George Gurr (1834-1894) - The Melbourne Gold Rush, dodging the law, and a sad end

Biography of George Gurr, 1834-1894

Chatham and the Medway, c. 1830

George GURR was born in Chatham, Kent in May 1834, the sixth child of William and Emma Gurr (née Collins). His grandfather William ran a butcher's shop (the family trade for many generations) in Chatham High Street from at least 1791.

Three more siblings were born before George's mother passed away in August 1846 from heart failure, aged 42. His father married again in early 1847 to Mary Elizabeth Sunnex and had a further three children.

Leather Lane, Holborn in 1857

By 1851, a 17 year old George was apprenticed to James Bligh, a linen draper in Leather Lane in Holborn, London. His apprenticeship would probably have begun at age 14, continuing until his 21st birthday in 1855.

The London Evening Standard, 23 Nov 1859

George's father passed away on December 1857, leaving nothing to George. His father had been in debtor's prison in 1852 and left what little he still owned on his death (less than £300) to his widow.

George married Mary Ann Blown in Dover, Kent on 17th November 1859. Less than a month later they were aboard "The Agincourt", bound for the new colony of Victoria. With both his parents gone, the young George evidently saw little point in remaining in the squalor and filth of the Chatham of the time.

The Seringapatam, identical sister ship to The Agincourt

The Agincourt was carrying only unassisted passages - and so it's likely that George and Mary Ann were paying full fare. At this time, the fare would have been around £25 - or about 10-12 months wages for a manual labourer. The Agincourt also carried George's brother Edward Gurr.

The Kentish Chronicle, 17 Aug 1859

Victoria, and particularly Melbourne, had been in the grip of gold-rush fever since 1850. Many young men and women were taking a gamble and leaving England to make their fortune in the New World - particularly if they felt they had little to stay for, or good reason to leave. Victoria suffered from an  acute labour shortage despite its steady influx of migrants, and this pushed up  wages until they were the highest in the world. During these years, Victoria  was known as the ‘working man’s paradise’, and people from all around the world  migrated to Melbourne hoping to find their riches in the Gold Rush. By the time George, Mary and Edward arrived it was almost over. But Melbourne was turning into a proper city, as shown in this clipping from a local newspaper a few months before their departure. It must have seemed far more attractive than Chatham.

Melbourne, Victoria

Melbourne, 1854

The Agincourt arrived in Melbourne on 11th March 1860, a journey of three months. The Melbourne Argus of 13 Mar 1860 reported the arrival:

"The Blackwall ship Agincourt arrived in Hobson's Bay yesterday afternoon, after a most prosperous voyage from London. She left Plymouth on the 15th December. She had light winds and very fine weather, s0 that on the 72nd day out she was about midway between the meridian of Cape Lewin and Adelaide, when the wind suddenly shifted to the south-east, and has continued from that point until her arrival off the Heads. She was also becalmed in sight of Cape Otway for five days. Lady McDonnell is a passenger by the Agincourt. On arrival Captain Tickell was presented with complimentary addresses, thanking him and his officers for their kindness and attention during the voyage."

The report also documents imports for "Gurr and Co" comprising170 bundles and 777 packages - one of the largest consignments on the ship. This is likely to be unrelated - by sheer coincidence, William Gurr (unrelated) ran a Drapery business in Melbourne. William Gurr was born in Tasmania and was a descendant of a Sussex line of Gurrs.

A year after their arrival, on 25th March 1861 Mary Ann gave birth to their first child Annie Collins Gurr. Annie's middle name, as with all the siblings who followed her, commemorates George's late mother Emma née Collins.

Melbourne 1862

On Annie's birth registration details, George and Mary Ann list their address as Drummond Street, Carlton. Carlton was an inner-city suburb on the outskirts of the new city of Melbourne - now it's a sought after location. Drummond Street still exists and includes a number of Victorian buildings in excellent condition. A directory of the period shows that they lived at 49 Drummond Street. On Annie's birth registration George lists his occupation as "Draper's Assistant", apparently continuing in the trade he began in England.

Melbourne 1863

Nearly two years later (27 Jan 1863) Mary Ann gave birth to their second child, William Stanton Collins Gurr. William was probably named after William Stanton, a contemporary of Mary Ann's father - they had both been marine pilots in Deal, registered with Trinity House, and William Stanton had been influential in the development of pilotage in the Deal area. It's intriguing that William Stanton was commemorated in this way before Mary Ann's own father (q.v.). On the birth registration for William, the family's address is now Argo Street, South Yarra. The Yarra is the river that runs through Melbourne, and South Yarra was one of the first modern suburbs. Argo Street still exists. George's occupation is now listed as "Bookkeeper".

A year and a half later (20 Aug 1864) sees the birth of their third child, Thomas Blown Collins Gurr. Thomas was almost certainly named after Mary Ann's father, Thomas Blown. The family is still in South Yarra though moved to Chambers Terrace (now Chambers Street). On Thomas' birth registration, George's occupation is now listed as "Cashier", and his age is listed correctly as 30. George's professions of "Bookkeeper" and "Cashier" could refer to the same job.

Despite their growing family, on the 15th

Melbourne Argus, 23 Sep 1864

October 1864 George, Mary Ann and their three children boarded "The Monarch" bound for England. As yet, there's only guesses at what might have motivated them to undertake yet another expensive, arduous and risky journey, this time with three small children. There is reference to the circumstances in a family letter from George's grandson in 1990: "After failing to make his fortune in Australia he was persuaded by his wife (who disliked the people and lifestyle, which was rough in that era) to give up his business". George's brother Edward also returned to England, though not at the same time. He later emigrated to New Zealand, this time permanently.

The Monarch, From a coloured lithograph by T.G. Dutton
National Maritime Museum, Greenwich, UK (PAH 0583)

The Monarch was an imposing, well equipped ship. On its launch, the Illustrated London News noted that:

"This splendid mercantile frigate adapted especially for passengers was launched on Saturday week from Mr. Green's yard at Blackwall and the great beauty of the vessel, the grandeur of such a spectacle and the fineness of the day attracted many thousands to witness one of the proudest achievements of manual labour. The Monarch, by admeasurement, is 1400 tons burthen; the length of her keel is 168 feet, her length overall 180 feet; and her depth, from the upper deck to the kelson 32 feet. The breadth of her beam is 40 feet, and it is only in this particular that she is inferior to the first class frigates of the royal navy. She has an entire flush deck fore and aft; is pierced for 50 guns and capable of carrying a greater number; for besides 16 ports on a side upon the main deck there is also an equal number of large scuttles on the lower deck. Her timbers and planking are chiefly of teak - the planks next the keel are American elm, five inches thick; above this is teak, to the 'wales, which are formed of African oak; the top sides are entirely of teak; and her bitts, capstan and most of the interior work are of the same wood. Her figure head is a most elaborately carved copy of that of the old Queen Charlotte yacht (now preserved in the model room at Somerset House), bronzed over. There is however this difference - the copy presents a good likeness of Queen Victoria whilst the original bears that of her grandmother. Her Majesty is holding the sceptre in her right hand with the ball and cross extended in her left. The stern is particularly neat - a large gilded crown in the centre supported by two radiant stars. The unobstructed view along the upper deck as she laid upon the slips was very fine. There are twelve commodious and well fitted up cabins averaging 11 feet by 10 feet each and a dining room 36 feet by 18 feet on the main deck, the fore part of which is bulkheaded off for the ship's company. The lower deck has eighteen cabins making thirty in all of about similar dimensions, the two aft ones being the largest, 18 feet by 16 feet each with stern windows. The whole are well ventilated and lighted from the ports and the numerous skylights on the decks must render every part below perfectly luminous. Before the lower cabins is a roomy space for troops. The masts and yards are larger dimensions than usual for merchantmen and when ready sea she will be one of the finest vessels out of the port of London."

George kept a diary of this journey. The original has been lost, but a transcription made by his grandson Edward in the 1960s has survived. Their route followed the classic "Clipper Route": eastwards from Australia through the Southern Ocean, taking advantage of the "Roaring Forties" trade winds and navigating through fields of icebergs before the treacherous rounding of Cape Horn at the foot of South America. Then north through the Atlantic Ocean, passing the Falkland Islands, Cape Verde and the Azores before heading east for the English Channel and home.

Clipper ship "Red Jacket" in the ice off Cape Horn

On Friday 25th November 1864 George writes:

"Counted eleven Icebergs (large ones) at 6 o’clock. Continued passing them; many more in sight. Fair Wind. Icebergs, very large ones in all directions. 165 miles. We seem to be alone in a world of icy waste."

"Clipper Ship at Cape Horn" by James E. Buttersworth

They arrived in London on the 1st February 1865.

Return to England - "The Elephant's Head"

George, Mary Ann, Annie, William and Thomas arrived back in England and settled in Hook Green, just outside Lamberhurst, itself not far from Tunbridge Wells. Hook Green is now part of Kent, but was then in Sussex. George was the licensee of "The Elephant's Head" in Hook Green, a pub dating back to the late 15th century and which still stands today. George Gurr is listed as the publican of this period in a short history displayed in the pub and records exist of him taking up the licence just three months after his return, in May 1865. His son George Collins Gurr was born in Hook Green on 15 Nov 1865, and at his birth registration, George lists his occupation as Innkeeper.

George's brother William already lived and worked in Lamberhurst, carrying on the family trade of butcher. He must have made an impression on the locals, since in the Vestry minutes for 1865 it is recorded that he was appointed Constable. In 1868, George was appointed Assistant Overseer, and then in 1869 both William and George were appointed “Assessors of the Queen's Taxes”. They were reappointed yearly in 1870, 1871 and 1872. An Overseer was a Parish council official responsible for the collection and distribution of the poor tax - an important role in the local community, as
evidenced by George's invitation to the Marquis of Camden's new home at Bayham Abbey House in the summer of 1870.

By the census of April 1871, George and Mary Ann's family had grown yet again, with Ellen Collins Gurr (born 3 Jan 1867), Henry Collins Gurr (12 Mar 1868) and Edward Collins Gurr (Jan-Mar 1871). Emily Collins Gurr was born in 1869, but had died by December of the same year. The family also had a servant, Mary Ann Hayward. George's occupation is now listed as "Assistant Overseer & Rate Collector". It's likely that despite not listing "Innkeeper" as an occupation, the family still resided at the Inn. The household of 10 would have occupied no more than three rooms.

Also listed in the 1871 census is George's brother William. William was listed in the 1871 census as "Butcher, Farmer and Hop Grower", continuing the trade of his father. Members of the Gurr family continued to run a butcher's shop in Lamberhurst until the 1970s, and "Ernie Gurr" is pictured on his horse and trap.

Charles Collins Gurr was another addition to George and Mary Ann's family between Apr-Jun 1872.

But by February 1873 both George and William had been removed from their positions of authority in the parish – the following entry appears in the Vestry minutes a few months before their reappointment was due:

At a meeting held in the Vestry Room of this Parish on Friday 21st February 1873 (pursuant to notice duly published) for the purpose of nominating two fit and proper persons as Collectors of the Queen's Taxes in the place of Messrs William and George Gurr (whose appointments had been revoked by the Commissioners) for the remainder of the current financial year.

The "South Eastern Gazette" of 18th March 1873 has further information:

A DEFAULTING TAX COLLECTOR. -- On the 10th inst., Mr. George Gurr, a farmer of Lamberhurst, was under a warrant of commitment, issued by the Commissioners of Taxes, for being a defaulter as collector of the income tax to the amount of £338 11s. 2d., at Lamberhurst, taken into custody by the police, and committed to Maidstone gaol until the account should be paid. The same result follows another warrant of commitment for being a defaulter as collector of land tax to the amount of £64 8s.

The total sums in default are the equivalent of around £44,000 as of 2021.

Two months later on the 22nd April, a notice was published in the London Gazette of the start of bankruptcy proceedings for "George Gurr of Hook Green, Lamberhurst, in the county of Sussex, Farmer and Collector".

On 27th May 1874 the family are found in Harrow, Middlesex where the birth of their ninth child Albert Collins Gurr was registered. Here George's occupation is described as "Clerk at a Brewers". It's possible that there's a link to the Brewery associated with the pub in Hook Green.

Leicester

By early 1876, the Gurrs had moved to 17 Frank Street, Leicester. In February, tragedy struck - Henry, almost 8 years old died of meningitis. George's occupation is listed on Henry's death certificate as "North Western Cellarman", a reference to the London and North Western Railway (LNWR). Just over a year later (Jan-Mar 1877), Kate Collins Gurr was born, and on 1 Aug 1879 Martha Collins Gurr became the last known member of the family.

On the 25th December 1880, the Leicester Chronicle reports that five days previously George was charged with stealing some oranges while unloading them. Following that charge, on the 21st George's house was searched and some wool discovered, which lead to a charge of stealing from the LNWR warehouse (see parts 1, 2, 3 and 4 of the transcript of his court appearance and acquittal on the 15th January 1881).

George was clearly a popular member of the local community and his church - a fundraising concert to pay his legal expenses was arranged by the local Vicar and reported on in the Leicester Journal on the 28th of the same month.

At the time of the April 1881 census George lists his occupation as "Bookkeeper". 17 Frank Street housed 11 family members. Thomas wasn't at home - at 17, family legend has it that he ran away to sea.

Six months later in August 1881 tragedy struck again, and young Martha, aged just 2, died of exhaustion from whooping cough.

Between April and June 1885, George's eldest son William married. In 1886 George Collins Gurr married Emma Louisa Freeman, a girl from just down the road in Frank Street almost immediately after his 21st birthday. It's likely from the timing that George the elder didn't approve … particularly as Emma was at least five months pregnant at the time of the wedding.

In March 1886 George became a grandfather for the first time as William S. C.'s daughter Annie Elizabeth was born.

On Christmas Eve 1889 Ellen married William Henry Waterfield, and between July and September 1890 Thomas had returned and was married too.

In the April 1891 census, the household was down to 6 members, with the children Annie, Charles, Albert and Kate being the only ones still at home. Annie, though 30, was listed as 27. It seems from further sources (q.v.) that she was severely ill. George still lists his occupation as "Bookkeeper".

In July 1892 Mary Ann's father Thomas Castle Blown died, leaving her £45 18s 9d.

By early 1894, Annie's condition had worsened and she was described as a "confirmed invalid". Indeed, photographs of the time show her pale and drawn in an invalid's bath chair. To make matters worse, her mother Mary Ann was also severely ill. Family recollections are that Annie suffered from rheumatoid arthritis and severe asthma, and that Mary Ann was an alcoholic (she died in 1913 of "acute bronchitis and chronic nephritis" - nephritis being inflammation of the kidneys, a common effect of alcohol poisoning).

On the 10th January 1894, the strain of the family illnesses proved too much for George, and he took his own life. A coroner's inquest (which details much of the sad circumstances surrounding his death and makes for painful reading) returned a verdict of "Suicide during temporary insanity". George is buried in an unmarked grave at Welford Road cemetery, Leicester.