James William Laidler in need of a wash and brush up:-)

[IgorStrav]

Boo, you, next door's cat and me are all equally expert re costume dating 

I was just popping up being awkward (as usual) but I expect Carol and possibly Jim1 will be in to tell me to shut up and go away 

[Tickettyboo]

I would say this was an 1870s photo.
Carol

Apologies Carol, I really thought I'd replied to thank you for the input.

If its 1870s then , as IgorStrav says, its now in doubt that its the man I was told it was. I am as bad at judging ages as I am at deciding which era the dress belongs to but he was born 1878 so for now I have removed this photo from his entry on my tree till I can hopefully find more info that it actually is him.

Boo

[Treetotal]

The card stock is very basic and simple and simple..up to the very early 1870 the cards were square cut before being made with rounded corners to fit more easily into Victorian album sleeves. This is most likely to be an image of a generation earlier in my opinion. Although his hairline is receding, he looks be a young man maybe late 20s early 30s.
Carol

[Tickettyboo]

Thanks Carol
I have just looked at Newcastle directories
There is a James C Wilson listed as a photographer on Northumberland Street in 1879 and I can't find an entry for him in the available later directories.

I am wondering if this was a photo of his father, George, who was born in Newcastle in 1854, was still there in 1871 but by 1877 was in Edinburgh where he married and James William was born. The family were still in Edinburgh in 1881 but had returned to England by the time of the 1891 census.

I suppose the time frame would fit with him leaving home and perhaps having a photo taken for his parents.

But that's just a guess, so the photo will have to stay in the files rather than attached to someone on my tree. Someday, something may turn up to verify who it was. I live in hope.

Thanks for the help, though it would have been nice if it fitted with James William, I'd really rather know if there is doubt and at least know I am giving my tree the best shot at accuracy.

Boo

[Treetotal]

To fit with James, it would have had to have been taken in the late 1890s-early 1900s and the photo format and quality would have been very different. The trouble is, people swapped and collected these Carte de Visites as they were a novelty so he may not be family.
Maybe one day you will solve it.
Carol

[Tickettyboo]

Its added to the very long list of things I don't yet know:-)

But while I don't know who it is, I am now as sure as I can be who it 'isn't' and that, in itself, is a step forward.

thanks again

Boo

[IgorStrav]

If you're sure it's that side of the family, then I think someone born in 1854 sounds right.

I'm not sure the hairline's receding, I think it's a fairly young man - he's got a rounded chin line which makes him look (just in my opinion) on the young side.

So could it be an early 20's George, matching with Carol's 1870's diagnosis?

As with all these things, you'll maybe get to know the truth.  Or not.

Do you have a later picture of James William we can compare with?

[Treetotal]

If you're sure it's that side of the family, then I think someone born in 1854 sounds right.

I'm not sure the hairline's receding, I think it's a fairly young man - he's got a rounded chin line which makes him look (just in my opinion) on the young side.

So could it be an early 20's George, matching with Carol's 1870's diagnosis?

As with all these things, you'll maybe get to know the truth.  Or not.

Do you have a later picture of James William we can compare with?

Well if you don't think he's receding Igor, then he's got a very high forehead 

Carol

[Tickettyboo]

If you're sure it's that side of the family, then I think someone born in 1854 sounds right.

I'm not sure the hairline's receding, I think it's a fairly young man - he's got a rounded chin line which makes him look (just in my opinion) on the young side.

So could it be an early 20's George, matching with Carol's 1870's diagnosis?

As with all these things, you'll maybe get to know the truth.  Or not.

Do you have a later picture of James William we can compare with?

No I am sorry to say I have no other pictures for this family.
It'll keep, as I go along I may come across living descendants who may have some. Its amazing how, years after I document people,  I sometimes come across well researched trees and exchange info with others.

Boo