Date Photo please

[Terrawitch]

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

[chinakay]

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

[Terrawitch]

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

[jim1]

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

[Terrawitch]

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

[Terrawitch]

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

[IgorStrav]

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.

[Terrawitch]

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

[jim1]

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