My husband’s mother was Lilian May Golesworthy. She was born in London in 1909, one of fourteen children. Her parents were Walter Frederick Golesworthy and Lilian St John.
The Golesworthy family are from Honiton, Devon, where they were stonemasons. There were several Golesworthy families living in Dowell Street and Silver Street. Golesworthy Cottage in Dowell Street and a stone plaque carved by the mason are reminders of the families that lived there.
Henry Thomas Woodland Golesworthy (“Harry Tom”) was born in 1847 in Honiton, and died in 1933 in Southwark, London. He is the great-grandfather of Peter Reuby. I have heard that the family moved to London to work on the repair of masonry at St Paul’s Cathedral, but this is not proved.
Harry Tom’s parents were Charles Golesworthy of Honiton, born in 1819, and died in 1892, and Louisa Woodland, born in 1824 in Honiton, died in 1904 in Ottery St Mary. Louisa is listed in the census as a straw milliner. She can also be found in the records of the Devon House of Correction. Her family were in the workhouse, and it was common for inmates to be transferred to prison if they did not comply with workhouse rules, such as work placements.
The Woodland name has been carried down as a given name through many of Charles and Louisa’s descendants.
Easter Family Genealogy 