Family Tree Frog

Ted and his mother - Ted aged 22 c1922 Don't you think this is an interesting photo? The clothes they are wearing are incredibly plain ... and yet she has a fur draped across her lap. I really wish there was an expert in costume or fashion who could help me here.   Ted's suit looks almost Chinese or artisan like - someone help me here. What do you think? He was married to Ethel Carrett in 1924 and at that time was described as a Draftsman. And I want to know what that big B is on Eleanor's collar. Ooh, so many questions.....  Now in my search to try and identify the kind of suit that Edwin is wearing I have found this page on the V & A's site. This site also looks amazing. It gave me the idea that perhaps Ted is wearing a band uniform.  Maybe Eleanor is too. I would appreciate any other suggestions in terms of resources.

Eleanor Eliza Cook in England c 1890s I swear I did not plan this post for today.   It is sheer good luck that it happens to be Valentine's Day. It is of my paternal great-grandmother Eleanor Eliza Cook. She was born 21 September 1874 at 58 Orange Street and the birth was registered in Portsea Town, Portsmouth in the county of Southampton (No. 252).  At the time, her mother Caroline was living at 25 Orange Street Portsea and her father James was a Gunner on HMS "Monarch". Of course now I want to know who was at 58 Orange Street.  Was she born at a relative's house?  Pop that on my To Do list.  Are there Post Office Directories for that time in Portsmouth?  Does anyone know? At the age of 17 Eleanor married Edwin Conner on 24 May 1892 at the Parish Church in the Parish of Portsea.  (Number 319 on the register)  She was then living at 3 Queen's Road.  Edwin was an Engine Room Artificer at 31 Regent Street.   ...

Bert - Mrs Conner's brother From my grandmother's album. On the back of the photo in my grandmother's handwriting is "Bert - Mrs Conner's brother". Once again a copy of the original which I fear may have been lost - well here in Australia anyway. My great-grandfather, Edwin Conner married Eleanor Eliza Cook 24 May 1892 in Portsea. Eleanor's parents were James Vernon Cook and Caroline Jefferies.   Albert is one of Eleanor's brothers. Back in 2009 I was lucky enough to make contact with a couple of cousins on Ancestry.   One cousin is called June and she is based in Western Australia and the other is Geraldine based in the UK. Geraldine sent me the most amazing photos - two of which are featured in posts here and here. The photo above closely resembles another photo she sent me: Albert H Cook Geraldine sent me her family tree.  She is descended from John Frank Cook - one of the youngest children and her g...

Ted Conner Ouf - just look at this photo.  Isn't it the cutest thing you ever did see? On the back it just says "Ted back in England" I am forced to assume that it is my grandfather. He was born in 1900 so I'm thinking it would have been taken in Portsmouth somewhere  c 1902.  How old do you think he looks?  I think two maybe three. This is a copy of a copy unfortunately.  I have no idea where the original is.  I must ask my father.  Boy I've got a lot of questions for him since I started this ! Maybe it is my great-grandfather - he was called Edwin too and Ted I think.  He was born 1869. I shall have to check with my father... All observations gratefully accepted. I am intrigued by the big hat.   The fabulous book by Lenore Frost called Dating Family Photos 1850-1920 (ISBN 0646058983, published 1991) might help me here.      This is obviously a studio photo.  Lenore says th...

L to R Tom McLoughlin, Barbara McLoughlin, Kit McLoughlin nee Forfar, Belle Wingfield nee Forfar, Joy Jeffery nee Wingfield, Dorothy Peterson nee Forfar and Reg Peterson. This photo was taken on the occasion of June's wedding 1954. Only I'm not sure who June is - I think it's maybe Marjorie June Peterson - Dorothy or Dot's daughter. I need to check with my cousin Kath. I suspect June is Reg's sister -  Reg being my cousin Kath's father - confused yet? Dorothy is the older sister of Kit and Belle, the twins in the middle of the photo. Anyway - that is my maternal grandfather on the far left. Then my mother - she would have been about eighteen or nineteen Then my maternal grandmother who I never knew - Kit. And then her twin sister - Belle. Family correspondence suggests that the photo may have been taken in a family home - possibly Enfield, Sydney.  The marriage took place at Petersham according to the Registry Office rec...

Ted Conner c 1945 This is my contribution for Day Ten of the February Photo Collage Festival. There is nothing on the back of this photo but I'm guessing it was taken sometime around 1945-1947.  And I have no idea where it was taken - somewhere in Australia though.  I'm thinking Bankstown airport or maybe in Queensland at the end of the war. It is of my uncle, Edwin Oswald Conner - my father's older brother. I never knew him.  He died in October 1947 at the age of just 21. He was named after his father - Edwin Conner - and I suppose his uncle - my grandmother's younger brother Oswald Carrett or Ossie.   I blogged about Ted's life on my old blog here .  You can read his service record here I particularly like the reference from his old school principal at North Newtown Intermediate High who described him as : "a lad of fine type, of good moral character, of good address and of pleasing personality.  He is well balanced and sensible, ...

The Springs Chalet Mt Wellington Tasmania c 1949 Isn't this picturesque? The back of the photo reads: " This is the Springs Chalet up Mt Wellington where I walked and had afternoon tea. There was no snow at the Chalet at the time except on the Mountain at back similar to the other photo No. 1"   I have no idea what Photo No. 1 is.  And I'm not sure whose handwriting this is.  It doesn't look like Gran's and it doesn't look like my father's.  I'll have to ask him. These photos are in one of my father's albums. Here is another photo of his mother in the snow.   The caption underneath the photo in the album read " Puss in Boots " Ethel Conner nee Carrett Mt Wellington c 1949   And the back of the photo says " On top of Mt Wellington " I think they went to Tasmania for a holiday after his brother died. Some of the photos are dated 20 July 1947 on the back so I think maybe his mothe...