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

52 Ancestors week 22 - School commencement

I first attended Gowrie Street Primary School, Shepparton in 1964.  

I'm in the front row, right hand side of the board, stretching my arms out.

The photo below is of Myrtleford State School grade 3 & 4 possibly about 1947.  

My mum, Joan Fleming, is far right in the back row and her sister Margaret is first left in the back row.

Below is a school photo for my maternal grandfather, Archie Fleming, who attended King Valley State School.  

He is far right in back row and would have been eleven years old in 1920.

My Dad started school in 1945 at Girgarre East Primary school in Northern Victoria and as the family moved around nearly every twelve months he attended many schools.

I don't have any school photos for him

The admission date for my paternal grandfather to the primary school at Belfast  Canterbury, New Zealand was the 25th of September 1911.   

His father also attended Belfast school, as did his siblings.  

Below are some school reunion photos.

Belfast school reunion - my great grandfather, James Christopher MUSSON is in the back row,  just to the right of the centre door.

my grandfather's eldest sister, Jessie MUSSON is in the back row, the second lady from right with the white hat.

I'm still searching for more school records for my other grandparents.

  52 Ancestors Challenge 
  by Amy Johnson Crow at "No Story Too Small"