Nearly one year ago, I messaged a DNA match on Ancestry.com. She appeared to be a descendant of Rosey Hyde, my 2nd great-grandaunt. Rosey has always been of particular interest to me because of the circumstances of her birth, life, relationship with her sister (my 2nd great-grandmother Alice Hyde), marriages, and death.
Finding a living descendant of Rosey completely disproved what my Grandma told me about Rosey – that she was a gay barber who had no children. In fairness to Grandma, she was completely cut off from this side of her family when she was very young. She had a few memories of Rosey, but they were from her first 9 years of life, with no further contact after that time.
Not only was Rosey not childless, and apparently not gay, but she had two daughters and raised a third who was likely a grandchild. She did cut hair, so at least that part was correct. 😉
Well, that DNA match responded to my message. We have corresponded over the last year sharing photos, stories, and details.
A few weeks ago, she emailed me and asked if I would like a photo of Rosey for my archive. !!!
OF COURSE, I WOULD!
As a very important aside – cousins, I ALWAYS want any photo, story, document, record image, or tidbit you are willing to share. My email address is on the sidebar over there. 👉🏻 Bring it on, cousins!
I responded that I would very much like to have an image of Rosey for my archive. She was headed off on an adventure and said she would send it to me when she got back.
She did just that.
When I opened that email and looked at a photo of Rosey, knowing that is was FOR SURE Rosey, well, be still my heart, suddenly this woman I have spent so much time researching and trying to understand has a face. A beautiful face that looks so much like her sister’s face.
Thank you, dear cousin, for sharing this treasure, and for giving me permission to share it here. I am so grateful.
And now readers, what do you think? Is this photo I suspect to be Rosey in 1914 the same woman as the Rosey that I know for sure is Rosey?
Happy Thursday, I wish you many wonderful cousin connections that lead to the joyful sharing of photos! xoxo
She’s beautiful! I reckon you’re spot on, it’s definitely your Rosey in the image. I LOVE seeing images of relatives I have spent a tonne of time on…best feeling ever!
Thank you, Emily. And thank you for the input! I’ll be interested to see what the consensus is after a few days. 😉
How wonderful! Yes, I think it is the same woman in the wedding photo, though the nose looks a bit wider in the top photo. But they say our noses and ears keep growing over time. Definitely worthy of the happy dance!
Thank you, Amy! I wish the angle of the two photos were more similar, but it’s what I have to work with. 😉 The one thing this is teaching me, is that unknown photographs don’t always have to stay unknown – we just need a wide net, a few clues, and some distant cousins to share with. Now here’s hoping that Cathy and I can compare some additional photos to help nail this one down!
I’m not sure if they are the same woman or not. Rosey’s nose is wider, as Amy pointed out, but the mouth seems narrower on the bride and the bride’s lips look less full, too. It’s too bad the veil is hiding her hair and eyebrows.
Thank you for the input, Linda. I’m not convinced either. I’m hoping for a larger sampling of photos for a better comparison. Part of the reasons I *think* the wedding photo may be of Rosey are: 1 – the grouping of photos it was found with and who owned them, 2 – the era of the photo matches Rosey’s wedding date and no one else in this part of my family, 3 – a different descendant of Rosey recognizes the photo and thinks she also has a copy (and is planning to dig out her old photos and have a look). Not conclusive by any means, but together those tidbits had me leaning toward it being Rosey. Now, as you say, the lips seem different enough that I am not sure. Although… if you zoom in on the bride’s lips, they do seem MUCH fuller up close than when you look at the picture as it is sized on my blog. Sigh. Hopefully I get some more photos to compare. 😉
Yes, I think they are the same woman. Lighting, veil, and aging can play tricks, but I see enough similarities to be convinced.
Thank you, Leslie! So far, I’m getting a mixed response, I’ll be interested to see if there is a consensus one way or another. 😉 I agree that the veil and lighting are not helping make a fair comparison.
Hmm…not sure. It would help to know the dates of both photos.
I agree! Although the wedding photo seems to line up with Rosey’s wedding to her second husband in 1914, I’m only basing that on the clues in the photo. The photo that is definitely Rosey didn’t come with a date. Maybe I can get one out of my cousin. 😉
She’s beautiful and so is the photo! It seems to be the same woman, although it’s very hard to compare these two photos.
Thank you, Luanne! I agree, these aren’t great photos for comparing. I’ve asked Rosey’s great-granddaughter if she has any additional photos of Rosey that may help me make a better comparison. 🙂
I’m not sure what it is, but it’s difficult.
I think the veil is a big part of it. Bummer. At least it’s a beautiful veil. 😉
It’s difficult to tell but they do resemble each other. Maybe a side by side with the top one and the bottom one with only the face of the bride would help, Amberly. It’s wonderful you were able to find Rosey’s descendant with DNA!
Thank you, Cathy! I’ve asked if she has any additional photos of Rosey so I have more to use to compare. I’m hoping she does! 🙂
I hope so too!
I was looking closely at the wedding photo and the curved line running from the right side of her nose down toward her chin. I don’t see anything similar in the top photo, but that one appears to have been retouched when it was hand-colored. And the nose seems different, too. I’d lean towards not the same woman, though there are similarities.
Thank you for the input, Eilene! I appreciate it. I’ve asked my cousin if she has any additional known photos of Rosey so I can compare, I haven’t heard back yet, but I’m hoping she does. 🙂