In the 1881 UK census he was aged 20, unmarried, a Commission Agent Clerk, lodging at 69 Cooks Road, Newington?, Surrey.  He moved to the USA in 1883.

John had 2 grandchildren in 1920 and was living in Brooklyn, New York at that time.

He was a descendant of John and Elizabeth Goldsworthy of Stockyard near Moulton, Devonshire, whose 2nd son William Goldsworthy was born there in 1771.

From info on net, John's parents were believed to be Frederick Emilius ADAMS (or Frederick Emilices ADAMS) and Georgiana Augusta COBB (elsewhere Georgianna?).

John had been corresponding with Clara Garrick Goldsworthy (b.1876) around 1919-20. 
Clara was the daughter of John Goldsworthy (b.1837) and Marion Beath Garrick (b.abt 1846).
She had sent him photos of 4 generations of our Goldsworthys in November 1919 and probably other family details.