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Old Photographs, Recognition, Handwriting Deciphering => Free Photo Restoration & Date Old Photographs => Topic started by: vmhp on Wednesday 03 April 19 15:37 BST (UK)
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I believe this was taken in the early 1900s at my family hotel in a Protestant settlement in Mayo.
It is the Vicar/Ghurkha that has our interest. To this day he would be a rare visitor so no wonder this photograph is in this state - earlier ones have survived well.
The lady is far posher than most visitors and I can only make as guess at her name in the Visitor's Book.
Is it possible to improve it - my equipment makes little difference. Very many thanks, Valerie
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Best I can do :(
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Good morning,
I would guess that he is just a chinese servant, traveling with the family. He appears to be wearing the traditional dress of that era.
John915
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Very many thanks for both the much improved photograph and the suggestion that this was the uniform of a member of staff. On the far right is a lady I have nicknamed 'The Secretary' by her looks and the other lady 'Miss Fancy' I believe came from the family at Bunratty Castle. No doubt they were grand and I have another photo of 'Miss Fancy' with known hotel staff. Very many thanks again, Valerie
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The man on the left in the shirt sleeves and flat cap also looks like a servant, may be a game keeper who looks after the dogs. As Tomkin has pointed out this is not an easy photo to do anything with.
Pat
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Good morning,
Looking now at Pat's version of the photo it puts a completely different perspective on the scene. With the buckle, which the Chinese didn't wear usually, I think that may be a female. But she would have to have her hair pulled back quite severely and a cap on top. What I originally saw as tunic and trousers may be a dress.
The seated woman also has a dog.
John915
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As far as I can tell the Chinese person is wearing a buckle, of course it could just be another blemish on the photo!! It is impossible to tell whether they are wearing a skirt or pants, but I presumed a tunic and pants, their face and hat certainly looks like a male
Pat
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Many thanks again - your work and suggestions are greatly appreciated.
The tall chap on the left of the 'Vicar' is my grandfather! The Collie dog, Tom, belonged to his Uncle Pat.
I did wonder if there was a small person to the left of my grandfather and if so it would have been my Ggrandmother. It was a hotel and farm and my grandfather is holding what could be lamb or more likely one of my Ggrandmother's dogs - she had a couple of 'specials'. I think it was taken in 1903. thanks, Valerie
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Good morning,
Looking now at Pat's version of the photo it puts a completely different perspective on the scene. With the buckle, which the Chinese didn't wear usually, I think that may be a female. But she would have to have her hair pulled back quite severely and a cap on top. What I originally saw as tunic and trousers may be a dress.
The seated woman also has a dog.
John915
On the revised photo, I think that the person could be just a young female.
1901 census shows 100+ persons born in China but all with anglicised/Irish surnames.
Of course, the person may not be Chinese at all - perhaps just Eastern origins but I am not sure at all.
Is this the family of ‘Miss Fancy’ in 1901?
http://www.census.nationalarchives.ie/pages/1901/Clare/Drumline/Bunratty_East/1071545/
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'Ms Fancy' is in another photo with two of the Hotel's known maids and to my mind is well over 40 and could be older. The Visitor's Book was signed A...? Studdert Bunratty Castle. I have just started chasing around to find some Studdert Family History and try to make contact with one of them. So - no idea as to family yet, Thank you, Valerie
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I thought perhaps she may be Helen who is 52 yrs in 1901.
Daughter Alicia married in 1902 :-\
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Yes, in many ways it fits even if she looks much older. And the marriage was to a military man and her family had military history. India and other places come up so maybe the 'Vicar' hails from these parts and could the buckle mean he served an officer in the military and travelled with him?
BMDs on IG - the family list residence as Bunratty. She also returned to the hotel in 1917 for another visits but still saying she is Studdert! One site lists them as divorced. Have made a couple of e mail contacts so we will see! Thank you for your interest, Valerie
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I read that Helen’s husband was in the Navy.
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Richard Studdert died Dec 1900
https://civilrecords.irishgenealogy.ie/churchrecords/images/deaths_returns/deaths_1901/05716/4612730.pdf
https://discovery.nationalarchives.gov.uk/details/r/D8112407
https://discovery.nationalarchives.gov.uk/details/r/D7588313
https://discovery.nationalarchives.gov.uk/details/r/D8114977
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Thanks again. I am now in touch with Sir William Arbuthnot who handles the Studdert family tree and he is asking other family members. The mystery may soon be solved!!! I will let you know, thanks, Valerie
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That’s great!
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Sir William e mailed the other person I thought might be able to help. She did not know the face but I sent copies of the Visitor Book entries where the first names are unclear and I realised the second was very different. So 'Mrs Fancy' is Helen Studdert who had been widowed two years before - RN Husband- she signed the first entry in 1903. The second in 1917 was the big clue - signed Fairrie Studdert and she mentioned being there in 1903. She was Helen's daughter Jane Fairrie (grandparent's surname)! We assume the young lady in the hat 1903 is her age 22. William also e mailed two others so I do hope they are family members who may be able to tell me more. The suggestion is that the eastern chap was her escort - no doubt he came to Ireland courtesy of her husbands travels. Very many thanks to all of you - the worst photo ever! valerie
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What a great result though :)