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Old Photographs, Recognition, Handwriting Deciphering => Handwriting Deciphering & Recognition => Topic started by: sheeponahill on Saturday 08 March 25 16:37 GMT (UK)
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I am trying to decipher the names and identify the people in this postcard from 1905.
The names at the top appear to be: Ruby - Cousin - Lusa
That said, "Ruby" has a lot of superfluous lines and might be something entirely different.
The house is 2 Oakwood Avenue, Beckenham (now a block of flats). It was home at the time to Francis Alexander Barton (1861-1939) and family (wife Clara, daughter Mildred Gwendoline and sons Dudley and John). The card's recipient Mrs Evans in Lausanne was Jean Playfair Evans (1872–1956). Not a Ruby in sight...
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Who is Cousin Lusa :-\
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Because of the dashes between the words, I’ve assumed that “Ruby”, “Cousin” and “Lusa” are different people. That said, it seems odd not to have named the cousin, they’ve been properly relegated to “some random relative” status.
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There are 3 ladies in the photo but could it be just one is named ie the relative?
Surname - relationship - first name
"Ruby" is the surname, cousin the relationship and then the first name or even the name of the house? Looks like it might start with an A.
Was Mrs Evans a relative of the Barton family or don't we know :-\
Just an idea.
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It's clear to me that the first word was corrected. There is, in my opinion, no way the first letter (with all the extra lines) represent a single capital letter.
But right now I don't see what was written first, and what was the corrected word.
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It looks like an A to me too..
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As a bit of context, the house was home to Francis Alexander Barton, a GP with a fascination for flight. He built and co-piloted an early airship in July 1905, four months before this postcard.
1905 airship (photo from alondoninheritance.com)
https://alondoninheritance.com/london-characters/dr-bartons-airship/
He can also claim Britain’s first airmail delivery, with a balloon flight across the Channel in 1902.
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Maybe 3 surnames, but the ladies (middle and right) appear to be related if not sisters
(..) _ Courin _ Lusa
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Was there anyone in the family named Lesley, Leslie, etc.?
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Or Jessie?
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If all the writing was by the same person, apart from lowercase g - j - q - y and z going below the line - all other writing is a above the line including first word capital letters. Though capital 'J' is sometimes in hand writing is written below the line. So could be Jessy altered to Ruby
Or is the writer a bit of a joker! putting 2 sisters names together in one word and then cousin Lusa seeing as there are 3 ladies. :-\
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Could be a nickname for the daughter?
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Are you related to Sub Lieutenant John Francis St. Clair Barton?
Sub Lieutenant Barton was born in 1895 in Kent to Francis Alexander Barton and Clara Elsie Pierce and had two siblings: Mildred Gwendoline Barton and Dudley Ware Alexander Barton.
He was killed in action on 13 March 1918 in France, age 23 while serving in the Hood Battalion, Royal Naval Division. His name was not included in the original lists of casualties provided to the Commission for commemoration, and he was only recognised in 2002. Today he is commemorated on the Arras Memorial to the Missing.
We are looking to make contact with any relative of Sub Lieutenant Barton – if you believe you are related to him, or have any helpful information, please contact the MOD War Detectives at dbs-modwardetectives@mod.gov.uk or contact our Enquiries team via our website.
I wonder if they found any relatives?
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Any connections with surname Reid or Howard?
There are two Lusa's relatively near both born c 1866
Lusa E Reid ironically living at Oaklands, Beckenham in 1881 and
Lusa C Howard living in Bromley, Kent in 1901
Cathy
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Do you have the 1957 will of Jean Playfair Evans in case that gives some clues.