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Please could someone help in dating these two photos. The originals are in poor condition, but at least I've managed to scan them.

The first one is from the Bellman studio at Lowther Street, Whitehaven, Cumberland. It is pasted onto a cardboard mount. There is no writing on the back and, unfortunately, the man's head is missing.
One of the medal symbols on the mount shows the date 1897-98, so the photo most likely originated shortly after this date.
My grandparents, David Keir and Amy Louise Kerr, married in Whitehaven in August 1901, so I was wondering if this could have been of them taken about the time of the wedding. The Kerr family were living in Roper Street, Whitehaven at that time, which is in the town centre, and quite close to the Bellman studio.

The second photo is from the Gibson studio in Arrowthwaite, Whitehaven. This was close to where the Keir family lived.
It’s striking how localised the damage is, with just the man’s head missing. I wondered if this might have been intentional, possibly after some disagreement.
The child, possibly a little over a year old, looks dressed for a special occasion, but would it have been a boy or girl? I've read that infants, even boys, used to be dressed in frocks, but at what age would they have been put in trousers and would that still be the case at the time the photo was taken?

Many thanks in anticipation, Rob.

Here is an update of my original post about Robert in 2006.

My query concerns my 2nd great grandfather Robert Tomlinson, who was born at Butterley Park in 1814 approx. I've located Robert in various censuses: 1841 in Sheffield; 1851 and 1861 in Jump, Yorkshire; and 1871 and 1881 in Elsecar, Yorkshire.

Robert had 6 children: Thomas (1838 Blacker Hill); George (1840 Rotherham); Elizabeth Mary Ann
(1842 Elsecar); William (1844 Jump); also two children who both died aged 2 years - James (1848) and Emma (1852).

Altogether, he had 6 children, 33 grandchildren, and at least 87 great grandchildren. One of his grandsons was Sir Thomas 'Tommy' Tomlinson who became chairman of the West Riding County Council, and one of his great grand-daughters, under the stage name of Blanche Tomlin (without the 'son') was an internationally acclaimed singer and entertainer in the period 1910-1940.

Robert had 3 wives and I've found what I believe are his 3 weddings, with almost exactly a year's mourning between: 24th Sep 1837 at Sheffield to Sarah Cusworth (nee Wigfield); 21st Oct 1867 at Rotherham to Elizabeth Rodgers; and 24th Aug 1873 at Rotherham to Elizabeth Green (nee Sanderson).

Unfortunately, he gave 3 different father's names at each one - William Tomlinson (blacksmith); Isaac Tomlinson (fishmonger); and George Tomlinson (labourer).

I found a potential christening for Robert at Pentrich on 10th Jun 1820, mother Mary Tomlinson, with no father's name given. Robert would have been about 6 years old.

In the 1861 census, Robert had staying with him Isaac Johnson age 30 (b Butterley Park, Derbyshire)who was described simply as a ‘relative’. Also, Robert had two visitors on the 1881 census, both named Emma Dean, and both born Codnor Park, Derbyshire, near to Robert's birthplace of Butterley, and whom I felt could be related to Robert in some way. Their ages were 55 and 20, suggesting they could be mother and daughter.

I found on IGI that Isaac Johnson was born 28th Sep 1829, and was christened 18th Jun 1837 at
Pentrich, parents George Johnson and Mary. I did a search for other children of this couple and found Elizabeth and Thomas Johnson christened at Pentrich on 10th Jun 1820, the very same day and place that Robert Tomlinson was christened, strongly supporting that as the correct one for ‘my’ Robert.

George and Mary Johnson had a further batch of children christened at Pentrich on 18th Jun 1837 - James(1823), Emma(1825), George(1827) and Isaac(1829).

Isaac and Emma would be good matches for Robert's visitors in 1861 and 1881. It's also striking  the similarity in names between George and Mary Johnson’s children and the names Robert gave to his own children.

One theory I have is that the Mary Tomlinson, mother of Robert, is also Mary Johnson, the wife of George. I found a marriage at Duffield on the 19th September 1817 for George Johnson and Mary Tomlinson, but Duffield seems not that close to Pentrich. At various censuses (Golden Valley), George gave his birthplace as Heage and Mary as Pentrich.

I was wondering what people with local knowledge thought of this theory and what other evidence might be available to back it up. I would like to know the name of Robert's father. In order to become a blacksmith, Robert would have had to serve an apprenticeship; does anyone know if any apprenticeship records survive? Also, what effects on Robert's history might the Pentrich Revolution of 1817 have had?

A lot of questions, but any pointers would be very welcome. Many thanks for reading.
Rob

I wonder if someone could help me identify a book I saw some years ago.

It was written by a lady who was encouraged by her local priest to record some of her life experiences. Of particular interest was her description of life in the early 20th century in Elsecar.

She also went on to describe her experiences "in service" at Carlton Towers, working in the munitons factory at Cross Gates, and her married life in the Pontefract area.

Any help greatly appreciated. Rob

Looking for further details of my gt gt grandfather, Robert Tomlinson. 1881 census for Elsecar, Yorkshire shows he was aged 67, so born about 1814 in Butterley Park, Derbyshire. His first marriage was in 1837 in Sheffield.

I have certificates for his 3 marriages, all with different father's names. IGI has a possible christening for him 10th June 1820, Pentrich, mother Mary Tomlinson, no father given.

In 1881, he had 2 visitors both named Emma Dean and both born Codnor Park. Suspect they're related to Robert. One was aged 55 and the other 20, possibly mother and daughter? The younger one married James Brown later that year, in the Basford district.

Does anyone have any connections or able to offer any local info on this?

Thanks,
Rob