Golding / Golden / Goulding et al Family History on Facebook
James Franklin Gouldin (1830-1897), son of John W. (Armistead) Gouldin (1787-1863), whose own parents are unknown, and Elizabeth “Jane” Broaddus (1789-1863). These Gouldins were from Caroline County, Virginia. Family lore has it that they are descended from John Golding (1640-1684) of Gloucester, Virginia.
Spouse: James married Virginia Priscilla Motley (1837-1881), date of marriage is unrecorded.
Children: John L. “Jack” (1860), Myrtle (1863), Victoria B. (1865), Mattie M.(1869), and James Robley (1871) Gouldin.
This family’s name was recorded as Goulding in the 1910 census, but was Gouldin in all prior and subsequent censuses.
For supporting the Confederacy, James Franklin Gouldin would seek pardon on May 23rd 1865, just over a month after General Lee surrendered to General Grant on April 12th at Appomattox Courthouse, just a short distance from Caroline County.
He would be granted a pardon in September 1865. This also required paying all back taxes due to the federal government from the war’s start. A pardon allowed full rights to be immediately restored.
James Franklin Gouldin would later be appointed as Postmaster of Rappahanock Academy, originally a military academy and the town around it, in Caroline County on May 6th 1874. The town kept its name after the academy closed.
Thanks to Jenny Gaulding of Gaulding Cousins for sharing this.
You are welcome to add to or to correct this story by contacting: Bill Golden, Norfolk1956@gmail.com
BTW – I look forward to sharing your stories, photos and in-search-of quests. Contact me at the email address above.