Samuel John Debenham

Occupation: Artist- Photographer (previously a confectioner)

Samuel J. Debenham could be called the founding father of the Debenham photographic dynasty, for several members of his family followed this profession at various locations, mainly in London and southern England for upwards of 70 years.

Samuel J. Debenham, son of Samuel Fearon Debenham and Lucy Lingley, married Salome Warren,of Cambridge, and is recorded as a confectioner in Abbeygate Street, Bury St. Edmunds in the 1841 census. The 1839 and 1840 Pigot's Directory for the area show a listing for Debenham and Son, Confectioners and Pastry Cooks at Market Hill, Bury St. Edmunds. The Directory of Suffolk, 1844, by William White, listed Samuel Debenham of 34 Abbergate Street as a Traveller, and Samuel Debenham (Senior) of 14 Corn Market as a Baker and Flour dealer.

However the confectioner had adopted a new career by the time the 1864 PO Directory for Bedfordshire was published. He appears under Bedford -Commercial, DEBENHAM, SAMUEL, photographer and photographic publisher, Harpur Street. When the 1869 edition came out he was listed under Luton -Commercial, as Debenham, Samuel, Artist and Photographer, King Street ---thus it appears the young family moved around a little.

A widower since September 1880, he was living at 46 Haverstock Hill with his eldest son William Elliott Debenham (also a widower since July1884) when he died there on April 11, 1887 aged 80 years. Cause of death on his death certificate was 'passage of gallstones'.

Marriage Information Wife: Salome Warren. Married: 13 June 1832 in Cambridge St Mary The Less Parish Church, Cambridge. Witnesses: John Warren, Robert Warren, Eliza Warren, Ann Banham, William Debenham ( First cousin and founder of Debenham Stores)