John Frederick BLENNERHASSETT

John Frederick Blennerhassett (JFB) 1835 - 1904

Photgraphic Business | Photographic Studios | Census | Family Details |  Narrative | Occupations and Names | Gallery | [Sources]

Photographic Business

JFB appears to have operated as a photgrapher from 3 different studios:

1. 1a Vernon Street, King's Cross Rd, Islington N. from 1862 to 1874 [2] or 1864 to 1875 [1] - His house.
2. 62 Upper Street, Islington N. from 1863 to 1871 [2] or 1864 to 1872 [1]
3. 90 Newgate Street, EC over unknown dates but probably at the later part of his photography career (around 1874) judging by the style of the Carte-de-Visites.

He had an advert in the British Journal of Photography in June 1864 as a Photgrapher under the name Hassett and offered his plant for sale in the BJP of September 20 1878, marking the end point of his career as a photographer [2]. He is only recorded in one census, 1871, as a photographer and he had a lot of other jobs throughout his life (see below).

Photographic Studios

1a Vernon Street, King's Cross Rd, Islington N.
This is the home of John Frederick Blennerhassett and his family from ~1862 until his death in 1904.
No other photographers are recorded as operating from this address.

Census

Family Details

Father	John Blennerhassett, born 1 Jun 1809 in Ireland, died Dec Quarter of 1860 in Marylebone while living at 35 Langham Street, Marylebone. Married Lucy COX on 22 Feb 1832 in Swindon, Gloucester [Family 0076]
Mother	Lucy Cox, born 1810 in Cootehill, Cavan, Ireland, died 26 Apr 1887 at 13 Duke Street, Marylebone
John Frederick Blennerhassett
Born	22 January 1835 in Marylebone, London, the family living at that time at 118 Great Portland Street, Marylebone
Christened	1 March 1835 at All Souls, Marylebone
=Married 1	13 Jun 1853 at All Souls, St Marylebone to Emily Taylor, born 6 Jun 1833 while the family lived at 23 Wells Street, St Marylbone, the d/o Richard Grove TAYLOR, an Iron Plate Worker, and Charlotte John MORRISON, and died in the June Quarter of 1875. [Family 0086]
-Child 1	Henry born 5 November 1855 at 19 Hart Street, Bloomsbury while the family lived at 36a Charlotte Street, Fitzroy Square.
-Child 2	Emily born 20 Feb 1857 while the family lived at 22 Wakefield St, St Pancras, Grays Inn Lane
-Child 3	John Frederick born 23 Mar 1858 while the family lived at 22 Wakefield St, St Pancras, Grays Inn Lane
-Child 4	Emily born 12 Apr 1862 at No 1a Vernon Street, Pentonville
-Child 5	Eva Katherine Grace born ~ 25 Dec 1872 (Adopted about 1876)
=Married 2	23 Dec 1876 at St James, Clerkenwell to Elizabeth Moss, born 30 Apr 1849 in Bristol and died 27 Jul 1891 at 1A Vernon Street [Family 0027]
-Child 6	Elizabeth born 10 Nov 1877 at No 1a Vernon Street, Pentonville
-Child 7	Rowland Ponsonby born 25 Feb 1879 at No 1a Vernon Street, Pentonville
-Child 8	Lucy born 4 May 1880 at No 1a Vernon Street, Pentonville
-Child 9	Emily born 10 Sep 1881 at No 1a Vernon Street, Pentonville
-Child 10	Gerald born 4 Dec 1882 at No 1a Vernon Street, Pentonville, died 2 Jul 1931 Durban, Natal
-Child 11	Arnold Herbert born 10 Aug 1884 at No 1a Vernon Street, Pentonville
-Child 12	Lillian born c. 1886 probably at No 1a Vernon Street, Pentonville
-Child 13	Arthur (possibly) born c. 1888
=Married 3	1 Oct 1892 at Holborn, London to the Widow Emily Rule (nee Barrell), born 1850 and died the March Quarter of 1920 in Kensington [Family 0095]
-Child 14	Mabel born 5 May 1893 at No 1a Vernon Street, Pentonville
Died	10 May 1904 at the age of 70, run over by a train.
Buried	14 May 1904 at St Pancras Old Church, Camden

Narrative

JFB was the second child, and second son, of the 9 children of John Blennerhassett and Lucy Cox. His Father was born on 1 June 1809 in Ireland and his mother was born around 1810 in Cootehill, Co. Cavan, baptised on 10 Jun 1810 in the Church of Ireland, Drumgoon (Cootehill), Co. Cavan. John Senior and Lucy were married on 22 February 1832 at Swindon Village Church near Cheltenham, the marriage witnessed by Mary Ann Cox and Charles Jones. The family moved to Marylebone sometime between the birth of their first son William Henry Cox Hassett on 1 February 1833 in Cheltenham and the birth of JFB in Marylebone. The occupations of JFB's parents are listed as staymaker, corset maker or surgical bandage maker in various documents up to the 1871 census.

John Frederick was born on 22 January 1835 in Marylebone, London, the family living at that time at 118 Great Portland Street, Marylebone. He was christened on 1 March 1835 at All Souls, Marylebone. By 1837 and the birth of his sister Mary Ann, the family had moved to 4 John Street, Oxford Street. At the birth of the next child, Lucy, on 25 Sep 1838, the family is living at 6 John Street, Oxford Street and have moved back again to 4a John Street by the birth of the 5th child Francis Daniel, although these moves may have just been street renumberings.

In the 1841 Census, at the age of 6, JFB (named Frederick) is at a boarding school called College House, Fore Street, Edmonton while the family have moved to 11 Great Castle Street, Marylebone. Interestingly the family are still carrying on business, and perhaps living, at 4A John Street, as that is the address given for the birth/christening of their 8th and 9th children and in the 1843 London Directory. Sometime in 1849/1850 the family moved again and they are all, including JFB, living at 34 Alfred St., Tottenham Court Rd. in the 1851 Census and 1851 & 1852 London Directories. In the 1851 Census JFB has taken on the occupation of his parents, that is stay maker.

On 13 Jun 1853 JFB married for the first time to Emily TAYLOR d/o Richard Grove TAYLOR (Iron Plate Worker dec'd) and Charlotte John MORRISON, at All Souls, St Marylebone, London. Witnesses were John Hasset (Father), Thos. Brocksopp, Lucy Hasset (Mother), Charlotte John Taylor (Mother-in-Law) & Lucy Hasset (Sister). His occupation on the marriage certificate is listed as grocer.

On the birth of their first child, Henry Blener HASSET, the family is living at 36a Charlotte Street, Fitzroy Square, although for some reason Henry is born at 19 Hart Street, St George, Bloomsbury. At this time JFB is working as a Police Constable, possibly for the City of London Police. On 20 Feb 1857 their second child Emily was born and the family has moved to 22 Wakefield Street where they lived until 1861 with JFB still working as a Police Constable. Emily died before her first birthday. Their third child, John Frederick, was born on 23 Mar 1858.

On 23 October 1858 JFB (Constable number 557) was assaulted while on duty, at Fish Street Hill, the story being carried in several papers. By 4 Nov 1858 JFB was well enough to give evidence in court. This was not the last time JFB would be assaulted.

In the 1861 Census JFB is a City Police Constable and he and Emily are still living at 22 Wakefield Place, St Pancras with their 2 sons, Henry and John.

Their next child, Emily, was born on 12 Apr 1862 and, like their first daughter, lived less than a year. The family has now moved to 1A Vernon Street, in Clerkenwell, where the family will live for at least the next 40 years, until JFB dies in 1904. In addition JFB has left the Police and his occupation is now listed as Photographer. This remains JFB's occupation through the 1871 Census until he is again listed on the christening record of their adopted daughter Eva Katherine Grace on 2 Feb 1873, when he gives his occupation as Clerk. He is noted as a Photographer in a Newspaper report on March 27 1864 (see below). According to sources [1] and [2] JFB continues to work as a Photographer from his home address until 1874 or 1875, finally offering his photography equipment for sale in the British Journal of Photography on 20 Sep 1878 [2]. From his time as a photographer we know of eight Carte de Visites which have survived, as well as a "Photograph of the late Henry Smart, musician, composer and organist" (26 October 1813 – 6 July 1879) for which John Frederick Blennerhasset of 1A Vernon Street WC applied for copyright on 17th July 1894 [National Archives COPY 1/417/141] ( See Gallery Below). It is likely that the date of this application for copyright on a photo he must have taken before 1879 was done, not because JFB was still a photographer, but because Henry Smart may have increased in prominence around this time and there may have been money to be made by having an image of him copyrighted.

Lloyd's Weekly Newspaper #1114 March 27 1864 (Also Reynolds's Newspaper #711 same date) SATURDAY'S POLICE CLERKENWELL The Queen of Mendicants sent to Prison. -- Ellen Nagle, a woman between fifty and sixty years of age, who, it was stated, was the "Queen of Beggars," giving her address at Westminster, was charged with soliciting alms at Clerkenwell. -- The evidence went to show that the prisoner called at the residence of Mr. Hasset, photographer,, of Vernon-street, Clerkenwell, and asked for assistance, stating that she was in the greatest distress, and that, although she had applied for admission to the workhouse, she had been refused. Mr, Hasset, believing her pitiful story, relieved her, and gave her a recommendation tot he authorities at the workhouse. About a quarter of an hour having elapsed, he went out, and found the prisoner at a house nearly opposite to his, and on going up to her heard her say that she was in distress, and hearing that she told the parties there a different story to that she told him, he sentfor a constable and gave her into custody. At the station was found on her a bag and about 7lb. of pieces of bread and meat, all clean, and apparently fresh cut, two soup tickets, and about sixpence in copper money. --The police stated that it was not the prisoner's first appearance on a similar charge, and that she was well known. --The prisoner, who pretended to cry, in a whining tone said it was her very first offence, and if she were now discharged she would never make her appearance in the district of this court any more. If the magistrate was a good man, he would believe her, and let her go (a laugh). --Mr. D'Eyncourt said it was evident that the prisoner was a confirmed mendicant, and sentenced her tc fourteen days' hard labour in the house of correction. -- The prisoner: Thank you, your worship.

JFB became a Fremason, admitted to the 3rd degree at Lodge no 466, Stamford Barron, on 18 Mar 1868 [3].

It was around 1870 that JFB started using the name BLENNERHASSET professionally, instead of HASSET or John Blenner HASSET. The use of the full name by other members of the family also occurred about this time, with JFBs younger brother Francis Daniel having the surname BLENNER-HASSET on his marriage certificate dated 18 Mar 1871. After this date no-one in the family uses the name HASSET on it's own anymore.

Emily BLENNERHASSET (nee TAYLOR), the first wife of JFB, died in the June quarter of 1875 at the age of 42. 18 months later, on 23 Dec 1876, John Frederick BLENNERHASSET, a Clerk of 1a Vernon Street, married Elizabeth MOSS at St James, Clerkenwell. Elizabeth was the daughter of Joseph MOSS (a bootmaker) and Emma SYMONS and was born in Bristol on 30 April 1849. Witnesses to the marriage were John SAPSFORD (Brother in Law to JFB) , James BULL (Brother in Law to Elizabeth), Lucy BLENNERHASSET (Mother of JFB) & Lucy SAPSFORD (Sister of JFB).

Elizabeth and JFB had eight children together: Elizabeth {b 1877}, Rowland Ponsonby {b 1879} (probably named for the politician), Lucy {b 1880}, Emily {b 1881}, Gerald {b 1882}, Arnold {b 1884}, Lillian {b 1886] and Arthur {b?}. During this time JFB's two sons from his first marriage got married themselves. John Frederick BLENNERHASSET married Susanna Adelaide FRANCIS twice, once at St James, Clerkenwell on 3 Sep 1878 and again at St Mark, Tollington Park on 7 Dec 1878. Henry BLENNERHASSET married Catherine COVINGTON in the September quarter of 1879.

During his marriage to Elizabeth MOSS JFB had several occupations listed. He was a Clerk until the Census of 1881 when he is listed as a Teacher of Music. He is at home with his wife Elizabeth listed as a Schoolmistress, with 4 young children, one of which is their adopted daughter. Elizabeth was headmistress of the Infants Department at St John's Lane Board School, Clerkenwell for 10 years [3].

JFB is listed as being either a music teacher or an engineer for the rest of his life. In 1882 he is listed in the London Post Office Directory as the proprietor of the West Central Organ School and sometime before 1885 he invents a hydraulic organ blower, for which he received a Bronze medal at the International Inventions Exhibition on 4 Nov 1885.

Images Courtesy of [3]: Date about 1899

It is during the International Inventions Exhibition that JFB is assaulted again, this time by Mr Charles Dove, a man he asked to honour the no-smoking signs at the Exhibition.

In 1889/1890 JFB filed for Bankruptcy and it is interesting to note that in the 1891 Post Office Directory for London it is his wife Elizabeth who is listed first:
HYDRAULIC MACHINE MAKERS (p1826) - Blennerhasset Mrs Elizabeth & John, 1B Vernon Street, King's Cross Road, WC
TEACHERS OF MUSIC AND SINGING - Blennerhasset, Mrs Elizabeth, 1a Vernon Street, King's Cross Road WC.

In the 1891 Census JFB is listed as a Teacher of Music with 7 children at home. His sister-in-law Mary MOSS, listed as deaf and dumb, is staying with the family at 1A Vernon Street while his wife Elizabeth is listed as a Patient at St Bartholemew's Hospital, Smithfield. 3 months later, on 27 July 1891, Elizabeth BLENNERHASSET (nee MOSS) died at home at the age of 42. Cause of death is given as Epithelioma, which she has suffered from for 2 years, and exhaustion!

15 months later JFB married for the third time, this time to a 42 year old widower called Emily RULE (nee BARRELL). They were married on 1 Oct 1892 at the Holborn Registry Office. Emily had two children, William and Bertie, from her first marriage to William RULE. On 5 May 1893 their daughter Mabel was born and towards the end of the following year, 1894, Bertie RULE, the son of Emily BLENERHASSETT married his step-sister Elizabeth BLENNERHASSET, the eldest child of JFB and Elizabeth MOSS.

In the 1895 London Directory JFB is listed as a hydraulic machine maker while he has two entries in the 1899 Directory, as a hydraulic engine maker for organ blowing and proprietor of an organ school. In the 1901 Census JFB and Emily are listed as visitors in the house of Richard GREENOUGH of Green Lane, Leigh, Lancashire. At home, at 1A Vernon Street, are 5 of the children with Rowland in charge.

During his time at 1A Vernon Street JFB was also a Health Inspector for Clerkenwell and he is reputed to have manufactured Nitrous gas for medical use, with his children delivering it to nearby hospitals [3].

On 10 May 1904 John Frederick BLENNERHASSET was decapitated by a train on the Metropolitan Railway, after falling from a carriage near Kings Cross station. It is said by members of the family that he was very overweight at the time and, leaning against a door in the train, it popped open, depositing him on the line. He was buried on 14 May 1904 at St Pancras Old Church, Camden.

Occupations and Name Changes

JFB had a wide range of occupations listed on official documents, and even more in personal documents and among family papers. In addition JFB and his family have changed the form of their surname several times over the years.

John Frederick Blennerhassett - Gallery

	Carte de Visite (Front)		Carte de Visite (Back)
	Blenner-Hasset, J F cdv 1 front  (image courtesy of [4])		Blenner-Hasset, J F cdv 1 back
	Blenner-Hasset, J F cdv 2 front  (image courtesy of [4])		Blenner-Hasset, J F cdv 2 back
	Blenner-Hasset, J F cdv 3 front  (image courtesy of [4])		Blenner-Hasset, J F cdv 3 back
	Blenner-Hasset, J F cdv 4 front  (image courtesy of [4])		Blenner-Hasset, J F cdv 4 back
	Blenner-Hasset, J F cdv 5 front  (image courtesy of [4])		Blenner-Hasset, J F cdv 5 back
	Blenner-Hasset, J F cdv 6 front  (image owned by author)		Blenner-Hasset, J F cdv 6 back
	Blenner-Hasset, J F cdv 7 front  (image owned by author)		Blenner-Hasset, J F cdv 7 back
	Blenner-Hasset, J F cdv 8 front (image in private hands)		Blenner-Hasset, J F cdv 8 back

A "Photograph of the late Henry Smart, musician, composer and organist" (26 October 1813 – 6 July 1879) for which John Frederick Blennerhasset of 1A Vernon Street WC applied for copyright on 17th July 1894 [National Archives COPY 1/417/141].

Sources

[1] Pritchard, Michael (1994) A Directory of London Photographers 1841 - 1908. Photo Research, Watford.
[2] www.photolondon.org.uk
[3] Jehan, Bill: www.blennerhassettfamilytree.com
[4] Cosens, Ron: www.cartedevisite.co.uk | www.victorianimagecollection.co.uk