William Goodman was born in 1777 in St Erth, Cornwall, England, and was baptised there on the 2nd of November of the same year. His parents were Joseph Goodman and Elizabeth Laity. He was the fifth of seven children.

His brothers and sisters were Richard, Elizabeth, Joseph, John, Mary and Leonard.

On the 6th of April 1801 he married Grace Williams at Saint Erth. William worked as a mason. After the birth of their first child, William Williams Goodman, in 1802, they moved from St Erth to St Hilary.

William and Grace had three children at St Hilary: Sophia Goodman, Betsy Williams Goodman and Samuel Goodman. Why some of the children were registered with their mother's maiden name as a middle name and some were not is a mystery! In 1809, their daughter, Betsy, died aged 2.

At some stage between 1809 and 1813 they moved to the town of Redruth. In Redruth were born Louisa Williams Goodman, Elizabeth Goodman, John Williams Goodman, Joseph Goodman, Henry Goodman and Elizabeth Grace Williams Goodman. The earlier born Elizabeth died in 1820 aged 4 years.

In 1821 William was accused of smuggling but there was never enough evidence to bring a conviction. Cornwall was a haven for smugglers at the time. The smuggling must have paid well however, because he bought and managed a hotel in Redruth called The Kings Head! The pub, situated in Fore Street, had an illegal cock-fighting pit.

In 1824 William Spargo of Redruth, a labourer, was accused of taking a silver tea spoon, and a glass tumbler, each valued at sixpence, the property of William Goodman. He was found not guilty. In 1826 William Thomas of Redruth, a labourer, was found guilty of stealing a brass candlestick and an earthen jug, each valued at sixpence, the property of William Goodman. He was given fourteen days' hard labour in jail.

His son William married Jane Matthews Davis in 1827. They had five daughters. In 1828 his daughter Sophia married Henry Michell. Sophia died in Redruth in 1838 aged 34. In 1831, son Joseph died aged eleven years. In 1832, daughter Louisa married James Ellery, and they were to have four daughters and one son. Louisa's husband died in 1864 and she settled in Australia in 1868 with a grand-daughter.

In 1834, son Samuel married Grace Hocken Hichens, and they were to have nine children. Samuel worked as a cabinet maker and inherited the family home in Redruth.

Son John married Amelia Mary Barnford in 1844, and they had three children. After Amelia's death in 1852, he married Elizabeth Gilbert and they had two further children. Son Henry left for Australia in 1847 and married Ann Nicholls - they had a son and two daughters.

At some stage, daughter Elizabeth Grace Williams Goodman married Joseph Rapson Goodman and were to have ten children. Joseph Rapson Goodman was no relation. Elizabeth died in London in 1910.

William Goodman died in Redruth in 1855 aged 78. Grace, his wife died in Truro, Cornwall, in 1863, aged 81.