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Old Photographs, Recognition, Handwriting Deciphering => Free Photo Restoration & Date Old Photographs => Topic started by: Ben Nicholson on Friday 06 January 17 09:31 GMT (UK)

Title: Plz help date old Nicholson family photo
Post by: Ben Nicholson on Friday 06 January 17 09:31 GMT (UK)
Hi there,

any help dating this photo from the Nicholson family of South Australia would be greatly appreciated.
Believed to be a photo of Margaret Nicholson, mother of James Henry and wife of Henry, later Tilney Cotton.

Many thanks in advance.

B Nicholson
Title: Re: Plz help date old Nicholson family photo
Post by: Treetotal on Friday 06 January 17 10:39 GMT (UK)
What a lovely photo...my guess would be late 1880s early 1990s.
Carol
Title: Re: Plz help date old Nicholson family photo
Post by: Wiggy on Friday 06 January 17 10:55 GMT (UK)
Hi Ben . .

You haven't asked for restoration or cleaning of this photo, but I hope you don't mind if we have a go - it isn't often we get decent scans these days, and she is such a pleasant looking woman!   :)

Actually she reminds me a lot of my mother - not the clothes - the expression.  ;)

Just minimal clean up!

Wiggy
Title: Re: Plz help date old Nicholson family photo
Post by: Treetotal on Friday 06 January 17 10:58 GMT (UK)
My thoughts too Wiggy...it's a cracker isn't it.
Carol
Title: Re: Plz help date old Nicholson family photo
Post by: Wiggy on Friday 06 January 17 11:34 GMT (UK)
Sure is.   :D
Title: Re: Plz help date old Nicholson family photo
Post by: jim1 on Friday 06 January 17 12:16 GMT (UK)
Agree with Carol's date. I notice she's wearing a man's watch chain. Was she widowed by this time ?
Title: Re: Plz help date old Nicholson family photo
Post by: Ben Nicholson on Friday 06 January 17 12:36 GMT (UK)
Thanks so much all for the help and comments.
Thank you Wiggy for the wonderful restoration.

Jim1 this photo is one of the few links we have to my great-great-great grandmother. the only record she is mentioned in is her remarriage in 1883 after being widowed sometime before that. What a good eye you have!
Title: Re: Plz help date old Nicholson family photo
Post by: Ben Nicholson on Friday 06 January 17 12:58 GMT (UK)
Apologies! Margaret remarried in 1886 NOT 1883!!
Title: Re: Plz help date old Nicholson family photo
Post by: dafydd46 on Friday 06 January 17 14:02 GMT (UK)
Apologies! I also couldn't resist attempting a restoration.
Title: Re: Plz help date old Nicholson family photo
Post by: jim1 on Friday 06 January 17 14:04 GMT (UK)
So could have belonged to hubby no.1.
Unusual to see people smiling in 1890's photos.
Title: Re: Plz help date old Nicholson family photo
Post by: Treetotal on Friday 06 January 17 14:28 GMT (UK)
One from me too.
Carol
Title: Re: Plz help date old Nicholson family photo
Post by: Treetotal on Friday 06 January 17 14:35 GMT (UK)
One with a different tone and light texture.
Carol
Title: Re: Plz help date old Nicholson family photo
Post by: Handypandy on Friday 06 January 17 17:27 GMT (UK)
One from me...
Title: Re: Plz help date old Nicholson family photo
Post by: Phenmark on Friday 06 January 17 20:06 GMT (UK)
Quote from: Treetotal on Friday 06 January 17 10:39 GMT (UK)
What a lovely photo...my guess would be late 1880s early 1990s.
Carol

I remember this look was big in the '90s. Me mum would watch Seinfeld dressed like this!
Title: Re: Plz help date old Nicholson family photo
Post by: Ben Nicholson on Sunday 08 January 17 12:11 GMT (UK)
Wow thanks everyone for the help and input!

Question regarding mourning; would she have continued to dress like this after she remarried following her 1st husbands death?
Because if wouldn't be wearing these clothes/the chain after remarriage this means it is definitely between her 1st husbands death and her remarriage.

Many thanks!
Title: Re: Plz help date old Nicholson family photo
Post by: jim1 on Sunday 08 January 17 13:34 GMT (UK)
These aren't mourning clothes & there's no reason why she wouldn't be wearing the watch chain after remarriage.
It's a possibility it belonged to her 1st. husband but it may have just as easily belonged to her father.