A Surprise Discovery

My oldest photograph is one of my most precious genealogical treasures. It is one that I discovered quite by chance while looking for something else in my mother's sideboard. It took me quite by surprise when I found a little parcel, wrapped in soft cloth, tucked away safely in the back of the sideboard drawer. Immediately, I had the sense that this small parcel must have contained something very precious to my mother. 

I unwrapped it carefully to see that it contained a very old, well-worn and somewhat damaged small box, approximately 8cm x 9cm x 1.5cm. 

It appeared to be covered in a very fine, deep red leather that was quite scratched and scarred - bearing the hallmarks of its age. On the side I noted two very small gold latches safely securing the contents of the little box. Opening the latches carefully I was surprised to see the darkened image of a man with a rather distinguished, aristocratic face peering at me from a gold frame surrounded with a gold rope-like trim and set in a rich red velour case. At first, I wasn't sure whether I was looking at a painting or a photograph, as I'd never seen anything like it in real life before.

The contents of the mystery parcel. 

And so.... the research began. What was the item I had discovered? What was it's significance if any to my family? Who was the person whose image I was seeing? 

Though I wasn't precisely sure, I had an inkling I might be in the presence of a photographic treasure of days long gone. So, my search began by exploring early forms of photography. After some extensive research I was quite sure that the little treasure I found was in fact a daguerreotype, the earliest form of photography practical to be produced commercially,  which captured highly detailed images in ways that had never previously been achieved. They were first invented by Louis Daguerre in 1839 and used in Europe and America throughout 1840 and 1850, but continued to be used in Canada up until 1860.

What is a daguerreotype?

https://asc.ucalgary.ca/photohistory/daguerreotypes/

Having decided on the answer to what the item was, I then concentrated my thoughts on its significance to my family, if any, and on who the person was in the photograph.

This part of the mystery was somewhat easier to resolve through conversations with my mother. Mum was able to explain to me that when her paternal aunts, with whom she lived as a child in Perth, moved from their home into aged care in the late 1980's, they made sure that she and her brother each received some special family mementos that they were unable to take with them to their new home. 

The little red box was given to Mum and described as being the image of their grandfather's father. This meant that it was a photograph of Andrew William Hood (1816-1881) who was born in Newfoundland and died in Montreal, Quebec, Canada. It had been brought to Australia by his son Robert Hood (1848-1929) when he left his family in Canada and journeyed across the ocean to a new life in Australia in 1869. Robert must have known that he would have little chance of seeing his family again and so, this small photograph of his father would have been a very precious memento.

Hood Family Tree from my mother, showing her paternal line to her great grandfather Robert Hood who travelled to Australia in 1869 and then to Andrew William Hood, her 2x great grandfather, the person in the photograph.

The daguerreotype photograph of Andrew William Hood circa 1860,
 Montreal, Quebec Canada. Family collection.

What truly amazes me about this image is that I can see such a strong family resemblance between this photograph of Andrew William Hood and many of the Hood family members living to the present time, over 160 years later. I particularly see a strong likeness to my Uncle Raymond, Mum's brother, as well as to my mother herself. There is little doubt that the family genes are very strong. 

One reason I particularly enjoy this daguerreotype is that it provides me with a new and different insight into my ancestor. I have read many records about Andrew William Hood's life, from census and vital records, to work related documents, notarial records and newspaper articles. These documents have helped me to know that he was a businessman, a merchant in the busy cities of Quebec and Montreal. He owned a soap and candle factory, a packaging company and a soap and candle shop. I've  discovered that he built a hotel which provided work places on the lower floor and accommodation on the first floor. 

Andrew William Hood was also a husband and father. He had six children with his first wife Margaret Adams (1818-1856) and a further seven children with his second wife Mary Anne White (1830-1911). He was a man of strong Christian belief and was prominent in the Methodist Church community in Montreal. 

However, it was not until I first saw this image of Andrew William Hood, that I truly felt I had a stronger connection to him. I felt more able to place him into his community and and into the context of his time.