William Dobson Brigham (1842-1909)

Born in Driffield, East Riding on the 18 September 1841. In 1856 he was apprenticed to Benjamin Fawcett a wood engraver and printer in Driffield. When he completed the apprenticeship William Dobson Brigham leaves Fawcett and establishes his own business as a photographer. He first advertises his studios at Huntriss Row, New Queen Street in Scarborough and Pocklington in 1867 when he is about 25. Within a few years he was employing a number of others including artists who could paint portraits in oils. In 1879 when he moved to a new studio in the Esplanade. He employed William Keighley Briggs (1816-1884) as a painter, he had formerly worked at Oliver Sarony’s Studio. He also employed the painter Alfred Lancaster. His second wife Alice (1862-1952) and his eldest son William Foster Brigham (1884-1968) were both employed in the business. In 1911 the business was run by Mrs Brigham, with William Foster Brigham, until he joins the Royal Naval Air Service in 1916.

William Dobson Brigham was the son of an auctioneer and registrar of births and deaths (formerly a butcher), John Brigham (b.1804) and his wife Elizabeth (Betsy) (b.1808) who were living in Middle Street, Driffield. He had two brothers Frederick (b.1846) and Charles Dickenson (1851-1891). Charles was also a photographer who was based in Stafford who died after drinking photographic chemicals after a period of drunkenness, the inquest recorded a verdict of suicide. After moving to Scarborough William Dobson Brigham married Mary Harris Clarke (1839-1902) of Hanley, Stoke on Trent on the 22 October 1867. At some point after the 1881 census they are joined by Alice Kellaway who had been recorded on the census as a photographic apprentice living in Clarence Road, Cowes on the Isle of Wight. Alice was probably related to the photographer James Kellaway who had a studio at Yarmouth Road, East Cowes. When William Foster Brigham is born on 10 September 1884 his birth certificate records Alice Kellaway as the mother. Arthur Peter Donald Brigham was born on 16 March 1888, Alice was again recorded as the mother. The 1891 census shows Alice living with William and the two children, but listed as a boarder. There is another Photographic assistant also living at 20 Esplanade that year, the 21 year old Alice Pennington. Mary is recorded living alone in Dilhorne, Staffordshire. In 1893 William Dobson Brigham took George Cooper to court. Cooper was a photographer from Hull who had used Brigham’s studio to photograph some clients, Brigham had requested that he pay £3 3s for the use of the studio. Cooper refused. the court decided that Cooper should pay the fee and Brigham’s costs, but also that Brigham should pay Cooper £2 2s for loss of income and his costs.

Mary died in 1902 and William finally married Alice the following year. William Dobson Brigham died in 1909 and is buried in Scarborough Cemetery.