The Jurd Bligh Family #

The Jurd family became established in 1812, when Daniel Jurd married Elizabeth Douglas in Windsor, New South Wales.

The Jurd family is intimately connected with the settlement of the new Colony in 1788. William Douglas and Mary Groves, were the parents of a Currency Lass, Elizabeth Douglas, born in the Colony in 1796 and married Daniel Jurd in 1812, recorded in the marriage register of St Matthew’s Church of England, Windsor.

William Douglas was born about 1757 to John and Johanna Douglas.

Mary Grove’s parents were John Groves and Frances Ayscough.

They were married at Little Ponton on 1 August 1759. John and Frances were to have twelve children, eight daughters and 4 sons. Mary was their third child. Research has traced a connection with the Ayscough family to that of Sir Isaac Newton, as Isaac’s mother’s maiden name was also Ayscough. The Grove’s and Newton families were neighbours in Colsterworth.

Mary Groves was also distantly related to the four High Sherrifs of Lincolnshire, who governed under the rule of Queen Ann and King Henry VIII. The family lost favour with the King after Ann Ayscough, [the Sherrif’s sister] attempted to support a Protestant change in the newly formed, [and previously Catholic thinking] Church of England. For this she became the first woman to be tortured and burned at the stake for her beliefs, in the Tower of London. Having lost favour with the King the family lost their high position in society and the family fortune and eventually the descendants were reduced to farming in the Colsterworth area.

William Douglas’s family also came from Colsterworth, Lincolnshire and so it is quite possible that Mary and William knew each other prior to their arrival in New South Wales, being from the same parish and being convicted on the same day and in the same Assizes at Lincoln on 9 July 1785.

Melissa and Jim Abraham visited the Colsterworth Church and graveyard and through the kind assistance of the Warden were able to view some translatory rubbings of headstones in that churchyard. These had been done by a university group in the 1970s, with the aim of preserving and clarifying some of the now very worn headstones. No records of William Douglas’ family were found in that churchyard. However, Mary Groves appears to have had extremely ‘good’ family connections – the seven or so largest and most ornate headstones, right outside the Church door, were all from the Groves’ family. Each headstone records the death of many children aged, 2, 3, 6 years etc. It seems that there was a health problem in the district and that families/cousins etc were pretty much wiped out! The exception is of course Mary. It appears at first glance that she went from a major property holder to transported convict in a very short space of time.

William and Mary were both convicted of stealing at the Lincolnshire Assizes. Their crimes were recorded in the Stamford Mercury on Friday 8 July 1785, sent to New South Wales as convicts, for seven years. William was convicted at the Lincolnshire Assizes on 9 July, 1785, having been committed for trial by Benjamin Bromhead, Esq., on 21 April 1785.

William was sent to the Justitia, a hulk to await transportation to New South Wales. On 6 January 1787 he was delivered to the Alexander.

The Alexander was built in Hull in 1783, a barque of 452 tons, 114 feet in length and 31 feet wide. The Alexander, carried all male convicts, and was the largest of the transports.

It was one of the eleven ships which comprised the First Fleet.

Mary was transported on the “Prince of Wales” which was built on the Thames in 1786 and was one of the newest and most handsome of the Fleet. Originally it had been decided that the Fleet would be comprised of ten ships. However the “Prince of Wales” was included. It was a three master, two decked ship of 350 tons, 103 feet in length and 29 feet in width, a convict transport which carried 49 female convicts and only 1 male convict.

The First Fleet set sail from Portsmouth on 13 May 1787 and arrived in Tenerife on 3 June 1787. After leaving Tenerife a week later the Fleet sailed for Rio De Janiero arriving there on 5 August 1787. It was on 4 September after a month’s stay in Rio they again set sail for the next port of call, Cape Town, arriving there on 13 October 1787. The Fleet remained at the Cape for a month. The last leg of the journey began on 13 November 1787 and arrived in Botany Bay on 20 January 1788. After five days in Botany Bay the eleven ships of the First Fleet arrived at Sydney Cove on 26 January 1788 bringing William and Mary and their convict companions to their new home and a new way of life.

Whether William and Mary knew each other before they arrived in Port Jackson is possible. They were married by the Colonial Chaplain, Reverend Richard Johnson, “with the consent of Arthur Phillip, Governor, this 1st day of June in the year 1788.”

As both William and Mary were illiterate they signed their Marriage Certificate with their mark. They were one if the first “June Brides” of the new colony.

In 1794 after being married for six years William and Mary had a son, John, who died and was buried in the grounds of St Phillip’s Church, Sydney. On 8 February 1796, Mary gave birth to twins. The boy Joseph, like his brother, John, was weak and died having only survived for about two days. His sister, whom they named Elizabeth, was a strong and healthy child.

Confusion developed because there was another William Douglass of the “Coromandel” which arrived in 1802. Later our ancestor, was called William Douglas Jurd.

Mary and William only had one surviving child, Elizabeth who married Daniel Jurd and together laid the foundations of the Jurd Dynasty as we know it today.

Elizabeth was baptised at Parramatta by the Reverend Samuel Marsden at Parramatta on 5 September 1796. Mary Groves disappears from the scene shortly after Elizabeth’s baptism. One thing we do know is that she was Elizabeth’s mother as her name is recorded in the Baptismal Register and Baptismal Certificate obtained from the Births Deaths and Marriages Registrar.

Whether Mary died, or took up with another man and changed her name, or returned to England after having served her sentence and obtained her freedom, I guess we will never really know. We do know that Mary Groves had disappeared from the scene by about 1800. I could find no record of her death or burial and this seems to have been the case for many others who have searched for her last resting place.

William’s headstone only mentions one daughter and his nine grandchildren left to mourn his passing. This obviously refers to his daughter Elizabeth and her nine children. It is reasonable to believe that if more than one child had survived him, then they too, would have been mentioned on the headstone. It is also interesting to note that Mary is not mentioned on William’s headstone.

William Douglas was one of the pioneer farmers of the Hawkesbury area. The Douglas farm was Portion 28 at Mulgrave Place on the Banks of the Hawkesbury River and measured 30 acres. The area was known as “The Green Hills”.

The first settlers in the Hawkesbury area were granted their allotments in 1794 by Lieutenant Governor Francis Grose. The land was low lying so that small floods washed over the farms and there was no growth of trees to give shelter to stock in the drought times. The Douglas’ were later to lose this farm. In 1804 William’s “effects” were sold by the Provost Marshall to cover his debts. Joseph Wright was another pioneer of the area and the Douglas farm adjoined his.

William Douglas and Joseph Wright were neighbours and on this plaque their names are adjacent as ‘neighbours’.

What Lieutenant-Governor Grose wrote in April 1794 about the first twenty-two pioneers of the Hawkesbury area has been preserved for posterity as the inscription on the plaque.

“They came to an unknown land and carved out an existence with hand-made tools”

The muster of 1806 shows that the woman listed as William’s ‘housekeeper’ is Sarah Dailey and is shown immediately after his entry in a document dating from 1801 suggesting that his relationship with her began prior to 1801. Sarah Dailey, also a convict, arrived aboard the “Kitty” in 1792. She too, had a daughter named Elizabeth.

By 1806, William had returned to the Hawkesbury renting 15 acres of land from one James Williamson. William was supporting a wife and two children from four acres sown in barley, half an acre in wheat, six acres of pastures for his eight hogs and four and a half acres lying fallow.

1806 was a time of disastrous floods in the Hawkesbury. William was a witness to his young step-daughter’s marriage in 1807 and it appears that William had moved back to Sydney by this time, quite probably discouraged by the flood that had taken place on the Hawkesbury.

Records show that William was working in Sydney in 1814, 1822 and 1825. The stock muster records indicate that in 1822 he owned two horses.

The Jurd Connection was permanently established on 28 September 1812, when William gave his daughter Elizabeth in marriage to Daniel Jurd at St Matthew’s Church of England, Windsor. And so began the Jurd Dynasty that we are proud to be part of today.

In 1822, William was living with Eleanor Carthorne, who arrived as a convict aboard the “Canada” in 1810. In 1826 he transferred his house and premises at 5 York Street, Sydney to his son-in-law, Daniel Jurd, on the condition that he, together with his housekeeper could live there rent-free. However, by 1828 William had again moved back to Pitt Town and was trading as a butcher and was living with Daniel, Elizabeth and their family. After Section of the plaque unveiled on 2 October 1994 at Governor Phillip Park, Windsor.

Daniel’s death in August 1833, William moved with his daughter Elizabeth and the grandchildren to St. Albans, where his eldest grandson, John (15), was living and working property. William Douglas died on 27 November 1838 and is buried in the River Road Cemetery St Albans.


Little did the British Government of the time realise that they were sending to the new colony their very best people. Our forebears had to have been people of strong will and determination and generally have been of very good character, otherwise they would not have survived the rigours of their new home, establishing a country which today, is a leading light in so many ways.

“I have settled on the banks of the Hawkesbury twenty two settlers, who seem much pleased with their farms.”

Transcript of the Trial #

Transcript of the Trial of Daniel Jurd and Samuel French 132:

Daniel Judd and Samuel French were indicted for feloniously stealing, on the 30th of December, 1797, 20lbs of bacon, value 7/- the property of John Chandler.

THOMAS TYRRELL - sworn - I live at No. 10, Lower Street Islington, with Mr Stifford, an apothecary, very near Mr Chandler’s: On Saturday, 30th December, I saw the prisoners between seven and eight at night, lurking about in Cross Street, Islington, peeping in at every window, and looking down several areas. I suspected them, and watched them. I saw them go in to a chandler’s shop in Upper Street. I watched them from there to Mr Chandler’s, which is a few doors farther in the same street, there was a woman in the shop, and they kept walking backwards and forwards, till the woman came out, then Judd went up to the door. Mrs Chandler was in the shop and he came away, he went up several times and came away; at last Mrs Chandler went in the back room; Judd went up to the door and went into the shop; the other stood on the steps; Judd then brought something out and gave it to French, who went across the road with it; I followed him, and caught him near the top of Cross Street; I brought him back with the bacon.

Q. Did you watch them so near as to be certain to the person of Judd? A. Yes

ROBERT HUDSON - sworn - I have a stable in Cross Street, Islington: I saw these two boys standing by Mr Chandler’s window, I suspected them, I went into the Church-yard and watched them; I had not stood there above five or six minutes before I saw Judd go up the steps, once or twice , and return again; at last he opened the door and went in, he brought something out and gave to the other boy, he held his apron up, and ran away with it across the road; I was going to run after him when the last witness popped out of a court between him and me, he went after French, and Judd seeing that, went to turn about and run away, and came directly into my arms, [produces bacon]; I have had it ever since.

JOHN CHANDLER - sworn - I am a cheesemonger, the corner of Mitre Court, Upper Street, Islington: I was not at home when the bacon was stole; I had such bacon as this, but it is a hard thing to swear to.

Judd’s defence. I was coming home from coal work. I know nothing at all of it.

French’s defence. I picked the bacon up in the road, and this gentleman came and laid hold of me.

Judd Guilty [aged 16] French Guilty [aged 17]

Transported for seven years

Tried by the first Middlesex Jury before Mr Justice Lawrence

Elizabeth Jurd – (1796 – 1877) #

Elizabeth (Douglas) Jurd, an amazing woman of her time, is one of the first of what became known as ”currency lads and lasses” (also vernacularly known as cornstalks because they grew so tall and strong). She holds her own in the league of what became known as strong, independent colonial women, a leading Pioneering Woman. Much of history, written by men about men, tends to exclude women, but Elizabeth Jurd in her own right should be placed among other strong, self-reliant and enterprising colonial women of her time like Elizabeth McArthur, Mary Reiby or Esther Abrahams.

A daughter of the First Fleeters, William Douglas and Mary Groves, who had married on June 1st, shortly after the arrival of the Fleet in January 1788. Elizabeth was born on the 8th of February 1796, and baptised at Parramatta on 5th September 1796. Some records indicate that she had a twin brother, but this is difficult to confirm. It is possible that she also had 5 other male siblings, however this is also difficult to establish conclusively.

The next record of her existence is her marriage to Daniel Jurd at St Matthews Church at Windsor in 1812. She is 16 years of age while Daniel is 32 years of age. For the next 21 years of married life they live and farm at Pitt Town, near Windsor on the Hawkesbury River.

During this time Elizabeth gave birth to nine children, six boys and three girls, Daniel Jurd dying in 1833 when her youngest child, Joseph, is only seven months and her eldest son, John, 19 years has already been farming his own land at St Albans for the past four years.

Elizabeth was thirty-seven years old, when her husband died, leaving her with nine children (ranging from an infant of 7 months to sons who had already left home) to raise on her own. Her eldest female child, Mary Ann was 14 years at this time. There is also evidence to suggest that she took in several orphans to raise and when her aging father could no longer cope with life on his own he too joined the family household from 1826 to when he died in 1836.

By their fruits you shall know them. There is tangible evidence that Elizabeth Jurd rose to the challenge and successfully raised her family to become industrious, responsible, productive and contributing members of an emerging Australian society. We have no evidence to the contrary in regards to the first generation of the Jurd Family; on the contrary, evidence indicates that each of their children helped to establish a long line of descendants.

Religion played a large part in the early colonialist’s lives as illustrated by early writers. Sectarian divisiveness spread from Europe to the colonies and it affected the Jurd clan as well. While originally Church of England, Elizabeth became a staunch Methodist and her son Richard married a Catholic and converted to that faith.

Elizabeth Jurd was also civically minded. She left indelible legacies in the form of what is known as the Jurd Church. Both Jeanette Bell(1) and M. Hutton Neve(2) record how she donated a small parcel of land on the western side of The Branch for a Methodist Chapel which became the focal point of worship in the MacDonald Valley for many years. Neve reports:

It was built by the people for the accommodation of all Protestant denominations …. This church throughout the early history of the circuit was known as Jurd’s Chapel and on the preaching plan always carried that name.

The chapel had no architectural pretentions, being a boxlike rectangle about 15 by 30 feet, of rough-hewn stone with a shingled roof (replaced in later years by iron sheeting) , with whitewashed internal walls, holding 30 – 40 persons.

By 1960, Jurd’s Chapel had joined several other buildings in the valley and fallen through disuse into a state of neglect and ruin. In 1972, the Central Methodist Mission removed the derelict chapel to Vision Valley, Arcadia, where it was rebuilt.

After five years of widowhood, she made the following submission for land:

To His Excellence Sir George Gipps Governor and Commander in Chief in and over the Territory of New South Wales

The Petition of Elizabeth Jurd praying that she may be allowed to purchase at the minimum rate of five shillings per acre, ten acres of land, on the McDonald River, under the following circumstances

Humbly………………

That Petitioner has been a widow for five years, that she has seven children and two orphans residing with her, who depend upon her industry for their maintenance.

That Petitioner has occupied a piece of land adjoining her farm, situated on the McDonald Rive, for seven years, that she cleared the same and now has it under cultivation.

That her late husband was induced to take in this portion of land, before measurement, on the belief that the same would be measured as a part of their farm on which she resides, but the good land being only a few rods and surrounded with rocks, was not included in the measurements, and on that account, and from the small portion of arable land upon it can never become valuable as a separate farm.

That the Petitioner having a large family, being in moderate circumstances, and having expended considerable labour in cultivating the same humbly pray that Your Excellency will be graciously pleased to allow her to purchase to the account of ten acres, of the land at the rate of five shillings per acre without putting the same up to public auction and Memorialist will..

Pray from Elizabeth Jurd Sydney McDonald River 17th July 1838 Hawkesbury

The Jurd clan expanded in the narrow MacDonald Valley and were soon dispersed throughout the elongated river valley. An integral part of the families of St Albans, they intermarried and soon Elizabeth Jurd became the matriarch of a large extended family. Her father, William Douglass Jurd by this time having likely run out of housekeepers, moved in with her and died while staying with her on 27th November 1838 aged 81 years. The information that she also cared for two orphans indicates that she was not only productive, but also practised Christian compassion and charity.

Elizabeth (Douglass) Jurd died aged 81 years on the 25th of January, 1877 and was buried at St. Albans beside her father William Douglass Jurd, a son William and a grandson. The epitaph on her grave reads:

My dearest friends oh do not weep, While in my grave I silent sleep, This troubled work I left behind, Oh Crown of Glory for to find.

Excellent early research paper on the Jurds of St Albans The Forgotten Valley, Library of Australian History (1987)

Daniel Jurd (II) & Elizabeth Bailey #

Daniel Jurd was the fifth child, and fourth son of Daniel Jurd and Elizabeth Douglas. He was born on 7 April 1822 at Pitt Town and baptised at St Matthew’s Church of England on the 20th Anniversary of his father’s arrival in the Colony, 4 August 1822 by the Rev John Cross.

Three years later on 1 November 1825 Elizabeth Bailey the daughter of John ‘Squire’ Bailey and Elizabeth Smith, was born at Macdonald River. Elizabeth and Daniel were married at the Church of England Parsonage at Macdonald River on 7 March 1844 in the presence of the Chaplain, William West Simpson and they were married by Banns with the consent of their friends. It is interesting to note that Daniel was unable to write at the time of his marriage as the Certificate was signed with ‘his X mark’. Their vows were witnessed by William Sternbeck and John Bailey, who also signed with ‘his X mark’.

Elizabeth was aged 60, when she died on 26 August 1883 at Yango, was buried in the Wollombi Church of England Cemetery on 28 August.

Daniel, aged 81. died from pneumonia on 10 October 1903 at Yango Creek. He was buried with his beloved Elizabeth in the Wollombi Cemetery.

Daniel Jurd II, was 11 years old when his father died. Though Daniel I was buried in the Pitt Town Cemetary, the Fenton Mathew’s Survey Map of St. Albans of 1833 - 34 contains the land grants issued to a D.Jurd, - 50, an E. (Elizabeth) Jurd - 50 and a number of his sons; J. Jurd - 60, J. Jurd - 50, J. Jurd - 50 and an R. Jurd - 50.

It is highly likely that Daniel I, had applied for these land grants earlier in anticipation of his sons coming of age. It is known that the eldest son, John Jurd, born in 1814 was already farming his own land at 15 years of age, in 1829.

Daniel Jurd II, married Elizabeth Bailey on the 17 th of March, 1844 giving birth to thirteen children, nine girls and four boys, all born in the MacDonald Valley.

About 1875, driven out by floods, soil depletion and land hunger, many of the first and second generation MacDonald Valley families migrated across the range dividing the Hawkesbury and the Hunter Waters and descended into the Wollombi and Cessnock regions.

West of Laguna, from Finchley peak, the Yango Creek winds through several portions of land, acquired by Daniel, Thomas and George William Jurd, and then joins Sugarloaf Creek at the rear of Wollombi Wine Saloon.

Once selected, the portions were put up for auction sale and as they were the sole bidders, the brothers managed to buy at the minimum price of one pound per acre. Though the portions were small, - from thirty to one hundred and sixty acres, the Jurd brothers grew wheat and maize.

Following the tradition established at St Albans, where the members of the Jurd family held the licence of the Settlers Arms for over ninety years, Richard Jurd established a house at Wollombi with the nostalgic sign, Hawkesbury Inn. He established this Inn on his property of five adjoining lots on the banks of the Sugarloaf Creek diagonally opposite to the stone Courthouse. Almost a hundred years later, Melville (Mel) Jurd purchased the same property and ran the famous Wollombi Tavern noted for its “Dr Jurd’s Jungle Juice”. Mel Jurd sold all his interests including Friar Jurd’s Restaurant in 1992 and moved to Queensland.

While three of the Jurd boys were content to settle in Wollombi, most of the sisters and the youngest son, Matthew Richard gravatated to the larger centres of Newcastle or Sydney.

Daniel Jurd died on 10 th of October, 1903 at the age of 81 years at Yango Creek. His wife, Elizabeth (Bailey) predeceased him by twenty years, 26 th August, 1883. They are buried together in the main cemetery at Wollombi.

MATTHEW JURD - HELEN BURNE #

Matthew Richard Jurd (1871 - 1961), the 13th child of Daniel (II)

Matthew Richard, affectionately known as “Pa” to his family, was a proud self-respecting man. While we know little of his early life, records show that he was born the last son of a large family of thirteen children, to Daniel Jurd and Elizabeth Bailey.

Matthew’s birth certificate indicates that he was born in the McDonald River Valley near the village of St. Albans where he lived until he was about six years of age. The family then moved (Circa 1877) some 100 kilometers north to Wollombi, very likely due to the lack of land available for a large farming family to distribute to sons. When Matthew was born, his oldest sister, Charlotte, was 26 years old and had already been married to a George Bailey for about 6 years.

After his schooling at Wollombi, Matthew lived in Sydney (Marrickville) with his sister Mary Ann and brother-in-law, George Carrie where he apprenticed as a baker. Kathleen (Bligh) Jurd remembers that Pa maintained close relations with his cousins, Nell Jerome, Jean and George Carrie from this time.

At 29 years of age, he married Helen Florence Burne of Petersham. In his mid-thirties he undertook a Technical College Course graduating with distinction in the Board of Health examination including London Sanitation and Meat Inspection courses.

In 1911 Matthew Jurd was appointed to teach at the Technical College in the Waratah Municipality and became a member of the Board of Health. He became a Meat Inspector being noted for his integrity and devotion to duty.

Pa retired to 50 Gannons Road in Caringbah on a large block of land he used for gardening. At first, the land opposite was a large dairy, but later developed into the Woolaware Golf course.

Pa also bought land at Brighton le Sands and grew vegetables, roses and mushrooms. Much of what we know of Pa is anecdotal and subject to whimsical memories. It is best for his grandchildren to speak for themselves.

Anne Heaseman nee Farthing daughter of Phyllis, has fond memories of Pa, his keen sense of humour, especially the ability of mimicry. He loved to send up pompous people.
He loved gardening and Ann recalls a block of land at Brighton le Sands where he grew flowers; carnations, vegetables, and watermelons.

Pa loved to sing old Scottish melodies such as “Roam’in in the Gloam’in”

Michael Jurd has vivid memories of his Grandfather especially the half-acre block of land on Gannons Road opposite the Woolaware Golf Course.

Pa was a crafty old bastard; he always left the grass on his front lawn grow fairly tall so that when sitting out on the front porch, watching golfers hit the ball across the road into his grass verge he would totally ignore their inquiries and then when they gave up the search he would quietly get up, pick up the ball and drop it into a basket he kept on the verandah for that purpose. Michael claims that Pa collected up to 200 balls one season. It could be the proximity of the golf course and the availability of the golf balls stimulated Michael’s interest in the game.

Michael was impressed by Pa’s skill as an axeman. He used to place a matchbox on the ground and then with pinpoint accuracy fell a tree on the matchbox. Pa called Michael “Budgery Tom”.

Sue Jurd’s memories include the sheep `Bridget’ a pet and a lawn mower. However Sue recalls often being summoned to mow the lawn with a push mower. Pa would sit on the verandah, giving directions; always mowing from the outside in and point out any blades of grass missed. He was a particular man.

Every Friday Pa would dress up in an immaculate brown suit with a vest, his gold fob watch, spit polished shoes, a beige Panama hat and his gold tipped cane for his weekly visit to the Butchers. They feared his coming as his keen eye inspected the quality of the various cuts of meat, pointing his gold tipped cane at this or that piece on display. His favourite private denigrations of shopkeepers included; “that kangaroo -faced bastard”, or “that black faced bastard of a jeweller”.

Pa was often teased about visiting the barmaid at the local hotel to pick up his two bottles of sweet sherry.

He could be a stern man, very set in his ways and rigid in his opinions, at times seeing issues in black and white and ready to challenge people who crossed him or were different. However Sue recalls he loved to tease the girls, especially when he passed them in the bathroom;

“little bit of powder,
little bit of paint,
makes a girl look pretty
even when she ain’t.”

or when they spent too much time on their faces he would accuse them of trying to “iron out the wrinkles”.

Pa was very protective of his garden’s vulnerability to thieves and kept a shotgun under his bed. At first he was friendly with his neighbours, an Italian family called the Capsis, but later suspected them of raiding his garden. Pa called Susan “duck tail”.

Margaret remembers Pa for his self discipline and certain idiosycracies. He would wake up each morning at 5:00 am, bring Essie a cup of tea and then work in the garden until 9:00 am when he would come in and make his standard breakfast of oatmeal porridge. Margaret attributes his longevity to this porridge and this may be the reason you boys were subjected to porridge on cold wintry mornings. Porridge made from maize was a common diet of the Jurds when they migrated from St. Albans to Wollombi.

He took a cold bath everyday and went to bed at sundown.

Pa called Margaret “Big fella”

Pa called David “Handsome David”

Pa addressed Grandma very formally as “Kathleen” or teasingly “the late Kathleen” because she was always in a rush and running late.

They were married 26 . 4. 1900 Holy Trinity Church, Erskinville Matthew Jurd (Baker) of Newtown and Helen Burne of Petersham (Spinster). Helen Florence Burne (1875 - 15.05.1948)

Little is know about your great grandmother, but it is believed her family came from the Island of Jersey in the English Channel. The family initially settled in Tasmania where her brothers stayed. Helen’s father owned property at Mosman where he was a Contractor.

They were an artistic family and Helen used to enjoy playing the piano. It has been stated that Pa (her husband) was caustic in his criticism of this “noise” and one day in response to his rebuke, she closed the lid and never played again.

Helen was an accomplished seamstress and used to make clothing for Barbara and Anne. Barbara recalls that Momma Jurd used to go to town on Fridays by train for some shopping at D.J’s, or Cahills and then an afternoon show at the new St. James Theatre. Nelson Eddie was a favorite.

Pa recorded in the Family Dictionary; Helen Florence Burne, wife of M.R. Jurd, Died at St Georges Hospital, 15 th May 1948 at 6 AM.

Family of Matthew and Helen #

(The numbers before note the generation from Daniel Jurd II)

3. Phyllis Victoria Jurd was born in 4 February 1901 at Newberry of Oxford at Islington [NSW],

In 1936 Phyllis was living at Sydenham. Clarence Edward Farthing was born at Gulgong, the town on the Ten Dollar Note, in 1893, being the son of William James Farthing and Louisa Ellen Champion. In 1936 Clarence was living at Hunters Hill and was a widower. Phyllis and Clarence were married at Bellevue Hill on 25 April 1936 in the presence of Edwin Shipley, the Minister with Essie Jurd, J. Greet, and Matthew R. Jurd witnessing their solemn exchange of vows. In 1950 they were living at 50 Gannons Road, Caringbah and in 1963 they had their home at 145 Kingsway, Cronulla.

Clarence died from primary carcinoma of the right lower jaw. He died at the Home of Peace Marrickville on 10 January 1963. His funeral took place at Woronora Crematorium. Phyllis died on 18 January 1996 at Brookvale and was cremated at Northern Suburbs, Ryde. She was 94 years and 11 months, being just two weeks short of her 95th birthday.

4. Anne Farthing was born in 1938. Her husband was Brian Heasman.

5. Michael Heasman

6. Jane Heasman

7. Daniel Albert Jurd

Not much is known about Daniel (III)

Born: Friday, 14 th February, 1905 - St. Peters Died: Goulburn Hospital, 30 th January. 1950 Buried: Goulburn

3. Matthew Richard Jurd was born at Regent Street, Waratah, a Newcastle Suburb, on 22 August 1909. On 25 August 1928 Dick married Thelma Florence McCluskey at St Peters, Sydney.

Thelma was born 28 March 1912, the daughter of Alfred and Nellie McCluskey, née Bannan. It is interesting to note their ages at the time of their marriage as Dick was 19 and Thelma, 16. When war broke out, he enlisted on 3 November 1939 with the Australian Imperial Force. His Certificate of Discharge lists him as NX7029 Warrant Officer Class I, in the 2/1 Australian Field Ambulance Corps. His war badge number was A 93229. Dick was sent overseas and he served in Egypt, Lebanon and other parts of the Middle East. When John Curtin, the Prime Minister of the day, had the troops called home he returned and was based on the Darling Downs. Dick and Thelma had one child, a daughter.

4. Barbara Elaine Jurd was born on 27 March 1929 at Newtown. She was 20 years of age, residing at 55 Liverpool Street, Paddington and employed as a secretary at the time of her first marriage. Raymond Charles Dillon was born in 1928 at Paddington, the son of Norman William Charles and Eileen Dillon neé Elmes. Ray was a milk carter and lived at 5 Pacific Street, Waverley. They were married on 26 November 1949, with the consent of Barbara’s mother, Thelma, in St Mary’s Church of England, Waverley. Their exchange of vows was witnessed by Kenneth Dillon and Maree Burroughs with the Rev E. Pattison Clarke the minister. Barbara and Ray were blessed with two children.

5. Steven Dillon was born in Sydney on 14 July 1954. He was Managing Director of Walt Disney. Steven married Margaret Norma Greig on 12 May 1979. They had three daughters.

6. Alicia Dillon was born on 3 November 1980.

7. Belinda Dillon made her grand entry on 8 October 1982 and

8. Melanie Dillon was born on 17 August 1984.

Elizabeth Jane Blackman was born on 21 May 1964 in Melbourne. Steven married Elizabeth in Melbourne on 13 November 1999.

5. Peter Dillon was born on 16 November 1957 at Randwick. His was employed by GIO as a finance manager. Peter and Donna Nelson were married on Donna’s 28th birthday, 25 November 1993. They have a son.

6. Matthew Harrison was born on 25 December 1995.

Barbara and Ray’s divorced on 14 March 1981. Barbara married Glendon John Rasdel who was born on 15 April 1936. They married on 17 April 1995.

Dick and Thelma divorced. After the divorce went through he met Kathleen Mary Bligh who was born on 10 November 1922 at Ipswich, Queensland, the daughter of Bertie Ivo and Mary Lucy Bligh neé Corcoran. Dick and Kathleen met at a bowling match in 1942, where, while bowling, he hit her on the leg. When he apologised, she replied, “I’ll show you the bruise when it is a bit higher up”.

A few days later Dick wrote to Kathleen, proposing, saying “Once you’re bitten it’s too late.” They married on 4 March 1944 at Ipswich, Queensland.

Shortly after Susan and Margaret, Dick and Kathleen’s first two children were born, he was again sent overseas, this time to Papua New Guinea, until the end of the war. Dick was given his official discharge in Sydney on 1 September 1945. He had served his country for 2061 days, 939 of them outside Australia.

At first Dick and Kath settled in Warwick, Queensland, but when he was recruited to manage Migrant Camps, they moved around various centres in New South Wales. In 1950, they spent 6 months living in Pa’s garage in Gannon’s Road, Caringbah, but then managed migrant camps at Double Bay, Nelson Bay and Goulburn, and finally moved back to Pa’s house in Caringbah in 1952.

In 1953 they purchased their own home at Irrubel Street, Caringbah. It was here that their five children, three girls and two boys, grew up. Dick was working as a clerk for the Department of Veteran Affairs.

On his retirement in 1970, the family moved to Umina Beach. Matthew Richard Jurd died on 18 August 1979 at Gosford Hospital, just four days short of his 70th birthday. He was cremated at Woronora Crematorium and his memorial is in the AIF Wall of Memories.

Kathleen died at Umina on 5 December 2010 and was cremated at Palmdale. She was laid to rest beside her daughter Stephanie.

4. Susan Mary Jurd born at Ipswich, Queensland, on 10 July 1944.

5. Alexandra Kathleen Jurd born in Sydney on 25 August 1987.

6. Margaret Ann Jurd was lovingly welcomed to the Dynasty on 16 June 1945 in the Queensland town of Ipswich. Margaret married Canadian-born Charles Klassen on 25 March 1970 at Winnipeg, Canada. Their lives have been enriched with the gift of four sons.

7. Simon Charles Klassen was born on 10 October 1972 in Winnipeg, Canada. Simon’s partner was Priscilla Yamori.

8. Tiago Simon Klassen was born in Tokyo, Japan, on 4 December 2000.

9. Damien David Klassen was born on 7 May 1974. Damien married Christy McGuinness who was born on 21 January 1975. They were married on 20 June 2001.

10. Xavier Charles Klassen 24/10/2001

11. Eloise Editha Klassen 09/12/2002

12. Jacinta Margaret Klassen 06/09/2004

13. Zachary Matthew Klassen 21/04/2006

14. Joshua Richard Klassen was born on 25 August 1975 in Taree and lives in The Yukon with his partner, Kana.

15. Matthew Michael Klassen was named after his grandfather Jurd. He was born on 11 June 1980 at Taree. Married Yvette Brereton 24/01/1983 March 20, 2022.

16. Georgina Margaret Klassen 04/09/2014

17. Max Matthew Klassen, 22/03/2020

18. Emma Jane 17/11/2023

19. Alice 17/11/2023

20. Michael Richard Jurd was on 13 March 1948. He married Patricia Bouquet who was born on 7 December 1949. Michael and Pat were married on 10 September 1974.

21. Michelle Lee Jurd was born on 21 December 1974 at Caringbah.

22. Marcus Ronald Jurd born on 4 October 1980. His partner was Kelly Woods.

23. Chloe Jurd was born on 29 June 1999 in Brisbane.

24. David Kevin Jurd was born 25 November 1956 at Caringbah. He was to marry Jacqueline Anne McCoy who was born on 12 June 1961. They were wed on 7 October 1989.

25. Daniel James Jurd (IV) was born on 20 August 2000 at Umina Beach.

26. Stephanie Jurd was born at Caringbah on 25 October 1963. Stephanie’s spouse was Tim Howell. He was born on 23 August 1966. They married on 31 March 1990. On 6 October 2002, aged only 38, Stephanie’s short life was celebrated in the Hillside Chapel at the Palmdale Crematorium on11 October 2002. Her memorial is to be found beside the Willow Pool.

27. Alison Rachel Howell was born on 30 January 1994 at Umina Beach.

28. Amy Kate Howell was born at Umina on 14 April 1997.

29. Essie Elizabeth Jurd brings this chapter on the Jurd Dynasty to a close. Essie was born on 7 October 1913 at Regent Street, Mayfield. Essie chose to remain single. She died on 20 July 1986 at Cronulla and, like her parents, she was cremated at Woronora. Her remains were placed in the Rose Garden alongside those of her father and mother. Essie was 72 years of age.

Bligh Family Tree #

The connection to Governor William Bligh is not direct. Bligh did not produce a male heir, however the Bligh name survived through a cousin, Richard John Blakeney Bligh, marrying Kate Angela O’Keefe

Daniel Jurd’s Ticket of leave in 1808 is signed by Governor William Bligh.

Children of Vice-Admiral William Bligh and Elizabeth Betham:

Harriet Maria Bligh b. 15 Nov 1781, d. 26 Feb 1856 Mary Bligh b. 1783, d. 4 Dec 1864 Elizabeth Bligh b. 24 Mar 1786, d. 17 Jul 1854 Jane Bligh b. 11 May 1788, d. 1875 Frances Bligh b. 11 May 1788, d. 1862 Anne Campbell Bligh b. 1791, d. 1 Nov 1843 William Bligh, Henry Bligh b. 1795, d. 1795 Richard Bligh Barrister, M: 1817 B: 1786 Elizabeth Bligh D: 1838 D: 1854 | Richard John Bligh - Maria Isabella Fennell B: 1819 M: 1847 D: 1869 D: 1867 | Richard John Blakeney Bligh - Kate Angela O’Keefe B: 1850 M: 1879 D: 1925 B: 1856 D: 1945

Bertie Ivo Bligh Mary Lucy Corcoran

B: 1889, Charleville, Qld B: 1892, Tenterfield, NSW M: 1913 D: 1946 Mary D: 1947

More @: https://ancestors.familysearch.org/en/9VVB-X4B/bertie-ivo-bligh-1889-1946

Children (6)

Alice Beatrice Bligh Female 1913–1978

William Joseph Bligh Male 1915–Deceased

Irene Margaret Bligh Female 1918–2004

Kathleen Mary Bligh Female 1922–2010

Kevin Stanislaus Bligh Male 1928–1951

Richard Anthony Bligh Male 1926 - 2007

Matthew Richard Jurd Kathleen Mary Bligh

B: 1909 M 1943 Ipswich Qld D: 1979 Kath: B: 1922, D: 2010

Susan Mary Jurd born at Ipswich, Queensland, on 10 July 1944.

Alexandra Kathleen Jurd born in Sydney on 25 August 1987.

Margaret Ann Jurd M. Charles Klassen

B: 1945 M: 1970, Winnipeg, Canada, Charles B: 1942

Simon Charles, 1972, Damien David, 1974, Joshua Richard, 1975, Matthew Michael, 1980

Michael Richard Jurd B: 1948. M: Patricia Bouquet. M: 1972.

Michelle Lee Jurd B: 1974 at Caringbah.

Marcus Ronald Jurd B: 1980. His partner was Kelly Woods.

David Kevin Jurd B: 1956 at Caringbah. M: Jacqueline Anne McCoy 1961. M: 1989.

Daniel James Jurd (IV) was born on 20 August 2000 at Umina Beach.

Stephanie Jurd B: at Caringbah 1963. M: Tim Howell. B: 1966. M: 1990.

D: 6 October 2002,

Alison Rachel Howell B: 1994 at Umina Beach.

Amy Kate Howell B: at Umina 1997.