Unidentified sitter

Unidentified sitter


A carte-de-visite portrait of an unidentified man wearing check-patterned trousers and a matching waistcoat.

Photographed by Mrs Bustin and Sons of Hereford.

Born Mary Ann Elizabeth Warren in London’s Warren Street in 1832, she was baptised at Old St Pancras on 27 March 1832. Her father was William Warren, an ‘engineer’ (1851 census); her mother was Ann Amy née Belcher. On 15 April 1852 at St Giles-in-the-Fields she married Richard Britton Bustin, who gave ‘artist’ as his profession on his marriage certificate. Born at Barnstaple in Devon, also about 1833, his father was Richard Bustin, a ‘spirit dealer’ (1851 census). At the time of their marriage, Richard was living at 200 Tottenham Court Road and Mary Ann was living at 20 Denmark Street.

In February 1853 a 'Government Elementary Drawing and Modelling Schools' was established at Hereford with Richard as its 'Resident Master.' In March 1854 he also began teaching a class once a week in Ludlow, some 25 miles away. According to the Hereford Times (11 March 1854) 'The class was well attended, and we have no doubt will very shortly be increased in number.' According to a 'public notice' in the Hereford Times (11 March 1854), 'These [Drawing and Modelling] Schools are now open as usual, on Tuesdays and Friday's [sic] at the Public Schools. Mr Bustin attends the Grammar School, at Ludlow, on Monday's [sic], on which day he also gives Lessons to a Private Class there.'

The first mention in a local paper of any photographic endeavours appeared in the Hereford Journal on 31 March 1858. 'R.B. Bustin (Master of the Hereford School of Art), Photographist' was available at premises in Victoria Street to take 'Portraits in all styles, at moderate charges. Every branch of the Art taught. Terms, &c, on application.'

Richard and Mary Ann appear on the 1861 census living at Victoria Street in Hereford with their four daughters and one son. For his profession Richard now gave 'Master of School of Artists.' Mary Ann described herself as a 'Photographer.' Their marriage eventually produced a total of thirteen children.

A Post Office directory for 1879 lists Richard’s father (Richard Bustin senior) as the proprietor of some ‘wine and spirit vaults’ on 41 Colston Parade in Bristol. At the time of the 1881 census Richard junior and Mary Ann were still living in Hereford. Richard gave 'Art Master' as his profession while Mary Ann, now calling herself Marion, described herself as an 'Artist.' Richard’s father died at 41 Colston Street on 24 July 1889, leaving a personal estate of £289. His son must have inherited his business, for the 1891 census records him as a 'wine and spirit merchant' in Bristol. A trade directory for 1894 lists him as the publican at The Griffin, 41 Colston Street, Bristol. The pub, now called The Gryphon, is still there.

Richard died, aged 65, on 1 September 1898 at Hereford, though an announcement of his death in the Bristol Mercury (3 September 1898) suggests that his address at the time of death was Cheltenham Road, Bristol.

Mary Ann (Marion) Bustin died in Hereford in 1909, apparently aged 73 though in fact she must have been nearer 76. In 1911 her son William Henry Bustin, aged 55, was still working as an ‘Artist and Photographer’ in Hereford.



 


Code: 126924
© Paul Frecker 2024