Professional photographers - connections with Edinburgh

John & Charles Spence

and descendents

Thank you to David Spence Edinburgh who wrote:

Queston

"Can you help me to find the name of an Edinburgh photographer who, in about 1860, employed as apprentices two brothers, John I. Spence and Charles Spence?"

There were several photographers in Leith during this period (and many more in Edinburgh but none in Musselburgh.) I don't know which of them John and Charles might have worked for. Peter Stubbs

Arrival in Leith

"John is my great, great grandfather. With his brother, he emigrated to Edinburgh from Unst, Shetland after his father was lost at sea.

I was told that they arrived at Leith and found work as photographers' apprentices."

Later Generations

"In any case, both John and Charles became photographers, as did John's son."

John's son may well be John Spence listed below with a studio at Musselburgh, about six miles to the east of Edinburgh. Peter Stubbs

"John's grandson also became a photographer and his great grandson (my father) worked for Eastman Kodak in the U.S."

James Spence Photographer and Picture Frame Maker
1888	123, High Street, Dalkeith
1889-1890	Old Edinburgh Road, Dalkeith
1889-1894	1 Mitchell Street, Dalkeith
1891-1900	1 West Glebe, Dalkeith
Source: Photographers in Central Scotland to 1914: D Richard Torrance

John Spence Photographer and Picture Frame Maker
1880-1914 or later	13 Bridge Street, Fisherrow, Musselburgh
1881 Census	Photographer, aged 36. Born: Unst, Shetland Resident: 18 Hercus Loan, Musselburgh Wife: Agnes S Children (all born Musselburgh): - Thomas, aged 5 - Catherine, aged 2 - Agnes aged 10 months.
1889	43 Bridge Street and Hercus Loan, Musselburgh
Source: Photographers in Central Scotland to 1914: D Richard Torrance Note: Many of James Spence's cartes de visite have survived.

Marion Spence

Photographer and Picture Frame Maker

1881 Census

Apprentice Photographer, aged 17.

Born: Carstairs, Lanarkshire

Daughter of Hugh S (railway guard) and Margaret S

Resident: 9 Downfield Place, Edinburgh

Source: Photographers in Central Scotland to 1914: D Richard Torrance

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