Brigadier General Edward Rushforth Blakiston MURRAY (1868-1942)

Individual Events and Attributes

Marriage

Individual Note 1

Edward Rushworth Blakiston Murray started his military career in the Royal Marines in 1888 at Forton Barracks, Gosport at the age of 19. His own father James Pulteney Murray had died relatively young and the family lived in Ireland. Whilst stationed at Gosport and completing his early service life, he spent many happy hours in his off-duty times at Purbrook Heath House, and became very attached to the old house and to Tom and Lizzy Harvey( Mary Joanna's son and daughter) who were his father's first cousins. He would go there most weekends, ride the horses, walk in the woods and go to church on Sundays at Widley. Mary Joanna died in 1875 and Lizzie was already the hostess and mistress of the house. Lizzie was very diligent in keeping up with her many cousins and having them to stay- Cousin Betsy with Delia and Denise, Cousin Gladys and the Rushworth cousins, Lily and the Mahons. ERBM ,and later with his wife Dorothea , were also invited to bring a little James and Tom, also little Betty with her nanny. Betty also stayed there twice as an adult.

Individual Note 2

(http:/fishponds.freeuk.com/bathfatal.htm) for details on the family's tragic death in the Bath blitz