These two gorgeous photos are of Mary Jane Middlebrook ( nee Rea) and her daughter Ellen Winifred Middlebrook.( My Great Great, and Great Grandmothers)
Mary Jane Rea married Samuel Middlebrook at “Riversdale” in Katikati on 23rd May 1882
They had 6 children of whom Ellen was the third, being born in 1887.
I loved how similar the poses were in these photos and how alike Mother and Daughter look, though is it just my imagination or does Mary Jane look a little like she has more of a “wild” personality than her more proper looking daughter. I personally think the Irish rose certainly shines through in Mary Jane’s photo, with the choker and the slightly ruffled hair and the eyes gazing into space as if imagining all the better things she could be doing rather than posing for a photograph.
I am however most grateful she did pose as this, so far is the only photo of Mary Jane that we know of.
