RODGERS, John

1800 - 1822  (~ 23 years)

• Name	RODGERS, John
  Born	Between 1799 and 1800	Warrington, Peterborough, Northamptonshire
  Gender	Male
  Died	22 Mar 1822	Lincoln, Lincolnshire
  Person ID	I659	Edgoose
  Last Modified	20 Feb 2024

  
  

  Family	EDGOOSE, Sarah,   b. 1801, Boston, Lincolnshire ,   d. Yes, date unknown
  Married	21 Jun 1821	Algarkirk, Lincolnshire
  Last Modified	16 Apr 2024
  Family ID	F490	Group Sheet  |  Family Chart

  
  

• Notes

  JOHN RODGERS or ROGERS 1799 or 1800-1822 John RODGERS of Algarkirk, bachelor, married Sarah EDGOOSE of Algarkirk, spinster, at Algarkirk, Lincolnshire, on 21 June 1821. Joel EDGOOSE was a witness. (FreeReg) From the Stamford Mercury of 30 November 1821: "We are happy to state that a gang of most desperate night marauders, who have long been a terror to the neighbourhood of Boston, have been broken into by the officers of that justice which sooner or later brings on a stern settlement with all offenders. Four desperadoes have already been apprehended, and are committed to Lincoln Castle for trial at the next assizes, on charges of various highway robberies this winter near Boston. Their names are J. and W. EDGOOSE, father and son, J. ROGERS, who married a daughter of the former, and J.JACKSON, all heretofore living within a few miles of Boston. The police of that town have a clue to other offenders." (Stamford Mercury, Friday 30 November 1821) (www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk) Here is a true, full and exact account of the Unfortunate JOHN ROGERS, Who was Hung at Lincoln Gallows, on Friday the 22nd March, 1822, FOR ROBBING ON THE KING'S HIGHWAY THIS miserable man whose crimes have brought him to such a disgraceful end, is a native of this County, and lately resided at Kirton in Holland, together with those others his bad associates. His occupation was that of a daily laborer, and his ill-conduct never enabled him to attain any other rank. It is not necessary to seek out the early history of a man in this situation, as nothing can be worth relating of one who at the early age of 22 years became the sad spectacle of a public Execution, and is put to Death as a pest to society, like as the destructive beasts and birds of prey are exterminated. The curiosity of the reader of this sad memorial will be satisfied with the following account of the trial, which took place before JUDGE BEST, on Tuesday the 12th of Mcarh (sic), 1822 THE TRIAL Christopher Craven of Swineshead in this County, stated to the Court, that, on Wednesday the 7th of November, 1821, about 7 o'clock at night, he was riding from Boston market in company with Mr. Ingall and Mr. Overton, neighbours; when about four miles from Boston, they passed two men, and shortly after Mr. Craven parted company with his friends, who rode off in another direction: scarcely had they got out of sight, when the two men just passed, overtook Mr. Craven, and one on each side of his horse assaulted him, threw him on the ground - one pinned him close down, while the other robbed his person and took therefrom, a pocket-book, containing a considerable sum in Bank notes, thirty shillings in silver, and a watch, neck-handkerchief, &c. It was a moonlight night, and in the struggle, Mr. Craven got a full view of Rogers' face, and he positively swore upon oath that he was one of the men who robbed him. The other he could not identify. Thus far went the testimony, and God, who never fails to give means to detect guilt, provided further proof of the case by the confession and evidence of an accomplice. THE ACCOMPLICE'S EVIDENCE Jackson, an accomplice, told the following shocking tale of vice:- "On the 6th of November, John Rogers and William Edgoose came to my house and said to me-What a fool you are to work so hard as you do; we can tell you how to get an easier living," and Jackson gave ear to their wicked suggestions and agreed to join them in robbing the next man they met with. Rogers produced pistols, and old Edgoose brought powder and shot to load them. Thus armed and prepared for their diabolical purpose, they proceeded on the Swineshead road until Mr. Craven fell into their clutches as described in his evidence. The day after the robbery they went to the Plough public house in Holland Fen, where Rogers tried to get a five-pound note changed; and not succeeding, they went to the King's Head in Swineshead, and afterwards to the Bull public house, where they were afterwards apprehended. Thus were these desperate characters entrapped the day after the commission of their villainy, and in this well organized country, thus will generally be the detection of all doers of violence. The parties were apprehended by Mr. Wm. Hall, constable of Swineshead, who found the property of Mr. Craven on their persons. THE SERMON The accustomed Sermon was delivered yesterday afternoon (Thursday) by the Rev. Mr. Kent, in the Castle Chapel. The Reverend gentleman endeavourerd in the most solemn and energetic manner, to prepare the wretched culprit for his near-approching doom, by pointing out to him the enormity of his guilt, and exhorted him to watch and pray without ceasing. He drew an affecting picture of the unhappy man's anguish of mind, exhibiting to those of the bystanders, whose crimes, like Rogers' had brought on them the vengeance of the law, but whose less atrocious conduct had extended to them the hand of mercy - a lively representation of what they had so narrowly escaped. THE EXECUTION The Malefactor met his fate with fortitude and resignation, submitting to it as the just reward of his manifold transgressions. At the fatal tree he joined with the clergyman in prayer: a momentary pause of horror ensued, while the executioner drew the cord round his neck, and and (sic) the fall of the drop threw him into the arms of Eternity, amidst the prayers and tears of the commisserating (sic) spectators. Learn then O man those paths to shun, Which quick to sure destruction run; And, oh, pursue that happier way, That leads to realms of endless day. DRURY, PRINTER, LINCOLN PARTICULARS OF THE LIFE, TRIAL, BEHAVIOUR AND EXECUTION OF JOHN ROGERS Who was executed this day, (March 22, 1822,) at the New Drop, Lincoln, for Highway Robbery. Oh when will harden'd sinners repent them of their sin, And turn their feet from evil, to walk no more therein! With terror and with trembling their end is drawing nigh, Prepare ye guilty for your doom, for ye must surely die! Oh Death thou great destroyer, the righteous fear not thee, As yellow sheaves in autumn, their latter days shall be, As the gathering in of harvest, the judgement day shall come, And the angels are the reapers that shout the harvest home! Their grave is dug in honor, they lie them down in peace, From trouble and from trial they find a sweet release; Their toil is nearly ended, their rest will soon begin, They slumber in a quiet bed, when all is peace within. They trust not in their holiness nor aught that is their own, For we are guilty creatures with all that we have done; "Few are my days and evil," said Job in his distress, For what are men but vanity, with all their righteousness! And the glory of the world, how doth it pass away, And the pleasures of the world, of what account are they, When fast the earth is fading before the sinner's eye, And he must bid a long farewell, and that right speedily. Farewell ye running streams so pleasantly that flow, Ye pleasant woods and water sides where I was wont to go; Ye tuneful birds that make sweeet music as ye fly, For there's neither song nor music in the grave where we must lie. Oh little thought the father that labour'd for thy bread, That such a grief was coming upon his hoary head; And little thought the mother that nurst her on her knee, That thou should'st come to die upon a gallows tree! But hark a fearful trampling of footsteps to thy cell, Now look thy last about thee, and bid thy friends farewell, Few are the minutes that remain, and short thy time must be, And may the Judge of all the earth be merciful to thee. JOHN ROGERS was 22 years of age, and was born at Warrington near Peterborough, where his father now lives; his parents were poor but honest, and until he became connected with the Edgooses he bore a good character, but having become acquainted with them, and married one of their daughters, he joined himself in their wicked practices, and thus brought on himself this untimely and disgraceful end. He was first tried for robbing Mr. Craven, and John Edgoose (the father) was tried with him, for inciting, procuring, aiding and counselling the robbery. It appeared by the evidence that Mr. Craven was proceeding from Boston market on Wednesday the 7th of November, and was stopped about four miles from Boston, at seven in the evening, by two men, who pulled him off his horse, threw him down, and one held him there while the other robbed him of two 5l. bank notes, three 1l. notes, a silver watch, 30 shillings in silver, and other property. He only saw two men and could swear to Rogers being one of them. An accomplice named Jackson, (admitted King's evidence) stated that Wm. Edgoose and John Rogers went to his house the day before the robbery was committed, and persuaded him to join them in their depredations on the highway. He went to the house of the elder Edgoose on the 7th November, where William Edgoose (the son) and John Rogers also resided, and there the robbery was planned, in the presence and with the knowledge of old Edgoose, who furnished them with powder and shot for two pistols which they took with them. He and the younger Edgoose and Rogers stopped Mr. Craven, but only the two latter seized him, for he (Jackson) was afraid two gentlemen who had been with Mr. Craven, but who had ridden on a little before him, should hear his alarm and return to his assistance, he therefore crept behind a hedge. Jackson and Rogers met the next morning to divide the spoil, but Wm. Edgoose did not meet them. On the 8th of November, (the day after the robbery) Jackson and Rogers were both taken into custody at Swineshead, and part of Mr. Craven's property found upon them. There was no evidence produced during the trial tending to prove that Edgoose and his son were concerned in this robbery, except that related above given by the accomplice Jackson. Rebecca Burton, a married woman, but who has been separated from her husband for three quarters of a year, and has been living in adultery with James Edgoose (another son of old Edgoose) was called to prove an alibi on the part of Rogers, but failed. Rogers was again tried for robbing Mr. J. Johnson on the highway, at Donington, on the 17th October. The Jury having found him guilty of both the robberies, Mr. Justice Best passed sentence of death upon him. The only act of kindness (his Lordship observed) which he could show him, was to apprise him that it was impossible that any mercy could be granted him here. There could be no doubt that a gang of ruffians infested this county, who were leagued for the perpetration of highway robberies upon the persons of unfortunate stragglers who might fall in their way, accompanied with acts of extreme violence. It was impossible not to believe that, if the unfortunate persons of robbing whom the prisoner had been convicted, had offered the least resistance, they would have fallen victims to his bloody cruelty; and he should forget the humanity due to society, were he to endeavour to obtain for such offenders the mercy of his Sovereign. A sermon suitable to the situation and feelings of this deluded young man was preached by the Chaplain, which we have no doubt would materially tend to prepare the culprity for his approaching death. The passage selected on the occasion was ACTS, xvi, ver. 30 - And Brought them out, and said, Sirs, what must I do to be saved? After condemnation, Rogers evidently suffered under great distress of mind, which weakened his bodily frame so much as to cause some expectation that he might be spared the shame of a public execution, by a more early death. He was however sufficiently recovered to be taken to the place of execution, where he conducted himself in a very penitent manner, and after a short time spent in prayer, was launched into eternity. The history of Rogers affords another melancholy proof of the necessity of avoiding wicked company. A man does not all at once become capable of committing robbery or murder - there was a period of his life when he would have shuddered at the idea. We sincerely wish the fate of this young man may have its desired effect. W. Brooke, Printer, Lincoln (revised 06.08.2013)