar of Walpole St. Andrew) officiated at the fully-choral service, assisted by Mr. Frank ELMER. Mrs. J. SOFTLEY (organist) accompanied the hymns "There is a land of pure delight" and "Let Saints on earth in concert sing" and Psalm 23.
MOURNERS AND FRIENDS
The immediate mourners were: Mr. J. L. EDGOOSE, brother; Mr. H. EDGOOSE (Long Sutton); Mr. and Mrs. R. J. EDGOOSE, Mr. and Mrs. B. SMITH, Mr. and Mrs. L. EDGOOSE, Mr. and Mrs. F. HEWITT, Mr. and Mrs. R. H. EDGOOSE, Mr. and Mrs. K. WESTSTST, Mr. and Mrs. K. POOLE, Mr. and Mrs. D. ALLEN, Mr. H. BIRD, Miss E. STAMFORD, Mrs. A. SAGER, Mr. F. SUTTERBY, Mrs. N. CHAPMAN, Miss P. BOSSINGHAM (also representing Mr. BOSSINGHAM), Mr. C. EDGOOSE, Mrs. G. EDGOOSE, Mrs. A. HORSEPOOL, Mr. A. W. RACEY, nephews and nieces; Miss Margaret EDGOOSE, great niece; Mrs. W. T. RACEY, Miss G. CROSS, Mr. and Mrs. A. CLARKE, Mr. SOFTLEY, Mr. P. BROCK, Mr. G. POMFRET, friends.
The widow was unable to attend.
Other sympathisers at the Church included: Mr. W. J. HAMMOND (Walpole St. Peter), Mr. W. BENNETT, Miss G. KERRISON, Mr. and Mrs. B. DUNN, Mrs. A. ARNOLD (also representing Mr. ARNOLD and family), Mr. R. BLOWER, Mrs. E. CULY, Miss L. CULYYY, Mrs. A. H. CRAWLEY J.P. (also representing Mr. CRAWLEY), Mrs. F. R. ROYAL, Mrs. W. HOWARD, Mrs. DOT ALLEN, Mrs. E. POTTER, Mr. C. HARNWELL, Mr. R. WARD (also representing Mrs. WARD and Messrs. A. V. Reede Ltd.), Mr. T. TALBOT (Queen of Trumps), Mrs. E. DOW, Mr. and Mrs. E. HURST, Mr. A. V. REEVE, Mr. J. W. HARROLD, Mr. G. HARNWELL, Miss B. CHAPMAN, Mr. and Mrs. S. HARNWELL, Mrs. F. GRIFFIN, Mrs. F. JACKSON, Mrs. R. BIRD (also representing Mr. BIRD), Mr. R. A. ROCKCLIFFE (Churchwarden), Mr. S. H. CLARKE, Mr. J. R. GREEN (also representing Mrs. GREEN), Mr. and Mrs. D. ALLEN.
Mrs. W. HAMMANT (also representing Mr. HAMMANT), Mrs. E. PEARSE; Miss E. FOSTER (also representing Mr. and Mrs. FOSTER), Mrs. C. HARNWELL, Mr. B. FOSTER, Mr. and Mrs. F. R. SOUTH, Mrs. G. COWDRY, Mr. A.J. HUDSON, Mr. Hy. FUNDREY (also representing Messrs. Southwell, Dennnis and Farrow, solicitors, Wisbech), Mrs. G. F. PEARSE (also representing Mr. PEARSE), Mr. and Mrs. W. G. HOMAN-BERRY, Mrs. C. NEVE (also representing Mr. NEVE), Mrs. J. NEVE, Mr. W. F. EDGOOSE (Walton Highwaay), Mrs. S. ALEXANDER, Mrs. E. TOMLINSON, Mrs. H. BIRD, Mr. and Mrs. A. DIDWELL, Mr. and Mrs. J. H. CURTIS (also representing the family), Mrs. S. GIDDENS (also representing Mr. GIDDENS), Mrs. W. SMITH (also representing Mr. SMITH), Mrs. E. WALLACE, Mr. and Mrs. W. HORSELY, Mrs. A. G. HUDSON (also representing Mr. HUDSON), Mr. and Mrs. WHATLING, Mr. Peter HOULDEN (also representing Mrs. E. HOULDEN and Mr. P. H. HOULDEN).
LORRY LOAD OF WREATHS
Beautiful wreaths were received from: His broken-hearted wife; Mr. and Mrs. WOODS and Aubrey; Mr. and Mrs. F. R. SOUTH and family; Mr. and Mrs. K. H. COUSINS (Walpole St. Peter); Mr. and Mrs. G. ROYAL, Ronald and Douglas; Mr. S. BIRD; Hilda, Billy and Janet; Teachers and scholars of West Walton Methodist Sunday School; Mr. and Mrs. HY. HUDSON and Graham; Elsie (Gt. Yarmouth); Mr. A. J. BIRD, Ruth and family (Manchester); Annie and Rob; Mr. and Mrs. W. H. DORSETT; Mr. and Mrs. R. C. HOPKINS (Doncaster); A. J. HUDSON; Arthur, Florrie, Ethel, Muriel and John; Mr. and Mrs. Sid and George HARNWELL; Mrs. E. HOULDEN, Phillip and Peter; Bob and Tilly; Grace, Fred and family; Ken, Kath, Janet and Hazel; Mr. and Mrrs. B. DUNN and family; Cyril and Dorothy; Mr. and Mrs. E. J. HURST; Mrs. E. CULY and family; Dot and the children; Members of the Choir; Reg and Marjorie; Mr. and Mrs. J. WEST and Ida; Parochial Church Council; Mr. and Mrs. E. KITCHEN and family; Nell, Lewin, Margaret and Jill; Daff, Ken, David and Barry; Emily, Bert, Joyce, Mollie and Aubrey; Henry and all at March; Brother John, Phyllis, Derek and Richard; Daisy, Edna and Peter; Fred LEACH (Colne); Annie, Fred and Nancy; Little Jean; Mr. and Mrs. A. ARNOLD; Bert, Graham, Bridget and Judith; G. E. A. CROSS; Stanley and Dorothy.
The funeral arrangements were in the efficient hands of Messrs. W. Bailey and Son, of Lynn-road, Wisbech."
In his will he refers to his house in West Walton standing in two acres of land and known as Garden House, and he bequeaths to his nephew Reginald Harold EDGOOSE of the same village two acres one rood and three perches of land which he had recently bought from Thomas Leslie GRIMMER.
"This is the last WILL of me Harold James EDGOOSE of Garden House West Walton in the County of Norfolk Fruitgrower
I hereby revoke all former Wills and testamentary dispositions heretobefore made by me and declare this to be my last Will
I appoint my Friends Arthur CLARKE and John Robert SOFTLEY both of River Road, West Walton aforesaid to be the Executors and Trustees of this my Will
I give to my Wife Elizabeth Duncan EDGOOSE all my household furniture and personal effects (exclusive of money and securities for money) and the clear legacy or sum of of One hundred pounds for her own use and benefit absolutely free of duty
I give and devise to my Nephew Reginald Harold EDGOOSE of 'The Maples' School Road West Walton aforesaid the Two acres one rood and three perches of land in Dam Road West Walton aforesaid recently purchased by me from Thomas Leslie GRIMMER for his own use and benefit absolutely free of duty
I give and devise the dwellinghouse in which I now reside known as 'Garden House' West Walton aforesaid together with the premises and Two Acres (more or less) of land thereto adjoining unto my said Wife Elizabeth Duncan EDGOOSE for her life and after her death I devise the same property to my Trustees to be held upon the Trusts hereinafter declared concerning the residue of my estate
I give and devise the residue of my Real and Personal Estate wheresoever and whatsoever unto my Trustees Upon Trust for sale and conversion and I direct them to stand possessed of the net proceeds of such sale and my ready money Upon the following Trusts that is to say
1. To pay thereout my just debts and funeral and testamentary expenses and the estate legacy and other duties payable on my decease and the cost of erecting or amending a suitable headstone tablet or kerbing on over or about my grave
2. To invest the balance in any of the investments for the time being authorised for the investment of Trust monies and to pay the income of such investments to my said Wife Elizabeth Duncan EDGOOSE during her life
3. On the death of my said Wife to stand possessed of as to as well the capital as the income of my residuary Estate Upon Trust for such of them my Brothers and Sisters as shall survive me and the children of any of my Brothers and Sisters then deceased and if more than one in equal shares absolutely Provided always the child or children of any deceased Brother or Sister of mine shall be entitled only to take equally and between them if more than one the share of my estate which his her or their parent would have taken had he or she survived my said wife
In witness whereof I the said Harold James EDGOOSE the Testator have hereunto set my hand the nineteenth day of February One thousand nine hundred and forty four
Signed by the said Harold James EDGOOSE
the Testator as and for his last Will in
the presence of us both being present at
the same time who in his presence at
his request and in the presence of each
other have hereunto subscribed our names
as witnesses
JML. FARROW Solicitor Wisbech
Doris REED his clerk
Harold James EDGOOSE of Garden House, West Walton, Norfolk, died on 11 August 1950 at Warburton Nursing Home, Wisbech, Cambridgeshire. Probate was granted at Norwich on 25 November to Arthur CLARKE and John Robert SOFTLEY, farmers. Effects £ 7805 11s. 9d.
(National Probate Calendar 1950)
An Index of the Will of Elizabeth Duncan YALLOP (1864-1959) of West Walton, Norfolk. The Will was made on 2 September 1959 and was proved on 6 October 1959.
01*Elizabeth Duncan EDGOOSE formerly YALLOP, the Testatrix.
02 Arthur CLARKE, executor and trustee.
03 John Robert SOFTLEY, executor and trustee.
04 Harold James EDGOOSE, late husband of the Testatrix.
05 Harry FUNDREY, witness.
06 John LARCOMBE, witness.
Probate Registry, Peterborough, Northamptonshire.
(revised 09.02.2026)
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