Thank you to Lenka Cathersides for the following research.
William Golding was born about 1870 in Kensington, London to painter William Golding sr. and cook Mary Golding nee Healey.
William Golding’s father William Golding sr. was born in the 4th quarter of 1841 in Marylebone, London to mason’s labourer John Golding, born about 1801 in Ireland, and laundress Bridget Golding, born about 1803 in Ireland.
At the time of the 1851 Census, the family lived at 37 Horace Street, Marylebone, London. The family comprised of mason’s labourer John Golding, laundress Bridget Golding and their children: plasterer’s labourer John Golding, James Golding, David Golding and a lodger, the widowed, Mrs Peterson.
At the time of the 1861 Census, William Golding sr was an Ordinary Seaman of the Royal Navy. He was aboard HMS St Jean D Acre, anchoring at Cadiz Bay in Spain.
William Golding’s mother Mary Golding nee Healey was born about 1842 in Marylebone, London to bricklayer’s labourer Michal Healey, born about 1800 in Ireland, and Bridget Healey, born about 1811 in Ireland.
At the 1851 Census, the family lived at 10 Horace Street, Marylebone, London. The family comprised of bricklayer’s labourer Michal Healey, Bridget Healey and their children Daniel, Mary, Michal and Bridget. The family further comprised of Michal’s brother-in-law, bricklayer’s labourer, Edmond Ahern of Ireland.
William Golding sr and Mary Healey married in the 2nd quarter of 1865 in the Registration District of Marylebone, London.
The couple had two known children: John Golding born about 1866 in Paddington, London and William Golding born about 1870 in Kensington, London.

At the time of the 1871 Census, the family lived at 11 Farmer Street, Kensington, London. William Golding was working as a painter and Mary Golding was looking after their children John and William.

At the time of the 1881 Census, the family lived at 4 Kents Place, London. The family comprised of wharf labourer William Golding, cook Mary Golding and their sons: unemployed labourer John Golding and William Golding. The family further comprised of William sr’s nephews: John and Herbert J.Tory.
William Golding married Mary Ann Griffiths in the 3rd quarter of 1890 in the Registration District of Marylebone, London.
Mary Ann Griffiths was born about 1871 in Paddington, London to parish labourer James Griffiths, born about 1826 in Ireland, and Mary A. Griffiths, born about 1833 in Limerick, Ireland.
At the time of the 1881, the family lived at Victoria Cottages, Paddington, London. James was working as a parish labourer and Mary A. Golding was a milk woman. The couple were looking after their six children, including Mary Ann.
William Golding and Mary Ann Golding nee Griffiths had three known children: John Golding was born about 1897 in Paddington, London; Herbert Golding born about 1899 in Willingdon, London and Kate Golding born about 1901 in Paddington, London.

At the time of the 1891 Census, the family lived at 15 Torrington Mews, Paddington. William Golding was working as a carman and Mary Ann was at home.

At the time of the 1901 Census, the family lived at 29 Conduict Mews, Paddington. William was still working as a carman and Mary Ann was at home looking after their children John, Herbert and Kate. The household further comprised of Mary Ann’s mother, the widowed, Mary A. Griffiths.

At the time of the 1911 Census, the family lived at 3 Desborough Street, Paddington, London. William was working as a builder’s labourer and Mary Ann was looking after their children: page boy John, Herbert and Kate. The accommodation had one room. Mary Ann stated that she had given birth to five children, of whom three were still alive.
At the time of the 1911 Census, William’s parents William Golding sr and Mary Golding lived at 15 Glengall Road, Kilburn, London. William was a retired painter on a pension and Mary was at home. Mary stated that she had given birth to three children of whom two were still alive. The accommodation had one room.
William Golding enlisted in Clapham on the 26th of April 1913 into the Surrey Yeomanry (Queen’s Mary Regiment). His regimental number was 1692 and he was a Trooper. At the time of his enlistment William was working as a coachman and lived with his wife and children in Paddington.

The 1914 Dorking and Leatherhead Advertisers reads, that Trooper William Golding of Harrow Road Paddington, London, a groom in the Reserve Surrey Yeomanry Regiment, whose officers were quartered in Dorking, died in an accident at Bury Hill, Dorking, on the 14th of October 1914.
The deceased fell off his horse in the stable yard, his head striking the cobblestone.
William Golding was riding one of the horses, apparently exercising it, when he either fell or was thrown from its back. “The horse concerned in the accident was one of five lent to the Regiment by Colonel Cubitt, and has been ridden by his sons during the last hunting season.

Trooper W. Gingell from the same Regiment said that on “Wednesday morning he walked with deceased to the stables at Bury Hill between 9 and half-past. Witness went into the stable and lost sight of deceased. Not long afterwards he heard a horse’s feet scramble on the gravel in the yard, and looking out was just in time to see the deceased fall off the animal’s back, Golding falling heavily on the back of his head on a cobble stone.”


He died at the Cottage Hospital the same evening from a brain laceration. Dr Hugh T. W. Blakeney said that he saw Golding soon after he was admitted to the Cottage Hospital. Golding was suffering from concussion, was restless and had been violently sick. There was a wound at the back of his head with considerable haemorrhaging. An operation in the deceased’s condition was out of question.
His funeral was held at Dorking Cemetery on the 17th of October 1914. His grave reference number is: R.C.42. The squadron to which deceased was attached was present at the funeral, under Lieutenant Walker, and the coffin was borne to its last resting place by members of the regiment. The service was conducted by Father W.B. Alexander.

The widow Mary Ann Golding of 12 Stratham Street, Harrow Road, Paddington, London received £1, 10s and 6d on the 21st of June 1915 in Soldier’s Effects.
Lived Paddington, London
Son of William and Mary. A Golding of 12, Streatham Street, Harrow Road, London
Husband of Mary Ann Golding (nee Griffiths)
Regiment Surrey Yeomanry (Queen Mary’s Regiment)
Number 1692
Date of Death 14th October 1914
Cause of Death Falling from a horse at Bury Hill
Place of Death Dorking Cottage Hospital
Age 36
Cemetery Dorking Cemetery