Little boys should neither be seen nor heard?

[William Douglas]

One wonders why the boy in this family group should have been given so little space if he was wanted in the photograph!
The carte de viste was taken by Robert Douglas, Landscape & Portrait Photographer, The Vineyard, Top Whytes Causeway, Kirkcaldy, probably in the 1860s.

Robert is possibly the father of the Robert Douglas who ran the aerated water manufacturers business at Lothrie Works, Kirkcaldy, and who married  Mary Beveridge as her first husband.

This family has been niggling me for some time.  Any help would be welcomed.

[Keith Robin Mackay]

Greetings again, William. You may be interested in the following research note I've prepared on Mary Beveridge (or Douglas or Kininmonth). You'll recall she married Robert Douglas Jr, whose father Robert Sr was a photographer who started the Lothrie Aerated Water Works. Some additional info on that business and on both Roberts is contained in the note.

Regards, Keith

Mary Beveridge and William Kininmonth to Elizabeth Kininmonth-compr...

Thank you, Keith, for sharing this amazing piece of research. Much to study here!
William

[William Douglas]

Thank you, keith.

I don't think that the photograph will be of the Douglas family; Robert would have done many such cartes de viste.

[Keith Robin Mackay]

Robert Douglas Jr married Mary Beveridge in 1878. His father was Robert Douglas Snr -- the latter's occupation is recorded in the 1861 Census, and at the time of his son's marriage in 1878, as a photographer. The Valuation Rolls show that in 1875 he owned a garden/vinery as well as a "soda water manufacturing plant". When his son died in 1882 both Robert Snr and Robert Jr were described as aerated water manufacturers. So the answer to your question is that Robert Douglas the photographer is the father of Robert Douglas who worked in the aerated water manufacturing business. 

If the boy in the photograph was aged about, say, 7 or 8 and if he was Robert Douglas Jr then the photo would have had to have been taken around 1855 as Robert Jr was born in 1847.