"Every Picture Tells or Story" or always check the back of a photo... (Part I)

I started this blog after finding 100s of photos,medals,postcards,autographs and more in my mother in law's wardrobe following her death in 2020. I recently discovered some writing on the back of one of the photos that told the story of the photo... and decided to have a look to see if there were any other stories or messages that have come to us across the years.  Memories of times gone forever, but still with us! I was delighted to find that there were.  I also discovered a lovely sense of humour, much affection and a real sense of the personalities of the subjects and the writers in just a few words! The family, whose stories can be read on my other blog posts, came from Bootle and Walton.

"Nona in the background, looking to America"

 

I don't know who "nona" is but Joe emigrated to the US as did  his two brothers (much earlier than Joe - I have traced one who enlisted in the US army in WW1). Also, one of Sarah's sisters Doris ("Non") was married to a man whose two brothers also emigrated! Has a member of one of the families surmised she is thinking of her boys and written that? I can't think why such a specific, wistful comment would have been written on the back unless thinking of this.

"Doris & Elsie on the sands at St Anne's. I am offering you a sweet"

 

My main blog is about Joe and Sarah and their family. This is Sarah's sister and her daughter. This short comment tells such a lot - who is in the photo, where it is and what is happening! I think Doris wrote the words addressing them to whoever took the photo. Incidentally, plus ca change - whoever did take the photo managed to cut the top part of Doris's head off - haven't we all seen truncated family snaps! Makes them seem very much like us, even though I think this was taken way back 100 years, in the early 1920s.

"Betty took this snap. Duggie's foot just shows in my lap.

The two girls were staying with us.

Nanna, Non, Jay, Ken & "self"

 

I am not sure who some of these people are, but "Nanna" is the lady who featured previously. She features a LOT in my mother in law's photos, often "photo bombing"! "Non" is Sarah's sister Doris but it's a bit confusing as she says that she has Duggie's foot in her lap and Betty took the photo - but also mentions "Non" which is her family nickname......hoping I might solve the mystery of these people who keep popping up one day!

"Elsie reading "Wife and Home" in the back garden"

 

Nice to know who it is, (Doris and Sam's daughter) where she is AND what she is reading! A very blurred photo - again, it resonates down the ages!

"Bert, Jay and Ken; the house in the background is where we stay

12/8/30

Minster

This road leads to the beach"

 

Such a lot of information! Date, who is in it and pointing out a specific location "the road to the beach" and that the house in the background was where they stayed. But what was "Minster"? A mystery that I solved. I knew the family stayed in Rhyl a LOT. So I put the words "Minster guest house" and "Rhyl" into a search engine. Hey Presto!  A map came up not only with the guest house on it - but it was indeed on a road that leads to the beach! So much information from the back of one photo!

"Between Rhyl and Conwy"

 

This is much earlier - possibly around 1914. I can date it because the little girl was born in 1906. Grace ("Gracie") Lived to be 112! I have blogged about her previously. This photo shows the 4 "Rich" sisters and possibly their brother, Tom, driving. 

A few more beach photos to finish!

They really did love their beach holidays! What a wonderful family. Such a privilege to have all their photos and other precious family items. A true treasure.

 And finally This also had "Rhyl" written on the back!

Part II follows soon - illustrating the family's real sense of humour!

A Working Class Victorian Marriage: 8 children, 3 childhood deaths, one lost to war and their mother's early death.

So much of the history about "Victorians" is about the "Great and Good" at a time of huge changes to the lives of so many people in Britain. However, the Industrial brought huge changes to the lives of millions of working class people and families. The Bank Richs were one such family.

 

I have been sharing Joe and Sarah Vernon Smith's story; Sarah was born Sarah Banks Rich in 1893.Her father was Henry Banks Rich, born 25/2/1861. He was a shipwright as indeed was his father Thomas and his grandfather John. At the age of 20 he is living in Roxburgh Street Liverpool and is still an Apprentice Shipwright. I have found him on the crew list of the Oregon in June 1889. He married in October of that year. Her mother was Sarah Eilbeck born 25/5/67 at "Everton". Sarah married Henry Banks Rich on 23/10/1889 at St Mathews Church Liverpool. I have the original, very tatty! Marriage certificate. It is interesting as the VR at the top reminds us this was deep into Victoria's reign

 

Henry and Sarah lived in various locations if the Liverpool area, including Bootle and Walton. .

Henry on board a ship.The 1891 census states he was a “Shipwright - seas”. 

In 1911 he states he is a Shipbuilder “Dominion” (a shipping company)

  

I  have some of his badges that I think relate  to his trade union or a guild. 

The top badge has a Liver Bird on it so must be a local branch badge? 

I have no idea if the bottom badge is related to his trade – it appears to show St George

 Henry and Sarah lived at several addresses during their marriage. They had 8 children born between 1891 and 1908. A son and daughter died in infancy before Sarah died in 1910 at the age of 43. Their eldest child and only remaining son, died  aged 23 at Gallipoli. Another daughter, Alice, died aged just 17.

Alice Mabel

I have some memorial cards for 2 of the 3 who died. Also, the family paid for a photographer with the War Graves Commission to photograph Tom's grave and I have this photo with a memorial card. Lots more can be found about the children in my previous blogs.

I do not know what Henry's wife died of. She was only 43. I think this is her- she looks very gaunt in this photo. The couple's 4 remaining daughters however all lived into their 60s, 80s and indeed, her youngest daughter lived to be 112 and was for a time the oldest person in the UK! I have blogged about her previously. It is some story!

 

I believe this is a photo of Henry's wife- Sarah Eilbeck.

Henry lived on for many years after his wife died. He died in 1932 aged 71.  I think that they must have had a very hard life- Sarah bore at least 8 chidren and Henry's job was probably very hard labour. He had been an apprentice for many years and I know at one time he was crossing back and forth across the "mighty Atlantic". Losing his wife in 1910 and his only son in 1915 must have been crushing. However there is much evidence that his daughters and son in laws took great care of him. I have so many photos of him with them- many away from Liverpool and work. He also saw four grandchildren born (one was my mother in law). I will end the blog with these, which show the warmth and affection his family showed to him.

 

Henry and grandchildren

This shows Henry with his four daughters and son

It must be before 1911 because his son Tom emigrated to Australia then. 

Sarah died in1910 and so I wonder if this is after her death.

This is Henry with two of his daughters- Sarah and Lilly

with their husbands. I do not know who the other people are.

I love this! "the gang's all here"!

There are four daughters, three son in laws 

(I think Joe is taking the photo)

Also present - 3 of his grandchildren

Joe's father is seated next to, I believe, his

3rd wife (another story to come!) and his daughter 

Joe's half sister.

I do not have a date for this but believe it must be

the mid 1920s as I think Sarah (Henry's daughter) is 

holding my mother in law, born 1924

Also present..4 daughters, Joe and various children!

Henry looks so smart and well looked after no doubt by 

his four girls. They also look so smart and happy.

 

The changes in women's lives, from when their mother was born in1867 were huge. The vote for all women would be in place in 1928. None of the daughters had more than two children (although Joe and Sarah lost a son at 12 days).I have photos of one daughter who was a nurse inWW1

and two are pictured working in a shop that I believe was owned by their uncle

 

These women really speak to me across 100 years.

 

 And what better way to show the changes from their

mother's life.. the four sisters looking very smart

on a day trip in a car!

I will leave the family there- at a time when they were all together and look so happy.

My previous blog looks into the lives of all of the family in this photo and can be found on the main index -LOTS  more photos!