old photograph

[ksoph]

Hello, I am looking for information about an old photograph taken around the 1890's by T. Jones - 51 broad street, Ludlow. I think it maybe of a woman named Ellen March but am not sure. Does anyone have any idea how I can find out if it is her or not?

Thank you

[dot.hawkes]

If there is only one subject in a photo it is very difficult to establish their identity, in a group photo, based on comparing the subjects with census returns and then trying to date the clothing etc, it can be alot easier.
It does help though, if by looking at the events of the lives of our ancestors, we can decide on a reason for a photo being taken, A special age, liek a 21st, or a special event, like confirmation would help to give a reason to spend money on what was quite a luxury. If it was a wedding, there would be two people on the pic, a single photo does tend to suggest a birthday, when was she born?

[Hammond Egg]

She seems to have been born in 1869 and married in 1892 - it could be a 21st birthday photo from 1890, or an engagement photo - but I wouldn't know how to identify it with any certainty.

[ksoph]

I'd never though about why it was taken! She does look around 21 years old, Thank you both very much - ksoph

[dot.hawkes]

Now what would be a good idea is to establish when the photographer, T. Jones set up business and was he there in 1890. Ludlow will have a set of trade directories where businesses are listed by either trade or street, they were mainly done l;ocally by the local newspapers. Shop premises, unless lived in above, were not recorded on the census, but I think if you look at that street for 1891, you would likely find the photographer there, he would likely have used his home as a studio. It certainly would add weight to the verification if you had him working there in 1890 or 91.

[Hammond Egg]

Thomas Jones, photographer, listed in the 1891 census as living at 51 Broad St. Ludlow

Now - isn't the internet wonderful?

This is the front of a photo he took in 1885

http://homepages.tesco.net/~patio/maddy/jonef. jpg

And this is the back of it

http://homepages.tesco.net/~patio/maddy/joneb. jpg

I don't know whether the front will help you identify the studio, though the back clearly will.

There seems to have been a "T Jones, photographer" working in Ludlow for quite some time - he is listed in the 1861 census (he was born in 1837) and this is the back of a photo taken by him in 1860

http://homepages.tesco.net/~patio/maddy/jone2b .jpg

I'd suggest that if the reference to the British Archaeological Association is absent from your picture it will date your photo to before 1885