Welcome to The Briercliffe Society Forum

Whenever one finds pictures of potential family members, the thing that we most want is - of course - for them to definitely be 'ours'. Which is why I don't feel qualified to undertake this task on a photograph that's just come into my hands.

If anyone fancies the challenge, then read on (dot dot dot)

Sarah Kippax from Haggate (look, it's relevant!) had 12 grandchildren by her youngest son Alfred. Four of them were girls: Florence (b.1898), Olive (b.1903), Amy (b.1908) and Dolly (b.1913). Now, Dolly married in August 1936, so we have a photo of that. Olive was her bridesmaid, so there we have her, too. Now, there's a third girl at the wedding, on the 'Dolly' side of the crowd. She certainly looks like one of the family, but perhaps a little older. I always fancied her as either Florence or Amy, but I've never wanted to say for certain. Am I deceiving myself? What do you think?

Secondly, I do have a photo of Amy. Not sure when it's taken though, but it's sometime before 1938 (which is when she died). Now, she married in 1936, but until now I've not a photograph of this. However, I've recently received a photo that shows a wedding around 1936. It has two Bray brothers at it, but I'm not necessarily convinced that it *is* a Bray wedding. Nevertheless, there's a girl in it standing next to two of the brothers. She's not dressed for a wedding, but there she is on the right hand side of the file included with this. I apologise for the poor quality, but I do see quite a lot of Amy in her. Again, what do you - unbiased people - think?

I can post some photos of the brothers (and the parents) if it would be felt to be of any use...

I don't see Amy in her Stephen. If anyone, I see Olive.
I also see a likeness between your unknown Bray and Olive.

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Mel

Searching for lost relatives? Win the Lottery!

I agree with Mel, I think there is a likeness with Olive. Not sure about the likeness between "unknown" and Olive though.

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Gloria

I'd be dangerous with a brain.

Do you know, anywhere else I'd be embarassed at asking people to join in with such geekery, but here it just feels kinda natural. Thank you for your contributions, Mel and Gloria!

I see what you mean about Olive and the blurry "Amy" - the cheekbones and suchlike like right, don't they? But perhaps that's a family resemblance, rather than anything else. The "Amy" photograph isn't taken more than a year either side of the Olive one, and she does look very different in the two photos, I think.

Unknown Bray and Olive I also agree with. I think Unknown looks like she has a few years on Olive, too, which would fit in nicely.

A shame Amy was wearing a hat when she had her photo taken - it makes it very hard to try and work out what she actually looks like!

It was more the eye sockets than the cheek bones for me.

I'm sure you will find that your question is one we have all pondered at one time or another where old photos are concerned. I try to see the hands on old photos. My mums side of the family seem to have a slightly curved little finger, both hands. First thing mum looked at when any of us were born (inc. grandchildren) was the little finger. No kids my way but I do search the old photos looking for its origins.

We are all geeks in one way or another!!

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Mel

Searching for lost relatives? Win the Lottery!

Have you looked in the Burnley Express wedding section for the August 1936 marriage? You might find a wedding photo with the names of the people.

Also, you should look through the obituaries as you might find a photo of Amy.

Leaver,

Unfortunately, when Sarah Kippax moved away, she really did move far away - first to Holmfirth and then, with her Yorkshire husband, to Liverpool. Her son Alfred had his kids - including Dolly, Amy, Florence and Olive - in the Waterloo and Seaforth areas on the outskirts.

I did once look up an obiturary in a 1976 edition of the local paper in those areas, but there was no photo there, and I wouldn't expect there to be for any earlier dates, either. It's just not something that the paper was very 'into'...

Cracking suggestion, though!

I think the unknown Bray looks like Dolly - it's the mouth & the nose

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Maureen
If you can't fight, wear a big 'at

Thanks Portia!

I definitely want to say that the two are sisters - especially judging by the fact "Unknown" is at Dolly's wedding! I think the impartial advice of the people on this board has decided this 'fact' for me