Panoramic WWI Photo



FINISHED!  PicMonkey worked great to piece together the nine scans I took of my great-grandfather Wentworth Barnes, WWI - "D" Company, 134th Overseas Battalion, C.E.F (Highlanders) photo.  With PicMonkey it only took about 30 minutes for me to figure it out and complete it.  I wasn't able to get it as large as I wanted, which limits the zoom, but it's enough to see the faces clearly.

I tried using an old version of PaintShop Pro that I already had, but I couldn't figure it out.  If you are familiar with these types of photo editing software you can use them as well.  I have always used PicMonkey for images because I find it's easier, but that is my preference.

The hardest part was taking the photo out of the frame.  It was professionally framed so it was well secured.  I took the paper off the back of the frame, then I had to unscrew cables and lift at least 60 teeth.  This photo was glued to a piece of foam board and this made scanning it difficult so I needed a helper to keep it level.

I tried using my Flip-Pal first, but there were too many images for their software to stitch it properly without overlap shadows (I tried 3 times). I had to use my flatbed scanner instead for this job.  All in all, I spent a long time trying to get this right but I'll be a pro for the next multiple-image scan I need to piece together.

Using PicMonkey I created a long base canvas (I used 8000 x 1500 pixels).  I then added each scan (make sure you scan with some overlap for matching up) as a new overlay.  For each overlay that I was trying to line up, I changed the fade of the image to about 50%, this allows you to see the image underneath for matching up.  I used the buttons on their jackets to help line things up and used the arrow keys to make a more precise movement.  When I was happy with this I returned the fade to normal and moved on to the next image.  Once I added all nine of my images as overlays I clicked on each image (be careful not to move them) and used the Eraser tool (in Overlay pop up) and set the eraser size to about 50 and the Eraser Hardness to 0.  Zoom in a bit and then erase the visible line that is created by the overlap or anything near the line that looks a bit off.  When I was happy with the finished result, I flattened all the images together to make one large photo. Crop the new photo, make your edits to the colour and anything else you want to fix and save it or export it.  Just remember if you make a mistake you can undo it and try again.

I'm really happy that I didn't have to pay someone else to do it.  The photo is now edited, brassy spots removed and I can add it to my great-grandfather's digital file.

 CLICK HERE to view the full-size image which allows you to zoom in.

 Want to learn more about my great-grandfather, Wentworth Barnes?  Check out this post about his WWI Service File or the Barnes Family page.
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British Home Child - Edith Ann Lloyd

Edith Ann Lloyd & Celia Regretta Lloyd
Orphanage Photo - 1906 - England
Edith Ann Lloyd was born in Abertillery, Wales in 1894.  After the death of her father in 1905, her mother had a difficult time caring for her children and some were taken into the care of an orphanage.  In 1906, age 11, Edith was one of 100,000 children sent to Canada during the child emigration movement between 1869 to the late 1930s.

Edith departed October 11, 1906, from Liverpool, England aboard the S.S. Dominion and arrived in Montreal, Quebec, Canada on October 21, 1906.  She was taken to a Dr. Barnardo Home in Peterborough, Ontario, Canada.  This home was called the Hazelbrae Barnardo Home. She bounced around a few times but as of the 1911 Canadian Census, the age of 16, she was listed as domestic help in Cavan, Ontario with the White's Family.  In 1917 Edith married in Peterborough, Ontario and together they had 10 children.  

Edith's father was William Lloyd born 1851 in Monmouthshire, Abertillery, Wales. He died from pneumonia in July of 1905.  He, like most of his family, was a coal miner.  Her mother was Mary Jane Waters born 1857
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A New Clue - James Byron & Margaret Mahon




I took a risk on this marriage record from England.  I'm so glad I listened to my gut because I'm sure now that it is the marriage entry for my 3x great-grandparents, James Byron and Margaret Mahon.  James and Maggie were born in Ireland and moved to England where their son called Matthew was born in 1862.  Because I knew their eldest son was born in England I cross-referenced the English marriage index and found a James Byron that possibly married a Margaret Mahon. I was hoping it was the record I wanted to see. I'm so glad I took a chance on it. Now I have a marriage date and place, I have confirmation James father was also Matthew, I have occupations to

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Riordans of Macroom, Co. Cork, Ireland


I'm back at the Irish research and I'm looking for more information on the Reardon / Riordan / O'Riordan family from Macroom, Co. Cork in Ireland.

My 4th Great Grandparents were John Reardon and Mary Shea.  They were married on March 3, 1835, in Macroom, Co.Cork, Ireland.  Witnesses to their marriage were Denis Denahy and John Downy (spelling may be off on these).  Together they had 6 children that I have found.

Daniel Reardon - b. May 21, 1836, in Clondrohid, Co. Cork, Ireland
Denis Reardon - b. April 1838 in Macroom, Co. Cork, Ireland
Margaret Reardon - b. April 25, 1840, in Macroom, Co. Cork, Ireland
Mary Reardon - b. March 29, 1842, in Macroom, Co. Cork, Ireland
Catherine Reardon - b. December 8, 1843, in Macroom, Co. Cork, Ireland
John Reardon - b. October 17, 1849, in Macroom, Co. Cork, Ireland

Denis Reardon, their son, is my 3rd Great Grandfather. His residence at the time of Baptism is
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Howell Family - Cobbler's Island, Newfoundland

While researching my HOWELL family I found a record for my Great Great Grandfather, Isaiah HOWELL.  This record is the "Application For Registration of Birth" created in 1935.  It tells me that he was born February 18th, 1862 - Cobbler's Island, Newtown (Bonavista Bay), Newfoundland and that his parents were Willliam and Mary (SAINSBURY).  It also tells me a few bits of information that interests me.

  1. His father was a School Master.
  2. There are "...records of the Howell family (are) kept very carefully and treasured in the old family Bible."

I would love to see the family Bible that is mentioned.  Please contact me if you know more about this family treasure.


Record Found: Newfoundland Vital Records, 1840-1949," database with images, FamilySearch(https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:QVJP-8YMK : 9 March 2018), Isaiash Howell, 1862; citing Birth Registration, St. Johns, Newfoundland, Canada, Provincial Archives, St. John's.

 To see a few branches of Isaiah Howells family tree visit The Barnes & Howell Family Page.  You can also have a look at the Index of Names to see other Howells I have in my family tree.
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