Locating Family Portraits

[eurogordi]

Partly inspired by the latest episode of David Dimbleby's "Seven Ages of Britain" that looked at the growing wealth of the 18th century, does anyone know if it's possible to locate portraits with a view to having photographs taken?

My ancestors, the White family, were Lords of the Manor at Kington St Michael, near Chippenham, Wiltshire, England throughout the 18th century and various documents refer to family portraits.

However, the last member to live at the Manor died in 1826, the contents eventually sold and the Manor demolished and rebuilt by the 1860s. I've already contacted the National Portrait Gallery, but they have no names listed that match my family tree. Does anyone have further suggestions?

The names in particular would be:

Ayliffe White (1670-1761)

His wife, Elizabeth (nee Boswell) White (1699-1758)

Son, Henry Boswell White (1725-1774)

Son, Lieutenant Francis White (1726-1761)

Son, John White (1736-1781)

Daughter, Hannah White (1740-?)

Plus grandchildren, many of whom took the names of Ayliffe White, Francis White and Henry Boswell White.

Any suggestions would be very much appreciated, although I realise that the portraits may no longer exist or could be catalogued as "Unknown Sitter".

Here's hoping!

[ksouthall]

Son, Lieutenant Francis White (1726-1761)

If Lieutenant Francis White was in the navy, there is a slim chance that the National Maritime Museum in Greeenwich might have a portrait of him or a painting of one of the ships he sailed in.

[eurogordi]

Lieutenant Francis White was in Colonel Trelawney's Foot Regiment and served in Jamaica during the 1740s. I tried various contacts in Jamaica without success, but don't know if there would be any portraits within British Army records in the UK or where to find them.

[ksouthall]

Lieutenant Francis White was in Colonel Trelawney's Foot Regiment and served in Jamaica during the 1740s. I tried various contacts in Jamaica without success, but don't know if there would be any portraits within British Army records in the UK or where to find them.

If there is a Regimental History of Colonel Trelawny's Foot Regiment, there might be paintings of groups of officers. You could try googling to see if there is a Regimental History, and if so (and it is affordable), you could either buy a copy or see if your local library has one.

[alastair_kelly]

Lieutenant Francis White was in Colonel Trelawney's Foot Regiment and served in Jamaica during the 1740s. I tried various contacts in Jamaica without success, but don't know if there would be any portraits within British Army records in the UK or where to find them.

There is reference to Colonel Edward Trelawney here in this wikipedia article (though I guess you have already seen it) -

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/49th_(Prin ... of_Wales's)_(Hertfordshire)_Regiment_of_Foot

However, the foot of page lists the source as a book: Wickes, HL Regiments of Foot (1974) which I see is available on amazon from several sellers:

http://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/offer-listin ... ition=used

I don't know if there will be any illustrations if that's what you're after specifically, but the wiki article may well be abridged and you might find a lot more about the regiments movements and so on.