William Goodman

Nicholas Goodman arrived in South Australia with his wife and three children in 1848, having travelled on the ship Westminster.    He established a business near Salisbury, where he settled. This may have been a blacksmith shop as Nicholas was a blacksmith by trade.  His son William also settled here a having been born in Ponsanooth Cornwall on 24 September 1837.  During the gold rush Nicholas and William travelled to the Victorian diggings.  They may have had some luck as on their return his father became a farmer purchasing land two miles from Salisbury. 

After his father’s death, William took over the homestead and farm, Ashfield and remained there until his death.

William married Mary Sampson on 23 April 1863 at her father’s residence at One Tree Hill.  Mary was the daughter of John Sampson, Precolumb farm, One Tree Hill. They had four children, only one daughter surviving to adulthood.

Jane Sampson   b. 16 June 1863

Ada Maria          b. 2 Jan 1866     18 Dec 1868       2 years

Emily Mary        b. 2 Jan 1866     d. 14 March 1866            2 months

Frederick William            b. 15 June 1867 d.           d. 25 Oct 1867   4 months

Mary died from diarrhoea, age 29, just ten days after the birth of her son on 25^th June 1867.  She left three young children, the youngest, Frederick only surviving four months.  

Mary is buried in the Wesleyan Cemetery at Hillbank along with three of her children, Ada Maria, Emily Mary and Frederick William.

William remarried on the 5^th April 1871 to Jane, eldest daughter of John Williams, Barossa.  Further children were born to William.

Kate Morris       b. 8 May 1872
Ada Jane          b. 14 Feb 1874
William John     b.30 Oct 1875
Elsie Maria         b. 14 July 1877
Charles Howard              b. 1879
Mabel Mary       b. 15 Feb 1883

Nicholas and William was one of the foundation members of the Loyal Wellington Lodge and a Freemason.  He was connected with the erection of the institute a member and staunch supporter of the Methodist Church.

William died age 72 in 29 May 1909. 

Williams obituary reads;

He started life blest with the restraining and ennobling influences of a Christian home and ancestry. His parents and grandparents were members of the Wesleyan Methodist Church for over half a century.  He came to South Australia with his parents in 1848, and in the same year settled with them at Salisbury, where he remained until called by the Master to higher service.  It was not until the year 1865, under the ministry of the late Rev. John Watsford, for whom he had the highest regard, and whose life to him was a most precious memory, that he took his stand for Christ. Evangelistic services were being conducted by the Rev. John Watsford.  Our brother was in attendance with his mother and wife.  Before the meeting closed he rose to go out. As he walked down the aisle Mr. Watsford followed, and overtaking him, placed his hand on his shoulder, and as he did so he said, "The Master is come and calleth for thee." He at once returned, and kneeling beside his mother and wife he found the Saviour, entered the spiritual kingdom, and became an inheritor of eternal life.

His conversion changed the currents of his life. He at once identified himself with the Church, accepted its responsibilities, as well as shared in its privileges. The class meeting, Christian communion, and public worship were to him means of grace that he could not neglect.

The Rev. H. J. Pope, referring to our late brother, writes: —
''If I were asked to express in one verse of Scripture an epitaph to the memory of the late Mr. Goodman, I would quote the beatitude of Christ: —

'Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called sons of God.'

Our departed brother was no agitator, no wrangler, but essentially a man of peace.  If he saw a different side of life, or another phase of the circumstances of the times, lie expressed his opinion in a quiet, unostentatious way, so that while he might not agree he would not be contentious.

He was highly sensitive, and allowed for that same possible sensitiveness in others.  He was a regular attendant at the service.

His prayer was: 'Teach me Thy statutes.  Make me to understand the way of Thy precepts; so shall I meditate of Thy wondrous works.'

He was actively identified with the official life of the Church, being a trustee and a regular member of the quarterly meeting of the circuit.

He was a regular and liberal supporter of the funds of the Church, not only of the local society, but 'of the Home and Foreign Missionary Societies.

His house was the home of the preacher, who was always welcome to his liberal hospitality.  He will be missed, not only by his home and in his seat at the church, but in the various meetings of the Church, where his advice and the influence of his life were for good always."

In conjunction with his first and second wife, who survives him, our brother sought to train his children in the ways of righteousness, and had the great joy of seeing all of them (two sons and five daughters) members and workers in the Church.

His last illness was painful, but patiently borne.  The nature of his disease prevented him from bearing a bright dying testimony, but his life's testimony removes all doubt as to his abundant entrance into the city of God.

His mortal remains were laid to rest in the Willaston Cemetery, the resting place of many of his loved ones.

Observer Sat 12 June 1909

Ashfield was considered as a name for the new town of Elizabeth.