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Oscar Wilde, was known by George du Maurier as Oscuro Wildegoose.
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Lady Frances Wildgoose had a poem, “Orgula or The Fatal
Error, a Tragedy” by Leoarg Willan, dedicated to her in
1658.
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Anton Wilgans was an Austrian dramatist, poet and
theatre manager, the father of
musician Friedrich Wilgans, His portrait appears
on a 1 schilling postage stamp.
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William Wildgoose, born about 1640, was
a noted schoolmaster at a private school in
Denton, Cuddesdon. He
was an Oxford Scholar, at Brazenose College. He died of a violent fever in
Paris in 1683. A copy of his Last Will and Testament exists in which he
leaves his estate to his “dear wife Deberra”.
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In a letter to the child
Bettina von Amin, Johan Wolfgang von Goethe wrote:
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“….I
introduced to her a young man from, for he held a fine speech over the
great Strasburg, who shortly before had been with you; she asked politely
after his name and before he could answer I said “The gentleman’s name is Wildgoose, he has visited your son at Weimar
and brings you many greetings from him.” She looked contemptuously at
me and said to him “Dare I take the liberty of asking your name?” but again
before he could legitimize himself I had again uttered the famous name
“gentleman by this epithet of Wildgoose;
she begged his pardon, Wildgoose.”
Quite enraged at my rude treatment in miscalling the strange said my
wantoness had no bounds and often indeed bordered on folly. I said
“But the gentleman’s name is Wildgoose.”
“Oh be silent”, said she, “how could a reasonable man be called Wildgoose?” When the gentleman at last
could edge in a word, and acknowledged that it was his evil-fate to be so
named, it was delightful to hear the excuses and assurances of high respect
on either side; they were as much amused with one another, as if they had
been acquainted for years, and on his taking leave, your mother said with
an heroical attempt “Farewell Sir Thomas
Wildgoose – I never believed to have been able to have brought
it over my tongue.”
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Originally
published in German 1835, English translation (by Bettina von Arnim).
1837.Prepared by Bruce G
Charlton, University of Newcastle upon Tyne, UK - April 2004.
Transcribed by Karen Leitch, adapted for web publication by David Pearce.
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Christmas
Stories (second edition)
published in 1827 contains a narrative poem by an
unknown
writer entitled “John Wildgoose the
Poacher”.
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In 1640 Anthony Wildgoos wrote a fun book in verse with a
woodcut illustration.
He dedicated it to:
“The Right Honourable, the Lord Mayor of the famous
city of London, the Honourable
the sheriffs, aldermen, Common Council, and all
worthy citizens of the same, the humble
address of Anthony Wildgoos, workman-printer
microform : in divine meditations on
death, made upon these nine words, nothing more sure
then death, for all must die”
The alternative jolly title was: Nothing More Sure Than Death
The original manuscript is in the Huntington
Library, America.
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In 1549 John Wildgoose was admitted to Gray’s Inn (one of London’s Inns of Court).
His sons also qualified as lawyers: John (later Sir John Wildgoose) born
in 1562 was admitted to Gray’s Inn in 1584 and Thomas, who went up
to Hart Hall, Oxford on 28 Nov 1581 aged thirteen,
became a student at Lincoln’s Inn.
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Robert Wildgoose, born in 1614,
studied at Queen’s College Cambridge in 1641 (where he probably achieved an
M.A.) and Leiden University in Holland, matriculating on 21st.
February 1733 aged seventeen.
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The Prison Report of 1839 lists amongst the catalogue of books
“for the use of Prisoners
in their Cells and also for Purposes of Instruction”: The History of John Wildgoose
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Published in 1773,
another book which at one time was the only book allowed to be read by
prisoners was
written by Richard Graves and described as A Comic Romance:
The Spiritual
Quixote or The Summer’s Ramble of Mr.
Geoffrey Wildgoose
The book
tells the story of Geoffrey Wildgoose’s ‘summer ramble’ around Wales and the
Midland, accompanied by Jerry Tugwell, the village cobbler, in
order to preach the doctrines
Of Methodism which he has lately embraced. Not genealogy really
but interesting nevertheless.
It seems an unusual name for Graves to have chosen. I wonder if Geoffrey was based on a true-life
character. I’ve read (some)
of the book and he certainly seems eccentric enough to be a real Goose!
You’ll be pleased to know that, starting off as a somewhat
spoiled mother’s boy, Geoffrey’s adventures
finish up with him marrying Miss Julia Townsend.
To my surprise I did find the book to be funny – if a trifle
l-o-n-g! Worth seeking out at your
local
library if you’ve nothing better to do.
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The Wildgoose Chase was a brilliant comedy by Fletcher published in 1652. |
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Florence
Nightingale was a friend of the Wildgoose
family in Lea, Derbyshire.
On 1st.
Apr 1880 she wrote in a letter the following:
“Joy,
joy, joy, for Buckingham and so many other Liberal victories; ‘whether we win
or not
it will
be a great moral victory: so pure and unadulterated; so much of the people,
people:
and not
of beer, beer’; Mrs. Wildgoose very
much absorbed in the electoral struggle of North Derbyshire”
also
amongst the papers of Henry Bonham Carter may be found the following:
“Florence
Nightingale to Miss Sarah Robinson, Guildford. Sends £10 for Portsmouth
Soldiers'
Institute.
Letter crossed out and on back pencil notes by F.N. for a dedication in a
volume of Longfellow to her friends of Lea, marked: "To the Care of Mrs. Wildgoose"
- date: 5 Feb 1872”
In May
1900 she made a note: “Lea school master; wreath sent in memory of a good and
great
man, Mr. Rob. Wildgoose.”
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On 4th
May 1604 William
Willgouse matriculated at the University
of Oxford as a privileged person.
He is described as servant of Dr. Abbott, the Vice-Chancellor.
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