This tortoiseshell hair comb belonged to Betty Guard, the wife of whaler Jacky Guard. She was allegedly wearing it when she was attacked by Taranaki Maori after the ship on which she and her husband were returning from Australia was blown ashore.
Betty Guard is believed to be the first European woman to settle in the South Island. In 1834 she was taken hostage by a group of Taranaki and Ngati Ranui Maori before being rescued several months later by her husband Jacky and a detachment of 60 men from the 50th Regiment.
In 1830 Australian-born Elizabeth (Betty) Guard – shown here in a shadow portrait – married Jacky Guard. He was a convict who, after serving out his sentence, turned seafarer, whaler and trader.
