Your Thoughts
Nov 27, 2019 15:27:30 #
I have been interested in my Family Tree for a long time. I have done significant research that put together a lot of information over the years. Recently I went online to one of the many websites that deal with family histories. I would like some help with a photograph that I found that is reported to be of my great grandfather, born in 1804. Understanding a bit of the history of Photography, I wonder if the birth date of 1804 and the apparent age of the subject in the photograph is consistent with the equipment and techniques that could have possibly been available in a typical mid-western town at the time when the photograph was apparently taken.
Nov 27, 2019 16:19:25 #
I have tin types of my great grand parents from the 1840s. So I don’t know if this os a tin type. Hope this helps.
Nov 27, 2019 16:24:24 #
ChuckMc
Loc: Prescott, AZ
I am certainly not an expert/authority in this area, but knowing how people had to pose for shots, I have never seen a subject looking down as this one is.
Nov 27, 2019 16:24:24 #
ChuckMc
Loc: Prescott, AZ
I am certainly not an expert/authority in this area, but knowing how people had to pose for shots, I have never seen a subject looking down as this one is.
Nov 27, 2019 16:31:49 #
I think you skepticism is warranted. The first useable portrait cameras and developing processes weren’t available until well into the 1840’s. Your alleged ancestor appears to be in his late 20’s or 30’s at most. Especially, as you noted, the picture was likely taken in a small midwestern town, I doubt it’s authentic.
Nov 27, 2019 18:19:46 #
How old was he when the original photo was taken?
Nov 27, 2019 19:37:44 #
I guess that is my underlying reason for posting. He looks to me to be about 35 or under - but would appreciate others thoughts.
Nov 27, 2019 20:34:50 #
I am vice president of our local historical society and belong to the Lehigh Vally Heritage Museum in Allentown Pa. I hated history when in school. But now I love it. I cant get enough of learning of our past. We have guest speakers every Saturday afternoon. They come speaking on a subject in a book they just wrote. They are trying to sell their book. I never knew how much of our past you never hear about. A great man once said if we forget about the past we are deemed to repeated.
Nov 28, 2019 06:18:20 #
Lcfitt wrote:
I....................He looks to me to be about 35 or under - but would appreciate others thoughts.
Some folks just don't look their actual age. I have a friend who is 80 and passes for 60. Why would it be a fake? A mistaken identity collected by some other family member perhaps. Soo many photos with no notes on the back!!
Nov 28, 2019 07:29:38 #
I would be skeptical. That would have required him to be born in about 1780. I would expect you to be further along than the fourth generation in 240 years. I’m 75, my dad was 29 when I was born, and my great-grandmother was born in 1855; which would also make me fourth generation. Just my opinion.
Nov 28, 2019 09:51:55 #
Just for reference: The Daguerreotype process became commercialized in France about 1840. The "tintype" process was even later and became best known for its use by Mathew Brady and other itinerant photographers during the civil war where its relatively quick development time made it feasible.
Nov 28, 2019 10:17:57 #
I say that all the time! About not studying/ remembering history that we will tend to repeat it. One cannot erase history. It is what it is.
Nov 28, 2019 10:43:10 #
One of the age tip offs is the hair. Your ancestor show not one hint of gray, so under 40 is likely. Do you have any later photographs to compare. Or comments in family member letters or papers.
Nov 28, 2019 11:03:21 #
ntonkin
Loc: western Upper Peninusla of Michigan
Lcfitt wrote:
I have been interested in my Family Tree for a lon... (show quote)
The hairstyle, dress and demeanor of the person in the photograph is clearly NOT that of a person of the 1830s or even 1840s AND there's no way a photo of this quality was taken during that time period anyway.. The guy in the photo is probably a wealthy Victorian. It looks like this may be a photo of a painting.
I have some experience with the ancestry web sites and have found them to be rife with errors. Anyone can enter information in them without any kind of proof.
I am now 71 and none of my male ancestors' father was young when they were born and my great grandfather was born in 1850. It seems quite improbable that your great grandfather was born in 1804
Nov 28, 2019 11:14:14 #
Lcfitt wrote:
I have been interested in my Family Tree for a lon... (show quote)
Following this for the same reasons. I have learned to when doing ancestry, "There are no mistakes, just discrepancies. Even when written in stone".
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