The Waterhouse Family

I came across a series of interesting old photographs being offered for sale on ebay and just had to do some research on them. A few of the photographs had received bids and some hadn't. It looked inevitable that what appeared to be the contents of an old family photograph album were going to be broken up and scattered across the world. Sadly this is often the case with old albums which get thrown out during house clearances etc... wouldn't it be great to reunite the photographs with their descendants.... hopefully by placing the images on here together with some research descendants may find the information...

Above is an informal Studio portrait of Theresa Waterhouse (born 15th October 1872) in Kensington London. She was the 2nd eldest of four daughters and two sons of a successful Accountant Edwin Waterhouse (b 1841 Aigburth in Liverpool) and his wife Georgina (nee Thol)(Image Below). Sadly in April 1883 and more than likely at the time this portrait was taken Theresa had lost her older sister Agnes Mary who died at the age of 12. In 1881 the family were living at a fashionable residence at 13 Hyde Park Street, London. At the time of writing this blog, this photo was subject of an individual auction on ebay with the bidding at.. (£16.75) Such a pity that this collection of fabulous family photographs will be scattered worldwide. The image was taken (circa mid to late 1880's) at the studio of Hayman Seleg Mendelssohn (1847-1908), Photographer/ Born in Germany, Hayman Seleg Mendelssohn spent his youth in Poland. He fled to England for political reasons, where he began a photographic career, working for Daniel Downey in Newcastle upon Tyne. Mendelssohn subsequently set up his own studio there in 1873, first on Oxford Street and then on Northumberland Street. He moved to London in 1883, establishing studios on Cathcart Road, South Kensington, and Pembridge Crescent, Bayswater. A member of the Royal Photographic Society from 1884, Mendelssohn was also a founder member of the Professional Photographers Association.

Above is a portrait dated 1869 of Theresa's mother Georgina Emma Catherine Thol, born on 30th Oct 1848 in Kennington, Surrey. The daughter of Johann Thol, a merchant born in Germany. This portrait may well have been taken to mark Georgina's 21st birthday.