Old family photos

This is just one of the many wonderful old family photos that travelled by sea from England two or three months ago. When my brother died last Christmas, my amazing group of friends went through all the belongings in the house (most of which had belonged to my parents) and carefully put aside every single important, sentimental thing. I now have a whole pile of my father's precious old photo albums (and the various awards that he won for his photography - I love that it was his passion, too) and quite a few of these old family photos, which I'd never seen before. This is the very first one I've scanned. I e-mailed it to my three "kids" yesterday and then decided that they might not be too thrilled to have their Inboxes stuffed with large-sized scans, so I guess I will post an occasional one for them here on Flickr. You never know, maybe some relative somewhere in the world will come across them and find them interesting and helpful. This photo is of my paternal Grandmother, Alice Gladwell Bassindale and her oldest child, Alice Mary Bassindale (I knew her as Auntie Molly). The only time I remember seeing my (elderly) paternal grandparents was when my Mother, Brother and I stayed with them for a few months when I was about 12 years old, while my Father was searching further afield for a new job. My paternal Grandma, Alice Gladwell Bassindale (born 1876). Between October 1900 and December 1900 in Middlesex, she married Albert Elijah Bassindale (Timber Merchant), my paternal Grandfather, at Grays Thurrock, Essex. Here, she is with her oldest child, daughter Alice Mary Bassindale (known as Mollie, my Auntie Mollie 1904-1967). Her other children were Tom Carden (my father 1907-1976), Vera Gladwell (1911-?), and Nora Margaret (1915-?). Information taken from 1891, 1901 and 1911 Census: 3 April 1881 49 Victoria Road, St. Giles, Northampton, Northamptonshire Census 5 April 1891 Walsall Road, Willenhall, Wolverhampton, Staffordshire Census 31 March 1901 8 Rock Terrace, All Saints with St. Peter, Stamford, Lincolnshire Census 2 April 1911 49 Queen Street, Stamford, Lincolnshire

A second photo of Alice Gladwell Bassindale (my paternal Grandmother), along with her husband, Alberta Elijah Bassindale (my paternal Grandfather). The three children are, in order of age: Alice Mary Bassindale ("Mollie"), Vera Gladwell, and my Father, Tom Carden. Photo taken around 1914. Names and date were written by my Brother on the back of the photo - he spent many, many years working on our family history, and I have a huge amount of information that he had researched - wonderful for us. This is one of the many old family photos that I am lucky enough to now have, after being shipped with other items from England after my Brother died.

This is my paternal Great Grandmother, Eliza Jane Shadick. She was born about 1847? in Gravesend, Kent, England, and died in 1929. She had one sibling, Ann Shadick. In 1875 (between July 1875 and September 1875), she married the Rev. Henry Carden (1852-1930) at Gravesend. Their children were Alice Gladwell (1876), Florence Sophia (1878, who married Frederick Hobson between July 1904 and September 1904 at Yorkshire [North Riding]), Nellie (1879), Percy Samuel (1880, who married Catherine Batson between July 1905 and September 1905 in Cumberland), and William Henry (1885 - between December 1951 and March 1952, who married Daisy Elizabeth Jinks between July 1908 and September 1908 in Northamptonshire). Eliza Jane Shadick of Greys, Essex, was a school-teacher prior to marriage. Her family later moved to Gravesend, Kent. Alice, the oldest, was my paternal Grandmother. I'm adding these old family photos to Flickr so that I don't have to take up lots of space in my kids' e-mail Inboxes. I also hope that someone out there might just find these images of interest or help - I had found nothing on Google myself. Information taken from UK Census 1881, 1891, 1911: Birth about 1847 Gravesend, Kent Census 3 April 1881 49 Victoria Road, St. Giles, Northampton, Northamptonshire Census 5 April 1891 Walsall Road, Willenhall, Wolverhampton, Staffordshire Census 31 March 1901 4 West Road, Tottenahm, Middlesex Census 2 April 1911 Heathfield, 100 Elwick Road, West Hartlepool, Durham This photo was printed on card that is 4.1" x 2.5". I'm not sure if this is what is referred to as a Cartes-de-visite 2 1/2 X 4 1850s - 1900s. The photographer was Robert Hider (Portrait and Landscape Photographer), 183 Parrock Street, Gravesend, Kent, England. Photograph number 5943. Going by the list of addresses for Eliza, this photo was taken between 1847 and 1881.

This photo did not scan well, to put it mildly - will have to see if taking a photo of this old photo of my parents works better! This was one of many photos that were in an album that had been given to my father by the company from which he was retiring. One of the many albums that were shipped over to me two or three months ago. My father was Tom Carden Bassindale (1907-1976) and my mother was Vera Kathleen Bassindale (nee Neal).

This photo (an image on a thin piece of metal) was amongst the old family photos that were shipped over to me from England about three months ago. I wish I knew who these people were - has to be from my father's side of the family. Maybe I'll be able to find out one day. I just think this is such a sweet photo. If I'm correct, the following information would apply to this image. My original photo has been cut to about 8 cm x almost 7 cm and has obviously been cut roughly and unevenly. "Tintypes were a cheap format photograph (about three English pence) where the image is formed on a thin sheet of lacquered iron. The image is dark and the surface can look quite mottled and imperfect or have an orange peel look if you reflect the light on to it. The metal is usually cut out quite roughly as if cut by hand without a guideline, using metal shears. The size varies but 9cm x 6cm (same as the print of a CDV) is typical, but it can be as large as 25cm x 10cm. They were first produced in 1852 and the American and English Patent was granted in 1856 - probably the earliest date one would expect to find. They were popular because they were strong and could be carried in a pocket, especially during the American Civil War period (1860s), and could be cut up to fit in lockets and jewellery. The image was in reverse, and only one unique photograph was made. It was not as popular in Europe as in America but there are English tintypes from the late 1850s, many in the 1880s and even as late as the 1930s, where they finally became the end of the pier photo or perhaps taken at fairgrounds." www.cartes.freeuk.com/time/date.htm

George Bassindale Gell is one of my paternal ancestors. Another name for George was George BASSINDALE. Edwin Gell was the son of George Bassindale Gell, as was my Grandfather Albert Elijah. They had a sister, Annie, and I believe another brother called George Henry and another brother who died quite young. It was in that generation that some people took the name Bassindale and some Gell. (Thanks, Jenny, for sending me this information!). So, I guess this gentleman in the photo was my Great Grandfather. Information on George Bassindale Gell (thanks to Art for the link!): Born: 1847, Belton, Axholme, Lincolnshire, England George married Charlotte Ann HOLMES, daughter of Elijah HOLMES and Hannah KILHAM, on 24 Dec 1867 in Haxey, Lincolnshire, England, United Kingdom. (Charlotte Ann HOLMES was born before 1854.) • Census: UK 1871 National, 2 Apr 1871, Belton, Axholme, Lincolnshire, England. • Residence, 3 Apr 1881, Doncaster, Yorkshire, England, United Kingdom. • Residence, 1884, Peterborough, Northamptonshire, England, United Kingdom. • Census: UK 1901 National, 31 Mar 1901, Peterborough, Northamptonshire, England, United Kingdom. His children were: 1. William Arthur Gell, b. 1868, Belton in Axholme, Lincolnshire, England, d. 2 Jan 1884, Epworth, Lincolnshire, England 2. George Thomas Gell, b. 1869, Belton in Axholme, Lincolnshire, England, d. 13 Feb 1870, Belton in Axholme, Lincolnshire, England 3. George Henry Gell, b. 9 Nov 1870, Belton in Axholme, Lincolnshire, England, d. 1944, Winchmore Hill, London, England. He is Pat Fincham's Grandfather. 4. Edwin Gell, b. 1872, Belton in Axholme, Lincolnshire, England 5. Thomas John Gell Bassindale, b. 1875, Belton in Axholme, Lincolnshire, England, d. 1901, Belton in Axholme, Lincolnshire, England 6. Albert Elijah Gell, b. 1877, Belton in Axholme, Lincolnshire, England 7. Ada Annie Gell Bassindale, b. 1882, Belton in Axholme, Lincolnshire, England In fact, I do have an old photo of Charlotte Ann, which I will post in the next little while.

This is my paternal Great Grandmother (if I have worked it out correctly - I am so bad at working out ancestor relationships!). Charlotte Ann HOLMES, daughter of Elijah HOLMES (born in1807 in Owston (Ferry), Lincolnshire, England) and Hannah KILHAM (born in 1808 in Epworth, Lincolnshire, England), was born in 1842 and married my Great Grandfather, George Bassindale Gell, on 24 Dec 1867 in Haxey, Lincolnshire, England, United Kingdom (or Belton in Axholme, Lincolnshire, England). Another name for Charlotte was Charlotte Ann BASSINDALE. Elijah Holmes' father was Isaac Holmes and his mother was Charlotte Pettinger. Hannah Kilham's father was Simon Kilham and her mother was Ann Curtis. Isaac Holmes' (born in 1768, Owston (Ferry), Lincolnshire, England, died in 1854) father was John Holmes (b. Abt 1740, Owston (Ferry), Lincolnshire, England) and his mother was Mary Clarvis (b. Abt 1747, Wintringham, Malton, North Yorkshire, England). www.red1st.com/axholme/getperson.php?personID=I711054&amp...

I thought this was a wonderful old family photo to have - just wish I knew who each person was! My brother had written many names on the backs of old photos that were left to me last year, but unfortunately this one had nothing written on the back of the cardboard. I think that the lady - 6th from left, back row - is probably my paternal Great Grandmother, Charlotte Ann Gell, and the man - standing in the back row, 7th from left - is probably my paternal Great Grandfather, George Bassindale Gell. Individual photos of them are in my Old Family Photos set. I'm guessing that the young couple being married could be my paternal Grandparents, Albert Elijah Bassindale and Alice Gladwell Carden. Just daren't spend much time on this at the moment, as I have other more urgent things to see to : ( Thanks, Art! Will add the link here, ready for when I have more time. www.red1st.com/axholme/familygroup.php?familyID=F271749&a...

I had no idea that my father ever had a motorbike, lol, so imagine my surprise when I came across this photo of him amongst the old family photos that I received from England a few months ago! That's a sidecar on the far side. He and my mother cycled for many years and I have endless photos of them with their bikes - but a motorbike, ha? This is so unlike the father I knew : ) I moved away from England to live overseas when I was 22 years old and so missed out on family talks and sharing of my parents' lives. Very sad, but it happens to many people when family members move away. The main thing I remember about him is that he LOVED photography (not as a professional) and was an exceptional photographer (according to others). I also have the best memories of all the times my parents took my brother and me out into the countryside around Birmingham, UK, at the weekends, on our bikes. My mother loved wildflowers and instilled this love in me, too. My father was passionate about photography and I guess that's where I get it from : )