Sunday 31 July 2016

William MUSSON boat photo on Belfast Styx river - Sepia Saturday


My photo for this week's Sepia Saturday theme is of my great-great-grandfather, William MUSSON (centre), taken at Belfast, on the Styx river which runs along the northern boundary of Christchurch, New Zealand.

Written on the back of the photo was "from right Lester Clarke, William Musson"

The photographer was F. W. Hulme, Avon photographer, 21 Byron St, Sydenham, Christchurch, New Zealand. 

William MUSSON migrated to New Zealand from Leicestershire, England in 1861.

On the 7th of November, 1865 at Rangiora Parish Church, William married Catherine MUNTON nee BIRD, the widow of his friend, Thomas MUNTON.

Catherine and William MUSSON are buried in the Belfast cemetery.
Catherine died age 76 in 1904. 
William in 1917 at the age of 85 years.
They were survived by two daughters and two sons. 
The youngest son, James Christopher MUSSON, was my great grandfather.

There are more very similar photos by F.W. Hulme at Canterbury photography blog


Read more No 341 Sepia Saturday posts HERE

17 comments:

  1. How interesting! It looks like someone is watching from the point. I have quite a simiar photograph of my grandmother and her siblings boating and have akways assumed it was on the Avon in Christchurch, but perhaps it was on the Styx instead.

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    1. Jo it may well have been the Styx. There are more very similar photos by F.W. Hulme at Canterbury photography blog http://canterburyphotography.blogspot.com.au/2008/11/f-w-hulme-christchurch.html

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    2. Thanks Kerryn, they do look very similar. I prised the photograph from the album cover that it was stuck onto and discovered that it was a post card (blank). I also hadn't realised before I did this that one person has sadly been cut off, with only a fraction of her hat remaining visible. I don't know why, as it could well have been my grandmother's other sister Ruby. Any details that there might have been of place or photographer have been cut off on the reverse side. You can see the photo I'm referring to here : https://1.bp.blogspot.com/--YN0tPmr3ks/V5686bZv3aI/AAAAAAABlAU/Au-51k0s26o8ECc0QM-TFJ9EE_sfb6KoACLcB/s1600/Forbes%2Bfamily%2Bboating.jpg

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    4. With so many the same it may be that the boat on the river was a photo prop do you think?

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  2. There they are in their coats and neckties...

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    1. weird isn't it. They obviously weren't expecting to get wet :)

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  3. How interesting, the Munton and Musson names would have been confusing to me, so I'm glad you've good good records!

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  4. Did they name the man on the far left? I can imagine being in this photo, as opposed to those in caves. shudder.

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    1. No name for the man on the left unfortunately Kristin. I agree, those caves scare me too!

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  5. A great match for this weekend's theme. I checked out your link to the photographer's history and was surprised at the many similar photos. Clearly it was a popular place for recreational rowing as I didn't see any fishing rods. Nor any bear bottles!

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    1. I'm wondering if the boats were a prop/set for the photos and they weren't actually out rowing :)

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  6. It sure does appear someone waits beneath that tree back there! And at least the one fellow (Lester) was smart - shucking his jacket & rolling up his sleeves.

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    1. and he looks like he is thigh deep in the water! You would have to wonder why :)

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  7. You nailed the theme. And you threw in a guy hip deep in water to boot!

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  8. Three Men in a Boat- an excellent book!

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