Gertrude Elizabeth (née Blood), Lady Colin Campbell (1897), Giovanni Boldini
Blood Family of Harlech, Roebuck
Neptune Blood married Elizabeth Maghlin daughter of Robert Maghlin and Henrietta Hickman in
1750. Neptune died on 12.10.1797 leaving a large family.
1 Edward Maghlin Blood Barrister-at-Law born circa 1753 married Francis Roche daughter of
David Roche in Sept 1791. Edward was educated at Trinity College and lived at Brickhill,
Clare and 38 Lower Gardiner Street and died in 1842.
1 Neptune born 1792 married his 1st cousin Bridget Roche daughter of David Roche of
Carass. Neptune died circa June 1822 at his father’s seat Prospect, Blackrock.
1 Edmund Maghlin Blood baptised 24.07.1815 at St Munchins, Limerick married
widow Mary Amy Ferguson O'Beirne 2nd daughter of late Surgeon John Thomas
Ferguson of the Sligo Regiment on 02.08.1851 at St Peter’s Church. He held land
at Brickhill, Co Clare and they lived at Harlech in Roebuck from 1857. The family
came under attack after their daughter's court case and in 1884 the 'Modern Society'
newspaper published an article that Mary Amy was divorced by her first husband
when she eloped with Edmund Blood. All lies and libel so they sued the paper and
were awarded £1000 in damages. Harlech was sold through the Encumbered Courts
in 1862 and the family moved to England. Edmund died on 11.11.1891 at 50 Elm
Park Road, Chelsea late of Brickhill, Clare. Probate to Neptune William Blood.
Mary Amy died in 1899 in Chelsea.
1 Neptune William Blood only son born 07.07.1853 at 8 Herbert Place, Dublin
educated at Trinity College and Harrow was a Stockbroker in London. Neptune
married Constance Rebecca Curee daughter of Edward Matthew Curee of Itton
Court near Chepstow on 26.07.1877 at Itton Parish Church.They divorced in 1900.
Neptune married secondly Letitia Ann Roberts Sponagle Perot of Baltimore, USA
daughter of James S Sponagle on 23.05.1901 at St Saviour’s, Walton Street
London. She had previously been married to William Yates Perot. Neptune died
14.01.1920 aged 66 years.
1 Sergeant Edmond Maghlin Blood only child born circa 1878 London went to
South Africa in charge of the guns of Paget’s Horse and died on 16.07.1900
at Kimberley.
2 Mary Beatrice Blood eldest daughter born 04.12.1853 at 13 Clare Street married
George Thomas Lyndon Bolton RN 2nd son of late Richard Bolton of Cheltenham
on 21.10.1876 at St James’s, Piccadilly, London. Mary died 02.01.1885 aged 30
years. George died 29.05.1893 aged 48 years.
3 Gertrude Elizabeth (Topo) Blood youngest daughter born circa 03.05.1857 at 9
Holles Street, while the family were resident at Harlech, Roebuck, Dublin. A
precocious child, she was fluent in a number of languages. They family spent
a lot of time in Italy due to her father's ill health. In 1878 she published her first
book. She was a skilled fencer and horse woman. She was also a talented artist
and singer. On a visit to Scotland in October 1880, Gertrude met Lord Colin
Campbell. He was the 5th son of the Duke of Argyll and his elder brother John
was married to Princess Louise, daughter of Queen Victoria. They were engaged
within days but the wedding was postponed twice as Lord Colin had health
problems. They finally married on 21.07.1881 at the Chapel Royal Savoy.
Lady Campbell petitioned in 1884 for a separation from her husband, the case being
heard in camera. This was accepted by the court, though the proceedings were kept
private. Lord Colin Campbell then publicly alleged that she had committed adultery
with the Duke of Marlborough, Colonel Butler and Captain Shaw. In 1886 she filed
for divorce citing infidelity and cruelty. The ‘cruelty’ was that Colin had knowingly
infected her with syphilis, a word that the newspaper couldn’t print. In the end the
jury decided that Gertrude was not guilty of any of the charges of adultery. The
divorce wasn't granted and the legal separation was upheld. Lady Campbell was
well known in society but her reputation was in ruins. She turned her attention to
writing and journalism. Her books, novels and plays were very successful and she
worked for the 'Saturday Review' and as an art critic for 'The World'. Gertrude was
a friend of George Bernard shaw who wrote;-
'Imagine a lady with a lightning wit, a merciless sense of humour, a skill in journalism
surpassing that of any interviewer, a humiliatingly obvious power of reckoning you
up at a glance, and probably not thinking much of you, a superb bearing that brings
out all the abjectness in your nature, and a beauty the mere fame of which makes
you fall into an attitude of amateurishly gallant homage that fulfils the measure of
your sneaking confusion.'
Colin went to India and Reuters reported his death in Bombay in June 1895.
Gertrude died 01.11.1911 aged 54 years at Carlyle Mansions, London having
spent five years confined to a wheelchair suffering from chronic Rheumatoid
arthritis.
2 Infant Blood child of Neptune buried 17.06.1817.
3 David Roche Blood born circa 1817 died unmarried on 16.03.1863 late of Miltown Bruff,
Limerick. Probate to his brother Edmond Maghlin Blood.
4 Frances Blood
2 David Roche Blood 2nd son born 1793 died 05.10.1866 aged 72 years in London late of the island
of Malta.
3 Beatrice Blood eldest daughter born circa 1795 died on 28.07.1876 aged 81 years at her residence,
Monkstown, Cork.
4 Thomas Blood baptised 17.08.1797 at St Munchin’s died 26.01.1864 aged 66 years at his residence
St John’s Villas, Clifton.
5 Frances Blood baptised on 18.06.1798 at St Munchin’s died circa August 1827 at her father’s house
in Dublin.
6 Elizabeth Blood baptised on 18.06.1798 at St Munchin’s married George Gubbins son of George
Stamer Gubbins in June 1833.
7 Stephen Wintrop Blood baptised on 22.01.1800 at St Munchin’s.
8 Marianne Blood youngest daughter married Thompson Russell 2nd son of John Norris Russell of
Limerick on 02.12.1834 at Bruff Church. Thompson died on 22.12.1880 at his residence Shelbourne.
©June Bow & Karen Poff – September 2020
Return to Harlech House
Neptune Blood married Elizabeth Maghlin daughter of Robert Maghlin and Henrietta Hickman in
1750. Neptune died on 12.10.1797 leaving a large family.
1 Edward Maghlin Blood Barrister-at-Law born circa 1753 married Francis Roche daughter of
David Roche in Sept 1791. Edward was educated at Trinity College and lived at Brickhill,
Clare and 38 Lower Gardiner Street and died in 1842.
1 Neptune born 1792 married his 1st cousin Bridget Roche daughter of David Roche of
Carass. Neptune died circa June 1822 at his father’s seat Prospect, Blackrock.
1 Edmund Maghlin Blood baptised 24.07.1815 at St Munchins, Limerick married
widow Mary Amy Ferguson O'Beirne 2nd daughter of late Surgeon John Thomas
Ferguson of the Sligo Regiment on 02.08.1851 at St Peter’s Church. He held land
at Brickhill, Co Clare and they lived at Harlech in Roebuck from 1857. The family
came under attack after their daughter's court case and in 1884 the 'Modern Society'
newspaper published an article that Mary Amy was divorced by her first husband
when she eloped with Edmund Blood. All lies and libel so they sued the paper and
were awarded £1000 in damages. Harlech was sold through the Encumbered Courts
in 1862 and the family moved to England. Edmund died on 11.11.1891 at 50 Elm
Park Road, Chelsea late of Brickhill, Clare. Probate to Neptune William Blood.
Mary Amy died in 1899 in Chelsea.
1 Neptune William Blood only son born 07.07.1853 at 8 Herbert Place, Dublin
educated at Trinity College and Harrow was a Stockbroker in London. Neptune
married Constance Rebecca Curee daughter of Edward Matthew Curee of Itton
Court near Chepstow on 26.07.1877 at Itton Parish Church.They divorced in 1900.
Neptune married secondly Letitia Ann Roberts Sponagle Perot of Baltimore, USA
daughter of James S Sponagle on 23.05.1901 at St Saviour’s, Walton Street
London. She had previously been married to William Yates Perot. Neptune died
14.01.1920 aged 66 years.
1 Sergeant Edmond Maghlin Blood only child born circa 1878 London went to
South Africa in charge of the guns of Paget’s Horse and died on 16.07.1900
at Kimberley.
2 Mary Beatrice Blood eldest daughter born 04.12.1853 at 13 Clare Street married
George Thomas Lyndon Bolton RN 2nd son of late Richard Bolton of Cheltenham
on 21.10.1876 at St James’s, Piccadilly, London. Mary died 02.01.1885 aged 30
years. George died 29.05.1893 aged 48 years.
3 Gertrude Elizabeth (Topo) Blood youngest daughter born circa 03.05.1857 at 9
Holles Street, while the family were resident at Harlech, Roebuck, Dublin. A
precocious child, she was fluent in a number of languages. They family spent
a lot of time in Italy due to her father's ill health. In 1878 she published her first
book. She was a skilled fencer and horse woman. She was also a talented artist
and singer. On a visit to Scotland in October 1880, Gertrude met Lord Colin
Campbell. He was the 5th son of the Duke of Argyll and his elder brother John
was married to Princess Louise, daughter of Queen Victoria. They were engaged
within days but the wedding was postponed twice as Lord Colin had health
problems. They finally married on 21.07.1881 at the Chapel Royal Savoy.
Lady Campbell petitioned in 1884 for a separation from her husband, the case being
heard in camera. This was accepted by the court, though the proceedings were kept
private. Lord Colin Campbell then publicly alleged that she had committed adultery
with the Duke of Marlborough, Colonel Butler and Captain Shaw. In 1886 she filed
for divorce citing infidelity and cruelty. The ‘cruelty’ was that Colin had knowingly
infected her with syphilis, a word that the newspaper couldn’t print. In the end the
jury decided that Gertrude was not guilty of any of the charges of adultery. The
divorce wasn't granted and the legal separation was upheld. Lady Campbell was
well known in society but her reputation was in ruins. She turned her attention to
writing and journalism. Her books, novels and plays were very successful and she
worked for the 'Saturday Review' and as an art critic for 'The World'. Gertrude was
a friend of George Bernard shaw who wrote;-
'Imagine a lady with a lightning wit, a merciless sense of humour, a skill in journalism
surpassing that of any interviewer, a humiliatingly obvious power of reckoning you
up at a glance, and probably not thinking much of you, a superb bearing that brings
out all the abjectness in your nature, and a beauty the mere fame of which makes
you fall into an attitude of amateurishly gallant homage that fulfils the measure of
your sneaking confusion.'
Colin went to India and Reuters reported his death in Bombay in June 1895.
Gertrude died 01.11.1911 aged 54 years at Carlyle Mansions, London having
spent five years confined to a wheelchair suffering from chronic Rheumatoid
arthritis.
2 Infant Blood child of Neptune buried 17.06.1817.
3 David Roche Blood born circa 1817 died unmarried on 16.03.1863 late of Miltown Bruff,
Limerick. Probate to his brother Edmond Maghlin Blood.
4 Frances Blood
2 David Roche Blood 2nd son born 1793 died 05.10.1866 aged 72 years in London late of the island
of Malta.
3 Beatrice Blood eldest daughter born circa 1795 died on 28.07.1876 aged 81 years at her residence,
Monkstown, Cork.
4 Thomas Blood baptised 17.08.1797 at St Munchin’s died 26.01.1864 aged 66 years at his residence
St John’s Villas, Clifton.
5 Frances Blood baptised on 18.06.1798 at St Munchin’s died circa August 1827 at her father’s house
in Dublin.
6 Elizabeth Blood baptised on 18.06.1798 at St Munchin’s married George Gubbins son of George
Stamer Gubbins in June 1833.
7 Stephen Wintrop Blood baptised on 22.01.1800 at St Munchin’s.
8 Marianne Blood youngest daughter married Thompson Russell 2nd son of John Norris Russell of
Limerick on 02.12.1834 at Bruff Church. Thompson died on 22.12.1880 at his residence Shelbourne.
©June Bow & Karen Poff – September 2020
Return to Harlech House