In 1851 William B. Gould was living with his parents, Thomas and
Matilda, at No 14 York Street Marylebone, London. Thomas was an Oilman
i.e. a supplier and seller of lamp oil.

William was two years old when three year old brother, George William
died. At the time, 1851, there was an outbreak of cholera in London. In
1853, the family, Thomas and Matilda, seven year old Thomas Henry and
William emigrated to Melbourne.  Their sister Anne was born and died at
sea.

On arrival the family lived at the Yarra River near Elizabeth Street.
It was here that William's mother, Matilda died on the 9th August,
1853, probably from complications from the birth of Annie. William's
only memory of his mother was when a neighbour lifted him up to see his
mother in her coffin. the family lived in a tent on the banks of a river
which is Elizabeth Street, Melbourne about where the Post Office
building is. the two little boys used to be bathed in the cold river
water in the morning.