Thursday 25 June 2020

Spotlight on ... Hats!

I've decided to branch off for a while and share things other than just the stories of my direct ancestors.  The main motivation for this is my desire to share some of the many wonderful photos I've found of my extended family (not too many degrees of separation from my direct ancestors).  These photos deserve to be in the spotlight, so I thought long and hard about an interesting way to do this.

I've decided to put together collections of photos that all share a common thread ... and for the first of these collection posts, the spotlight is on hats!

It's been an unexpected surprise just how many hats there are in my assorted family photos, and the variety is simply amazing.  I will attempt to put match periods of time, starting with the Victorian era (1837-1901).

Early to late 1800s 

Wearing what looks like an American Civil War soldier hat ...

Benjamin Samuel Fullagar 
1835-1919 
born in England
died in the USA

my paternal 2nd cousin 4x removed

He fought with the 3rd Wisconsin Cavalry.  This photo would have been taken in the USA.

Common ancestors:

John Fullagar and Sarah Gilham
my 5x great grandparents




An interesting cap for the older woman looking a bit like a turban cap ...

Charlotte Fullagar nee Morphett 
1824-1895 
born and died in Kent, England

wife of my paternal 1st cousin 4x removed 
Joseph Fullagar


This photo would have been taken in England.









A drawn bonnet ...


Rebecca Jane Davis nee Kingsnorth 
1811-1892 
born in England
died in Wisconsin USA

paternal 2nd cousin 5x removed

This photo would have been taken in England



Same relative, just older:

Rebecca Jane Davis nee Kingsnorth 
1811-1892 

2nd cousin 5x removed

Photo likely to have been taken in England

Common ancestors:

John Fullagar and Elizabeth Potter
my 6x great grandparents



A small bonnet with flowers and ribbons ...

Elizabeth Daw nee Hukins 
1815-1903 
born in Kent, England
died in New South Wales, Australia

my paternal 3rd great aunt

with her husband Edward Bannister Daw

This photo would have been taken in Australia.

Common ancestors:

James Hukins and Susannah Fullagar
my 3x great grandparents



A bonnet that stands tall and proud ...

Mary (Ellen) McCarthy c.1842-1926 
born in County Donegal, Ireland
died in New South Wales, Australia

wife of my paternal 3rd great uncle 
Michael Hickey 1842-1916 


Photo taken in Australia.












Another example of a cap for an older woman ...

Harriett  Jones nee Lancaster-Exton 
1833-1915 
born in Lincolnshire, England
died in New South Wales, Australia

my paternal 3rd great aunt

Photo taken in Australia.


Common ancestor:

Susannah Lancaster
my 3x great grandmother





This looks like a straw bonnet ...

Annie Exton 
1839-1919 
born in Lincolnshire, England
died in New South Wales, Australia

my paternal 3rd great aunt

Photo taken in Australia.


Common Ancestors:

James Exton and Susannah Lancaster
my 3x great grandparents





A rather elaborately decorated hat ...

Sarah Anne Snedden nee Exton 
1870-1907 
born and died in New South Wales, Australia

my paternal 1st cousin 3x removed

Photo taken in Australia.


Common Ancestors:

James Exton and Susannah Lancaster
my 3x great grandparents










A simple straw hat ...

Caroline Maria Kean nee Browning
1859-1956 
born in New South Wales, Australia
died in Queensland, Australia

my paternal1st cousin 3x removed


Photo taken in Australia.


Common ancestors:

William Henry Browning and Anne (known as Nancy) Littlejohns
my 3x great grandparents



















Whilst there are no particular dates attached to any of these photos, I think I've dated most of them correctly to the Victorian era.  Any feedback would be greatly appreciated.



Early 1900s

Now onto photos that belong to the Edwardian period 1901-1910 and the WW1 era.  Some of these do have dates associated with them, so my job was a little easier with this little collection. 


An extraordinarily large and elaborately decorated hat ...

Charlotte Hannah Marrott nee Brown 1887-1961 
born and died in New South Wales, Australia

my paternal 1st cousin 2x removed


Photo taken in Australia.


Common Ancestors:

Henry Johnson Brown and Caroline Penelope Browning
my 2x great grandparents


William Connors Jr.
1864-1959
born and died in New South Wales, Australia

my paternal 2nd great uncle

Photo taken 1905 in Australia.

Common Ancestors:
William Connors and Eleanor (Ellen) Hickey
my 2x great grandparents

From the 1905 photo above:
Top left -
Elizabeth Duffy
wife of my 2nd great uncle
William Connors

Top right -
Elizabeth (Lizzie) Sharp nee Connors
1868-?
my 2nd great aunt

Bottom left -
Mary Ann Connors
1855-1940
my 2nd great aunt

Bottom right -
Eleanor (Ellen) Connors nee Hickey
my 2x great grandmother



Love this example of an elegantly decorated hat ... flowers, feathers and bows ...

Grace Olive Brown
1885-1974
born and died in Australia

my paternal grandmother


Photo taken c.1906 in Australia



















Such a debonair air about this man in his cap ...



Francis McQuilty
1801-1875
born in County Waterford, Ireland
died in New South Wales, Australia

father-in-law of my 2nd great-grandaunt
Elizabeth (Betsy) Exton
1849-1917


Photo taken in Australia.




Loads of ribbons on this large hat ...

Catherine Ford O'Connor
1885-1941
born and died in Brooklyn, New York, USA

wife of my maternal 1st cousin 2x removed
John O'Donnell 
1886-1936


Photo taken c. 1911 in New York, USA.








Love this straw sailor hat ...

Walter Henry Cusack Jr.
1910-1978
born in New South Wales, Australia
died in Queensland, Australia

my paternal 2nd cousin once removed

with his mother Mabel Cusack nee Hicks
1886-1933
wife of my paternal 1st cousin 2x removed
William Hugh Fay Cusack

Photo taken 1911 in Australia.

Common Ancestors:
Ellen Cusack and Richard J. Brown
my great grandparents



Whilst it's quite large, this hat is decorated rather simply ...

Mary Margaret O'Donnell
1890-1971
born and died in Queensland, Australia

my maternal great aunt


Photo taken 1912 in Queensland, Australia.


Common Ancestors:
Edmond O'Donnell and Bridget Burke
my great grandparents




Another sailor hat ... looks like it's part of a costume ...


Francis Sydney Busine
1899-1982
born and died in New South Wales, Australia

husband of my paternal 1st cousin 2x removed
Charlotte Bertha Cusack
1899-1971


Photo taken c. 1915 in Australia.





Everyday 1920s hats ...

Charles John Hugh McGuiness
1859-1952
born and died in New South Wales, Australia

my paternal 1st cousin 3x removed

Common Ancestors:

James Exton and Susannah Lancaster


A pith helmet ... ?

Charles Barrow
1886-1948
born and died in New South Wales, Australia

my paternal 2nd cousin 2x removed

Photo taken upon enlistment 1914
5th Australian Light Horse Regiment.



Common Ancestors:

Patrick Cusack and Eliza Exton

my 2x great grandparents




Ernest Johnson
1889-1941
born and died in New South Wales, Australia

husband of my paternal 1st cousin 2x removed
Ruby May Connors

Photo taken upon enlistment in 1914
1 Light Horse Regiment in Australia.








Robert Henry Johnson Gall
1882-1939
born and died in New South Wales, Australia

my paternal 1st cousin 2x removed

Photo taken upon enlistment 1915
13th of 2nd Light Horse in Australia.



Common Ancestors:

Henry Johnson Brown and Caroline Penelope Browning

my 2x great grandparents 




More restrained hat fashion of the 1920s ...

Norah Elliott nee Lonergan
1902-1982  (on the left)
born and died in the USA

my maternal 1st cousin 2x removed

with her mother Mary (Minnie) Lonergan nee O'Donnell
1872-1951

my 2nd great aunt

Photo taken 1927 in New York.

Common Ancestors:
John O'Donnell and Catherine Joy

my 2x great grandparents














4 comments:

  1. What a great idea! You have some amazing hats and a wonderful collection of photos here.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thanks Stella. I'm glad I've found a way to share some of these great photos. They deserve their moment to shine!

      Delete
  2. What a fantastic theme for a post. Love the photos.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thanks GeniAus. These treasures deserve some time out in the world.

      Delete