Gard family of Melbury Osmond

[Strawberryvic]

  Hello everyone, I am new to this forum but have been trying for quite some time to find out more info on my ancestors, the Gards from Melbury Osmond.  I know that my great-great-grandfather, William Gard, was originally from Chiselborough in Somerset and moved to live at 54 North End Melbury Osmond, as he is listed in the 1871 census as living there with his aunt and uncle, the Hurlstones. 

William married Mary Jane (nee Whitaker) who was from Longburton.  It looks like they also lived at North End and there was a connection with a farm there. 

William and Mary Jane had a number of children including my great-grandmother, Susan Ann Gard.  She moved away to Surrey eventually to go into domestic service before marrying.  Susan's sister, Catherine Annie Gard, had a son called Gilbert, who sadly was killed in WWI in 1916 aged 21.  I think he may have been illegitimate as his surname was also Gard, and he lived with his grandmother (Mary Jane) in Melbury Osmond until he joined the Grenadier Guards. 

I have never been to Melbury Osmond but would like to take my mum there some day to see where her ancestors lived.  What I would really like is to find out more information on the rest of the family, in particular what happened to Mary Jane Gard and where she is buried?  She died in 1928 and the death was registered in Beaminster.

Thank you so much for any help/info.

Vicky

[spiderboy]

Hi Vicky

Welcome to Rootschat. No doubt you are already aware of the Dorset OPC site but if not here’s the link.
http://www.opcdorset.org/

I notice there are a couple of baptisms shown for daughters of William (a Carter) and Jane in the Melbury Osmund registers.

Regards
Spiderboy. (Ex Grenadier Guards)

[down-under]

Hello  You Proberly have all this information

1881

William Gard age 40 ag carter Chiselborough Somerset
Jane wife age 26 Longburton Dorset
Elizabeth dau age 7 rest born Melbury Osmond
Susan dau age 4
Annie dau age 1

Looks as if they like to use their second names.

1891 Rg12/1660 folio 55 page 7 Melbury Osmond

William Gard age 49 Chisel borough Somerset Farm lab
Jane wife age 37 Long Burton Dorset
Annie C dau age 11 children born  Melbury Osmond
Frances S son age 9
Ernest W son age 7
Albert P son age 3
Richard Eastment age 83 father in law Halstock Dorset
stepfather of Mary J

1901 Rg13/2009 folio 54 page 8 Melbury Osmond
Jane Gard widow housekeeper for sons all born Melbury Osmond
Elizabeth dau age 27 single
Samuel son age 19 lab on farm
Ernest son age 17 gardener domestic
Bertie son age 13
Ella dau age 9
Gilbert Gard grandson age 6



1851 H0107/1929 folio 266 page 11 Chiselborough Somerset

Keziah Gard age 61 unmarried glover all born Chisel borough
Maria dau age 32 unmarried glover
Elias son age 22 unmarried farm lab
William Gard grandson age 11

1841 H0107/946/6 folio 12 page 18 Chiselborough Somerset

Isabella Gard age 50 all born in county
Mary Gard age 25 glover
Keziah Gard age 50 glover
Dinah?Mariah?  Gard age 20 Glover
Elias Gard age 13 ag lab
William Gard age 9 months

1861 RG9/1361 folio 12 page 18 Bradford Abbas Dorset

Turnpike Gate

Benjamin Hurlstone age Turnpike keeper born Melbury Osmon
Mary wife age 47 Chiselborough Somerset
Mary A Pitcher grandson age 2 Melbury Osmon Dorset

Mary Gard married Benjamin Hurlstone 1857 Beaminster Dorset/Somerset

Regards Pam

[Strawberryvic]

Thank you very much for this interesting info, it's much appreciated 

[woodenclog]

Hello Vicky, It would seem that William was my great-great grandfather like you.  I have just returned from Melbury Osmond and explored the churches of Melbury Osmond, Yetminster and Chiselborough.  There is a Gard in Chiselborough still and I met people who still remember the Gards. It would be interesting to be in touch with a possible relative.

[Strawberryvic]

   Ooh this is exciting!  A possible relative! 

My "line" of ancestry is: William Gard & Jane Gard were the parents of Susan Ann Gard, who in turn was the mother of my maternal grandfather, Henry Snelling.

Which "line" of ancestry are you from?  I know from my research on Ancestry.co.uk that William and Jane had a number of children, so it would be very interesting to know more....

Perhaps you could PM me if you want to chat further about this?

[woodenclog]

well, relatives. My line is that Thomas Hills married first Bessie Eastment, who died quite young, and later, Catherine Annie Gard, Bessie's father Richard Eastment being the father - in - law of William Gard, who of course was the father of Catherine.  My brother will be contacting you too. Family link to Montacue House records in Somerset as well.  Also looking at any possible link with Thomas Hardy's mother who lived at Melbury Osmond and which of course has links with the 'Woodlanders'. Happy to PM you. Phil.

[woodenclog]

There is also a link with the Dodges of Chiselborough as well. Phil.

[Strawberryvic]

This is very interesting.  From my own research I had found that Catherine Annie Gard did indeed marry Thomas Hills after Bessie died, and I saw that Catherine had gone on to have a number of children.  Did you know about her son, Gilbert, who died in the great war? 

My great grandmother, Susan Ann Gard, named one of her children "Catherine", and I wondered if this could have been after her sister.