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Research in Other Countries => New Zealand => New Zealand Completed Requests => Topic started by: fandes on Wednesday 23 January 19 05:57 GMT (UK)

Title: Photo Identification of Couple
Post by: fandes on Wednesday 23 January 19 05:57 GMT (UK)
Hello Genedetectives!

It's another very tough one. A photo of Claire and her husband Mace or Mason - surname(s) unknown. We think they may have ended their days in New Zealand. We have absolutely no other information. Any assistance much appreciated.
Title: Re: Photo Identification of Couple
Post by: minniehaha on Wednesday 23 January 19 06:22 GMT (UK)
Hi,

Any clues as to the photographer?

Writing on the back? If so, could you send us a picture of this......

Minniehaha.

Title: Re: Photo Identification of Couple
Post by: fandes on Wednesday 23 January 19 08:23 GMT (UK)
Hello,

Thanks for your reply.  I don't have the photo myself but the person who does says there is nothing on the reverse.
Title: Re: Photo Identification of Couple
Post by: Fresh Fields on Wednesday 23 January 19 08:45 GMT (UK)
Hello.

If you have no clues other than the image itself, perhaps you should be asking the photo dating specialists on their forum. Include the actual size of the image, and your description of how the photo is mounted. All can be clues for dating purposes. A presumed date can narrow down the search time frame.

Alan.


PS If you do post on the photo dating thread I suggest you link the threads, or ask for Moderator assistance. The dating one could be locked when a date for searching has been established.
Title: Re: Photo Identification of Couple
Post by: Treetotal on Wednesday 23 January 19 09:41 GMT (UK)
This is an Edwardian photo and the lady looks to be wearing a wedding ring, the book indicates literacy.
Carol
Title: Re: Photo Identification of Couple
Post by: shanreagh on Wednesday 23 January 19 23:12 GMT (UK)
Can you tell us why you think they may have ended up in NZ...presumably a family story. Often if you recount these stories you/we may get some clues. 

How do you know the names are Claire/Clare and Mace/Mason?
Title: Re: Photo Identification of Couple
Post by: shanreagh on Wednesday 23 January 19 23:24 GMT (UK)
It looks as if it is in one of those cardboard mounts/mat boards or frame itself. Has the owner taken it out of the frame...I feel sure that there will be a photgrapher's name somewhere.
Title: Re: Photo Identification of Couple
Post by: fandes on Thursday 24 January 19 02:22 GMT (UK)
Hello everyone,

Thank you for your replies. I have emailed several questions to the holder of the photo and, so far,  only received a photo of the reverse.
Title: Re: Photo Identification of Couple
Post by: shanreagh on Thursday 24 January 19 02:57 GMT (UK)
I am having trouble opening this. Is it possible to save it in a jpeg format please?
Title: Re: Photo Identification of Couple
Post by: fandes on Thursday 24 January 19 03:15 GMT (UK)
Hi,

For two months now I have been trying to help 'Bex' who contacted me because she found my name (on WikiTree) connected to a nurse that was drowned during WWI when a hospital ship (SS Marquette) was torpedoed in the Mediterranean Sea (1915).  The nurses name was Helena Kathleen Isdell (I put her on WikiTree). :(

'Bex' has been providing me with numerous surnames and names of people she 'thinks' are connected to her. But so far she has not confirmed that any of my findings are of any use to her.... so I keep going (why I do not know ::))!

The photo, and the two names, are her latest offering. How accurate her information is I do not know.  She has been persistent in stating that she has an uncle (or maybe great uncle) whose name is Mason or Mace, and aunties 'Jessie Elizabeth' and 'Claire' but I have not found any connection with her most likely surnames (below) incl. Ferguson.

Here is a statement in an email from her: "I am realated to Luke Jamieson Evans,the Willis family,the Mckeevey family,the McKinley family,the Wilkie family,the dew family, the Drew family,the Anderson family,the McKenzie family, the York family,the Palmer family,the ogg family, the McLean family,the ward family,the cook family, the McDonald family the mckintosh family, the Baker family, the McCormack family".

P.S. I have attached a .jpg version of Reverse of Photo.

Title: Re: Photo Identification of Couple
Post by: minniehaha on Thursday 24 January 19 06:37 GMT (UK)
Still not able to open attachment.....


Minniehaha.
Title: Re: Photo Identification of Couple
Post by: Creasegirl on Thursday 24 January 19 07:04 GMT (UK)
The photo is dated around 1912.  You might be able to find passenger records on ancestry or find my past if you have the surname
Title: Re: Photo Identification of Couple
Post by: fandes on Thursday 24 January 19 07:21 GMT (UK)
Thanks for your comments.  I have been able to open the JPG file so may I describe what is in it. Imagine a completely blank (white) sheet with a thin horizontal line across the middle.  Just like the back of a postcard with no other markings.
Title: Re: Photo Identification of Couple
Post by: Fresh Fields on Thursday 24 January 19 09:45 GMT (UK)
Hello again.

The dimensions of the image posted for the back of the photo do not add up, for it to be a representation of the back of the photo. What is the actual size ? I'm no expert but from what I'm seeing I think your 'photo' is more likely some form of reproduction, than an original image.

Alan
Title: Re: Photo Identification of Couple
Post by: Treetotal on Thursday 24 January 19 10:36 GMT (UK)
Thanks for your comments.  I have been able to open the JPG file so may I describe what is in it. Imagine a completely blank (white) sheet with a thin horizontal line across the middle.  Just like the back of a postcard with no other markings.

The divided back postcard was introduced in 1902 in the UK and 1907 in the USA so after that date. It looks typically Edwardian in style.
As I said in my earlier post, she appears to be wearing a wedding ring.
Carol
Title: Re: Photo Identification of Couple
Post by: Janette on Thursday 24 January 19 19:30 GMT (UK)
What makes you say

" We think they may have ended their days in New Zealand."

Cheers Janette
Title: Re: Photo Identification of Couple
Post by: fandes on Thursday 24 January 19 22:28 GMT (UK)
Hello,

Thanks for you comments.  I have asked 'Bex' (again) for some clues/answers to your questions.

In the past she has mentioned that "Jessica's family imigrated from overseas to Napier new Zealand".

Also (in past emails) she has said "I am very certain that my aunty Jessie's middle name was Elizabeth and that my aunty Jessies last name was Anderson
I am also very certain that my aunty Jessie was born on the 9th of October 1900
Two of my aunty Jessie's brothers names were Mason and William"

I hope 'Bex' will reply soon and I'll pass on any further info.
Title: Re: Photo Identification of Couple
Post by: shanreagh on Friday 25 January 19 03:12 GMT (UK)
?????
Name   Jessie Elizabeth Anderson
Event Type   Burial
Event Date   1970
Event Place   Christchurch, Christchurch City, Canterbury, New Zealand
Photograph Included   N
Death Date   07 Sep 1970
Affiliate Record Identifier   146318204
Cemetery   Memorial Park Cemetery

1970/43284   Anderson   Jessie Elizabeth   82Y So born about 1888.
Edwardian is late 1890s and 1914 she would fit age-wise if photographed closer to 1914


There are any number of Jessie Andersons without the Elizabeth. Many many William Andersons and a couple of Mason Andesons but she does not say the brothers came to NZ or that Anderson is the maiden name of Jessie Elizabeth. 

Edited to add...this cannot be her if JE was born 1900.  Also would she be wearing Edwardian style clothes?
 
Title: Re: Photo Identification of Couple
Post by: kiwihalfpint on Friday 25 January 19 05:49 GMT (UK)
The above 1970 Jessie Elizabeth Anderson was a widow according to her probate.

Was Mason a first or middle name?  Only reason I ask, is that some people are known by their middle names and don't use the first.


Cheers
KHP
Title: Re: Photo Identification of Couple
Post by: fandes on Friday 25 January 19 08:15 GMT (UK)
Hello again and thank you for your latest comments. Unfortunately the only response I have managed to elicit from 'Bex' is the following:

"I strongly believe that
My aunty Jessie,her four brothers   may have been born somewhere in New Zealand for example Napier, hawke'sbay new Zealand"

I've just received this from 'Bex' also:

I have a feeling that the guy in the photo could have been aunty Jessie's brother
Is there a possibility that the guy in the photo could have been Adrian Ferguson
It looks like that lady next to him could have been his wife
Yes I reckon that the photo of that lady and that man would have been taken in New Zealand
I also have a feeling that that guy could have committed sucide by discovering his brother William henry Ferguson, William's wife and their two kids (were) murdered including their family pet named lilly
From
Bex

I strongly believe that aunty Jessie died from a broken heart by discovering that (the) man (in the photo) who I strongly believe was aunty Jessie's younger brother (Mason?) who shot himself in the head because of what he saw.
From
Bex
Title: Re: Photo Identification of Couple
Post by: mckha489 on Friday 25 January 19 09:10 GMT (UK)
So, Is the maiden name of Jessie/Jessica Elizabeth  FERGUSON not ANDERSON?

either way there is no birth on the NZ BDMs for 1900. 

There is no death of an Adrian FERGUSON, nor a Mason FERGUSON
There are quite a few William Henry FERGUSON deaths

I haven't managed to find a sensational murder like that in the NZ newspapers, but maybe I am  using the wrong search terms. 
Title: Re: Photo Identification of Couple
Post by: Fresh Fields on Friday 25 January 19 09:40 GMT (UK)
Hello.

Is this what BEX is looking for ?  I few names in common, but we have not been given a time line, to go by.

https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/newspapers/AS19310227.2.100?query=shot%20Lilly&sort_by=byDA&items_per_page=100&page=6&start_date=01-01-1912&end_date=31-12-1950&snippet=true

Alan.
Title: Re: Photo Identification of Couple
Post by: mckha489 on Friday 25 January 19 09:49 GMT (UK)
Alice Rose Florence ANDERSON was nee PEEL born 1894 she married Rupert Victor ANDERSON in 1921


added other siblings.  Only one brother Ernest

1888/7035   Peel   Edmund Ernest   Edith Blanche Beatrice Pittaway   Ernest Hope
died 1890 age 1y
1891/3717   Peel   Minnie Adelaide Frances   Edith Blanche Beatrice   Ernest Hope
married Bernard William   Currie 1915
1892/3231   Peel   Lilian Edith Isabel   Edith Blanche Beatrice   Ernest Hope
married Albert   Tolley 1913
1894/3804   Peel   Alice Rose Florence   Edith Blanche Beatrice   Ernest Hope
1895/5341   Peel   Dorothy Winifred Agatha   Edith Blanche Beatrice   Ernest Hope
married Thomas   Blair 1916
1896/2240   Peel   Audrey Violet May   Edith Blanche Beatrice   Ernest Hope
married Alexander Findlay   McLeod 1919
1901/13702   Peel   Adelaide Marjory Alexandria   Edith Blanche Beatrice   Ernest Hope
married  Charles   Goodall 1935


Not a Ferguson, a William or a Mason among them
Title: Re: Photo Identification of Couple
Post by: kiwihalfpint on Friday 25 January 19 19:07 GMT (UK)
So it looks like Lilly was a person and not a pet.


Cheers
KHP
Title: Re: Photo Identification of Couple
Post by: Fresh Fields on Friday 25 January 19 19:21 GMT (UK)
Hi KHP

We won't know until BEX gets back to us through her contact. Could not see any likely starters on NZ HISTORY [Crime] nor most of my search criteria on Papers Past. But that is not saying I have not missed a key element. It's like looking for a needle in a hay stack. Pre WWII murders were big news and the OBSERVER and then NZ TRUTH were always happy to follow up with the scandal.

Alan.
Title: Re: Photo Identification of Couple
Post by: kiwihalfpint on Friday 25 January 19 19:33 GMT (UK)
Hi KHP

We won't know until BEX gets back to us through her contact.
Alan.

Yes Alan, I realise that, was just thinking out loud. :)
Title: Re: Photo Identification of Couple
Post by: minniehaha on Friday 25 January 19 21:12 GMT (UK)

Try Papers Past: "shot himself in the head"......

Over 1000 items come up.

https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/newspapers?phrase=2&snippet=true&query=shot+himself+in+the+head


Minniehaha.
Title: Re: Photo Identification of Couple
Post by: Fresh Fields on Friday 25 January 19 22:48 GMT (UK)
Hi & Thanks.

Of those 1,000 hits only about 300 are after 1910, and most are multiple reportings of single person episodes in New Zealand or Australia, with nothing that catches my eye, with the little we have been given.  Why I tried numerous combinations.

What they do highlight, is the ongoing mental trauma brought home by returning servicemen.

Alan.