Nicholas Golding, the father of Edward Golding, was born in Ireland on 12  December 1817.  He joined the 65th Regiment in Plymouth, England in 1841.  Six  years later he was sent as a guard over convicts and promoted to sergeant.  He  came to New Zealand in October 1847 as supercargo, and was the only soldier on  board.  After landing his stores, he was to remain in Wellington until 1851,  when he was ordered home to England.

Three years later, he came again to New Zealand as a member of the 65th  Regiment, and landed in Auckland.  After ten months service he rejoined his  regiment and served until February 7, 1863.  On taking his discharge, he  received a presentation from his comrades.  Nicholas Golding took part in the  fight at Waireka and in several engagements at Waitara.  He subsequently joined  the militia as sergeant and served for twenty years under the Colonial  Government.  He received a good conduct medal and the New Zealand War Medal.   For a period he acted as bailiff at the Magistrate's Court and was for fifteen  years, the first warder of H.M.Gaol at New Plymouth.  He had been a foundation  member of the New Plymouth Friendly Society which invested in freehold property  and was responsible for granting of the benefits in times of sickness or death,  and had also been a district Chief Ranger of the Order of Forresters.

Nicholas Golding married twice.  The first time before he left England, and had  8 children whom only 3 daughters reach adulthood.  His wife died in January  1875.  He remarried in December 1876 in New Plymouth and they had one son,  Edward Alexander who was later to marry Mary Beatrice Guilford.  Edward Golding  was a musician and used to play in the orchestra at the silent movies and he  and his wife Mary taught music.  Edward and Mary Golding only had one son,  Haydn Alexander Benbow Golding.