LINCOLNSHIRE MOSSOP PHOTOGRAPHS

These photographs have been contributed by a descendant of Robert and Mary Elizabeth Mossop.   There is little identification and we would be very pleased if anyone could help to date them more accurately such as by the style of dress or by the persons themselves if known.   

A FAMILY WEDDING IN VICTORIAN TIMES

The tall gentleman centre stage is surely a younger version of Robert Mossop (1805 - 1882), Solicitor of Long Sutton, Lincolnshire, pictured right.   It is not his own wedding to Mary Elizabeth Peele in 1829 as that would be before the general photographic era and he looks older than the 24 years he would have been at that time.

It is presumed therefore that he is the Father of the Bride and that the groom is probably the younger gentleman standing to the left of the bride, holding his top hat.  On the other hand, the bride could be the only lady seated and the groom the gentleman standing prominently on the right who appears to have a hand on her shoulder and to be holding a bridal bouquet.  There appear to be at least eight bridesmaids all attired similarly to the bride.  Although the foliage and parasol suggest a summer's day, the young ladies are heavily cloaked.  Was this the fashion of a particular era?   By then Robert would be established as an important local personage which his daughter's wedding would reflect.   Robert is wearing an old fashioned tail coat whilst the younger men are wearing the incoming frock coats.

Robert's daughters married as below:-

LOUISA to Thomas Henry Rule between August and October 1857 when the bride was aged 20, the groom 24 and Robert 52.

MARY to Revd. Stewart George Holland on 18 April 1865 when the bride was aged 23, the groom 26 and Robert 60.

AMELIA to George Skelton on 6 July 1869 when the bride was aged 20, the groom 28 and Robert 64.

JULIA to Arthur Skelton on 4 June 1874 when the bride was aged 27, the groom 31 and Robert 69.

ELIZABETH ANNIE to Richard Price Davis between April and June 1876 when the bride was aged 22, the groom 23 and Robert 71.

The Holland family from whom this photograph came say that although they have no photographs from this era none of the men appear to hold a family resemblance.

Below are enlarged sections of this photograph.   Whilst the images are not sharp they may bring out further detail.

                    PERSONS FEATURED LEFT                                                    THOSE FEATURED RIGHT

     REVD. GEORGE EDMUND HOLLAND

WITH WIFE AND DAUGHTER ABOUT 1904. 

SON OF REVD. STEWART HOLLAND AND MARY MOSSOP

REVD. STEWART GEORGE HOLLAND

            TAKEN c. 1877 AT AGE 39

Two more family portraits in the possession of the Holland family are given below

    LEFT: 

    G. G. MOSSOP - CANNES

    RIGHT:

    UNKNOWN YOUNG MAN

The portrait on the left is painted onto a brooch.   On a backing card is pencil written "G. G. Mossop - Cannes".   We know of no Mossop of this family with the initials G.G.   Could it stand for Great Grandfather?   If so, whose?   This family had connections with Cannes through Robert Mossop's sister Catherine (1801 - 1894) who married Thomas Robinson Woolfield (1800 - 1888) one of the primary developers of the resort so it is quite likely that a member of the family visited them there.   Does the style of dress indicate who and when it might have been?   It appears that Thomas arrived in Cannes in 1838 after Catherine's father, Rev. John Mossop, died in 1834 at the age of 80 so it is unlikely to be a portrait of him, unless very flattering, as it appears to be a much younger man.  

The photograph on the right is likely to be one of the large Mossop family of Long Sutton but there is no indication of which one.

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