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| Grenfell family |
This photo has
stumped us for a long while.
It’s labelled ‘Grenfell family’ so we have that
much of a hint.
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| 1930s great great grandmother, Janie Grenfell (nee Bluett) |
The lady standing third from the left is definitely my
great great grandmother Janie GRENFELL (nee Mary Jane BLUETT) as this is the
same lady as the solo photo, and her name is written on that one.
Looking at the two photos, we think the group shot is
not taken too many years prior to the solo shot - maybe late 1920s or early
1930s.
I’m thinking they could be mourning – maybe a funeral
gathering. No-one looks happy and almost all are in dark clothing.
James GRENFELL died in 1933 aged 70 and his wife Janie
died in 1939 aged 75.
They had 4 sons (one died in infancy) and 4 daughters
born between 1885 and 1906.
I don't think the others in the photo could be these ‘children’
because they look too old.
I think they could be James' sisters. James was the
only son of James and Nannie Grenfell and many of his sisters were widowed
early.
I also think this could be something to do with ‘events’
at his brother-in-law Richard John BENNETTS’ house:
1915 Nannie GRENFELL (nee HATTAM, the mother) died
"at the residence of RJ Bennetts", Clifton Hill
1928 RJ BENNETTS (Jessie’s husband) died
1931 Jessie BENNETTS (nee Grenfell) died at the
residence of RJ Bennetts, Northcote
1935 Jane CHEGWIN (nee Grenfell) died at the residence
of RJ Bennetts, Northcote
1938 Wilmot ARMSTRONG (nee Grenfell) died at her own
home in Northcote
1949 Eda Coombe GRENFELL (never married) died in Balwyn,
late of Northcote.
Then, I couldn’t
resist putting in a photo of a cute little kid in shorts and a bow tie!
Just like in the
Sepia Saturday photo prompt – one difference, this one is not unknown, it is my
little brother.
Yes,the first group is rather subdued .+ ! I Wish I Had A Bow Ties like your little brother had!
ReplyDeleteMy brother it's hilarious I put a photo of 'little' him in my blog. He is now almost a foot taller than me!
DeleteIt looks like you're thinking in the right direction by counting the number of siblings and assessing the possible date of the photo. Good start!
ReplyDeleteThe two solo shots are great, especially the great-great grandmother.
ReplyDeleteThe group looks like they weren't quite ready for the photo to be snapped. Did the only man standing refuse to get down on the ground with the other two men. The one on the left looks very uncomfortable down there.
ReplyDeleteI hadn't thought about how awkwardly he was lying. Maybe he has a bad back like my dad! They originally came from Cornish mining stock, so possibly it all stems from that.
DeleteI love the photo of the great great grandmother. I often ponder what our ancestors would think to know their likeness is shared in such a way. They couldn't fathom the possibilities of the digital age. I wonder what our great great grandchildren will have at their fingertips!
ReplyDeleteYour little brother was a cutie. I would guess the same thing about the top photo. It is interesting because not everybody was even looking at the camera; it is like it was taken before everybody was ready. Very nice detective work!
ReplyDeleteKathy M.
The woman in the lighter dress looks younger. Maybe she is a daughter and/or the mother of the children.
ReplyDeleteGood point. I was thinking she might be the youngest daughter. James and Janie had children from 1858 to 1878, so almost a whole generation difference between the eldest and the youngest. Thanks
DeleteI'm glad you included a 'known' as well!
ReplyDeleteCute picture of your brother! Hope you solve the mystery.
ReplyDeleteI bet they were an interesting family! It would be fun to know their whole story. Your brother is so adorable.
ReplyDeleteI'll keep working on the family - checking the digitised newspapers for more info.
DeleteYou mean, my brother was so adorable - he is a lot older now and almost a foot taller than me!
I suppose weddings and funerals were one of the few times that families which were spread out over a wide distance could get together and therefore perfect times for family photographs. And as for the bow tie, I used to have one like that (I think I will wear it the next time I meet Tony Z for a pint!)
ReplyDeleteI'm don't think the members of the family that I think this is lived far apart. Will keep digging.
ReplyDeleteAs for the bow tie - will watch your blog for that photo :)
The family were either not ready, or interested, when the photographer said, ".... watch the birdie....". Two or three of the women are talking and not looking at the camera. A couple of the other women look put-out or inconveienced by the goings on and the old men on the ground look as if they've just been woken up. It looks like a shot that was taken as the group was getting into position.
ReplyDeleteThe photographer who took the picture of Janie was different, he afforded her the courtesy of sitting comfortably and as a result she looks quite charming.
Interesting to try and relate the group portrait to an event, although it may well be something more mundane than a funeral.
ReplyDeleteYes, I did think of the more mundane but a family event such as a funeral was an easy place to start. Will keep asking the oldre relatives and looking at possibilities
DeleteYour little brother is adorable. I love his little outfit. He must have been dressed up for a party or church or something.
ReplyDeleteNancy
It could have been Sunday school or a grandparents birthday - there are quite a few photos of us all dressed up like this, although I escaped the bow tie! I usually had a velvet dress and a headband. Sometimes we even had matching jumpers (knitted by mum). The next generation get lots of giggles looking at these photos.
Delete