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John Lawton & Mary Ellen McAuslin - 1888

g183e.jpg

Dublin Core

Title

John Lawton & Mary Ellen McAuslin - 1888

Description

This is one of the Society's Cabinet Cards. Cabinet Cards reached their peak of popularity from the 1870's through the 1890's. They have a thin gelatin (black and white) or albumen (sepia) print pasted on heavy card stock, usually 4 ¼ x 6 ½ in. The subject matter was a formal portrait of a single individual or group. The card was large enough that it could be seen mounted on a cabinet across a room hence the name Cabinet Card. The photographer also liked the extra room on the card for name recognition on the front and back. Charles. D. Holmes was the photographer for the Lawton card. Holmes was a prominent photographer in Maynard for 25 years, 1886-1911. A Civil War veteran, Holmes was active in Maynard Town affairs for many years.

John Lawton (1864-1925) and Mary Ellen McAuslin (1868-1944) are the individuals on the card, taken c.1888 at the time of their wedding in Maynard. John was the third child (of 9) of Edward Lawton and Martha Sykes. Edward Lawton immigrated twice to Massachusetts, the first time to Leicester and the second time to Maynard to work in the woolen mill. He arrived in Maynard in 1871, the same year Maynard was incorporated as a town. By 1880 John, then 16 years, and his older sister, 18, and younger brother, 14, along with their father, Edward, were working in the mill. The next year, 1881, the Lawton family purchased a house on Brooks Street (now #8) for $1500, one thousands of which was financed with a mortgage granted by A & L (Amory & Lorenzo) Maynard. The Maynards also held the mortgage of the previous owner of the house on Brooks Street. It would seem that the Town of Maynard namesake was involved in other financial matters besides processing wool. The house remained in the Lawton family until late 1970's. There are still Lawton descendants living in Maynard and throughout New England today.

Creator

Holmes
Maynard and Ayer, Mass.

Date

1888

Contributor

From the estate of Eva Edwards Frye

Identifier

2010.183

Still Image Item Type Metadata

Original Format

Photo print

Physical Dimensions

4 1/4 x 6 1/2 in.

Storage

PB1