Surnames: Hill (2), Hobbs (3), Née Robinson

Photo Friday
Ethel Wight Collection
By Don Taylor

This week, for Photo Friday, I identify the people in five more envelopes from the Ethel Wight Studio Collection[i]. The envelopes contain the names who paid for the photos, not necessarily of the individual portrayed in the image. 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.

Fred Lincoln Hill, circa 1935.

The envelope this negative was in says, “Mr. Fred Lincoln Hill, 139 Neal St #87 (for Mrs. Mosley).”

Why I believe this to be the individual.

• 

  Fred Lincoln Hill, circa 1935.

  The 1937 Portland City Directory lists Fred Lincoln Hill, and his wife Katherine C, living at 139 Neal.

• Maine Marriage Records list Fred Lincoln Hill, the son of Irving E and Sarah E (Oat) Hill marrying Katherine Caswell on 17 May 1918. Fred was 28 years old, suggesting his birth in 1890.
• This is a photo of Fred about 1935 when he was about 45 years old.

Family Search identifies Fred Lincoln Hill,  bor 14 April 1890 as ID 9HPN-N3X. Twenty-four trees at Ancestry.Com refer to Fred Lincoln Hill.

I have uploaded two photos of Fred to his Family Search Memories. I also uploaded one additional photo of him to my Flickr photostream.

Photo confirmed to be Fred Lincoln Hill by a grand-niece.

Mildred Iris Hobbs (née Robinson) before 1935.

This negative envelope says, “Mrs. Albert Hobbs – copy – Caldwell St. Woodfords #37.”

Why I believe this to be the individual.

• 

  Mildred Iris Hobbs (née Robinson) Unknown date but before 1935.

  The 1935 Portland City Directory lists Albert C Hobbs, and his wife Mildred R, living at 30 Caldwell.

• The 1940 US Census lists Albert and Mildred still living at 30 Caldwell. Living with them are their two children, Janet I (age 14) and Albert R (age 9). Albert is 47, and Mildred is 45.
• Ancestry Family Trees indicate that Mildred Iris Robinson was born 26 October 1894 in Aroostook County, Maine, and married Albert C. Hobbs on 4 May 1922.
• This photo wasn’t taken at the Wight studio; instead, it was provided to the studio to be copied about 1935, when Mildred was about 41 years old; however, she looks somewhat younger than 41 in this photo.

Family Search identifies Mildred Iris Robinson, born 26 October 1894, as ID KC9D-8YS. There are Forty-one trees at Ancestry.Com that refer to Mildred.

I have uploaded this photo of Mildred to her Family Search Memories. 

Janet I. & Albert R. Hobbs, April 1936

This negative envelope says, “Mrs. Albert Hobbs, Caldwell St. #16 – 18 April. 1936.”

Why I believe this to be these individuals.

• 

  Janet I. & Albert R. Hobbs, April 1936

  The 1935 Portland City Directory lists Albert C Hobbs, and his wife Mildred R, living at 30 Caldwell.

• The 1940 US Census lists Albert and Mildred still living at 30 Caldwell. Living with them are their two children, Janet I (age 14) and Albert R (age 9). Albert is 47, and Mildred is 45.
• On 18 April 1936, this photo was taken when Janet was about nine years old, and Albert R was about six years old.

Family Search identifies Janet Iris Hobbs, born 22 October 1925 as ID KW8K-MHN, and Albert Robinson Hobbs, born 12 May 1929, as ID KH4C-6JH.  Nine trees at Ancestry refer to Janet Iris Hobbs, and five trees refer to Albert Robinson “Robby” Hobbs.

I have uploaded two photos of Janet & Albert to their Family Search Memories. I also uploaded two additional pictures of them to my Flickr photostream.

Janet I. & Albert R. Hobbs, circa 1935

This negative envelope says, “Mrs. Albert Hobbs, Caldwell St., Woodfords #16 (Janet Hobbs, Robert Hobbs).”

Why I believe this to be these individuals.

• 

  Janet I. Hobbs, circa 1935

  

  Albert R. Hobbs, circa 1935

  These photos are clearly the same two children of Albert and Mildred Hobbs taken about a year earlier. A note on the envelope even indicates the names are Janet and Robert.

Family Search identifies Janet Iris Hobbs, born 22 October 1925 as ID KW8K-MHN, and Albert Robinson Hobbs, born 12 May 1929, as ID KH4C-6JH. Nine trees at Ancestry refer to Janet Iris Hobbs, and five trees refer to Albert Robinson “Robby” Hobbs.

I have uploaded one photo of Janet and one photo of Albert to their Family Search Memories. 

Dorothy Hill, circa 1936 (age 3)

This negative envelope says, “Mrs. Wilbur P. Hill, 535 Stevens Ave #409.”

Why I believe this to be the individual.

• 

  Dorothy Hill, circa 1936 (age 3)

  The 1937 Portland City Directory lists Wilbur P Hill, and his wife Elizabeth L, living at 535 Stevens.

• The 1940 US Census lists Wilbur (age 44) and Elizabeth (age 38) living at 535 Stevens. They are living with Wilbur’s father, William Hill. Also with them are their three children, Frederick L (age 12), Dorothy (age 7), and Charles W (age 4).
• This photo appears to be of a little girl about 2 or 3 years old, which fits the sex and age of Dorothy.

Family Search does not appear to have a profile for Dorothy Hill, daughter of Wilbur Powers and Elizabeth (Latham) Hill. Ancestry.Com also does not have a profile for Dorothy Hill; however, her father, Wilbur Powers Hill, married to Elizabeth, appears in two family trees.

I have uploaded Dorothy’s photo to Dead Fred.

Conclusion

• I identified four individuals who had Family Search profiles, so I posted their photos to Family Search
• I identified another individual who did not have a Family Search profile, so I posted her photo to Dead Fred.

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

Final Note

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.

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.