Dr. Francis Robert Goulding was born in 1810, the son of Reverend Thomas Goulding who was the founder and first president of Columbia Theological Seminary. Roswell residents may recognize the Goulding name. The Goulding House is the large home sitting at the end of Goulding Place, just off of Canton Street, steps from Historic Roswell. Francis Robert Goulding was an author, clergyman and inventor and lived in this house at the time of his death August 22, 1881 and is buried in the Roswell Presbyterian Cemetery. Graduated from the University of Georgia in 1830, he was licensed to preach in 1833.
His life was devoted to the ministry until the failure of his health in 1865, when he applied himself to literature. Dr. Goulding is probably best known as the author of a series of adventure stories for children, including his most popular, "The Young Marooners". Like his father, he achieved eminence in the pulpit, filling many pastoral positions. In 1842, he invented a sewing machine but was never credited with the invention because he did not receive a patent for his work.
He served as a chaplain to confederate soldiers in Macon during the Civil War and soon retired to live in Roswell from the late 1860's until his death.
The Goulding Home is a private residence and is not available for tours.
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