Unidentified sitter

Photographed by Samuel Mather Webster of 33 Bridge Street, Warrington, then in Lancashire but now in Cheshire.

An advertisement in the Warrington Advertiser (21 January 1865) informed readers that ’S.M. WEBSTER respectfully announces that his large NEW PHOTOGRAPHIC STUDIO is now completed. Cartes de Vista, MIniatures, and every description of Photographic Portrait, either plain, or coloured, and finished in the highest style of art.’

From official records it seems that Samuel Mather Webster was primarily a chemist. At the time of the 1861 census, he gave his profession as ‘Stamp Office & Druggist.’ When the census was taken in 1881, he was living at 33 Bridge Street, the address of the studio, but he gave his professor as ‘Chemist.’

From 1875 to 1877 he was the Mayor Warrington. He was later a J.P. and an alderman.

Samuel died, aged 73, in Warrington on 3 April 1889, leaving an estate valued at £1190.

His son George Watmough Webster (1842-1919) was also a ‘Photographic Artist’ (1871 census). He was still a ‘Photographer’ when the census was taken in 1911.