Benjamin Jeffery had several varying occupations during his life, and was another example of an early photographer who bounced back after going bankrupt. White's Directory in 1859 listed Jeffery as a photographer at 61 Oxford Street and 20 Upper St Marys Street. The London Gazette of July 1859 published an insolvency report listing addresses from which he worked as a stationer, tobacconist and photographer :- 36 Lower East Street, 20 Upper St Marys street, 16 Middle East Street, and 61 Oxford St. The same report stated that prior to being a photographer in Southampton, Jeffery was a railway policeman living at Trinity Street, Peto Street and Canal Walk.
In 1851 Benjamin Jeffery was a station clerk in Carshalton, Surrey, living with his wife, a son and daughter, and 3 young lodgers. Two daughters were born in Southampton, in 1854 and in 1859. After his bankruptcy Jeffery left Southampton, and two sons were born in London in 1862, and 1869.
The family have not been found in the 1861 census, but the 1871 record listed Benjamin Jeffery, Police Sergeant, living with his wife, 5 children and 2 lodgers in Soho, London. His eldest son followed him into the police force, but at the time of the son's marriage in 1879, his father was working as a beer retailer.
In 1901 Benjamin Jeffery gave his occupation as bailiff. Jeffery died in Kentish Town in 1905.