Hanson & Allen Families
Allen & Hanson Old Family Photo Album
This old photo album was left to Aroha Allen, of Foxton, by her father, Eric Allen, in turn the oldest son of Frederick Allen, eldest son of George Frederic Allen (GFA). It may have been passed directly from GFA to Eric, as other family members were unaware of it. It appears to have been given to GFA's future wife, Caroline Hanson, as a Christmas present in 1862, shortly before she sailed for New Zealand to marry GFA. For that reason it contained photos of both families.
GFA seems to have been the one responsible for removing some of the old photos, trimming them down and then gluing them onto the back and front of the album. This was apparently done to make room for later photos. Fortunately he compensated for this by writing so much detail onto the back of the other photos, without which the family would be much the poorer in regards to genealogical information.
One couple seems to have been lost in the process. This was Mr and Mrs Burmann, who are now unknown. All that remains is their names where their photos once were.
Some photos to come...
Page 1 - To "Carrie F. Hanson, with her father and mother's kind love - December 25th 1862"
The photos glued inside the front cover are presumed to be Maria Allen, nee Day, and her brother Thomas Day. These photos would have been removed from their original marked positions in the album.
Page 3 - Photos glued in are marked (a) "Carrie Hanson", (b) "Mrs Hanson", (c) "Tom Hanson", (d) "Maude Hanson".
Page 4 - Photo removed (to front?) marked "Maria Allen, nee Day, my mother."
Page 5 - "Carrie Hanson". On the reverse of the photo, G.F. Allen has written: "Mrs Geo. Fred. Allen, sang solo at the first concert of Whanganui Choral Soc., Jan 24, 1864. She sang the second verse of Brightest and Best, Hymn by Bishop Heber, to Mendelssohn's Lieder ohne worte. I sang the third verse, This photo was taken in 1863, we were married on October 21, 1863." The number '23' is written below by GFA. The photographer is 'London Stereoscopic and Photographic Company, 54 Cheapside, London, & at 110 Regent St., sole photographer to the International Exhibition, 1862.'
Subsequent pages are as follows:
1. "Thomas Blagrove Day, my maternal grandfather." Reverse says "My mother's father, Thomas Blagrove Day, about 1860 (he died aged 96)". Photo by London Stereoscopic and Photographic Co.
2. "Thomas Day, my maternal uncle, son of the opposite". (Photo removed to front of album?)
3. "Harry Burmann" and "Mrs Burmann and Co." (Both photos missing)
4. "Mrs G.L. Hanson". Reverse says: "My mother-in-law, Mrs Geo. Lowdon (sic) Hanson (nee Surridge) about 1861." Photo by Howie Junior, 71 Princess St., Edinr (?). [Note: Fanny Jane Surridge, daughter of Rev. Thomas Surridge, D.D.]
5. "Rev. G.L. Hanson, M.A., 1860. Reverse says: "My father-in-law, Rev. George Lowdon Hanson, Vicar of Gt. Burstead, Essex, England, about 1860." Photo by B.W. Botham, Photographer, 43 Western Rd., Brighton.
6. "William Hanson, M.D." Reverse says "William Hanson M.D., my brother-in-law, second son of the Rev. George Lowdon Hanson, Vicar of Gt. Burghstead, Essex, England. William Hanson married my sister Julia Allen. They lived at first at Presteign, South Wales; afterwards at Paris, Texas, USA, and then to Fort Myers, Florida, USA. They had three sons: Newton who died Dec. 1911, and Bernard and Stanley. William Hanson died Dec. 15, 19... (rest cut off).
7. "George Allen - my father". [Note: A photo of a painting] Reverse says: "My father, George Allen, was the second son of a private gentleman of Brentford, Middlesex. His elder brother was named Charles. His younger brother was named William. There was one sister. My father was articled to Mr Sames, architect, and succeeded to his business at 69 Tooley St., London Bridge. He was District Surveyor of Rotherhithe and Halcham; and Surveyor to the United Parishes of St. Olave, St. Thomas & St. John; and Surveyor to the Hon. Company of Haberdashers. Born 1798, died June 28, 1847." Photographer of the painting, Geo. James Photographer, church St., Hackney.
8. "Charles William Allen". Reverse says: "Dear Carrie, Yours very sincerely, Chas. Wm. Allen". Also: "About 1868. My brother, Charles William Allen." Photo by Maull and Co., Photographers, 55 Gracechurch Rd., 187a Piccadilly and Tavistock House, Fulham Rd., London. - No. 45787.
9. "Emma Louisa Allen". Reverse reads: "My eldest sister, Emma Louisa Allen, about 1864". Photo by The Portraiture Company, Photographers, 64a New Bond St., and Corner Brook Rd. St.
10. "Emily Allen" Reverse reads: "My sister Emily Allen, about 1865." Photo by London Stereoscopic and Photographic Co.
11. Back Inside Cover: Glued in are photos of: (a) "Emily Allen", (b) "Charles Allen about 1870", (c) "Emma Allen, Sept. 1867", (d) "Julia Allen, Dec. 25th, 1868", (e) "Alfred Allen".
The remainder of the photos in the album were taken in New Zealand.
1. "Frederick Hanson Allen". Reverse reads: "Frederick Hanson Allen, age 18 months". As he was born on 7 October 1864, the photo must have been taken about April 1866.
2. "Caroline and 3 children". Reverse reads: "Freddie, born October 7th, 1864; Charles, born June 25th, 1866; Arnold, born November 30th, 1870 - died March 10th, 1875. Taken February 1871" in Wanganui," by Mr Wm. Jas. Harding. [Note: Fred would have been aged 7, Charles aged 5 and Arnold aged about 6 months.]
3. "George Fred. Allen and Ralph". Reverse reads: "GFA and Ralph, Wanganui, about 1889."
4. "Caroline with Maude and Ralph". Reverse reads: C.A. with M. and R., about 1890." [Note: A similar photo of the whole family is dated August 1889, and was taken by A. Martin of Wanganui. Maude is wearing the same pinafore in both, while Caroline is wearing the same jacket - and a nice expression! A duplicate of this photo is marked as having been taken by W.J. Harding.]
5. "Frederick Hanson Allen" as a young man about the mid 1880s.
6. "G.F. Allen" as an old man - sitting. Reverse reads: "All good wishes from Eric and Ruby, 6/11/1923." Also: "Mrs Ralph Allen, with Grandpa's love, Eric made me stare at the sun while this photo was taken."
7. "G.F. Allen" - same as above only standing. Reverse reads: "Dear Grandpa, will send further copies of any of these if you want to let me know - Eric, 6/11/1923."
8. "Fred Hanson Allen". Reverse reads: "1946, on breakwater, Wanganui." Photo by Crown Depot Print, Wanganui. - No. 000333. [Note: The year of the photo is in doubt.]
9. "Rupert Allen". Reverse reads: "Taken by Mr E.H. Clark at the Technical College, during the year 1917 when in Standard 5".
10. G.F. Allen has written the following on a tiny scrap of paper tucked into the album. This reads as follows:
"George Frederic Allen
First Conductor, Whanganui Choral Soc., founded in 1863, by GFA and William Bridson. First Concert, January 24, 1864.
At the first practice meeting about June 1863, 86 members were present, about 25 of whom professed some knowledge of singing from the music. Mr Bridson, deputy conductor, undertook to teach those who professed no knowledge to music. I undertook the others, only half of whom could read at all however. He was so successful with his class of about 60, on the 'Tonic Solfa' system, that in November 1863, I adopted it with mine. We gave our lessons four days of the week, and the practice meeting of the whole Society was held on the 5th day, with the first concert (January 24th, 1864) 65 members."
