HOULDEY - It is believed that the name HOULDEY comes from HOLDEHYE, which means ?dry river bed?. There is an area around Gloucester Castle, (now disappeared) of bare land where a small river used to flow. It is around this area which most of the Houldey?s from Gloucester originated. Today this area is called Bearland, which is where some of my ancestors lived and died.
The Houldey line I am tracing begins with Ephraim Houldey. He was christened in 1798 and his parents were James and Elizabeth. Ephraim had one sister, called Elizabeth. Other than her christening, I know nothing about her, but would like to find out.
Ephraim had three wives and 11 children. I have been able to locate nearly all of the children, who they married and where they have lived. But some still eluded me. Samuel Houldey was the first child, christened 30 November 1814 and Henry Houldey was the third child, christened 23 July 1818; of these two sons I know nothing else, but again would like to figure it all out.