In theory this is an illustration for a novel that has been an ongoing project for decades. They’re practicing for a dance at their midsummer festival. The lady in the purple dress is a character called Amelia Bliss. All of the characters have names that I’ve come across while researching my family history.
In 1871, my great grandfather was lodging with a woman and her daughter. The first transcription I found said that she was Mrs Bliss. Later updates show that she was Mrs Elliss. I was disappointed, but looked for a real Amelia Bliss anyway. The one I found, of about the right age, went on to die aged 25. It’s much easier to find info about people who aren’t my relatives.
My great grandfather was particularly elusive; he was a widower in one 1871 transcription but married in the later version. He’s nowhere to be found in 1861 or 1881, but he was in the merchant navy so could have been anywhere. In 1891 he’s a lodger (or visitor?) at his son’s/ my grandfather’s house. They both worked at the Woolwich Arsenal. His gravestone in Norwich describes him as the beloved son of Isaac and Rebecca Daines, no mention of anyone else.
berry daines 