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On the link below are a couple of photos of the inside of Thomas Blackwood's home (Woodhall) in Port Glasgow from around 1868 with portraits in the background.
https://clivexdavies.wixsite.com/blackwood-woodhall/portraits
Does anyone have any suggestions on who they could be or how I could attempt to identify them? I realise that it is a bit of a tough task as they aren't very clear!
I am particularly interested in identifying the portrait hanging at the end of the hall. He seems to be wearing a ruff around his neck which was popular around 1650 to 1750 (ish) I think
The clues I have are as follows:
If it is an ancestor:
Thomas's father Walter Blackwood and several generations before that were tenant farmers from Bottom/Flourish farm in Inchinnan.
(I think that the owner of the farm was Lord Archibald Campbell).
We think that William Blackwood the publisher (born 1776) was maybe a cousin of his fathers. I don't think it is him as there are pictures available but it may be an ancestor on that side.
Thomas Blackwood's wife was the daughter of a wealthy businessman from Paisley - Robert Crawford. Maybe a Crawford ancestor?
If it is someone famous:
Thomas was an engineer and shipbuilder. Could it be someone famous from those industries?
The family were very religious and were members of the Princes Street UP Presbyterian church in Port Glasgow. Maybe a famous or local religious figure?
A member of the royal family or the local landed gentry perhaps?
Thomas was a supporter of Colonel Archibald Campbell of Blythswood who was an MP for Renfrewshire
Any help or suggestions would be much appreciated.
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Clive -- not very clear?! Essentially, pale ovals with a ruff, surrounded by black. :-)
I would first try to date the fashion in question to a little closer than the span of a century, but that may not be possible.
Unless someone knows what became of the personal property when the family vacated the mansion ...
I don't think someone born 1776 was likely painted in a ruff. :-)
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Adds below from google search...
Chris :)
https://scotlandsplaces.gov.uk/digital-volumes/ordnance-survey-name-books/renfrewshire-os-name-books-1856-1857
Bottom. Property Plan Walter Blackwood. Occr [Occupier] Voters List. 008.06 A farm house having Offices and land etc attached. The property of A. Campbell Esqr.
http://discovery.nationalarchives.gov.uk/results/r?_q=blackwood+publisher
(William on above, and in items below)
https://tinyurl.com/y9mso2zg
(Scottish Archive Network Limited. Online Catalogue)
(no help with Portraits though!)
William
Surname Blackwood
Dates 1776-1834
Epithet bookseller and publisher
Activity Born in Edinburgh on 20 November 1776, William Blackwood was apprenticed to an Edinburgh bookseller at the age of fourteen. After a period in London and Glasgow, he established hinself as a bookseller and publisher in 1804.
William Blackwood died in Edinburgh on 16 September 1834.
(above from Scottish Archives)
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Maybe ask Kelvingrove Art Gallery in Glasgow, where there would be someone with local knowledge, as well as expert knowledge of paintings:
https://tinyurl.com/y6uwyh89
Contact
0141 276 9599
[email protected]
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Thomas Blackwood's will is available from the Scotlandspeople website. Do you have a copy. It may give a clue to the paintings or, at least, it may be possible to find out where they ended up.
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Thanks to all
Rootgatherer - I have seen the will and there are no real clues there unfortunately
ArgyllGran - I will definitely try that art gallery
Joonie - I will try and find out a bit more about Ruffs!
Chris - that property plan is where I first got the Campbell name from
My feeling is that the Blackwoods wouldn't have had portraits done in that era as they were tenant farmers. I think the clue may be in the Campbells of Blythswood. They owned the farm and seem to have had an association with the family for many years, with Thomas Blackwood still actively supporting Archibald Campbell as an MP after he had long left the farm.
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