Thursday 31 December 2015

Rev. Joseph Copeland by David Scott [carte de visite]

Photo details:

TitleRev. Joseph Copeland by David Scott
Date1874-75
CollectionGeorgina Auld nee Muir photo album
Digital IDapc-000080

Photo TypeCarte de visite

Mount Size64 x 104 mm
Mount Thickness0.625 mm
Mount ColourWhite
Mount EdgesStraight
Mount CornersSquare
Mount BorderNone

Image Size60 x 95 mm
TechnologyAlbumen
Features

Front ImprintSmall lettering
Back ImprintLarge sized, text and script



Front face
Rear face

Front face:

Rev. Joseph Copeland by David Scott (front face) [Auld Photograph Collection apc-000080-s1]
Larger version on Flickr


Photographers imprint on the front face reads:
David Scott. Sydney.

Rear face:

Rev. Joseph Copeland by David Scott (rear face) [Auld Photograph Collection apc-000080-s2]


Imprint on rear face is medium sized and includes both text and script. Inscription of the text reads as:

BY APPOINTMENT PHOTOGRAPHER TO H.R.H. The Duke of Edinburgh, K.G.
Artist Photographer
140, PITT STREET,
SYDNEY,
Opposite Mort's Passage.
David Scott,
SUCCESSOR TO WILLIAM BRADLEY.
[top medal] AGRICULTURAL SOCIETY OF NEW SOUTH WALES
[bottom left medal] VICTORIA ... ALBERTUS ... MDCCCLI
[bottom right medal] ...CIS CONCORDI PACE LIGAVIT
MEDALS AWARDED LONDON & SYDNEY
Exhibitions.
Portraits in Crayon from Life or copied from Photographs
CASH ON DELIVERY.

See David Scott, 140 Pitt Street, Sydney [Photographers] for more information on when David Scott operated his photographic studio from 140 Pitt Street Sydney, As discussed in that post, the documentary evidence based solely on the information provided on the back imprint dates the photo between the twelve year period 1869-80.

Card Stock and Image Size:

The square corners on this carte de visite indicate a pre-1870 date, but the full image size was not used until 1874 and onwards. Based on this information we can refine the date range down to a seven year period 1874-80.

Background research:

Additional background research undertaken by +Paul Cooper into the lives of the Goodlet and Copeland families has revealed that Rev. Joseph Copeland, his wife Elizabeth and their three children arrive in Sydney from the New Hebrides on 29 September 1873. In April the following year Rev. Copeland returned to the New Hebrides, but then returned again in December 1874. Accompanied by his wife Elizabeth and two of their children, the Copelands departed for the New Hebrides in April 1875. Based on the other Copeland family member portraits taken by photographer David Scott (in particular his wife Elizabeth Copeland), it is assumed that the photos were taken at the same time.

Taking into account all of the above information it is estimated that the photograph was taken in early 1874.

Tuesday 8 December 2015

Trove Tuesday : 143 Station Road Silkstone

Searching through the Pictures, photos, objects collection on Trove today I came across an old 1890s photograph of John Livingstone AULD, his wife Susannah AULD nee MILLS, and five of their children. Interesting the photograph is taken outside their home located at 143 Station Road in Silkstone (Ipswich, Queensland).

John and Susannah Auld at their home at 143 Station Road, Silkstone, Ipswich, 1890
Image courtesy of Picture Ipswich, Ipswich City Council

The description included with the image Metadata states:

The Auld family previously lived at ‘Waterstown’, Hill Street, North Ipswich and West Moreton paddock (Swanbank) and Thompson Street, Silkstone. Auld was a partner in the Aberdare Coal Mine at Ipswich. He was also a prolific poet with many of his poems appearing in the Brisbane newspapers. One of his poems is reproduced in Ray Whitmore’s book ‘Coal in Queensland’.

A direct link to the entry on Trove can be found here.

Does the house still exist?


A search using Google Street View can reveal the current status of a house. In this case, navigating to the street address and turning on street view reveals a house of similar structure to the one captured in the photograph of 1890.

143 Station Road
Google Street View - image captured March 2014

Viewing from different angles from the road, although not clear in the above screenshot, shows the three dark doors, veranda[h], as well as the unique wooden crosses on the front wall.

Research into the Land Titles could also reveal further information about when they purchased and how long the AULD family owned the property. A good starting point for land research in Queensland can be found at State Library of Queensland - Land records ...but that is a task for another day.

Tuesday 1 December 2015

Trove Tuesday: John Auld v Penny and Mason

Scottish born John Wallace AULD arrived Williamstown Victoria in 1852 on-board the Emigrant. A journeyman baker by trade, John was a fully qualified baker who had served the required apprenticeship and mastered the trade of baker and then became self employed. In 1855 he married Jane FAIR.

In the same year that John arrived in Victoria, gold had been discovered to the north around Beechworth. This was the start of the Ovens gold rush. Previously undertaken research revealed that by 1857 John AULD had established himself as a baker in Sebastopol Flat and was listed in the trade directory The Oven’s Directory. The how and why he ended up around Beechworth was a mystery, but it was assumed he joined the many thousands who had traveled north with the prospect of a secure job.

As more and more new regional newspapers are added to the fantastic resources of Trove, it is worth remembering to check those new resources from time to time with the prospect of finding that rare piece of alluvial information.

Beechworth Country Court

With the regional newspaper that covers the Beechworth area, the Ovens and Murray Advertiser includes a rare glimpse of what John AULD was up to during the 1855-1857 period.


BEECHWORTH COUNTRY COURT. (1858, September 20). Ovens and Murray Advertiser (Beechworth, Vic. : 1855 -1918), p. 2.  Retrieved November 30, 2015, from http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article112898271

According to the court report of Saturday 18 September 1858, John AULD appeared as the plaintiff attempting to reclaim unpaid wages whilst working as a journeyman baker.

John Auld v Penny and Mason.
An action to recover 86l 5s.
Mr Clarke for plaintiff.
Mr Mayne for defendant.
Plaintiff deposed that he had been engaged as journeyman baker to defendant at the rate of £5 per week. Served 22 weeks and received on account £5 in cash, a gold watch valued at £17, and a violin worth 35s, this left the balance to recover which this action had been brought.
Mr Mayne for the defence contended that plaintiff had been a partner in the concern ; plaintiff himself admitted that when he was engaged, he was offered a share in the business so soon as his wages amounted to £100; his reply at the time was that he should like to become a partner but had no money.
His Honor without hearing evidence for the defence found for the defendant.
Mr Clarke gave notice that he should move for a new trial.

The result from the first hearing was the judge found for the defendant. Three days later on Tuesday 21 September, John AULD appeared before the judge again moving for a new trial...

BEECHWORTH COUNTY COURT. (1858, September 22). Ovens and Murray Advertiser (Beechworth, Vic. : 1855 -1918), p. 3. Retrieved November 30, 2015, from http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article112898326

Unfortunately the judge didn't see the same and upheld his initial decision. 

Auld v Penny and Mason
Mr. Clarke moved for a new trial in this case on the ground, that there had been no sufficient proof of the existence of a partnership between the parties. At the very outside Mr. Clarke contended it could only be shown that there was some talk of a partnership being entered into when the plaintift's wages should amount to £100, but they had never amounted to that sum, for although he had remained in the service of defendant for twenty two weeks he had received by cash &c., £23 5s. It was also clearly proven that plaintiff had been invariably treated as a servant, and not as a partner.

Mr. Clarke also submitted that even supposing that the plaintiff had at any time intended to form a partnership with defendant he had a perfect right to repudiate his bargain.

Mr. Mayne having been heard on the opposite side, His Honor said that he saw no reason to alter the decision which had been given in the case on Saturday. It was very clear that Auld had intended to form a partnership, and there could be no doubt that if the business had paid he would have considered himself a partner. He admitted that he might have told people that he was a partner, and this admission when upled with his demeanour whilst making it, evidently meant that he had told people so.

Besides, why was such a long period as two years suffered to elapse before taking proceedings to recover the amount ?
New trial refused with costs £2 4s 6d.

Although the decision was against John AULD, it does give an insight into what he was doing during this period. More to the point, it highlights the importance of rechecking your sources in this digital age when more and more new information is been constantly added.