Genealogy Chat

All suggestions and ideas gratefully received lol!

I know we can’t post photos on here but this puzzle is a bit different than just dating a picture. I’d appreciate any ideas at all because Dad and I are starting to tear our hair out, and he hasn’t got much to pull! I’ll set the facts out in a list to make it easier reading. I have a photograph of three people which appears to be of a bride, bride’s father, and an adult bridesmaid. Dad and I are almost certain that the bride is his mother (my grandma). Dad doesn’t recognise the man, but if it’s grandma’s father then that would be right because he died before Dad was born. On the reverse of the photo is written “5 Sept ‘25” in my grandma’s writing. My grandma definitely got married before September 1925 as I have a copy of their original certificate (dated 30 December 1922). My grandma got married in one of the Plymouth parish churches (her family were from Cornwall) but the photograph is posed outside a country cottage and stone garden wall. Dad and I know Plymouth very well and don’t recognise the place as being anywhere in Plymouth, particularly not the central town street she lived in at the time of her marriage. Dad doesn’t recognise the ‘bridesmaid’ at all. It’s definitely not my grandma’s only sister and, in any case, she got married even before grandma. Bride’s outfit is a dress just below the knee, white stockings and white shoes, veil, headdress and quite a large bouquet. Bridesmaid is wearing ‘best’ dress and hat, and carrying a fair-sized posy. Bride’s father is wearing a suit, buttonhole and what looks to me like a trilby hat (but I might have the style wrong lol!). So the puzzle is ….. Why would my grandma be kitted out like a bride three years after her church wedding? Why isn’t she posing outside the house she was living in at the time of her marriage? Are there any Cornish customs which would explain them ‘dressing up’ like a bridal party? (There is also a photograph of the ‘bridesmaid’ and bride’s father. It looks as if they know each other, and the bridesmaid is wearing a wedding ring). Mandy :)

Have no idea really, but if the 'groom' is missing from this photo, could it be that they didn't have any photos taken at the wedding, and perhaps the groom had gone away somewhere (work, army. etc?) and so she had the photo done to send to him. It just seems strange to have a photo taken after the wedding without the groom being in it. Are you sure the 'dad' isn't the groom, or would your dad recognise his father at that age? Sorry - not much help, I know. Kath. x

Hi Kath Grandad was in the Royal Navy, and I've just checked his records - he was away in September 1925! That theory would tie in - but would she have waited three years (and the birth of their first child) to have such a picture taken? Many thanks, it's certainly a very good idea. Mandy :) PS: Sorry I missed out the bit about the man in the pic - it's definitely not my grandad. Dad was in his 30s when grandad died, so he would have recognised him, plus we have lots of pics of grandad.

Hi Snow White I think from what you and Kath have said, that's probably likely. They couldn't afford, or mislaid, photos of the original wedding, so grandma had some later ones taken and sent to grandad whilst he was away in the Navy. Mandy :)

Hi Judith, nice to see you :) Yes, I hit on that idea this afternoon! We checked all the main surnames for that branch of the family in the marriages of 3rd quarter 1925. Found absolutely nothing of use lol! I did think of a blessing, but they got married in the parish church, so I wouldn't have thought it would be that. We also thought of a christening, but grandma's outfit is just too 'bridal' for that. Mandy :)

Hi Kath That's right, we've looked through 3rd quarter 1925 marriages for all the surnames of that branch, and there's nothing that matches. To be honest, I think it's only the strange setup of the photo that's making Dad have any doubts about it being grandma. We've had the magnifying glass out, compared it with other photos, and I remember her - I'm sure it's her in the pic. Mandy :)

You said your dad was 'almost certain' the ride is his mum. Could it possibly be a relative of hers who looks similar (a sister, cousin, aunt etc.) who actually did get married in 1925, or are you saying there are no marriages at all for the same surname in that year? Kath. x

Probably not much help but have you looked for a death on 5th Sept ? The reason I ask is I have a photo of my Gran which my Dad put her date of death on the back of.

Hi Janet That's another good suggestion, but nobody from that branch of the family died on that date. The other photo - just the 'bridesmaid' and bride's father - also has the same date on the back. I've checked on a date calculator and 5 Sept 1925 is a Saturday. Mandy :)

Hiya Neighbour! I have the Plymouth marriage index volume 1. Could we look up any names??? Pete(rkins!)

Are you sure your grandma wasn't a bridesmaid or matron of honour for someone else (a friend or neighbour) on that date. I would imagine that a wedding dress might have been used again to save money. UPDATE - Sorry, just realised you said she was wearing a veil. Kath. x

Hi Pete(rkins)! Many thanks for kind offer but I've got the Plymouth discs myself and have checked all connected surnames. Hi Kath Yes, we did think of chief bridesmaid but she's definitely wearing a veil and small headdress. Mandy :)

Hi Mandy, well in that case I'll go to the pub! Pete

Have you searched the Plymouth Marriage CD using the Sep 1925 date incase it throws up a familiar surname? Now I am going to the pub! Pete

I haven't done it that way round Pete - will do so right now. Many thanks for suggestions, enjoy your pint;) Mandy :)

Well??? did you sort it? Pete

Hi Pete Seeing that we'll never really know, I'm going for the consensus of opinion that they didn't have photos done at their wedding (couldn't afford them, or maybe they were destroyed) so Grandma dressed up in all her finery again three years later and had them done - possibly as a surprise for grandad who was away in the Navy at that time. Thanks for your help, Mandy :)

Hi Mandy - just a couple of thoughts. Even if the photos' of a marriage had been lost or destroyed, would/could the family have gone to the expense of ordering what would have been very expensive flowers? Amateur dramatics? Victoria

Hi Victoria Two very good points, thank you! About the flowers - yes they would have been expensive especially just for photographic purposes. I'm just looking at the photos again and wondering if, living near open countryside, they might have picked the flowers themselves? They're largish bouquets but not very formally arranged. Amateur dramatics - that's certainly a possibility especially as we don't recognise the 'bridesmaid' or the location. Only thing was, grandma was quite shy and quiet, not sure if she would have been involved in anything like that, but I'll ask Dad this afternoon! Thanks again, Mandy :)