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Scotland (Counties as in 1851-1901) => Scotland => Roxburghshire => Topic started by: woozle on Wednesday 12 December 07 18:28 GMT (UK)
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Hi
My G-grandfather Walter Stimpson ran a photographic business in 22 Rox. St., Kelso in the late 1800s. I'm trying to find descendents of Millar of Millar & Co. Photographic Studio who occupied 18 Rox.St, kelso in (at least) 1866 to see if Walter was perhaps an apprentice of Millar.
The question arises because Walter's family were one generation back, Ag.Labs with father a grocer's carman. I'm basically trying to find out by what means Walter in a very short time after leaving home, became a 'photographic Artist.
Cheers
Woozle
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Hi,
I am afraid that I cannot answer your query but I wonder if you could let me know when Walter Stimpson moved to Edinburgh. I am trying to date some photos and I believe that he moved about 1914 or so.
I also have a photo which says Kelso Photographic Rooms 18 Roxburgh Street on the back - do you know who ran this?
I also have one which says Mackintosh & Co, Kelso. Again I have no dates or even names for some so am grappling in the dark a bit.
Any help would be gratefully received.
Many thanks.
Brina
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Hi Brina
Why do you think Walter moved to Edinburgh? This is fascinating because it's a something the family talks about but nobody knows why or has any proof of whatsoever, a sort of stimpson family legend. It would be interesting to find out that he did.
As far as i have been able to tell Walter didn't go to Edinburgh but there was a more recent Walter though but i don't know if he was a photographer so i'll have to get my records out for that and let you know.
The photographic studio in 18 roxburgh street was run by Walter(herbert) and his wife Isabella and later by my grandfather. I think Walter H took the rooms over from an already established photographer though this is just speculation.
I've never heard of mackintosh and co. kelso either so this is exciting as there weren't many photographers around at the time. I don't suppose you have a date do you?
I'll get back to you about Edinburgh.
Cheers
Ian
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Hi Ian and Brina
Just some info from address checks on the censuses::
For 1871:
18 xxxx: Robert Bell, photographer
22 xxxx: James Hall and family, a game dealer by trade
For 1881:
18 Roxburgh Street: Robert Bell and wife Agnes, photographer
22 - 24 Roxburgh Street: James Hall and family, a game dealer by trade
For 1891:
18 Roxburgh Street: Agnes Bell, photographer
22 - 24 Roxburgh Street: James Hall and family, poulter
That year Walter Stimpson shows as a patient at the Roxburgh District Lunatic Asylum in Melrose, a photographer by trade.
His wife, Isabella and two young children show at 5 Victoria Place, Kelso. Isabella showing as a photographic artist's wife.
For 1901:
18 Roxburgh Street: Two households. One that of Walter H Stimpson, photographer, and family.
Also Archibald Pitillo and family.
22 - 24 Roxburgh Street: Richard Allan and sister, fishmonger
This site www.edinphoto.org.uk/index.htm shows:
Walter H Stimpson had studios at Roxburgh Street, Kelso from 1893 until at least 1914.
Brina, I can't see any reference up to 1901 census on Mackintosh & Co, Kelso. You might want to post the photo you have on www.rootschat.com/forum/index.php/board,298.0.html, the Photograph Restoration and Dating board and see if you can get some help on the photo.
Monica :)
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Brina
I think your Mackintosh & Co, Kelso ref. relates to a Thomas Mackintosh Lund:
Thomas Mackintosh Lund, Bridge Street, Kelso, Roxburghshire. Form completed 11 September 1889 - from a reference to a holding at the National Archives of Scotland.
Apart from Roxburgh Street, Kelso, Bridge Street Kelso was another area showing photographers in the censuses. Thomas Lund shows in 1891 at 27 29 & 31 Bridge St as a photographer. By 1901, the address shows as a Photographer (shop) and Thomas as as Picture Frame Maker.
Monica
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Hi,
I have just recently obtained a small book called Photographers in Southern Scotland to 1914 which was compiled by D. Richard Torrance.
Thought that I would just let you know what it has to say about the Kelso photographers in case that helps. The website Monica attached in good, I have used in myself to try to date photos taken in Edinburgh.
BELL Agnes 1886-1893 18 Roxburgh Street, Kelso
BELL Robert
1878-1893 18 Roxburgh Street, Kelso (Kelso Photographic Rooms)
1881 Photographer aged 44, b. Galashiels, resident 18 Roxburgh Street, Kelso, wife Agnes B.
A later carte-de-visite states that "Negatives kept. Copies can be had at 4/6 per doz and 2/6 per half doz".
BRODIE Christina 1881 Photographer's assistant, aged 28, b. Glasgow, niece of Andrew Rutherford, plumber, resident 60 Roxburgh Street, Kelso.
FRAIN Robert 1867 14 Square, Kelso
FRIAR Robert (also portrait painter) 1878 St. Leonards Kelso.
LUND Margaret D. 1881 Photographer aged 44, b. Kelso, resident 29 Bridge Street, Kelso. Sister of Mary A. Mackintosh.
MCGREGOR Alexander 1903-1914+ 29 Bridge Street, Kelso.
MACKINTOSH James & Co. 1867-1900 27 Bridge Street, Kelso. A carte-de-visite states that he was "Photographer to HRH the Prince of Wales".
MACKINTOSH Mary A. 1881 Artist photographer, aged 25, b. Kelso, resident 29 Bridge Street, Kelso, sister of Margaret D Lund.
MIDDLEMASS Joseph
1878 Forrest Field, Kelso
1881 Photographer aged 56, b. Kelso, resident 45 Horsemarket Kelso with wife Margaret Purves M.
1882-1889 45 Horse Market, Kelso.
MILLAR John & Co.
1866-1867 18 Roxburgh Street, Kelso, watchmakers and photographers.
PATTERSON James
1881 Photographer aged 33, b. Kelso, resident 52 Horse Market, Kelso, wife Elizabeth P.
STIMPSON Walter H.
1893 36 Roxburgh Street, Kelso
1893 36 Union Street, Kelso
1895-1900 18 Roxburgh Street, Kelso (1895-97 "Simpson")
1903-1914+ 22 Roxburgh Street, Kelso
Hope this information is useful and helps. Astonishing to see that there were so many photographers in a town the size of Kelso. I think that most of the information was taken from business Directories and the 1881 Census for Scotland.
Brina
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Hi Monica, Brina
the wife has just had to sit me up against the fridge and offer me a wee dram to revive me. Amazing. Quite a bit I didn't know there and would probably never have found either. Thanks. Really thanks. This website and the people on it never cease to amaze me. I've been short of time for many months but these new leads have given me a new direction to go in and certainly have re-kindled the enthusiam that has been missing for quite a few months now (the wife will not be happy about this and may well deprive me of future drams).
Brina, as soon as i get hold of my records I'll let you know about the Walter I know.
I'll now print the info up and chew it over long into the night (another thing the wife will not be happy about) ;D and re-post after digesting.
Thanks both of you again.
Ian
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Hi,
I am afraid that I cannot answer your query but I wonder if you could let me know when Walter Stimpson moved to Edinburgh. I am trying to date some photos and I believe that he moved about 1914 or so.
I also have a photo which says Kelso Photographic Rooms 18 Roxburgh Street on the back - do you know who ran this?
I also have one which says Mackintosh & Co, Kelso. Again I have no dates or even names for some so am grappling in the dark a bit.
Any help would be gratefully received.
Many thanks.
Brina
Hi Brina
So I have hunted here and there and as far as we are aware Walter never lived in Edinburgh. There is a gap in his life from 1882-5 but that is about it. He died in 1918 and most of his life was well documented because of his health problems.
Walter's son George had a son called walter who was a photographer as far as I know but he would have been a bit too late maybe.
18 Roxburgh street was occupied by Walter Herbert from 1895-1902 but then they moved to 22 and I don't know what happened after to number 18. My grandfather Charles took over the photographic business until 1928.
Not much help to yo I'm afraid. If you find anything would you let me know?
Cheers
Ian
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Hi Ian,
Thought I would just send you this link as this must be how I thought Walter moved to Edinburgh.
http://www.edinphoto.org.uk/0_CAB_P/0_cabinet_prints_stimpson_kelso_stewart.htm
This website is fairly useful for a number of photographers. Maybe it was the grandson but at least you can look at it for yourself.
Best wishes,
Brina
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Thanks.
I am slowly collecting photos by WHS. I had this photo but never read the text. It was a bit misleading. This was taken by WHS (or wife) as far as I can tell. Complicated old business isn't it? :D
Thanks for the link.
If you are looking for photographers various, i found ebay to be good. I found an number of WHS photos for sale on there. I didn't buy them, just copied and pasted the photo from the information section.
Cheers
Ian
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Thanks for all this info, I have narrowed down the dates for a photograph of my Great Grandmother taken by W H Stimpson while at 18 Roxburg Street.
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Hi Brina and Woozle
I am Walter H Stimpson's great grandchild and George Jeffrey Stimpson's only grandchild. I would like to find out as much info about the family as possible and may be able to fill in some of the gaps.
Pollyella
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Hi Polyella,
I only know as much as I read in the booked mentioned above and I also think that there was a move to Edinburgh at some point which I noticed when try to date a photograph I had. Sorry that cannot provide any more info in the meantime.
Have you tried scotlandspeople?
Good luck.
Brina ;)
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Hi Brina
I do have some information about the Stimpson's in Edinburgh. Arthur Stimpson , my uncle , started a photographic studio in Morningside in Edinburgh, possibly after the war and perhaps until about the mid '50s .
Pollyella
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Pollyella,
That is interesting that the studio was in Morningside as that might just help me find out which relative was in the photograph.
Hopefully Woozle will contact you with any queries he has.
If you have any other questions you could always try a new post on Rootschat to see if you get any response from anyone else. I have always found people incredibly helpful on this website and am indebted to many for the information they have provided.
Good luck.
Brina
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Hi Polyella, (dusts cobwebs off computer screen)
I've sent you a PM with my e-mail address.
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Dear Woozle
I am wondering if Millar & Co are related to William Roy Millar who migrated to Victoria in 1868 and was operating as a photographer later in the 1870s. Elsewhere however Miller & Co Argyle st Glasgow appear as Miller er not 'a'r
Gael Newton
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Hello Polyella
I think I may have just sent you a message via Genes Reunited as we appear to to be related via your grandmother Jessie Johnson who was my great aunt.
My grandfather was her younger brother, Robert St John Johnson.
If I have got this right I would be delighted to hear from you.
Best wishes,
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Hi geh
My grandmother was Jessie Johnson and I am very interested to hear
about her family and background as I know very little about her. I did
know her sister, Mary who lived near Glasgow and married Jim Graham.
They had a daughter who died whilst studying at Glasgow University. I
also met her younger sister, Alice who looked after their parents and later
married a man who I think was called Dryden .
I look forward to hearing from you.
Pollyella
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Hi Pollyella
Absolutely delighted to hear from you!
I will reply to you in detail via a private message enclosing a couple of photos.
Very best wishes,
Gill
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I know this is an old thread but was wondering if there was a N.H. Stimpson who was also a photographer. I have an old photo that has the following written on the front of the photo with pencil " N.H. Stimpson The Studio Kelso ". I thought maybe the N was supposed to be a W but it is so clearly written. What is unique about the photo, of a little girl names Margaret at age 13 1/2, is that there is a small photo attached to the front of a man. Inside the frame was a post card dated 1934 and was mailed from Edinburg to Kelso, Raxburgshire.
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Three years later.... But I think the letter is probably a badly written W as the photographer in Kelso was WH and his wife who often replaced him in the studio, was Isabella and nobody else's name start with an N. Interesting though.