James Paton

and

Hugh Paton

Kilmarnock and Campbeltown

Answer

1.

Family History

Thank you to John Humphrey, Toronto, Ontario, Canada, great grandson of the photographer, John Humphrey, for providing the following details.

John wrote:

James Paton and Hugh Paton

"The plot thickens, because I’ve discovered two new Paton brother photographers, completely distinct both from:

-   the  Paton photographers from Argyll/Glasgow and

-  the  Paton photographers  from Renfrew

The latest Paton photographers that I have discovered are James and Hugh who operated out of Campbeltown, Argyllshire, from the mid-1860s to 1875.

-  JAMES PATON was born in Mauchline, Ayrshire 19 June 1836.

-  HUGH PATON was born in Mauchline, Ayrshire around 1846. 

James and Hugh Paton were sons of Hugh Paton (b Ochiltree, Ayrshire 1813, d Troon, Ayrshire 1861), a Sergeant in the Ayrshire Constabulary, and Margaret Hunter (married  in Mauchline, 7 September 1832)."

Paton's Galleries

The Paton brothers were based at Castlehill Gallery, later moved to the Lochend Gallery.  James then Hugh were frequent advertisers in the Argyll Herald from 1867 onwards. Adverts continued until 1875 when Hugh left Campbeltown 'for a wider sphere' according to his announcement.

1861 Census

The family  is listed in the 1861 census:

James Paton  -  1861

In the 1861 census, James is recorded as a photographer.  Maybe he had some contact with John Humphrey at this time – Kilmarnock is nearby.

A few months later, October 3rd 1861, Hugh Senior died, and some time during the next few years, the remaining family moved over to Campbeltown for some unknown reason. 

Possibly, James found a niche as a photographer there, which would explain why the early local advertisements were in the name of  “J. Paton”. 

1871 Census

By the time we catch up with the family in the 1871 Campbeltown, Argyllshire Census, James has disappeared, and his brother Hugh is in business as a photographer:

Hugh Paton  -  1873-4

"I’ve also found:

-  MARRIAGE CERTIFICATE:  for the marriage on 15 January 1873, between:

- Hugh Paton, Photographer (Bachelor)  26 Corbetts Close Campbeltown, and

-  Lillias Goldie Wyllie (Spinster) 18  Roading, Campbeltown

at Campbeltown, Argyll, [parish 507 #5] after Banns according to the Forms of the Free Church of Scotland.

-  BIRTH CERTIFICATE: for a daughter, Sarah Morton Paton, born to Hugh and Lillias in Campbeltown  9 February 1874."

Hugh Paton  -  Studio

Here is a carte de visite of Hugh Paton's studio in Campbeltown:

©

1881 Census

"It turns out that when Hugh Paton left  Campbeltown 'for a wider sphere' (to quote the press announcement) he gave up photography altogether, became a cloth salesman, and moved to England.  We find him next in the 1881 London Census.

James Paton, Hugh's older brother also appears to have given up photography after a short period.

I haven't yet tracked James down in the 1871 census, so it's not clear when he married or exactly when he hung up his camera.  But his example, and that of his brother, is a reminder that for every photographer who set himself up, established a niche, and expanded business, there must have been dozens who couldn't make a go of it in the increasingly competitive climate, and found more menial ways to put bread on the table. 

Paton & Humphrey  -  Conclusion

I now believe that one or both of these Paton photographers must have partnered my great-grandfather, John Humphrey,  in the 'Paton & Humphrey partnership in Kilmarnock and Campbeltown'.

I don’t know what happened to the older brother James – where he moved to, whether he gave up photography, died, or whatever. 

In terms of  age – born  around 1836 – I think James was more likely to have been the partner than Hugh, who was born 10-11 years later. [Humphrey and Paton were advertising in Kilmarnock 1864-5, and certainly didn’t function beyond 1867]. *

 *  Please see 'Answer 4' below.

John Humphrey, Toronto, Ontario, Canada:  September 4 +24, 2006

Answer

2.

James Paton - Hammerman

Thank you to Judy King (nee Paton), great-granddaughter of Hugh Paton, for sending the message below.

Judy wrote:

Hammerman

"In the 1891 census James has moved down the road to 19 Deanside Lane, Glasgow, and was a hammerman ***.

In 1901 he was living at 45 Shuttle Street, Glasgow, with his wife and daughters Flora and Mary.   He was then a foundry labourer."

I wonder whether James Paton's connection with the McCualskys is that he married into the family.   I make this supposition, because in the 1901 Census James and Margaret's daughter Mary has "McL" as her middle name.

 Knowing the Scottish tradition of preserving the mother's maiden name as their children's middle names, this could well stand for McCualsky.   It would explain so many pictures of (presumably) Margaret's relatives, albeit taken by James' brother, Hugh."

Judy King (nee Paton):  September 24, 2008

***  However, see 3 below.

Answer

3.

James Paton - Not the same man

James Oakes has also been doing some research into the Paton line, and has discovered that this was a different James Paton

James wrote:

 A Different James Paton

"Judy King (nee Paton) writes a plausible explanation of what became of James, but it just so happens that I stumbled upon a Poor Law record for the James described as a Hammerman living at 45 Shuttle Street and can show that this James is of another Mauchline line. His parents were John Paton, shoemaker and Catherine Seaton.

James was married twice, first wife Rosina McKiovor (sic) [Rose Ann McIvor in other records] and second wife Margaret McLachlan. James and Margaret were still residing at 45 Shuttle Street at the date of claim for Poor Relief, 6 Aug 1907."

James from the Hugh Paton Line

"I have more research to do on this Paton line for my friend Anne (nee Paton) and will be on the lookout for evidence of the James from the Hugh Paton line.

I hope this will be of help to Judy King too.  I have scanned copies of Poor Law record if they are of interest."

James Oakes, Glasgow, Scotland:  October 30, 2009

Answer

4.

James Paton - Photographer

Thank you to James Oakes for  following up the final paragraph of 'Answer 1' above and writing:

Paton & Humphrey  -  Death of Paton

"James Paton, photographer, actually died in Kilmarnock in 1868, the year after the partnership with John Humphrey was wound up. **

The partnership may, perhaps, have been dissolved due to James being ill for some time.

I'd located the family in the 1841 census.  Hugh senior is reported as a Blacksmith.

The 1851 census was a bit harder to find as Ancestry.co.uk had transcribed the family name as Perton.  By 1851, the family had have moved to Kilmarnock, James was an Errand Boy and Hugh senior a Police Surgeon."  ***

James Oakes, Glasgow, Scotland:  November 17, 2009

**  James also provided a copy of James Paton's Death Certificate

***  James also provided a copy of an extract of from the 1851 Census.

Hugh Paton's Studio

Photograph

Thank you to John Humphrey for also showing me a photograph of the exterior of Hugh Paton's studio, taken by Hugh.  I'll add a copy of the photo to this web site if I can get permission to do so.  -  Peter Stubbs.

Paton  -  more pages