Help with ID of Quakers

Those were the same types of age differences and ranges that I was thinking, too.

 

Knee breeches in 1876? I can see then for a costume dress party, but otherwise? Are these people too fancy for Quakers?

 

The point was to dress in 1776 costume.

The older woman looks okay for Quaker indoor dress; the younger woman should have on the same kind of cap, though, I would think. As for the young man, I tend to agree that his clothes are right for 1776, but not really specific for a Quaker. I suspect this means they lived in an area where Quakers were rare.

Quakers weren't really all that different from non-Quakers, except religiously. Not like the Amish and Mennonite sects.

 

I should probably modify that last sentence. Yes, their dress was expected to be "plain" and without ostentation. Dark colors were common and necklines high on women. I have a lot of Quaker ancestors, but only a very few pictures of those who continued their membership after about 1850. They don't look very different from other ancestors who were not Friends, so I take that to mean that the rules were starting to be relaxed.

 

Could it be Mary Sheild?

 

That's an interesting question, Pat. The was the last letter is made influenced my thinking about the letter before it also being a d. But I do see how the upright has more "loop" to it, so maybe you are right.

 

ScanticAntiques mentioned that the women were Quakers. He didn't mention the young man in that statement.

 

Ingalls was and is a common name.

 

Fig - I don't think any of the sitters were actually practicing Quakers, but were supposed to be dressed up to portray such at the centennial tea party held where they lived.

 

Oh, good point!

 

Going back to the OP, Scantic said the "two women were well-known" not that they were Quakers? At least "supposed to be" well-known, I assume based on what the seller said.

 

Yup, that is why I said "good point!"