Andrews & Foss

These two tintypes were from the same seller.  Both young women, both identified and both in identical embossed sleeves that bore the same photographer's name and city.

I had an idea they were related.

Ellen Andrew’s listing mentioned she was the sister of a Capt.
S(tephen) H. Andrews, whose image was also up for auction.

I looked for Capt. Andrews and found a cabinet photo of a Union soldier, signed S.H. Andrews Capt. 35th Mass.  The bidding had only begun and already Capt. Andrews was out of my league.  I filed his information away for future reference and purchased the tintypes.

I started my search with Cordelia Foss.  The back of her photo said she was the daughter of Luther Foss and the wife of John M. Foss and she died young.

And it turned out she was the daughter of Luther Foss and the wife of John Foss and she did die when she was only 18.  But her name wasn’t Cordelia … it was Corilla.

And Corilla and Ellen were indeed related.  They were sisters, born 10 years apart.  

In Corilla’s listing she was described as the 1st wife and COUSIN of John M. Foss and because they shared the same last name, it did seem likely … only it wasn't … at least not in the 4 generations I checked.

But older sister Ellen DID marry her first cousin … Chistopher Atwood Adams Andrews.

Only Ellen didn't have a brother named S. H. Andrews.  Her brothers were William Andrews, Luther Hale, Benjamin Perry and George Washington FOSS …

but her husband Christopher DID.

He had a brother, Rueben Snow Hayden Andrews, Co. A, 35th Reg’t, Mass.

I wonder if he was a Captain?