Great grandma Mary Byford, nee Smoothy, with Violet, Archie, Daisy, Stanley and Ivy, c.1897. Great grandpa Edwin seems to have been otherwise engaged. Collectively, they appear resilient, inquisitive, forlorn, haunting and haunted.
Daisy, possibly the one in the hoodie, later met Henry, aka Harry and together they became my grandparents. I remember great uncle Stan and great aunt Ivy but have no memory of Violet and Archie.
Mary's paternal grandfather, Stephen Smoothy, was born in Essex around 1798. Her father, William Smoothy, was born in 1837 and married Essex girl Elizabeth Mynott who was born in 1836, daughter of James and Letitia.
Edwin Byford's father was another William, son of George, born in 1782, husband of Sofia.
The photograph only turned up this week and is the oldest family portrait by years, unless you count the painting reported to be of Elizabeth Mynott, c.1860 (below) which came to light last year.
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