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Old Photographs, Recognition, Handwriting Deciphering => Free Photo Restoration & Date Old Photographs => Topic started by: Terrawitch on Tuesday 03 April 12 00:52 BST (UK)
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Hi, I would love to have this photo dated please.
I believe it is of my 3x great grandparents John & Ann Morris(s), however, this has been questioned, so I would greatly appreciate any comments.
The photo is one of approx 70 photos in a tooled leather-bound album which itself is approx circa-late 1880's. The other photos seem to cover about 3 decades.
This photo is quite small measuring 6.5cm x 10.2cm (2.5" x 4")
Photographer - Gilmour's Royal Gallery - West end of Central Station, Neville Street, Newcastle. Established 1857.
Written on the back is 2 sets of names in different handwriting. At the bottom is "Robert & Caroline Morriss ?" and at the top (and very faint & in different handwriting) is - "John Morris; born Sleekburn; died 8-7-1868 aged 78; Ann Morris, died 18-11-66"
Thank you in advance
Chris :)
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Mid 1860s with the dropped shoulder and full crinoline, and also the pose, so John and Ann is a very good bet. Do you have dates for Robert and Caroline?
Welcome to Rootschat :)
Cheers,
China
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It looks like my previous reply didnt work :( I'll do it again ...so if this is a repeat then ooopsies sorry
Hi China,
Thank you so much for responding. And thank you for your kind welcome x
I'm glad I'm on the right track as far as the approx date is concerned (mid 1860's ish)
At this stage I do not have any dates for Robert & Caroline, or where they fit into my family tree. John did have a brother Robert (B 1797 D ?) but who his spouse was I have no idea.
John also had a son Robert (B 1826 D 1867) wife Isabella.
I do have another photo of a Robert Morris with Robert Jr. of similar vintage but unfortunately there are no photographer markings at all.
Cheers Chris
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Agree with China's date but not her sums.If he died in 1868 aged 78 he'd be about 75 in this.This couple look to be in their 40's.
jim
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Hi Jim, and thank you :)
I think I'll have to sadly admit that this is not John and Ann :( Unless they'd found the fountain of youth & didnt tell their decendents :)
Instead it is probably one of their older male children who would have been in their 40's during the mid 1860's
Cheers
Chris :)
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After a bit of a sleep I was wondering if anyone thinks this male gentleman would be the same as above and possibly taken at the same time, in the same photographic studio, as above? ( the back of this photo is blank except for a couple of names very faint in pencil)
Also what are your thoughts on the age of the male child? (personally I think around 7 or 8 years) And at what age did the male children of this era get to wear long trousers?
Cheers
Chris :)
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There is a likeness, but gent 2 has got a lot more hair - a bit more on top, but lots more at the side!
Child is about 11, I would say.
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Thanks IgorStrav :)
If they're not the same person then they are definitely related. :) I agree there are some differences between the two ... ie the vest, the buttons on the coat. But the dangly bit of the fob watch is the same and I (personally) put the differences with the hair down to different angle of head position &/or camera.
As far as the child's age .. you could quite well be right :)
Cheers
Chris :)
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Definitely the same chap I would say.The lad would be 12/13 dressed like this & his rather ill-fitting clothes probably belonged to an older brother.There's nothing in these to suggest they were taken at the same studio in fact I would say not.
Photographers had a limited amount of backdrops & props & I would expect to see something the same in both also the flooring is different.Impossible to say which was taken first but both obviously 1860's.So did Robert & Caroline have a son born mid-late 1850's?
I notice Robert had 2 sons born 1853 & 55.They don't look working class & as a deputy overman would make him deputy manager above ground at a pit.Maybe someone got her name wrong.
jim
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If you think they are the same man, Jim, then surely the photo where he's got more hair is the earlier one? ;)
Evidently both father and son can read, as evidenced by the book they're sharing.
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Thank you all for your contributions for solving this puzzle, you have all been wonderfully fabulous. :-*
You have all pointed out details of things which I had missed! *facepalm*(I think the kids call it :) )
I feel confident now, in summary, that the top photo is of one of my 2x Great Grandfather's brothers who either stayed in/near Newcastle Upon Tyne &/or emigrated a good decade or so after some of his other sibilings to either Australia or the USA. His name is most probably Robert and his partner/wife may or may not have been named Caroline. He had at least one son born in the mid 1850's (ish) and he was making sure the boy was educated.
For me it's back to the research to nut out the correct identification & relationship of who exactly these people are. I feel the position of the photos in The Album is a clue to this ... if only I knew who first created the album *sigh*
Thank you all again :)