Luard Family Arms:  Per pale Sable and argent, a lion counterchanged, holding between the paws a mullet pierced, or; in chief two fleur-de-lys counterchanged of the field.  Luard Family Crest:  On a wreath of the colours, a demi-lion Sable charged with a fleur-de-lys and holding between the paws an estoile, both or.  Luard means "little wolf"

   The first Luard, a Huguenot, Abraham LUARD, born at Caen in 1635, married his first wife Marie LeMESEIER in 1663, and his 2nd wife Jeanne BONNEFOY in 1668.  The Luards came to England in 1685, at the Revocation of the Edict of Nantes.

Zachariah Bourryau LUARD, of Blyborough, Lincs (which he purchased from the family of Southcote in 1747), was a wealthy West Indian merchant, who possessed estates in Granada, and St Kitts.  He married a woman by the last name of  SPOONER and died in 1752.  Zachariah was the first Luard of Blyborough Hall.

   St. Alkmond is in the little Hamlet of Blyborough which has been the Luard Family home since the 1747.

St Alkmond

   The Church, dedicated to the Northumbrian Saint Alkmund, was almost rebuilt last century, but there is still old work remaining in the tiny tower, the west wall, and the 13th century chancel arch.  The nave arcade (its capitals carved with stiff leaves) is also 13th century, and was opened out to a new aisle after being built up.  There are three big medieval niches adorned with heads, an old font with flowers and leaves at its base, and a Crucifixion (on the rood-beam) carved by Flemish craftsmen six centuries ago.

   Lying on the windowsill are fragments found in the restoration - the head of a wimpled woman, a crude figure with outspread hands, stones shaped like Norman soldiers, and some red tiles.  On his tomb in the chapel, is the stone figure of 15th century priest Robert Conyng, his features worn by time.

   One of the stained glass windows is in memory of two Luard brothers who fought in the Penninsular War and at Waterloo.  A tablet tells of four of their decendents who fell in the First World War.

   Those two brothers were Lieutenant John Luard of the 16th Light Dragoons, and Captain George Luard of the 18th Hussars.  It has been said that there was not an instance throughout the Army of two brothers in the field escaping death at Waterloo, but somehow John and George did just that.

   Near a 200 year old Yew in the churchyard is a memorial to "all who gave their lives for this country and freedom."

   Blyborough -- Hall, Church, and rectory -- are close companions here in tranquil setting.  There are many stately trees all around, and the long avenue leading to the Hall is lined with splendid oaks.

   The Luard family made its monies from Sugar Plantations in the West Indies, specifically in St. Kitt's.

Captain Luard's father was a well respected Warwick physician.

Peter Francis Luard, M.D. , was the second son of Peter John Luard, of Blyborough Hall, Lincolnshire, Esq., by his wife Louisa, daughter of Charles Daldiac, Esq., of Hungeford Park, and was born 16th September 1786.  He received his medical education at Edinburgh, where he graduated doctor of medicine 24th June, 1808 (D.M.I. de Ebriosrum malis).  He was admitted a Licentiate of the College of Physicians 1st April, 1822, and settled at Warwick, where he was much and deservedly respected. -- From Roll of the Royal College of Physicians 1878

 One of Captain Luard's contemporaries, Robert Bunaby, recognized Dr. Luard.

"The Engineers are a set of real good fellows.  Of them all I like Parsons and Luard the best, the latter is a son of an old Leamington physician, whom I dare say Mamma remembers."  -- 13 October 1859, Robert Burnaby

For the last few years of his life, Dr. Luard retired to Florence with his wife, chiefly for the sake of his health.

Sadly, Mary Luard's health failed first.

MARY MAGDALEN LUARD/ ENGLAND/ Luard/ Maria Maddalena/ / Inghilterra/ Firenze/ 25 Novembre/ 1857/ Anni 68/ 625/ Mary Magdalen Luard, d'Angleterre/ Lady Mary Magdalen Luard/ GL23777/1 N° 243, Burial 28/11, Rev Robbins, wife of Peter Francis Luard M.D; -- Information from the English Cemetery at Florence

 

‘to poor Mrs Luards funeral at 11  (at Cemetery) who died on Wednesday night [B---?], self, March and the Doctor (Luard) the only persons [allowed?] to attend.’ -- 28 Nov 1857, From the Diary of Rev. Maquay of Florence

Captain Luard's sister, Frances, left Gloustershire and came to be with her father in Florence.

Luard, Frances, Daughter, 1857, Florence, Gloucester -- From Anglo-Italian Family History Society 1881 L Census

 Sadly, one month later...

PETER FRANCIS LUARD/ ENGLAND/ Luard/ Pier Francesco/ / Inghilterra/ Firenze/ 26 Dicembre/ 1857/ Anni 71/ 629/ Luard, Peter Francis, Angleterre/ GL23777/1 N° 246, Burial 28/12, Rev O'Neill -- From the English Cemetery at Florence

 

‘Doctor Luard died last night after eating his dinner comfortably with his daughter and thus surviving his wife exactly one month.’ -- 26 Dec 1857, From the Diary of Rev. Maquay of Florence

Doctor Luard's Headstone reads.

SACRED TO THE MEMORY OF PETER FRANCIS LUARD M.D./ SECOND SON OF . . . JOHN LUARD ESQ/ OF BLYBOROUGH LINCOLNSHIRE// WHO DEPARTED THIS LIFE ON THE 5 DECEMBER 1851/ IN THE 72 YEAR OF HIS AGE. TO ME TO DIE IS GAIN/ . . PHIL. . ./ -- From the English Cemetery at Florence

The Children
of
Peter Francis LUARD, M.D.,
and wife
Mary Magdalene MORGAN

ID#	Name	Spouse(s)	Life Span
10	Colonel Peter William Luard Madras Army	Emma Anne HODSON Emelia Frederica CROMMELIN	1817 - 1876
18	Anne Louisa Luard	--	1819- 1827
13	Colonel George Francis Luard	Jane HAMILTON	1820 -
19	Lucy Luard	1st cousin Reverend Arthur Charles LUARD	1822 - 1916
21	Mary Dormer Luard	Capt Joseph STIRLING, RN	1824 - ?
15	Captain Henry Reynolds Luard, Royal Engineers	Caroline Mary LEGGATT	1828 - 1870
17	Lieutenant Phillip Edward Luard, Royal Navy	--	1832 - 1869

Generation_I #1 Captain Peter John LUARD, of Blyborough, 4th Dragoons Married: 1783-4 To: #2 Louisa DALBIAC, daughter of Charles DALBIAC, of Hungerford Park, 1st wife Susanne De VISME Died: 23 May, 1830, having had issue . . . Generation_II #3: Peter Francis LUARD, MD Born: 16 Sept 1786 Married: 1816 To: #4 Mary Magdalene MORGAN(d 1857), daughter of William MORGAN Died: 1857, having had issue Generation III #10 back to top Peter William LUARD, Col Bengal Staff Corps, late 55th Native Infantry. Ensign, 13 Dec. 1833; Lieut., 1 Dec 1836; Captain, 8 may 1845; Brevet Major, 28 Nov. 1854; Major, 27 Aug. 1858. Service: Major Luard served with the Army of the Sutlej in 1846.  Commanded the 17th Punjab Infantry after the Mutiny of the 55th Native Infantry, with the Saugor Field Brigade under Brigadier Wheeler, in 1859. Born: 11 July, 1817 Married 1st: 27 April, 1839 To: #11 Emma Anne HODSON (d 1841) only daughter of Capt J. Hodson, HEICS (Honorable East India Company Service) and had issue Gen IV #29 Mary Scott LUARD Born: 12 Feb 1840 Died: 8 April, 1841 Married 2nd: 1845 To: #12 Emelia Frederica CROMMELIN, only daughter of Major Crommelin, HEICS (See below) Died: Dec 1876, having by her had issue, Gen IV   #30 Peter John LUARD Born:  1847 Married 1st: 1876 To: #31 Winifred Christian (d 1878), and had issue Generation V #53 Arden Russell LUARD Born: 1877 Died: 1912 Married 2nd: 1891 To: #32 Elinor Jane Price Married 3rd:   To: #33 Jessie Davies #34 Neville Edwards LUARD Born: 1848 Died: 1909 #35 Amelia Lucy LUARD Born: 1845 Married:   To: #36 Col J. McNEALE, 8th Bengal Cav (d 1904) Died: 4 Oct 1929, having had issue #37 Ida LUARD Born: 1858 Died: 1934 Gen III   #13 back to top George Francis LUARD, Col Madras Army Born: 1820 Married: 1843 To: #14 Jane HAMILTON (b 26 May, 1829), 3rd dau of Lt George H. Hamilton, HEICS, and had issue Gen IV   #38 George Anderson LUARD Born: 24 June, 1853 Died: an infant #39 Arthur John Hamilton LUARD, DSO, Col Norfolk Regt Cricketeer Born: 3 Sept 1861 Married: 15 Oct 1890 To: #40 Rosa Matilda PEEL, only daughter of late Edmund Yates Peel, and had issue Gen V   #54 Edmund Arthur Peel LUARD, Capt RA Born: 31 July, 1891 Married: 12 Sept 1918 (divorce 1929) To: #55 Gladys Francis Alice Ford TICHBORNE, 2nd dau of Rev Canon Tichborne, MA, Rector of Armagh, and has issue Generation_VI #59 Diana Elizabeth LUARD Born: 10 March, 1921 Gen IV   #41 Mary Agnes LUARD Born: 28 Sept 1847 Married: 1869 To: #42 M J. Fortescue Harrison, ICS, and had issue: two sons and one dau #43 Louisa Jane LUARD Born: 23 May, 1849 Married: 24 Feb 1869 To: #44 Sir William MacPHERSON (d 24 Nov 1909), Judge of the High Court, Calcutta, son of General Duncan Macpherson, and had issue, five sons and three daughters. #45 Julia LUARD Born: 4 June, 1851 Died: June, 1853 #46 Frances LUARD Married:   To: #47 Francis Henry CUMBERLEGE Died: 26 Aug 1946, leaving issue, one son Gen III   #15 back to top Henry Reynolds LUARD, Capt RE Born: 30 June, 1828 Married: 8 October 1863, Victoria, Vancouver's Island To: #16 Caroline Mary LEGGATT (d 4 March, 1914), dau of George Leggatt Died: 1870, leaving issue Gen IV #48  Henry Arthur LUARD, Capt Northants Regt Born: 1865 Married: To: #49 Adelaide Isabel WATSON (d 30 Jan 1927) Died: 1901, leaving issue Gen V   #56 Philip Alan LUARD Born: 1900 #57 Eleanor Mary LUARD Born: 1898 Gen IV   #50 Eleanor Mary LUARD Born: 1866 Died: unmarried 6 Feb 1951 Gen III #17 back to top Philip Edward LUARD, Lt RN Born: 23 April, 1832 Died: unmarried 1869 #18 back to top Anne Louisa LUARD Born: 1819 Died: unmarried 1827 #19 back to top Lucy LUARD Born: 1822 Married: To: #20 her first cousin, Rev Arthur Charles LUARD Died: 6 Oct 1916 #21 back to top Mary Dormer LUARD Born: 23 July, 1824 Married: 1849 To: #22 Capt Joseph STIRLING, RN, and had issue, two sons and two daus. Gen_II   #5 Charles Bourryau LUARD Born: 16 April, 1785 Married: 23 Aug 1821 To: #6 Henrietta ARMYTAGE (d 2 Aug 1873), est dau and co-heir of John Armytage, of Northampton, bro of Sir George Armytage, 4th Bt (see BURKE'S Peerage) Died: 26 May, 1855, leaving issue #7 George LUARD, Maj, served in the Peninsula and at Waterloo Born: 1788 Died: unmarried Dec 1847 #8 John LUARD, Lt-Col 10th Regt and 16th Lancers, served in RN 1802-07, entered 4th Dragoons 1809, served in Peninsula, and was at Waterloo and Bhurtpore Wrote View in India, Saint Helena and Car Nicobar appeared around 1833.  As lithography was gradually replacing the medium of aquatint by that time, the plates in Luard’s book are uncoloured lithographs. Wrote History of the Dress of the British Soldier from the earliest period to the present time, which was published in London by William Clowes & son in 1852. Chandnee Chauk (Silver Street), Delhi The Illustrated London News August 8, 1857 by Lieut.-Colonel Luard 1866 Farnham School of Art is founded by Lieutenant Colonel John Luard Born: 5 May, 1790 Married: 1826 To: #9 Elizabeth SCOTT, daughter of Col Richard Scott, HEICS Died: 1875, leaving issue Gen III   #23 Richard George Amherst LUARD, CB, JP Sussex, Lt-Gen, served in the Crimea and China, FRGS Born: 29 July, 1827 Married: 1863 To: #24 Hannah CHAMBERLIN (d 1908), dau of H. Chamberlin, of Narborough, Norfolk Died: 24 July, 1891, leaving issue, Gen IV   #51 Richard Chamberlin LUARD, Lt-Col Oxf. and Bucks, L.I. Born: 12 July, 1864 Married 1st: 3 June, 1897 To: #52 Pauline Margaret REISS (d 12 Feb 1909), dau of Emil Reiss, of Swyncombe, Oxfordshire, and had issue Gen V   #58 Margaret Frances LUARD (Keyford Wing, Dorchester Road, nr Yeovil) Gen II   #25 John Dalbiac LUARD, late 82nd Regt Born: 31 Oct 1830 Died: unmarried Aug 1860 #26 Frederic Peter LUARD, Maj-Gen Bengal SC, served in Indian campaigns 1857-58, and at Pekin, China, with Fane's Horse Born: 18 Dec 1835 Married: 1870 To: #27 Lydia Maria Louisa PALMER (d 1923), dau of Rev J. Palmer, of Jerusalem Died: 1917, leaving issue #28 Elizabeth Louisa LUARD Born: Feb 1833 Died: June, 1899

Related Luard Lines

Many Luard men served in India, as did the familes of the women they married.  Example:  the Crommelin line.

The following two trees are the paternal and maternal lines of #12 Emilia Frederica Crommelin, the 2nd wife of #12 Peter William LUARD.

The CROMMELIN line

The RICKETS Line

And finally, from the the India List:

East-India Register & Army List, 1850

Lieutenant Colonel John Kynaston LUARD, C.B.

Hart's 1873 Army List

General John LUARD

Madras Staff Corps

Lieutenant Colonel George LUARD

1881 census
At the Royal Military College, Sandhurst: Arthur John Hamilton LUARD, 19, born in India/E.Indies

Recipient of the Hunza 1891 clasp to the India General Service Medal: Surg.Cpt. Hugh LUARD  

Torrington Poor Law Union and Workhouse Torrington Union Workhouse Situated New Street, Torrington, Devonshire 1851 census - HO/107/1894 Folio 525 Page 36 Peter Luard - Governor of Torrington Union Workhouse Maria Luard - Matron of Torrington Union Workhouse Who are Peter's parents?

 

Murder Mystery!

The Seal Chart Murder

The story of the murder of Mrs. Luard in 1908 is one of the most intriguing unsolved murders this century.  It is made all the more fascinating by the memories and theories of the descendants of people who knew both the victim and the chief suspect, and who heard the shots ringing out on that fateful day in August.

The story in brief.

On the afternoon of Monday, 24th. August, 1908, Major-General Charles Luard and his wife Caroline left their home at Ightham Knoll for a walk with their dog.  General Luard wanted to collect his golf clubs from the clubhouse at Godden Green.  They went through private woods belonging to their neighbours on the Frankfield estate, passing en route a secluded summer-house which they and their neighbours often used.  At the time the summer-house was empty and locked.

Before they reached the end of the wood, Mrs. Luard decided to retrace her steps home as she was expecting a guest to tea.  The couple parted at a wicket gate on the path. General Luard took the dog and proceeded out of the woods and on, by road and footpath, to the clubhouse.  He was seen by witnesses on his way there.  Having collected his clubs, he returned home via the main road instead of going back through the woods.

Arriving home he found the guest, Mrs. Stewart, waiting to have tea, but no sign of his wife.  After tea, he went back along the woodland path that he and his wife had taken earlier, and found Mrs. Luard lying dead on the veranda of the summer-house.  She had been shot in the head and three rings and a small purse had been stolen.

The murder caused a national sensation, and although the local police called in Scotland Yard, the murderer was never caught.  With no swift resolution to the case, rumour and accusation soon focussed on the general and, despite his alibi that he had been walking to the clubhouse at the time established for his wife's shooting (3.15 p.m.), he began receiving anonymous letters accusing him of the murder.

The general went to stay with friends, and a few weeks after his wife was shot, on the very day he was due to travel to Southampton to meet his son returning from South Africa, General Luard threw himself in front of a train on the railway line at Teston.

The inquest verdict on Mrs. Luard was 'murder by person or persons unknown' and that on General Luard 'suicide while temporarily insane'.  The murder was never solved and the police files have been destroyed.  The General and Mrs. Luard are both buried in Ightham churchyard.

If you would like to purchase the story of the "Seal Cart Murder" please go to the "Books and Pamphlets" section of the Seven Oaks Life web site.

St Mary the Great, Cambridge
The East Window
 
The East Window in GSM was designed and made by the firm of Hardman and given to the church in 1869 by the Revd. H.R. Luard.  It is a fine example of the revival at that time of fifteenth-century-style stained glass.

In her ongoing tour of the church, Dr Lynne Broughton considers its imagery and biblical origins. 

The glass in the East Window illustrates the Nativity, with Mary and the child Jesus at its centre. Surrounding them are illustrations of the Christmas story from the conception of Jesus to the flight into Egypt.  The upper panels portray the hosts of heaven.  The window's layout contains a cross, formed by the intersection of the movement from right and left of shepherds and wise men towards Christ, with the movement downwards from heaven though the child to the angel announcing his birth to the shepherds.

The scenes at the bottom of the window read from left to right (north to south), illustrating what happened before and after the birth of Jesus. 

First the Annunciation (Luke 1:26-38): the Archangel Gabriel visits Mary to tell her that she has been chosen to bear the Son of God and, although fearful, she accepts the task. 

Next is Mary's visit to her older cousin Elizabeth, who herself is pregnant with John the Baptist (Luke 1:39-56).  Shepherds flank the Virgin and child on one side. Joseph stands behind them, pointing to the child as if encouraging them to come closer.  One brings a lamb, a gift appropriate from shepherds but also signifying the Lamb of God, whom they have come to worship.  This gift also foreshadows Christ's death on the cross, as the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world. 

At the centre of the bottom row an angel tells the shepherds of the birth of Christ.

On the other side are the wise men who also have come, following a star (Matthew 2:1-12).  They bring gifts which symbolise the nature of this child: gold for a king, incense for God, myrrh to anoint a body for burial.

The remaining scenes show what follows the wise men's visit. 

In the Presentation in the Temple (Luke 2:22-39), the child is greeted by Simeon and Anna as the prophesied Redeemer for whom they have been waiting.  Mary kneels before Simeon, who is holding the child.  To Simeon's left is Anna; to his right Joseph holds the cage with two pigeons which are the parents' offering to God in thanksgiving for the birth of their son. 

The Christmas---Epiphany narrative is completed with the flight of Mary, Joseph and the child into Egypt, to escape the massacre of male children ordered by Herod, the king (Matthew 2:13-23).  The children who were killed (the Holy Innocents) are considered the first of those martyred for the sake of Christ, and their killing forebodes the violent death of Jesus himself. 

The small upper lights of the window portray angels surrounding the star, which both heralded the coming of Christ and signified Christ himself.  The New Testament speaks of Christ as ``the bright and morning star'' (Revelation 22:16), and the image is used in one of Charles Wesley's loveliest hymns: ``Dayspring from on high be near, Daystar in my heart appear.'' 

The star, in the topmost light, is surrounded by the cloud which veils the ineffable presence of God, from which rays of light stream down upon the Nativity scene below. Three angels flank the star.  They are reminiscent of the three angels who visited Abraham and Sarah (Genesis 18:1-33) and who were an appearance of God himself.  Christian theologians through the centuries have understood this Old Testament story as a reference to the trinitarian nature of God.  The other angels represent the hosts of heaven surrounding the throne of God.  They continually sing his praises, as did the angels who appeared to the shepherds singing "Glory to God in the highest''.

--the above information comes from
Majestas