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Old Photographs, Recognition, Handwriting Deciphering => Free Photo Restoration & Date Old Photographs => Topic started by: Rokkonz on Monday 25 January 16 03:43 GMT (UK)

Title: What Age & What Year for my Great Grandmother Mary Sinclair please
Post by: Rokkonz on Monday 25 January 16 03:43 GMT (UK)
Hi,

A relative and I believe that this photo is of our 2x great grandmother Mary Cecilia Sinclair, but a third relative believes that it is in fact Mary's mother Jean.

I would appreciate it if someone might be able to have a go at estimating the age of my great grandmother & roughly what year it may have been taken.

We do not have an original for a better quality scan.

Any help would be much appreciated

Cheers, Rokkonz
Title: Re: What Age & What Year for my Great Grandmother please
Post by: Wiggy on Monday 25 January 16 08:17 GMT (UK)
I have a very similar looking photo of my GGgrandmother taken before 1890 when she died aged 67 - but not too long before I don't think.    Same headdress style and bodice style of her clothes. 

I don't think it can have been toooo long before she died.  Not more than 10 years anyhow I am guessing.   Just a guess though - still can't find my dating book.  :-\

The dating people will ask for the full photo with corners and back to be shown if you have them - they can tell things from seeing everything.

Wiggy
Title: Re: What Age & What Year for my Great Grandmother Mary Sinclair please
Post by: AJ100 on Monday 25 January 16 15:05 GMT (UK)
As Wiggy says, before 1890 - I would say 1880's or possibly 1870's. The lady looks to be around 40.

Regards

AJ
Title: Re: What Age & What Year for my Great Grandmother Mary Sinclair please
Post by: Treetotal on Monday 25 January 16 15:12 GMT (UK)
My guess would be 1880s and I think she looks late 40s early 50s.
Carol
Title: Re: What Age & What Year for my Great Grandmother Mary Sinclair please
Post by: jim1 on Monday 25 January 16 16:34 GMT (UK)
Can we see all of it + the back?
At present I would suggest early-mid 1880's.
The bodice is wrong for the 1870's & this pleated skirt didn't arrive until the early 80's.
I think she looks in her 60's.
Title: Re: What Age & What Year for my Great Grandmother Mary Sinclair please
Post by: Wiggy on Monday 25 January 16 20:23 GMT (UK)
I'm with Jim - I think she looks in her 60s!   ;)
Title: Re: What Age & What Year for my Great Grandmother Mary Sinclair please
Post by: sami on Monday 25 January 16 20:48 GMT (UK)
I'm with Jim - I think she looks in her 60s!   ;)

Completely agree with an age in her 60s.
Title: Re: What Age & What Year for my Great Grandmother Mary Sinclair please
Post by: Rokkonz on Tuesday 26 January 16 01:03 GMT (UK)
Hi,

Thanks to everyone for their replies, I am unable to get the original at this stage but here is the photo border if it helps. I have also attached a confirmed photo of Mary aged 67 (taken in 1916) for comparison.

Cheers,
Rokkonz
Title: Re: What Age & What Year for my Great Grandmother Mary Sinclair please
Post by: sami on Tuesday 26 January 16 01:10 GMT (UK)
I'm with Jim - I think she looks in her 60s!   ;)

Completely agree with an age in her 60s.

Hmmmm.......well now that I've seen her when she is 67, not sure what to think of her age in the first photo.
Title: Re: What Age & What Year for my Great Grandmother Mary Sinclair please
Post by: Wiggy on Tuesday 26 January 16 01:14 GMT (UK)
Your original post says you are not sure who she is  (i.e. the original photo) . . . and I'm not sure the second confirmed photo of Mary is of the same woman.

So the first could still be in her early-mid 60s.   And the photographer might have 'tidied her up a bit'.

Wiggy  :)

Title: Re: What Age & What Year for my Great Grandmother Mary Sinclair please
Post by: Rokkonz on Tuesday 26 January 16 02:04 GMT (UK)
Jean was definitely born in March 1823, which as you say Wiggy could still put her in her 60's in the 1880's like 3 out of 5 of you suggested in previous posts. She does also appear to have bags under her eyes when you zoom in which may support her being that age.
Title: Re: What Age & What Year for my Great Grandmother Mary Sinclair please
Post by: sparrett on Tuesday 26 January 16 04:13 GMT (UK)
I am not persuaded the two photos are the same woman.
The younger, I would say, is 55 to 60 in that photo.

Although there is  some similarity around the mouth, there is a big difference in the position of the hairline, the older woman having a much lower forehead than the younger.

The arthritis which shows in the hands of the older woman is not evident in the younger.

Sue
Title: Re: What Age & What Year for my Great Grandmother Mary Sinclair please
Post by: Treetotal on Tuesday 26 January 16 10:28 GMT (UK)
I think the first photo is more likely to be her Mother as there is a strong resemblance...the dates don't fit for it to be the same person in both photos.
Carol
Title: Re: What Age & What Year for my Great Grandmother Mary Sinclair please
Post by: jim1 on Tuesday 26 January 16 15:39 GMT (UK)
I agree that it's not the same person in both photos.
Photo 1 is consistent with someone born around the late teens - early 1820's.
Title: Re: What Age & What Year for my Great Grandmother Mary Sinclair please
Post by: Rokkonz on Tuesday 26 January 16 20:52 GMT (UK)
Thanks very much to everyone who has posted on this topic, you have done a good job in convincing me that this photo is in fact my 3x great grandmother Jean Sinclair (nee Mair). I appreciate your efforts! :)
Title: Re: What Age & What Year for my Great Grandmother Mary Sinclair please
Post by: IgorStrav on Wednesday 27 January 16 16:20 GMT (UK)
Just to add my three pennyworth  - I really don't think they are the same woman.  The lady in the first picture (aged 50's/60's) has a long face, and the lady in the second (even making allowance for losing her teeth) has a much more rounded face.

Sorry - don't know if that helps or hinders!
Title: Re: What Age & What Year for my Great Grandmother Mary Sinclair please
Post by: Wiggy on Wednesday 27 January 16 20:05 GMT (UK)
It confirms what the rest of us think!   ;)   So probably helps!