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Old Photographs, Recognition, Handwriting Deciphering => Free Photo Restoration & Date Old Photographs => Topic started by: Les de B on Monday 31 January 11 09:51 GMT (UK)
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I have a photo I took from a microfilmed document. Unfortunately, the quality is very poor, so I posted a request on the Deciphering Topic to help read it
http://www.rootschat.com/forum/index.php/topic,509915.msg3662447.html#msg3662447
One of the replies I received suggested I try the Photograph Restoring Topic, as you may be able to enhance the writing. Its not the quality of my photo, but actually the quality of the microfilm that is the problem.
If by chance it can be enhanced, I have another image from the same microfilm as well. I'm not overly confident it can enhanced, but if one never asks, one will never now.
Thanks
Les
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do not think its much better
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Thanks Alan - good effort.
Its a lot darker, which makes some of the writing easier to read, but I'm still having trouble with some of the words. I would use your enhancement for my records rather than my original photo. This is what I could read
Married .............. Seaman
Born Jersey, Channel Islands 20yrs
............................. Ship "Silver
Eagle"...........in Sydney
.................from there Balmain
.................working at
Summer Hill present day May 8 1899
And this is because I knew some of his background. Now, if I only knew somebody with FBI technology.........? :)
Les
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Hi Les,
Could it in part read
" Silver Eagle" docking/embarking in Sydney last .......
............... 3 19 since working at
or possibly
journey to Sydney last .... from there (Balmain)
Tony
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My attempt
Denis
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and a negative version
Denis
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married OJ(I).R.A. seaman
born Jersey Channel Islands 20 yrs.
? (? 11.69) ship "Silver
Eagle" docking in Sydney last
6 ? from there (Balmain)
left 7.3.99 ? ? at
? Hill then from ? day 8.11.99
Balmain is a peninsula in Sydney Harbour known for ship repairs.
jim
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Thanks for those enhancement efforts - just can't seem to get the left side. As I indicated, it was a poor quality microfilm - not only my ancestor's record but others too on same page and pages either side.
The entry is from a Hospital register. He was admitted 3 times, twice in 1899 and once 1903. It appears that instead of starting a new entry each admission, they just added a line or two to the first entry. I know he arrived in Queensland aboard "Silver Eagle" 1882 (charged with desertion from that ship). The 20yrs is probably an average on how long he resided in Australia. He was actually born in England (have his Birth Cert), and all his crew lists have him born in England, but once in Australia he changed his birth place to Jersey???? He came to Sydney 1889 from Brisbane. He lived in various inner Sydney suburbs, including Balmain and Summer Hill.
So, I do have a fair bit about him, but would just like to know what the missing words may have been. The possible date of 1869 has been baffled. The "Silver Eagle" did make voyages to Australia 1870 and 1880, but he does not appear on those crew lists.The intitials after the word "married" appear to be a hospital code(?) as other entries for other patients have the same or similar codes.
Thanks to Jim for that little snippet about Balmain, but sorry, I was born there :D
Les
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but sorry, I was born there
;D
Sounds like the Silver Eagle's taking a long time to get repaired.
As you don't recognise the 1869 date I take it this wasn't his birth year.
jim
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[As you don't recognise the 1869 date I take it this wasn't his birth year.
jim
You're correct there Jim, he was b.1845 - not even close to 1869, though he often indicated he was 10 years younger, even on his marriage certificate. Yes, that 1869 has been baffled, presuming it is 1869?
Les
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I thought the "69" might actually be "Q9" referring to some document or regulation or...?
Where's the microfilm from, Les? Do you know if the original document is held somewhere that might give you a better copy?
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I thought the "69" might actually be "Q9" referring to some document or regulation or...?
Where's the microfilm from, Les? Do you know if the original document is held somewhere that might give you a better copy?
I found the mircofilm at the NSW State Archives. It projects onto a white board, and that's how I photographed it. As I indicated the quality the record itself appeared to be very poor, with parts of the book being unreadable, and some pages ripped out.
As this is a hospital record, several years ago I wrote to the NSW Health Department about the original. I was informed by them that the actual personal records for this period had been destroyed/lost, and they could only supply me with Admission and Discharge Date records, which they did. Those Admission/Discharge Date Records are also on hand at the State Archives on mircofilm, and are very easy to read.
When I found out that the State Archives had the Personal Records on mircrofilm, I headed straight out there ;D
There are other bits information on this record for him too, however, they are of a poorer quality than the above record I've attached. I've managed only a few words from these too.
Les
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taking a stab at the date it looks like 14.11.69,could it be the date he joined the ship or joined the navy?
jim
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taking a stab at the date it looks like 14.11.69,could it be the date he joined the ship or joined the navy?
jim
He wasn't in the Navy, however,, it could be the date he joined the ship, it arriving in Sydney June 1870, though that's a 7 month voyage which is a bit long unless it struck trouble on its voyage. It was a 3 masted barque, not steam.
Les
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Not sure it's the departure date of that ship - Sydney Morning Herald says it arrived 5 June 1870 after a voyage of 92 days from London. Cleared English Channel 5 March :-\
http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article13206402
Not being much help, am I! ;D
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Not being much help, am I! ;D
Every bit helps, whether a snippet of information, or an elimination of a possibility. I managed to find a Crew List for the 1870 Silver Eagle arrival in Sydney - alas no ancestor listed.
Les
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This word may be Christmas
married OJ(I).R.A. seaman
born Jersey Channel Islands 20 yrs.
? (? 11.69) ship "Silver
Eagle" docking in Sydney last
Christmas from there (Balmain)
left 7.3.99 ? ? at
? Hill then from ? day 8.11.99
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[quote author= married OJ(I).R.A. seaman
born Jersey Channel Islands 20 yrs.
? (? 11.69) ship "Silver
Eagle" docking in Sydney last
6 ? from there (Balmain)
left 7.3.99 ? ? at
? Hill then from ? day 8.11.99
Balmain is a peninsula in Sydney Harbour known for ship repairs.
jim
Hi Les
I think the bit after Balmain is:
........99 since working at Summer Hill then from today 8.11.99
which doesn't make a lot of sense but...
Dawn M.
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Dawn, that does make a little sense. He was working at "Summer Hill until today 8/11/1899", the official admission date.
Likewise Stonechat, it could be "working at Sydney last Christmas, from there Balmain"
As I indicated this entry could be from 3 seperate admissions, so little bit of informationn just added each time.
I wish to thank all those who contributed, both enhancing and deciphering. I will "complete" this topic now, as I think I've got the general gist of the Admission notes, though without knowing the exact wording.
Regards
Les