Figure 1.--This English family portrait shows he five children of an unidentified family. There is no accompanying information. We believe the portrait was taken in the 880s, in part because of the odored mount. As it is a cabinet card portrait, we know that it was taken in Herne Bay, along the northern shore of Kent near Canterbury. Herne Bay thanks in part to the growing rail system was becoming a beach resort. The children, however, do not seem to be wearing resort clothing, but ordinary clothing at the time. The studio was Tho. Barns n Faversham and Herne Bay.

This English family portrait shows he three children of an unidentified family (figure 1). There is no accompanying information. We believe the portrait was taken in the 1880s, in part because of the colored mount. As it is a cabinet card portrait, we know wehere the studio was located. The studio had two locations. One was taken in Herne Bay, along the northern shore of Kent near Canterbury. Herne Bay thanks in part to the growing rail system was becoming a beach resort. The children, however, do not seem to be wearing resort clothing, but ordinary clothing at the time. The stocking caps may be an exception. There was also a studio in Favershsam, a market town close toHerne Bay. There are five children, probably about 3-14 year old. Age estimates can be tricky. But biological limits on the periods between children help us with age estimates when we have a family portrait. The portrait here shows three of the children (figure 1). We have a second potrait with all five children. The three older children in the back row are all girls. With single portraits we might have guessed he girl in he center could have been a by, but since they are all dressed alike, but there is no doubt that they are all girls. Note their center hair parts. The fact that the younger children in front are dressed differently suggests that they are boys. The child at he left could be a girl, there is nothing about his dress suggesting that he is a boy, but if he was a girl, surely he would be dressed like his sisters. We would guess hat he is 5 years old. Note he does not have a center part. This by the 80s was getting close to the time that most boys were breached so gender is an open question. The younger child is definitely a boy wearing a sailor-styled kilt suit.

Created: 10:31 AM 2/17/2025
Last updated: 3:32 PM 2/17/2025