The real story...

The intense figure at left is Marchant Rand, Forrest's grandfather's grandfather. This was taken around 1850. We know a lot of stories about him. He fought with the local militia in the Finean Raids. On another occasion, he and his cousin sailed from Bridgetown to enroll in a blacksmith course in Boston. They had gathered up $50 for tuition and the required chest of tools. They were shipwrecked on Sable Island. The rescuers took all their money, tools, and even their coats. Then they had to walk home from Digby Neck in the winter time.

The photo above was found in a box with other old stuff. On the back it said "Last fall by the side of the road". Apparently, Oman (Marchant's son) was coming back up the mountain from a trip to Canning, and some American tourists stopped to take his picture. Months later, they sent him this in the mail.

Incidentally, also in the box was Marchant's wife's long stemmed clay pipe.