Maurice Carmichael Tweedie had his portrait taken in Hastings during 1878. The studio was Bloomfield & Co. Maurice looks to be about 8 years old. His father was an officer in the British Indian Army. His rank and Maurice's fashionable outfit indicate that he came from an affluent family. There were relatives in London. We think R.D. Tweedie may have been a younger cousin. There is writing on the back identifying the Mannor House where the family lived. Maurice wears a kneepants sailor suit. It is not a traditional suit, but it does have the classic "V" front. We are not sure about the color, but a blue shade seems the most likely. It does not look like navy blue, but probably a little brighter color. Notice that he wears a collar and floppy bow in addition to the sailor collar and scarf. The collar looks like a small Eton collar. We know there are pockets because Maurice has in hands in one, not a common pose. The classic sailor suit three stripe motif appears in several locations including the pants legs. The pants also have stripes and buttons down the side. The knee pants are cut shirter than the mid-calf length common in the 1860s. He wears three-quarter length socks rather than long stockings that were more common in America. His hair is down to his ears and he seems to have a rough center part.
Given the fashionable outfit, we would guess he came from an affluent family. In this case a military family. We believe that his father was Maurice Tweedie, Colonel Bombay Staff Corps (1838- ). He married Emma Elizabeth Battie (1866). She was the daughter of E. J. Battie, C.E.
Maurice came from a good sized family, but two of his brothers died in infancy. This at the time was not uncommon, even in an affluent family. The children included: 1) Michael Edward Tweedie (November 5, 1867-August 3, 1868). 2) Maurice Carmichael Tweedie (March 3, 1870- ). He
looks about 8 years old in the portrait here. 2) John Lannoy Forbes Tweedie (November 17, 1872- ). John followed his father in to the Army. We know he was commissioned a Lieutenant Gloucestershire Regiment. 3). Francis Forbes Tweedie (August 29, 1874). Frances became an Engineer on the Southern Indian Railways. 4) Alexander Forbes Tweedie (October 21-25, 1879). 5) Edith Maude (January 14, 1869- ). Alice Mabel (June 11, 1878). Alice married Captain Walter Lorenzo Alexander, P.W.O., Yorkshire Regiment (February 17, 1902. 6) Gladys Marian (June 9, 1885).
We also know that there were relatives in London. Presumably the Colonel's brother was Michael Tweedie, Major-General, R.A., (1836- ). R.D. Tweedie seems to have been a younger cousin.
Maurice Carmichael Tweedie was born at Rolvenden, Kent on March 23, 1870. I believe that probably means Maytham Hall. He had his had his portrait taken in Hastings during 1878 (figure 1). Maurice would have been about 8 years old.
The family lived in Kent, but Hastings where the portrait was taken is one of these well-loved seaside-resorts. And London is the central address for many families. They were affluent and could afford to travel. Hastings is not far from Maurice's birthplace. On the back of the card is written "Maytham Hall". Great Maytham Hall still exists. It is located down the hill towards Rolvenden Layne. It is a notable country house and has the walled "The Secret Garden" that inspired the classic novel by Anglo-American writer Frances Hodgson Burnett. Notably Mary in the book lived in India before her parents died. Maytham Hall was designed by Sir Edwin Lutyens for
the Rt Hon H.J. Tennant and built in 1910. You can now even buy a flat in Great Maytham Hall.
The estate itself is much older, dating from Saxon times. After the Battle of Hastings (1066), at least four Norman lords built manors on the estate.
The studio was Bloomfield & Co. at Hastings. Perhaps Rolvenden did not have a studio or the Bloomfield brothers had a better reputation. The portrait was done in the popular CDV format.
Maurice wears a kneepants sailor suit. It is not a traditional suit, but it does have the classic "V" front. We are not sure about the color, but a blue shade seems the most likely. It does not look like navy blue, but probably a little brighter color. Notice that he wears a collar and floppy bow in addition to the sailor collar and scarf. The collar looks like a small Eton collar. We know there are pockets because Maurice has in hands in one, not a common pose. The classic sailor suit three stripe motif appears in several locations including the pants legs. The pants also have stripes and buttons down the side. The knee pants are cut shirter than the mid-calf length common in the 1860s. He wears three-quarter length socks rather than long stockings that were more common in America.
His hair is down to his ears and he seems to have a rough center part.
Maurice in 1881 was a boarding scholar at Dover College, Folkestone Road, Hougham, Kent.
Maurice served as a inspector with the Indian police. Maurice's father was a staff officer in the British Army in Indoia. Maurice may have spent some time there. He made is own career in the British colonial Indian police. He married Mildred Le Gros Clarke on November 13, 1906. She was the daughter of Alfred Ashley Clarke of Ravensdene in Rye, Sussex. They had one child, Michael Wilmer Forbes. Maurice retired to Houghton Green in Playden, Sussex.
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