The eldest son, by a second marriage, of George Gould, a Bristol tradesman, he was born at Castle Green on 20 September 1818.
[1] After illness in the winter of 1836–7, Gould thought of taking orders in the Church of England, but decided he could not conscientiously subscribe the 39 Articles.
In 1857 his church was divided on the question of admitting the non-baptised to communion; a secession followed, and a bill in chancery (May 1858) was filed by a trustee, the Rev.
The Master of the Rolls gave judgment (28 May 1860) in favour of Gould and the majority of his church, who had advocated open communion.
[1] Gould married (May 1843) Elizabeth, younger daughter of Samuel Pearce, of South Molton, Devon, who survived him, with four of their eight children.
His eldest son George Pearce Gould, minister (1880) of Cotham Grove Baptist Chapel, Bristol, was his biographer.