Photo Friday – Peterson and Utterstrom

Posted on February 10, 2023 by Don Taylor

Ethel Wight Collection – Part 117

By Don Taylor

Photo of Don Taylor with cat Nasi.

This week, for Photo Friday, I identify the people in five more envelopes from the Ethel Wight Studio Collection[i]. The envelopes typically contain the name of the person who paid for the photos, not necessarily of the Individual portrayed in the image. As such, it is vital to analyze the pictures and information to identify the Individual therein.[ii] Ultimately, my goal is to reunite the photos with family members who may have never seen the image.

Elvie Gertrude Peterson (later Trouvalis).

The envelope this negative was in says, “Miss Elvia Peterson, 24 Berwick St #584.”

Why I believe this to be the Individual.

Photo of Elvie Gertrude Peterson, Circa 1935.
Elvie Gertrude Peterson
Circa 1935
  • The 1935 Portland City Directory lists Elvie Peterson as a waitress living at 24 Berwick.
  • Elvia Peterson of Portland, Maine, married George Trouvalis on 10 September 1936.
  • Ancestry Family trees suggest this is Elvie Gertrude Peterson, born on 13 December 1915 in Portland, Maine, and married George Trouvalis.

I am sure this photograph is of Elvie Gertrude Peterson about 1935 when she was about 20 years old.

Ancestry has 19 public trees that refer to Elvie Gertrude Peterson (later Trouvalis). Family Search has profile LTQ3-ML2 for Elvia “Edna” Gertrude Peterson. I have uploaded two photos of Elvie to her Family Search Memories. I also have five additional images in my collection if family members are interested.

Helen Jane Peterson, circa 1935.

This negative envelope says, “Miss Jane Peterson, 41a Chestnut St #469.”

Photo of Jane Peterson, circa 1935.
Jane Peterson, circa 1935

Why I believe this to be the Individual.

  • The 1935 Portland City Directory lists Irving W and Helen B Peterson living at 41a Chestnut, Apt 4.
  • The 1930 US Census lists Irvine W Peterson, his wife Helen, and 13-year-old Connecticut-born, daughter H. Jane Peterson.
  • Ancestry Family Trees suggest this is Helen Jane Peterson, born on 5 April 1917 in Hartford, Connecticut.

I am sure this is Helen Jane Peterson, born on 5 April 1917 in Hartford, Connecticut.

Ancestry has 16 public trees that refer to Jane. Family Search has profile GZVB-CR3  for Helen Jane Peterson (1917-1990). I have uploaded two photos of Jane to her Family Search Memories.

June A Peterson, circa 1935 (age 3) of Individual

This negative envelope says, “Mrs. E. C. Peterson, 87 Montrose Ave #691.”

Why I believe this to be the Individual.

June Peterson, circa 1935
  • The 1935 Portland City Directory lists Elias C and M Abbie Peterson living at 87 Montrose Ave. Elias is a foreman at 40 W Commercial.
  • Maine Marriage Records indicates that Elias Christan and Mary Abbie Ericksen married on 21 August 1922 in Portland, Maine.
  • The 1940 US Census lists Elias and Mary Peterson living at 96 Chenery in Portland. They have a daughter, June, who is seven years old.
  • Ancestry family trees suggest this is June A Peterson, born on 5 June 1932.

I am sure this is June Peterson, about 1935 when she was three years old.

Ancestry has two public trees that refer to June A Peterson (1932-2018). Family Search does not appear to have a profile for June, so I uploaded a photo of her to Dead Fred.

Louise Peterson, circa 1934, Portland, Maine

This negative envelope says, “Mrs. Louise Peterson, 18 Smith St #122.”

What I learned while researching this Individual.

  • Search for Louise Peterson in the Portland City Directories yielded no one.
  • A review of the Portland City Directories for 1934, 1935, and 1936 suggest there was no one living at 18 Smith Street in Portland. However, the Portland Press Herald indicates several people lived at 18 Smith Street during the 1930s. One was John and Mary (Carroll) Collins. They had a daughter, Margaret Collins, born in Maine in 1905. The 1940 Census shows Margaret living with her mother, Mary Collins, and indicates both she and her mother were widows. In the 1930 US Census, Mary and Margaret Collins lived at 71 Newbury Street in Portland.
  • A review of the Ancestry family trees for Mary Carroll Collins failed to identify any Petersons or Petersens who were related.
  • Christen and Laura C Petersen lived at 7 Smith. There was also a Helen J. C. Petersen who lived at 7 Smith Street.
  • The 1930 US Census lists Christen and Lans (Laura) Peterson living at 136 Cumberland. Living with them was their 22-year-old, Maine-born daughter Laure A J Peterson.
Image from negative envelope.

Based entirely on the envelope information, I believe this is a photo of a Louise Peterson; however, I cannot identify her further.

I uploaded a photo of Louise Peterson to Dead Fred and another picture of her to my Flickr photostream.

Lucy Etta Utterstrom, circa 1934 (age 6)

This negative envelope says, “Mrs. Harold Westrom, 36 Olympia St. Portland, #366.”

Why I believe this to be the Individual.

  • The 1935 Portland City Directory lists Harold O Utterstrom as having a sheet metal business at 36 Olympia. He lives with his wife, Grace E.
  • The 1940 US Census lists Harold and Grace, still on Olympia, living with their daughter Etta L (age 11) and son Harold Jr. (age 8)
  • This photo was taken about 1934 when Etta was about six years old.

I believe this photo is of Lucy Etta Utterstrom in 1934. I also think the original envelope was misread, and when a new envelope was created for the negative, the writer changed Utterstrom to Westrom—Utter to We.

I have not found Etta Uterstrom in Ancestry trees. However, I have found her father, Harold O Utterstrom, appears in six public Ancestry trees. Family Search has profile GH5T-4L4 for Etta. I have uploaded this photo of Etta to her Family Search Memories.

Conclusion

  • I fully identified all five individuals. Three of them have Family Search profiles, so I uploaded their images to their Family Search Memories.
  • I identified two individuals that did not have Family Search profiles, so I posted their images to Dead Fred.

If any of these photos are of your family member, I would love to hear your reaction. Especially if this photo is of a loved one for whom you hadn’t seen this photograph before.

Due to software limitations, the images uploaded to Family Search, Dead Fred, and Flickr have a higher image quality than the images linked here.

For all postings of the Ethel Wight Collection, please see here.

Endnotes

[i] The Wight Studio was in Portland, Maine. Many thanks to Ethel Wight’s family for access to and permission to use the collection of their great aunt.

[ii] These images were converted to positives using a lightbox, a Nikon camera and computer software.

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Samuel Strain’s Will – 5 Dec 1840

Posted on February 7, 2023 by Don Taylor

Transcription Tuesday
Roberts-Barnes, Lister, Strain line
Transcription[i] by Don Taylor

Ancesstor #90 – Samuel Strain (1762-1845)

Photo of Don Taylor with cat Nasi.

This week, for “Transcription Tuesday,” I am transcribing the 1840 will of Samuel Strain. He is my 4th great-grandfather in my Roberts-Barnes-Lister-Strain family line. In his will, he mentions my 3rd great-grandmother, Nancy Strain [Lister] (1807-1844).

Source: “Ohio Probate Records, 1789-1996” Wills 1809-1849, Vol 1-4, Images 385 & 386 via FamilySearch.

Page 267 – Samuel Strain’s Will

In the name of God amen. I Samuel Strain of Highland County and state of Ohio – being in good bodily health and sound mind duly considering that it is appointed to all men once to die and being mindfull of that great change when it shall please God to call me hence to make this my last will and testament.

First page of Samuel Strain's 1840 Will
Page 1 of Samuel Strain’s 1840 Will

First I commend my soul to god who gave it and my body to the ground to be buried at the discretion of my Executors John R Strain, James Johnson and Andrew M Strain of Highland County whome I appoint my lawful executors to settle and dispose of my estate according to the provisions hereafter made ??.

Second having given the following named of my children towit Thomas M. D. Strain Betsey Rogers Samuel D Strain John H Strain, Polly Clark Margarett Stuart Andrew M Strain Nancy litter Hugh W Strain Rebecca Ann Watt Easter Thornton James G Strain dec’s and William ? Strain all that portion of my Estate which I design as their devised or legacy I therefore will that no further dividing of my property be made amongst them by y Executors –

To my three daughters Malinda Sarah and Martha I will one cow and calf each in addition to what they have already received-

I further will and devise that my son Robert H Strain who is now deranged be and remain in the care of the family supported from my estate so long so long as my Executors shall ensure it advisable and safe from there to remain and if upon the event of his being removed he is still to be sustained from my estate subject to the discretion of my Executors-

Page 268 – Samuel Strain’s Will

I further will and devise that my wife Nancy remain in possession of the mansion house & premises household kitchen furniture beds & bedding horses cattle wagon gears farming utensils and whatever else of my estate my Executors may judge necessary for the support of the family or farming purposes.

Image of Page 2 of Samuel Strain's 1840 Will.
Page 2 of Samuel Strain’s 1840 Will.

I further will concerning my library that Scotts commentary be assigned to my wife & four youngest sons and that the remainder of my books be equally distributed between my wife and unmarried children.

It is also my will that my unmarried children remain in the family and that they receive a proportionable benefit from the proceeds of my estate so long as they remain in the family.

And if upon the event of my wife getting married it is my will that she shall have no controle and any part of my estate other than her dowery – and if upon the event of their marriage or dying it is my will that my property personal or then remarrying be for the benefit of my four youngest sons and be under the care of my Executors until they become respectively of age.

It is also my will that all my real estate be eventually divided equally amongst my four sons via Lewis James David & Benjamin and that they never be under the controle of a stepfather.

In testimony whereof my hand hereunto set my hand and seal this fifth day of December 1840.

In Presence of Witnesses
John R Strain }
Milton P Templin(?) } Samuel Strain (Seal)
Wm J Strain }

Page 269 – Samuel Strain’s Will

State of Ohio
Highland county

Image of Page 3 of Samuel Strain's 1840 Will.
Page 2 of Samuel Strain’s 1840 Will.

Personally came in open Court before the Court of Common Pleas of said county now setting Milton C Templin and John R Strain who being duly sworn dispose and say that on the 5th day of December 1840 they were called upon to witness the last will & testament of Samuel Strain late of said county now deceased being of same instrument now exhibited before court that they heard the said Samuel Strain acknowledge the said writing to be his last will and and testament and at his request and in his presence & in presence of each other they subscribed their names as witnesses thereto that at the time of said acknowledgment and attestation the said Samuel Strain was ove the age of 21 years of sound mond and memory and under no restraint as they verily believe.

Sworn to and Ascribed }
before me this 17th day }
of July AD 1845. } John R Strain
Samuel Bell Clerk } Milton P Templin

Facts I learned

Samuel Strain lived in Highland County, Ohio, in December 1840.

The executors of Samuel’s Will were:

  • John R Strain of Highland County, Ohio
  • James Johnson of Highland County, Ohio
  • Andrew M Strain of Highland County, Ohio
  • At the time of his death, his wife’s name was Nancy.
  • It appears that Samuel may have had 21 Children. They are listed or mentioned in his will as:

Children:

  • Thomas M D Strain (Mother Hannah Watts?)[ii]
  • Betsey (Strain) Rogers (Mother Hannah Watts?)
  • Samuel D Strain (Mother Hannah Watts?)
  • John H Strain (Mother Hannah Watts?) Possibly Executor?
  • Polly (Strain) Clark (Mother Hannah Watts?)
  • Margaret (Strain) Stuart (Mother Hannah Watts?)
  • Andrew M Strain (Mother Margaret Miller?) Possibly Executor?
  • Nancy (Strain) Litter (Lister)(Mother Margaret Miller?)
  • Hugh W Strain (Mother Margaret Miller?)
  • Rebecca Ann (Strain) Watt (Mother Martha Wilson?)
  • Ester (Strain) Thornton (Mother Martha Wilson?)
  • James G Strain – Deceased before December 1840 (Mother Margaret Miller?)
  • William Strain (Mother Martha Wilson?)
  • Malinda Strain (Mother Martha Wilson?)
  • Sarah Strain (Mother Martha Wilson?)
  • Martha Strain (Mother Martha Wilson?)
  • Robert H Strain – Deranged and in the care of. (Mother Martha Wilson?)
  • Lewis Strain (Mother Nancy Johnson?)
  • James Strain (Mother Margaret Miller?)
  • David Strain (Mother Nancy Johnson?)
  • Benjamin Strain (Mother Nancy Johnson?)

Comments:

detail of Nancy Lister's name in Samuel Strain's 1840 Will.
Nancy Lister’s name as it appears
in Samuel Strain’s 1840 Will.

Nancy Strain married William Lister in June 1822, but Samuel Strain’s will suggests her surname is Letter or Lister. I suspect it is a clerk’s error, but Nancy’s parentage needs to be confirmed with other sources. Nancy died in 1844, before her father died but after the will was written.

Conflicts:

  • James is mentioned as one of the four youngest sons, but other researchers suggest he was born in 1788 with Margaret Miller being his mother.
  • Benjamin is mentioned as one of his four youngest sons, but other researchers suggest he was born in 1785 with Hannah Watts being his mother.
  • Not mentioned – Cyrus Byington Strain (Possibly 1830-1851)
  • Not mentioned – Hannah Martha Strain (Possibly 1783-1861)

Further Research:

  • James Johnson is one of the executors. Samuel’s last wife was Nancy Johnson. Is is possible that James Johnson is a sibling, father, or otherwise related to Nancy. Further research should be conducted to determine if there is a relationship.

==============================================

Endnotes

[i] The Cambridge Dictionary defines “transcribe” as to “make a complete written record of spoken or written words.” My transcriptions are seldom perfect but I do my best to convert handwritten documents into typed words for my genealogical purposes. If you see anything that I have incorrect, please let me know your thoughts via the Contact Form at the bottom of the page.

[ii] The (tentative) mother of each child is based on other trees and not on my research.

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Photo Friday – Perkins, Perry, Pert, and Peters

Posted on February 3, 2023 by Don Taylor

Ethel Wight Collection – Part 106

By Don Taylor

Photo of Don Taylor with cat Nasi.

This week, for Photo Friday, I identify the people in five more envelopes from the Ethel Wight Studio Collection[i]. The envelopes typically contain the name of the person who paid for the photos, not necessarily of the individual portrayed in the image. As such, it is vital to analyze the pictures and information to identify the individual therein.[ii] Ultimately, my goal is to reunite the photos with family members who may have never seen the image.

Marlowe Stevenson Perkins, circa 1935.

This negative envelope says, “Mr. Marlowe Perkins – Mrs. Dr Gilman – Ocean Ave #520 – DSCN4582P.”

Why I believe this to be the individual.

Marlowe Perkins
  • A search for Marlow Perkins in Portland, Maine, resulted in finding a 1937 Deering High School (Portland, ME) yearbook with a photo showing the same young man about two years older than this 1935 photo.
  • The 1930 US Census found nine-year-old Marlow S Perkins living in Wells, Maine, with his parents, Grover S and Easelyn Perkins.

I am confident that this photo is of Marlow Stevenson Perkins about 1935 when he was about 15 years old.

Ancestry has 16 public trees that refer to Marlowe Stevenson “Perk” Perkins. Family Search has profile GV4R-QGG for Marlow Stevenson Perkins. I have uploaded two photos of Marlow to his Family Search Memories.

(Probably) Louise Millicent Perry, Nurse, circa 1934.

The envelope this negative was in says, “Miss Louise Perry, Childrens Hospital #540.”

What I discovered about this individual.

Nurse Louise Perry?
  • 1934, 1935, and 1936 Portland city directories list no nurses with the surname of Perry, Parrody, or anything similar.
  • However, the 1931 Burlington, Vermont, city directory lists a Louise M Perry as nurse at Mary Fletcher Hospital.
  • And the 1940 Census lists Louise M Perry as a 28-year-old, Vermont-born, registered nurse at the Nurses Home of Hartford in Hartford, Connecticut. It indicates that she was in Brooklyn, New York, in 1935.

I believe this is probably Louise Millicent Perry, born on 10 Jan 1912. In 1930 and 1931, the 18-year-old worked at the Mary Fletcher Hospital in Burlington, Vermont. About 1934, she was in Portland, Maine, where this photo was taken. In 1935 she was in Brooklyn; before 1940 she had removed to Hartford, Connecticut.

Ancestry has 16 public trees that refer to Louise Millicent Perry. Because I am not 100% confident this photo is of Louise Millicent Perry (later Ball), I have only posted this photo to Dead Fred.

This is definitely not Louise M Perry (b. 1/10/1912) per the daughter of Louise M Perry (b. 1/10/1912).

Rosalind Pert, Nurse, circa 1934.

This negative envelope says, “Miss Rosalind Pert – Me Gen Hospital #265.”

Why I believe this to be the individual.

Nurse Rosalind Pert, c. 1934
Nurse Rosalind Pert
  • The 1935 Portland City Directory lists Rosalind Pert as a student nurse at 22 Arsenal (Maine General Hospital).

Further research suggested that this Rosalind Mable Pert was born on 24 March 1916 in Sedgwick, Maine. She attended Sedgwick High School in the class of 1933. Hopefully, someone has a 1933 Sedgwick High School Yearbook to confirm.

Ancestry has 17 public trees that refer to Rosalind Mable Pert (later Mumford). Family Search has profile LVVC-PHJ for Rosalind Mable Pert (1916-2005). I uploaded a photo of Rosalind to her Family Search Memories.

John Jerome “Jerry” Peters, circa 1934.

This negative envelope says, “Mr. Jerry Peters, 30 Whitney St. #410 – DSCN4603P.”

Why I believe this to be the individual.

Photo of Jerry Peters, circa 1934
Jerry Peters
  • The 1935 Portland City Directory lists Annabel M, Jerome J, Katherine M (widow of George), and Philip Peters all living at 30 Whitney.
  • The 1920 US Census lists eight-year-old Jerome Peters, the son of George J and Catherine Peters living at 13 Canton. Other children in the household include Annabelle and Phillip.

I am confident this is a photo of John Jerome “Jerry” Peters, born 9 July 1911 in Portland, Maine, when he was about 23 years old.

Ancestry has 16 public trees that refer to John Jerome Peters, the son of George J and Catherine (Birmingham) Peters. Family Search has profile L5FF-6B6 for John Jerome Peters. I have uploaded one photo of Jerry to his Family Search Memories. Sadly, the original negative is damaged somewhat.

Paul Peters, circa 1934 (age 1).

This negative envelope says, “Mrs. Chas. Peters, 90 Ocean Ave #380 – DSCN4597P.”

Why I believe this to be the individual.

Paul Peters
Paul Peters
  • The 1935 Portland City Directory lists Charles L and Clara V Peters living at 90 Ocean ave.
  • The 1940 US Census lists Charles and Clara living at 14 Sawyer. They have three children, Paul (age 6), Annette (age 3), and Virginia (age 1).
  • Paul Joseph Peters was born to Charles L and Clara Virginia (Tanguay) Peters on 16 November 1933 in Portland, Maine.

I am confident that this photo is of Paul in 1934 when he was about a year old. Sadly, the original negative is slightly out of focus.

Ancestry has seven public trees that refer to Paul Joseph Peters (1933-2016). Family Search does not appear to have a profile for Paul. I uploaded a photo of Paul photo to Dead Fred.

Conclusion

If any of these photos are of your family member, I would love to hear your reaction. Especially if this photo is of a loved one for whom you hadn’t seen this photograph before.

Due to software limitations, the images uploaded to Family Search and Dead Fred have a higher image quality than the images here.

For all postings of the Ethel Wight Collection, please see here.

Endnotes

[i] The Wight Studio was in Portland, Maine. Many thanks to Ethel Wight’s family for access to and permission to use the collection of their great aunt.

[ii] These images were converted to positives using a lightbox, a Nikon camera and computer software.

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Bert Roberts – Living in Detroit, Michigan, from 1940 to 1949.

Posted on January 28, 2023 by Don Taylor

Roberts Research

Roberts Line
By Don Taylor

Photo of Don Taylor with cat Nasi.

Bert and Essie were in Terre-Haute during the 1940 Census. In 1949, Bert died in a fiery truck accident while driving a truck near Elwood, Indiana. He lived and worked in Detroit, Michigan, at the time. Looking at his time in Detroit between 1940 and 1949, I learned.

Previous posts regarding Bert Allen Roberts (1903-1949)

New Research

To ensure I have the right Bert Roberts in any record, I find it helpful to review all of the people with the same name in the same location at the same time.

Searches for Bert Roberts in Detroit from 1940 to 1950 resulted in the following:

Family Search

1940 Census – A 35-year-old Bert Roberts lived in Green Oak Township, Livingston County, Michigan, about 15 miles west of Detroit. He was a doctor of dentistry and lived with his wife, Venus. They lived in Detroit in 1935.  

1940 Census – There was a Bert Roberts, the six-month-old son of Gerald & Julia Roberts of 3810 Cabot in Detroit. He also appears in the 1950 Census as the 10-year-old son of Gerald & Julia Roberts of 4152 Lawndale in Detroit.

Ancestry

1940 & 1950 Census records – Same as Family Search.

Michigan Marriage Records – On 13 November 1946, 52-year-old Bert Roberts married Irene Armstrong in Detroit. Bert was from Detroit, and Irene was from Port Huron.

U.S., Newspapers.com Obituary Index, 1800s-Current, includes Bert’s Obituary. No new data but another source, the Elwood Call-Leader, 2 May 1949, under a front page banner headline: TWO MEN BURN IN TRUCK WRECK FIRE.

U.S., World War II Draft Cards Young Men, 1940-1948 includes cards for both my Bert Roberts’.

  • Bert A Roberts was born on 7 July 1924 in Terre Haute, Indiana. His next of kin is Mrs. Essie Roberts at 5756 Winslow, Detroit. This is the Draft Card for Bert Junior.
  • Bert Allen Roberts: Born 7 September 1903 in Sesser, Illinois. Essie is his next of kin, also.

Harold Bert Roberts of 5980 Maryland. He was born on 18 May 1915 in Hartford, Conn.

Bert Holmes Roberts of South Lyon was born in Detroit on 23 March 1906.

U.S., School Yearbooks, 1900-2016 includes a Bert Roberts in the 1958 Chadsey High School Yearbook. He would have been born about 1942. My Bert Junior would have been about 34.

Bert Roberts’ in Detroit, Michigan 1940-1942.

Besides my Bert Allen Roberts (Sr.) and his son, Bert Allen Roberts, Jr., I know of six other Bert Roberts recorded in Detroit between 1940 and 1950. They are:

  • 1.     Bert Roberts. Born c. 1894 and married Irene Armstrong.
  • 2.     Bert Roberts, born c. 1905, Lived in Detroit in 1935 and Green Oak Township in 1940. Wife Venus.
  • 3.     Bert Holmes Roberts was born on 23 May 1906 in Detroit.
  • 4.     Harold Bert Roberts was born on 18 May 1915 in Connecticut.
  • 5.     Bert Roberts was born in September 1939 and was the son of Gerald & Julia Roberts.
  • 6.     Bert Roberts was born c. 1942.

Newspapers

Genealogy Bank yielded several articles.

  • A 5 March 1943 article in the Detroit Evening Times indicated Bert Junior was inducted into the service.
  • A 27 April 1945 article in the Detroit News indicated Bert Junior was wounded a second time. He was first wounded on 29 November by a land mine and wounded a second time on 6 April in Germany.
  • On 29 and 30 June 1945, Bert (Sr.) was mentioned in the obituary for his mother, Clara Adams.
  • On 1 May 1950, Bert was mentioned in Memoriam as having died one year before.

Newspapers.Com yielded a photo of Bert Jr. under a page 22 headline, “Fighting Spirit Boils Up in 18-Year-Olds as They Register for the Draft,” on 12 December 1942.

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Ethel Wight Collection – Part 115

Posted on January 20, 2023 by Don Taylor

Photo Friday – Penney, Perkins,  (née Bennett)

By Don Taylor

Photo of Don Taylor with cat Nasi.

This week, for Photo Friday, I identify the people in five more envelopes from the Ethel Wight Studio Collection[i]. The envelopes typically contain the name of the person who paid for the photos, not necessarily of the individual portrayed in the image. As such, it is vital to analyze the pictures and information to identify the individual therein.[ii] Ultimately, my goal is to reunite the photos with family members who may have never seen the image.

Patricia Penney, circa 1936 (age 4).

This negative envelope says, “Mrs. E. C. Penny, 35 Pine St #1025.”

Why I believe this to be the individual.

Photo of Patricia Penney, circa 1936 (age 4).
Patricia Penney, circa 1936 (age 4).
  • The 1936 Portland city directory lists Ernest C (Loretta L) Penney, a stock clerk at 622 Congress, residing at 35 Pine.
  • The 1940 US Census lists Ernest Penney, his wife Loretta, and two daughters, Patricia (7) and Shirley (3).
  • This photo was taken about 1936, before Shirley was born, and when Patricia was about four.

This photo is of Patricia Ann Penney, born on 26 May 1932 in Portland, Maine, to Ernest Clayton and Loretta (Barter) Penney.

Ancestry has nine public trees that refer to Patricia Ann Penney. Family Search has profile GZKM-KVJ for Patricia Penney, daughter of Ernest C and Loretta Farrell (Barter) Penney. I have uploaded this photo of Patricia to her Family Search Memories.

Patricia Penney, circa 1935 (age 3).

This negative envelope says, “Mrs. Loretta Penney, 182 Clark St (Patricia) #309.”

Why I believe this to be the individual.

Photo of Patricia Penney, circa 1935 (age 3).
Patricia Penney, circa 1935 (age 3).
  • Based upon the photo ID number (#309), this photo was taken about one year before the other picture of Patricia Penny (above), the daughter of Ernest C and Loretta L. Penney

This photo is of Patricia Ann Penney, born on 26 May 1932 in Portland, Maine, to Ernest Clayton and Loretta (Barter) Penney.

Ancestry has nine public trees that refer to Patricia Ann Penney. Family Search has profile GZKM-KVJ for Patricia Penney, daughter of Ernest C and Loretta Farrell (Barter) Penney. I have uploaded this photo of Patricia to her Family Search Memories.

Georganna Perkins (later O’Hara) circa 1935.

This photo is from the Ethel Wight Studio, Portland, Maine. 

The envelope this negative was in says, “Miss Georginna Perkins, 202 Hillside Ave Nutley, N. J. #89 – (Aug 19, 1935).”

Why I believe this to be the individual.

Photo of Georgianna Perkins (later O’Hara) circa 1935.
Georgianna Perkins, circa 1935.
  • The 1938 Nutley Directory (Belleville, NJ) lists Georgianna M Perkins, a student residing at 202 Hillside Ave. Also at that address are F Carroll & Elizabeth M Perkins. Mr. Perkins is a div supt NY (division superintendent, New York).
  • I was surprised to see ten photos of Georgianna in the Ethel Wight Studio Collection—more than any other person I’ve seen. Until I found a March 9, 1939, article in the Biddeford Daily Journal that read, “Mrs. F. Carroll Perkins and daughter, Georgiana, of Nutley, N.J., are guests of Miss Ethel Wight of Fort Hill Avenue.” So, they must be good friends.
  • A September 29, 1938, obituary for Henry B. Bennett mentions he was a selectman in Old Orchard Beach and was survived by two daughters, Mrs. Earl C. McAllister and Mrs. F. Carroll Perkins, and his granddaughters Georgiana and Priscilla Perkins.
  • Ancestry Family Trees for Henry Babbitt Bennett indicate he and Georgianna had two children,  Lilla Irene and Elizabeth Mildred “Bessie” Bennett. Elizabeth married Francis Carroll Perkins and had two daughters. One was Georgiana June Perkins (born on 23 Jun 1918 in Uutky, Essex, New Jersey. She married Harry Frank O’Hara on 30 August 1942.

These photos form a series of Georgianna from four different sittings from 1934 through 1936.

Ancestry has six public trees that refer to Georganna Perkins, born on 23 June 1918.
Family Search does not appear to have a profile for Georgianna, the daughter of Bessie M Bennett (1888-deceased).

I uploaded this photo of Georgianna to Dead Fred. I have also uploaded four more pictures of Georgianna to my Flickr Photostream.

Elizabeth “Bessie” Perkins (née Bennett), circa 1934.

This negative envelope says, “Mrs. F. C. Perkins, 202 Hillside Ave, Nutley, J. J. #17.”

Why I believe this to be the individual.

Photo of Elizabeth "Bessie" Perkins (née Bennett), circa 1934.
Elizabeth “Bessie” Perkins (née Bennett), circa 1934.
  • The 1938 Nutley Directory (Belleville, NJ) lists F Carroll & Elizabeth M Perkins residing at 202 Hillside Ave.
  • From a March 9, 1939, article in the Biddeford Daily Journal, I learned that “Mrs. F. Carroll Perkins and daughter, Georgiana, of Nutley, N.J., are guests of Miss Ethel Wight of Fort Hill Avenue.” So, Ethel and Mrs. Perkins must be good friends.
  • A September 29, 1938, obituary for Henry B. Bennett mentions he was a selectman in Old Orchard Beach and was survived by two daughters, Mrs. Earl C. McAllister and Mrs. F. Carroll Perkins.

I am sure this is Elizabeth “Bessie” Perkins (née Bennett), circa 1934.

Ancestry has 11 public trees that refer to Elizabeth Mildred “Bessie” Bennett, wife of Francis Carroll Perkins. Bessie was born on 27 April 1885 in Portland, Cumberland County, Maine. Family Search has profile LVFW-GN8 for Elizabeth Mildred Bessie Bennett. I have uploaded a photo of Bessie to her Family Search Memories.

Priscilla Perkins, circa 1934 (age 10).

This negative envelope says, “Priscilla Perkins, Nutley, NJ #19.”

Why I believe this to be the individual.

Photo of Priscilla Perkins, circa 1934 (age 10).
Priscilla Perkins, circa 1934 (age 10).
  • Based upon research on Georganna Perkins (See above), I am sure this is Priscilla Perkins. The photo ID number (#19) suggests it was taken about 1934 when Priscilla was about ten years old.

This photo is of Georganna’s sister Priscilla Perkins, circa 1934 when she was about ten years old.

Ancestry has one public tree that refers to Priscilla Perkins (1924-1988), the daughter of Francis Carroll and Bessie (Bennet) Perkins. Family Search does not have a profile for Priscilla, so I uploaded the photo of her to Dead Fred.

Conclusion

  • I fully identified all four individuals. Two of them have Family Search profiles, so I uploaded their images to their Family Search Memories
  • I identified two individuals that did not have Family Search profiles but did appear in Ancestry trees, so I posted their images to Dead Fred.
  • One individual was photographed on four different occasions. I posted her additional to my Flickr Photostream. One other individual was photographed twice; I posted both of her images to Family Search.

If any of these photos are of your family member, I would love to hear your reaction. Especially if this photo is of a loved one for whom you hadn’t seen this photograph before.

Due to software limitations, the images uploaded to Family Search, Dead Fred, and Flickr have a higher image quality than the images linked here.

For all postings of the Ethel Wight Collection, please see here.

Endnotes

[1] The Wight Studio was in Portland, Maine. Many thanks to Ethel Wight’s family for access to and permission to use the collection of their great aunt.

[2] These images were converted to positives using a lightbox, a Nikon camera and computer software.

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