[2] His father had been born in Melton Mowbray and his uncle, Bartholomew, served as a priest there, during which time he erected the Gonson Memorial in the church paying tribute to his parents.

[4] As part of the actions taken during the Reformation, the Order was suppressed in England by King Henry VIII on 10 May 1540.

In 1541 he was put on trial and convicted of treason for his denial of the king's authority in spiritual matters as laid down in law by the Act passed by Parliament in the preceding year that had dissolved the Order in England claiming the members 'sustained and maintained the usurped power and authority of the Bishop of Rome...untruly upholding, knowledging and affirming maliciously and traitorously the same Bishop to be the Supreme Head of Christ's Church'.

[6] He was executed by being hanged, drawn and quartered at St Thomas' Waterings in Southwark on 12 July 1541.

He was beatified by Pope Pius XI in Rome on 15 December 1929 as one of the One Hundred and Seven Martyrs of England and Wales.