Among the pictures in the box of family pictures was this handsome gentleman. Written on the back:
"Robert Richardson
(father of Thomas Richardson
who married Mary Curtis)"
From my untrained eye, the photo seems to be an ambrotype (1855-1865).
Robert and Sarah had a son Thomas Richardson born 27 October 1837 in Québec City. I have not found any marriage of him to to anyone, let along a Mary Curtis.
Robert and Harriet had a son Robert who lived less than a year (August 1846 - 13 April 1847).
Maybe, there was another son of Robert who produced a grandson named Thomas who married Mary Curtis. With a large family you'd expect some potential candidates.
Robert had 14 children with his two wives, at least 5 children made it to adulthood and 6 are known to have died in childhood. There are potential possibilities of fathers for the Robert shown in the photo: Thomas (b. 1837), Charles (b. 1848), Frederick (b. 1852), Arthur Henry (b. 1855). But age wise, any of these sons having a son Robert as early who was an adult to fit the dates of the picture seems improbable. Their brother, my Great Great Grandfather William, did not have any son named Robert.
Clearly, this was someone possibly connected to my Richardson family who had very few pictures of family members. Cousin in Canada? Cousin in USA? Cousin in Ireland?
Maybe our Robert had a not-yet-identified brother, who had a son Robert with a son Thomas?
Another possible clue: when I was researching my William Richardson (pictured in 4-generation picture above), son of Robert Richardson and Sarah Allen, I contacted the Bank of Montreal. The Archives shared their records of William and mentioned a Robert Richardson who also worked for the bank.
Any information will be gratefully accepted as I try to figure out my Richardson family.
And if Robert Richardson above is your ancestor, maybe we are cousins!
