Sepia Saturday #147 - The Gallant 30 (Bahamas) Sail Off to WWI in 1915

This week's Sepia Saturday theme centers around the military, uniforms, group photos, etc.  What came to my mind was a photograph I posted earlier on one of my family history blogs, RogersFamilyHistory about my husband's grandfather, Hershel Stanley Hall. During WWI many Bahamians were anxious to get into the actual fighting according to Paul Albury in his book, "The Story of the Bahamas."  The first group of eager volunteers of the British West India Regiment were trained and ready to sail for England from Nassau on 9 Sep 1915.  Hundreds of people came to see them off and the Governor's wife presented them with a silken flag bearing the colony's Coat of Arms. My husband's grandfather, Hershel Stanley Hall only seventeen years old at the time was one of them.  You can see him on the far left in the photograph above.  This photograph was taken right before they set sail.  It is actually an old photocopy that was in my mother-in-law's possession and I do not know its origin.  

Hershel Hall was descended from British Loyalists who were forced to leave the US Colonies after the US Revolution and resettled in the Bahamas.  It is believed that Hershel was descended from Nathaniel Hall who emigrated to Nassau, Bahamas from Savannah, GA around 1766 although I have yet to prove the connection.  In the book, "The Early Settlers of the Bahamas and Colonists of North America" by A. Talbot Bethell  in a chapter titled "Biographies of the Descendants" I found this mention of "Hall, Hershal Stanley - Born 1894.  Educated:  Boys' Central School; formerly Merchant.  Descendant of Nathaniel Hall, Loyalist."

Members of The Gallant 30 and other contingents returned from war on 19 Jun 1919 as evidenced by this document (again an old photocopy) which was in my mother-in-law's possession   Hershel Hall is listed on line 47.  I don't know much else about Hershel's war experience, but I thought the photograph deserved a mention.

For more great photographs and stories please join us at Sepia Saturday.

Mystery Monday - Three 1860's Women from Louth, Lincolnshire, England

This CDV of three unidentified women from Louth, Lincolnshire, England was probably taken in the 1860's. Wikipedia lists a number of "Louths" but in doing a search for the photographer "Willey" I found many books for sale for which mentioned Joseph Willey (1829 - 1893) of Louth, Lincolnshire.  I also found a number of listings for Joseph Willey on Ancestry.com including census listings between 1851 and 1881 for the Louth, Lincolnshire area. Additionally, a death record and probate index record were found as well.

The three subjects in the photograph, I am guessing, are a mother (left) and two daughters. The girl seated is leaning on a small skirted table and looking at something, perhaps a photograph. The other young woman is leaning on the chair and has her other hand resting on a basket that is sitting on a pile of books on the table.  This Cartes de Visite was damaged a bit, something was stuck to it, but it is still an interesting photograph.  Too bad we do not know the identities of these women and their story.

Sentimental Sunday - Women with Hats - Northampton England Woman with Feathery Hat

This Cartes de Visite of a young woman was taken by photographer, Henry Cooper, of 17 The Drapery, Northampton (England), most likely in the 1870's.  It appears her name was Victoria Carte and I would assume she was well-known but I have not been able to find out anything about her.  I did however, find this article about the photographer published by the Northampton Chronicle & Echo:

Published on Monday 15 September 2003

AVID historians will have a chance to trace the evolution the Northamptonshire when prints by one of the oldest photography businesses in England go on display in the town.

A collection of rare and unique photographs taken by three generations of the Cooper family, who have been based in Northampton since 1866, will be exhibited and sold for the first time in October.

The established business was run by Henry Cooper Senior, followed by his children Henry Cooper Junior and Nellie Cooper, and his son Eric Cooper, until he retired in 1990.

Gary Shaeffer, Popperfoto’s marketing director said:  “The exhibition includes a number of evocative images of the county’s magnificent countryside and photographs of sights and sites either long-gone or barely recognizable today."

The public will have an opportunity to purchase photographs either as archival digital printsm on acid-free fine art paper, or as fibre-based limited edition prints.

Bob Thomas, chairman of Popperfoto, said: “The Cooper archive is one of the most fascinating collections that we have acquired in recent times.”

The Cooper Collection can be seen free of charge on Saturday October 4 and Sunday October 5 between 12pm and 4pm, and between 10am and 4pm from October 6 until January 2.