Maria Reynard c. 1902, perhaps on her 40th birthday. From Maria Reynard’s album. Own collection.
I inherited the beautiful leather-bound album from my Grandma, Mary Houseman. She is turn had inherited it from her mother, Hilda Mary Scott. Beyond that, I knew almost nothing of the pictures within. How old was it? Who had put it together? Who were the photos of? Whilst the clasp itself was broken, the people inside were strangers, their connection to our family locked away, with the key lost forever.
What better thing for someone living alone in lockdown 1.0 than to work away at that lock? I carefully extracted and scanned the photos, scribbled down possible family trees, studied the later pictures of Hilda Mary’s siblings, aunts, uncles & cousins and dived into the world of Victorian photography. Some ideas emerged, I started making educated guesses but was uncertain and didn’t feel I was really doing the album justice.
Then up popped professional dress historian, portrait specialist and photo detective Jayne Shrimpton on Who Do You Think You Are? and I realised it was time to turn to an expert. It took a few more months but finally I was sitting in Jane’s beautiful Lewes garden on a hot, sunny July day slowly unlocking the album’s secrets. Who knew that leg-o-mutton sleeves could date a photo to within three years? Or that a red line around a photo meant it was twenty years older than others on the same page? Several “educated guesses” proved to be out by a decade or two but my earlier research combined perfectly with Jayne’s dress expertise to put many names to faces.
Now, finally, Maria’s album can be unlocked and shared without doubts. The album opens with her husband John Scott likely with his father Charles not long before Charles died. Next are two portraits of Maria aged 21 and 40. Turning the page we see Maria & John’s infant children possibly including the only photo of a son, Charles, who died just three years old, followed by Maria’s siblings and their partners. And so it continues.
There is still a lot more work to do to identify all the people in this album and whilst it’s likely there will always be gaps, I am hopeful that by sharing this story others may spot their ancestors.
Front coverJohn Scott (1860 – 1920), my great, great grandfather. The elder gentleman could be his father, Charles Scott (1834 – 1897). The winged collar and narrow fit suit date this to the early 1890sMaria Reynard (1861 – 1950). The dress (with a narrow residual bustle) and shaggy rug together would date this to around 1880 or 1881. Photos of this nature were often taken when girls moved into adult dresses (aged 15 – 18) or it could have been Maria’s 21st in 1882Maria Reynard. The high collar & lace would indicate c. 1901, as would the photography studio. This could have been taken for Maria’s 40th in 1902This is either Charles (1886 – 1889) or William Richard (1889 – 1947) Reynard, one of Maria’s children as the chair & studio props would indicate late 1880s/early 1890sThree of Maria’s children. The top photo could potentially be Walter. The photo on the bottom left has note “For Aunt Hannah” on the back and could again be Charles.The top photo is older, likely of John William Reynard, Maria’s brother which would make it c. 1876. The bottom right photo is likely of Mary Reynard, Maria’s sister and was taken in the late 1880s/early 1890s. The photo on the bottom left was taken in Derby and is likely to be either Maria’s husband, Joseph Topham or Richard Reynard, Maria’s brother.The top two photos are likely of Annie Reynard (Maria’s sister) taken 1878 – 1882 and her husband, William Turner, likely 1890s. The bottom photos are of George Gill Reynard (also Marai’s sibling) and his wife, Agnes HallJohn Scott (possibly a 21st birthday portrait in 1881, dated by the morning coat & high collar) & Maria Reynard (taken at the same time as the previous photo). The child is likely Charles. The other woman is likely Hannah, Maria’s sister.Walter Scott (1893 – 1900)Likely either Gertrude or Clarice Scott (Maria’s duaghters). The Wicker furniture & smock dress dates it to late 1890s, early 1900sThe woman on the top right is likely Maria Reynard is mourning for her son Charles in 1889. The boys on the left are John William & George Gill Reynard (Maria’s sons). The woman on the bottom right is likely Annie Reynard on the occaision of her 30th birthday. The photo is dated January 1897 and the leg-o-mutton sleeves date it to between 1894 & 1897The soldier’s uniform may be for the Boer War. The photo of the couple is much older c. 1865 – 1868. This could have been the marriage of Maria’s Uncle, James Gill in 18661888 – 1890. Same woman & photo shoot as next photo.1888 – 1890. Possible wedding photo although couple look very young. Photo by Young & Manders Harrogate.Likely late 1880s. Taken by Young & Manders, HarrogateLikely a family. The photos of the parents were likely taken lat 1870s/early 1880s. The shortcut fringe dates the photo of the girl to the 1880s.Again likely a family. The photo of the woman is earlier (mid to late 70s). The other photos are mid to late 80s.c. 1901 – 1904 given the collar stylec. 1895/1896 possibly a year either side.Possibly a family. The photo of the woman was taken between 1893 & 1897 in Wakefield. The female child is later c. 1910/1920. The photo of the boy child is a copy image, possibly after a child has diedThese are not yet identified and possibly more distant.Possibly 1910s/1920s1898 – 1900 (based on the frills, epaulette’s & lace). Child could be either a boy or girl. Possibly in mourning (with an urn under table). Taken in WakefieldThe corduroy suit and bits of lace would indicate late 1890s/early 1900s. Photo taken in MiddlesboroughUnknown, late 1880s/early 1890sThe back coverMaria Reynard’s family photo album in full. Own collection.
Maria was born in Ellerbeck on 16 December 1861 the second child of Mary Ann Gill & William Reynard. The Reynard family moved to Topcliffe when Maria was about five. Maria married John Scott, the son of Elizabeth Webster & Charles Scott, in 1885. The Gill family were from Norwood, the Reynards from Hampsthwaite, the Websters from Boroughbridge and the Scotts from Minskip. Maria & John had eight children. Two sons died as children leaving just William Richard (b. 1889) to carry on the Scott name. Hilda Mary (b. 1891) (my great grandmother) married Jesse Houseman, Laura (b. 1895) married John Taylor Houseman (Jesse’s nephew), Gertrude (b. 1899) married William Clarke, Clarice (b. 1900) married Malcolm Pennock and Marjorie (b. 1906) married Harold Millington Shutes. If this album was a wedding gift, I am sure it won’t have been the only one.
With much gratitude to my great, great grandmother, Maria Reynard, for creating this album, to Hilda Mary Scott & Mary Houseman for keeping it safe and to Jayne Shrimpton for helping me unlock its contents!