Master Brushmaker family in Taunton (Creech St Michael)

[JSHD2011]

We have a Master Brushmaker in our family tree.  His name was David John Davis b.1823 he married Ann Fry and they had many children (many died).   They were initially from Creech St Michael.   We think the picture we have below is of David John and his 2nd wife Mary (m. abt 1860).   We now have found the attched second picture below with writing on the back in ballpoint pen saying that it might be David John Davis.   This second picture looks much more modern although we think it may be a photo of an older photograph the resolution seems much much better some have said post 1900s which would most likely make it a picture of an american 'cousin'; he has an interesting tunic.
In a nutshell we are now having difficulties dating these two photos.   Is it possible that the lower res one is a picture of David John's father James Davis and his wife Elizabeth from Stogumber?   We think that James died or separated from Elizabeth (after David John was born) because by the 1851 Census she is a W (for Widow).   We do not know her maiden name (we think it is Handsworth of Stogumber and Clerkenwell who were brushmakers (Fancy and Ivory).   We cannot locate an 1841 census for Elizabeth either....).

[jim1]

To accurately date the 1st. we would need to see all of it.
In the absence of that I would suggest Edwardian.
The 2nd. is mid-late 1860's & he looks well into his 60's
& possibly 70's so I would suggest looking for someone born 1790's.
His dress style is indicative of someone in business of some sort.
She looks a lot younger possibly 50's.

[JSHD2011]

Thank you,

This is quite exciting news for us.   It would make the older picture most likely the father and possibly the mother of the person in the other picture.  Unfortunately, I do not have the original of the younger looking photo but I will try and get hold of it.
NB/ We do have a record of a marriage in 1852 between James Davis (age 55 Widower) and Susan Turner (Widower) and the father of James is Thomas Davis who is listed as a Carpenter.   If this is our James that makes things quite complicated (not least because in the census records David John's mother is listed as Elizabeth from Stogumber and W (Widow) from 1851 onwards) but it would mean that the photo is maybe a wedding photo and is James and Susan nee Turner not Elizabeth from Stogumber.

[JSHD2011]

Sorry not father and possibly mother but Grandfather and possibly Grandmother.

[JSHD2011]

We've had a look and I do not think we have a picture with more information on it than we have got for the younger gentleman.  However, we have found a picture that we now believe is David John Davis the middle, generationally speaking, of the two.   Please see attached.   We think that David John Davis was baptised in Lydeard St Lawrence in 1823.

[jim1]

The card stock is typical 1870's.

[JSHD2011]

Thnk you for your promp reply,

We think he had an older brother who was born in 1819, d.1905 and was a Carpenter.   David John was a Master Brushmaker and died in 1889

[JSHD2011]

We've got this one which didn't have any of the card on it so we thought it was a photo of a photo and we had thought it was the same man.

[jim1]

This one's Edwardian & he looks about 80 so quite possibly him.
There are similarities between the 2 pics but it depends on how old
you think he is in the other one.
As that one has rounded corners puts it mid-late 1870's so in his late 50's.
He may have gone grey prematurely but not a definite.