Photo Perspectives: Elizabeth Maddox (c. 1814- c. 1860)

One of my most frustrating brick walls is the Freels and Maddox family of Hardeman County, Tennessee. All I know is that my 4th great grandfather, Thomas Jefferson Freels, was born on Christmas 1846 to Thomas and Elizabeth (Maddox) Freels, who appear on the 1850 and 1860 Censuses as illiterate farmers in Hardeman County, western Tennessee. This county borders Hardin County, Tennessee, where they seem to show up in the 1840 Census, as well as Tippah County, Mississippi, where their son moved to in 1870, before returning to Tennessee. One of my most valuable finds in my genealogical research, is a photo of Elizabeth, the mother of Thomas J. Freels: 

I have a lot to say about this photo of my 5th great grandmother. First of all, it is definitely very old. She probably died between 1860 and 1870, and I would assume this photo was taken around then, due to her apparent advanced age in this photo. Honestly, this photo is kind of creepy. It looks like it was taken on the porch, and she appears to be sitting in an old rocking chair. The building is probably their farmhouse, and it looks like it's a very old wood house, possibly a log house. There are a few trees in the background which add to the creepy, haunted area feel of the photo in my opinion. She's wearing a very big, thick jacket with a hood, which makes me think this photo was taken in winter, because there's no way she would be wearing something like that in the dead of summer, down in Tennessee. Her facial expression seems very serious and kind of angry- she strikes me as one of those strict, authoritative Southern mothers. I don't think I would want to disobey her. Also, I wonder what that is on her lap? Maybe she was sewing or knitting something? Obviously on the farm she would have had a role in the domestic aspects of the Freels household, so maybe she was making clothing. 

Here, for interest's sake, is a colorized version of the photo from MyHeritage: