Hello everyone,
Many thanks for your warm welcome!
Xinia – Thanks so much! The photo looks amazing and now I can place it in the round antique frame that I purchased. The second photo looks so grand.
PrueM – Thanks so much for your expertise! I too thought that they were one in the same. It was the striking difference in colouring that took me by surprise. In general, do indoor and outdoor photography of that era cause individuals to vary in hair and eyes colouring? Emily’s husband had light gray eyes, one son had gray, and another had cornflower blue eyes and the other two I don’t know. Since I don’t own the original photo I couldn’t say for certain that it’s stained or damaged but I like the ghost theory as it ties in with all things mystically Irish.
Do you know where I might post to find someone who is an expert in jewellery of that era? I wonder if he/she might be able to look at the brooches and pin point where they were made and by whom. Maybe it was created by her father who was a goldsmith. I wonder if “Smith/Smyth” might not be a surname that was given to her father because of his occupation. He might have been a Schmidt for all I know. It is impossible for me to see just by looking at her if she is “English”, "Scottish", “German” or “Jewish”. I know nothing about her family and since the surnames “Johnson” and “Smith-Smyth” are two of the most common surnames. I am lucky to have found what I have thus far and owe an enormous thanks to my cousin in England whose grandmother Bridget Johnson Byrne left invaluable family treasures for all of us to savour.
Dave Hall – Thanks so much! I love the frame that you added to the photo. I’ll add it to my family tree.
Niksmum - Thanks so much! The photo has such an eerie quality that brings them to life.
Mudge – Thanks so much! The sepia gives the photo a totally different look! I like it a lot!
I’ve added two photos in the hopes that you can see a family resemblance.
Photo 1: Emily Smith/Smyth and probably her husband James Johnson. It’s not very clear but it’s all I have. If anyone can sharpen the image I’d be very grateful.
Photo 2: Emily Johnson their daughter (1899-1914). A family member mentions that she was always a sickly child but she appears to be healthy in this photo. Can someone please date this photo?
I cannot thank all of you enough for your generosity of spirit. May the genealogy angels watch over all of you.
Take care and keep smiling!
Claddagh