James GOUGH was born in Clondoogan Summerhill Parish, County Meath on 1 April 1838. He was the son of Nicholas GOUGH (1798-31 Mar 1881) a farmer/labourer from Clondoogan and his wife Jane WELDON (1806-15 Feb 1873) and the grandson of Christopher GOUGH (c1780-6 Feb 1829) and his wife Bridget SHAUGHNESSY ( c1780-17 Oct 1836).
James had two sisters- Bridget (b 6 Mar 1833 d after 1911) and Margaret (b 18 Sep 1844 d 4 Oct 1883).
James and his cousin, Thomas GOUGH (b 27 Oct 1844 d 5 April 1894 NZ), the son of Christopher GOUGH and Margaret FARRELL, sailed to Sydney, New South Wales, per the ship HORNET, arriving on 25 January 1865. Their uncle, John GOUGH (1815-9 Dec 1881) , and his wife, Margaret BUTLER (1814-1883), had sailed in 1842 per the ship HOPE and had established GOUGH's MARKET GARDEN on the corner of Mary and Miller Streets, Five Dock.
James worked for his uncle for a few years before marrying Bridget GALVIN on 9 July 1868 at St Marys Cathedral, Sydney. In 1873 James selected land in Shore Street and Campbell Street Moruya, on the south coast of New South Wales, where they raised their seven children-
1. Nicholas GOUGH b 14 Aug 1869 Sydney d 29 Dec 1945 Sydney Married 7 Jan 1896 [1] Myra TOBIN Married 1927 Glebe [2] Nora Alice O'DWYER
2. Mary Ann GOUGH b 21 Oct 1871 Moruya d 12 Dec 1900 Wyalong Married 14 Sep 1897 William H. McKAY
3. Eugenie (Jane) GOUGH b 23 Oct 1873 Moruya d 18 Dec 1900 Gunnedah Married 24 Sep 1895 Narrabri Arthur WILSON
4. John GOUGH b 26 Sep 1875 Moruya d 10 May 1876 Moruya
5. Ellen Margaret (Nell) GOUGH b 28 Nov 1877 Moruya d 31 Aug 1946 Summer Hill Married 4 Mar 1898 William SINCLAIR
6. Katie GOUGH b 14 Jul 1880 Moruya d 2 Dec 1951 Wollongong Married 27 Jan 1900 William John FOX
7. James GOUGH b 7 May 1883 Moruya d 12 Aug 1915 Lone Pine Gallipoli, Turkey
His beloved wife, Bridget GOUGH (nee GALVIN), died on 6 Jan 1909 and was buried at Moruya. After her death, James moved to live with his daughter, Katie FOX, in Wollongong and died just two months after the death of his wife, on 5 March 1909. He is buried in Swan Street Cemetery, Wollongong (unmarked grave).
James Gough's obituary reads- Mr. James Gough, whose wife predeceased him about two months ago, at her residence, Moruya, died at his daughter's residence, Wollongong, on Monday week last. Mr. Gough, who was a resident of Moruya for about 40 years, was a very industrious and respectable citizen. He leaves two sons Nicholas and James (Wollongong), and two daughters Mrs Sinclair (Sydney) and Mrs Fox (Wollongong). [Moruya Examiner 20 March 1909]