Way back in January of 2011, I received 4 portraits from my mother. She had received them from her mother, many years before, and had no idea who the people were. I have since solved the mystery of the identity of two of the people. I had affectionately called them Liverpool Man and Liverpool Woman. Below is the original blog post about the portraits.
These photographs were found in the cedar chest of my grandma, Ellen "Nell" Johnstone Borgreen. She had no recollection of who these people might be. The two Burrell and Hardman portraits, which I've affectionately dubbed Liverpool Man and Woman, might be identifiable and I've made efforts to contact the curators of their collection. I'm just waiting to hear back. The two older framed portraits are much more a mystery to me. The woman's portrait says "Ellen" on the back. I don't think the name "Ellen" refers to Grandma though. Grandma's godmother's name was Ellen, according to her baptismal certificate. I'm hoping and wondering if this might be the godmother, Ellen Coleman, who I suspect was the sister of Grandma's mother, Mary Alice Coleman Johnstone. The man has a familiar family resemblance. When I first saw this portrait I thought he looked like one of Grandma's brothers. Grandma's godfather's name was Thomas Coleman. I've long suspected that he might be Mary Alice's brother. But I have no proof. The fact that these portraits were found together, similarly framed and the same size would lead me to think they might be related, somehow. Such a mystery. So much fun to try to figure out.
http://theycametomontana.blogspot.com/2011/01/mystery-mondaywho-have-we-here.html
The following is a Facebook post from 8 Apr 2019
"So the mystery of two of these folks has been solved. Today I got an envelope from Uncle Johnny. In it was an old letter and a funeral card. The large portraits are of John J. Murphy and his wife Ellen "Nellie" Coleman Murphy. I still need a few supporting documents, but I believe she is Mary Alice Coleman Johnstone's sister. Huge thanks to Uncle Johnny, for sending it to me. There was a bit of shrieking and jumping in my house, today."
John J. Murphy Funeral Card
23 Mount Merrion Ave.
Blackrock
Co. Dublin
March 7, 1951
My Dear Nellie,
I can't tell you how I felt when I got your letter, telling me of your mother death. I just had to put on my hat and coat and go into Maureen and I stayed nearly a week. I am in a flat. It is a great change for me. I needn't tell you and at times I get so lonely. I just don't know what to do with myself. Uncle Jack died two years ago on the 24 Feb. He was ill two years and most of the time he was in a nursing home and for the rest of the time I had two nurses in the house. It was a terrible time and the Allenswood was sold and everything in it. I stayed with Maureen for a time and then I got this place. It is some distant from the city. The girls were very upset about your mother R.I.P. I will have some masses said. Maureen has four children and Annette has two and they will write you. Are all the family still in Great Falls. I did not tell the girls what your mother died of and if they write you need not say what is was as it might only worrie [sic] them. I did not tell her age. I thought I would mention it in case they might ask you. I don't know how many times I was going to write to your mother but I was so upset I couldn't seem to do it and by the way I sent you quite a lot of photoes [sic] Annette wedding and Maureen's and I never heard whether you ever got them or not and I would like to know. My brother in law was here from Cork this week and we all had lunch in the hotel. He was very ill after Uncle Jack died. I think it was shock and his sister died a few months before Uncle Jack so that is the third in two years. Is Kathleen still in Great Falls.
I think this is all I have to tell you for this time and I hope to hear from you again soon. I am taking your address in to Maureen and Annette tomorrow so you will hear from them.
So for the present good by--Nellie and remember me to all the rest of the family.
With fondest love,
Aunty
16 Aug 2021I was completely satisfied with this information but things just got better. Yesterday, I went to a family memorial service and while in that town, I stopped in to visit with Uncle Johnny. Completely unexpectedly, he handed me a little gift bag. In it were a series of old portraits, snapshots and a post card. I turned over the largest portrait of two young girls and saw my grandmother's handwriting on the back. In blue ink it says "Cousins in Ireland Annette and Maureen Murphy" and in black ink the date "1935". All the items in the gift bag had the date "1935" written in black ink and the identifying information written in blue ink. The photo captions are as they appear on the back of each photo. All the photos can not be from 1935 as there is a photo of Ellen Coleman Murphy and her daughter, Maureen who appears to be about 2 years old. Then there are photos showing Maureen at approximately 12 years old but also marked "1935". I wonder if this collection of photos didn't arrive in Montana in 1935.
Cousins in Ireland Annette and Maureen Murphy "1935"
(I believe Maureen is the older girl)
Auntie Nell and Maureen in Ireland "1935"
(I believe that Maureen was born around 1920)
Auntie Nell, Ireland
Taylor Photo Company
Aug 29, 1935
This photo was developed just 5 days after the New York post card was mailed. Was Ellen Coleman Murphy in New York when this photo was taken?
Auntie Nell, Maureen and Annette in Ireland "1935"
Aunt Nell, Maureen and Annette Ireland, Mom's sister, Murphy "1935"
Uncle Jack, Auntie Nell's Home Ireland "1935"
In another's handwriting
Front of Achnacarry
sending large one later
Uncle Jack, Dublin Ireland "1935"
Post Mark New York, N. Y. 24 Aug 1935
To: Mrs. W. H. Johnstone, 1701 11th Ave. South, Great Falls, Montana, U. S. A.
Saturday, Hope you got the wire alright. ? will get word from the bank about Monday. I sent on your Return fare and I learned that the top sleeper was cheaper than the lower one. Will expect a wire when you leave Great Falls and I hope you enjoy the trip. Love from all here.
(this handwriting matches the writing on the letter sent in 1951. It appears to be from Ellen Coleman Murphy to her sister, Mary Alice Coleman Johnstone)
Woolworth Building, New York
What I know, so far, Ellen Coleman is the sister of Mary Alice Coleman, my great grandmother. Their parents were Stephen Coleman (1850-1908) and Mary Carberry (1856-1932). Ellen Coleman married John Joseph Murphy in the late 19 teens or early 1920's. They had two daughters, Maureen the elder who's birth and death information is unknown and Annette the younger daughter. Annette was born in 1926 in Co. Dublin, Ireland. She married Timothy Lynch and they had 9 children. Annette died in 2002 in Dublin, Ireland. The search for information regarding Maureen continues. In the 1951 letter, Ellen Coleman Murphy mentions that Maureen had 4 children and Annette had 2. I will search for birth, marriage and death information on Maureen to try to locate cousins who may be living.
