It’s been a while since I shared any of my family photos in which the subjects are mysteries. I decided that today I’d post several mystery children, mainly because kids’ photos are always cute.

Here is the very limited information I have about the pictures:

1. They were all part of the collection that belonged to my great grand aunt, Aunt Pearl (Adams) (Chadwick), born in Calais, Washington, Maine, where the Adams clan settled in the 1850s, moving on land from Deer Island, New Brunswick, Canada. Others of the family lived in Eastport. Of course, it’s possible that these were children of friends, but I think it is more likely that they were cousins, nieces or nephews of Pearl, as she, herself, was born in 1887. These were her contemporaries.

2. All three photos of the children likely date from around the 1890s, based on the cabinet card style of the picture.

Photographer: Union Photo Rooms, Calais, Maine

Photographer: Edwards, St. Stephen, New Brunswick, Canada

Photographer: Loring, Eastport, Maine

Davis Loring (1825-1891) is found in the 1860, 1870 and 1880 censuses of Eastport, Maine. He is first called a daguerrotypist in 1860, a photographer in 1870 and an artist in 1880.

Although all three photos are cabinet card style, the Loring photo might have been taken a bit earlier. However, in 1880, Loring’s daughter was also enumerated as an artist. It’s possible she continued the family business after her father died in 1891.

If you recognize any of these children and have family who lived in the Calais, Washington, Maine area in the 1800s, please leave a comment.