Mode of Dress and Cross

[jim1]

From the little there is to see I would suggest this is 1870's.
As a descendant of slaves she wouldn't have been regarded as having any cultural background other than that of the slave owners so the conventions ie. dress styles would have been the same.
So there's nothing in this to suggest she's in mourning.
I think the cross only indicates she's a Christian which would have been important to her as mixed race children had difficulty with being accepted into either ethnic group so having a sense of belonging would have been important.

[Trishanne]

I hope you don't mind, I have just cleaned it up a little. She is beautiful and as others have said I would think she is quite young.
Pat

[sugarbakers]

Just been rummaging around in Google for this ... search term : Fatima Pau ... http://www.wikitree.com/wiki/McLaren-474 .

If this is indeed Annie McLaren, then according to the above tree, she was born 1849, arrived in Scotland as a child, and appears in 1861 and 1871 Greenock censuses, before marrying in the town in 1877.

I had searched a book I have regarding the plantations in Guyana at the turn of the century, but that now appears to be far too late to help.

For the photograph to have been taken in Guyana, not only would that have been very early (photographically) but Annie would have been under 11. Alternatively she is dressed in this way in Greenock somewhat later.

[woiiftm]

Thanks for the wiki link.
Definitely looks like family names.
Never heard of this site, ? reliable, I've sent message to the profile manager.
As I said our interest is more with any  info on Fatima, as our link is via her granddaughter who
in turn is my wife's gran.
Have registered with Guiana site as suggested in earlier reply to me.
Photo probably after family return to Scotland, pity no picture of Fatima!

Thanks for the photo clean up Trishanne, appreciated.

The mourning thing is just a thought that popped into my head and couldn't shake.

[woiiftm]

Going slightly sideways.............What would it be implying if a child was described as
"Native Creole, Coloured" ?   (Scottish father and mother from Guiana)

[Ruskie]

Are you able to obtain the original photograph, or perhaps contact the person who has the photograph to see if there is anything identifiable on it? Photographer's name, sitter's name, or anything else which may help with identification?

[Treetotal]

This explanation might help:

http://www.everyculture.com/multi/Bu-Dr/Creoles.html

Carol

[woiiftm]

Have sent message to holder of photo, hopefully get some new info soon.

[Wiggy]

She really is a beautiful young woman - would the fact that her hair appears to be up suggest someone older than she looks?? 


Also it appears she is wearing another cross on the velvet 'almost choker' ribbon around her neck.

Wiggy