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Hi Dot,
Sorry I haven't replied sooner. Many thanks for your information. I'll go through and check the Gurd entries in my tree. If you're interested, I have two photos of Mary Munns (Gurd), one taken in 1897 and the other around 1910.
Cheers,
Greg
Hi Greg
It's good to hear from you. Thanks for the offer of Mary's pictures. I'd love to have copies.
I have been gathering the Army records of Gurd men who were discharged from the service on health grounds and were in receipt of a pension. There were several 19th century Gurd 'Chelsea Pensioners' and I've been able to download images of their Army records from the internet. Some soldiers who needed care became inmates of the Army's 'Royal Hospital' at Chelsea (London). The majority however returned to civilian life and were classed as 'Out Pensioners'.
One such Pensioner was Henry Gurd (1788) the son of Joseph Gurd and Hannah Bell. His record details his career in the service and the medical reports which led to his discharge. His surname was recorded as 'Guard', but as Henry was illiterate and signed the paper with a cross, I doubt he would have had any idea of the usual spelling. A summary of the report has been added to his page on the tree. I'll add the other men's records as I transcribe them and will leave a message here to let everyone know. One great find is the Army record of John Gurd (1863) the murderer. It doesn't explain why he took the alias, but does give a clear picture of the time he spent in the Service between 1880 and 1884. I wonder what he did between then and 1992 when he murdered the two men. It must be something that happened in that time, that made it necessary to adopt an alias.
Dot
Hello Greg,
I've just come across this website whilst researching my connection to Gurds and discovered your entry. I also share great-great grandfather James Gurd with you!! My great-grandfather was John Gurd (shown as Gird in NSW BDM's) the younger brother born after your g-g-grandmother, Mary. I would love to make contact with you and share information. I am particularly interested in photos as my interest in family history evolved from scrapbooking my forebears.
I grew up in the Inverell district and have some information on the New England Gurds.
Regards
Jenny Hollands
Hi Jenny,
Just saw your post. I haven't done a lot of stuff on the Gurds recently, but it'll be a focus at some time in the future. From what you say, you are my third cousin. My email address is partog@bigpond.net.au. Drop me an email and I'll have a yarn about what I have etc etc.
Cheers,
Greg
G'day Dot,
I'm sorry I haven't been very active on your page, but my research has taken me elsewhere in recent times. Anyway, I received this email and the lady concerned asked me to pass it on to you. Hope yo are well.
Cheers,
Greg
Hello,
I found your email address on Dorothy Gurd's genealogy page regarding the Gurd family history.
The reason I'm contacting you is that I wondered if you could forward my email address to Dorothy Gurd (I couldn't find how to message her directly through the site as I'm not a member). R A Whitehouse <whitehousehome@icloud.com>
Here's why: I recently went to an Antiques Fair at Ashton Court in Bristol (UK) and bought a book that I later saw had an inscription (Bristol C S S Exam Sept 1900, Awarded to Dottie Gurd, First Prize, Class 3 — see photo below).
It seemed like a lovely bit of family history for someone and I did a quick Google search for the name (hence finding the genealogy site) and, after seeing how involved you all were with the Gurd family history, I wondered if Dorothy would like me to send her the book, Half Hours in Field and Forest.
Apologies for any imposition.
Best wishes,
Claire Whitehouse
Sent from my iPad
Hi Greg
It's good to hear from you! Thanks for passing on Claire Whitehouse's letter. I will write to her. I have recently changed my email address (dgurd@gurdons.co.uk), so it's a good thing that I altered it on Genealogywise and got your posting. I do know where Dottie Gurd fitted into the tree. She didn't marry, but after her brother's wife died, she brought up her nephew (born 1920) - who many decades later became a friend of mine.
Charles Gurd came over from New Mexico in August and we spent a couple of weeks taking him to all the Gurd ancestral places in south Wiltshire. He is concentrating on collating the DNA Gurd study and I am co-ordinating the genealogy side of things. I believe that (probably) the first Gurd in Ireland was 'Gurshan' Gurd (Gurshan has many spellings). He went over with Oliver Cromwell's invading troops in the 17th century. He was awarded land there by Cromwell and it seems as though he might have begun the 'Irish branch' of the family. He lived at some time in Dorset, where his young son was buried in 1643. There is a way to go yet, but we are getting there slowly!!
Keep in touch, Best wishes, Dot
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