Active Southampton mid 1860s – mid 1870s

​Samuel White 1832 -
Eliza White 1835 -

Samuel White was born in Southampton in about 1832. In 1851 he was a baker's apprentice in the City of London. He married Eliza, (who was also born in Southampton) in the early 1850s, and their son Thomas was born in Southampton in 1853. In 1861 Eliza and Thomas were in Liverpool with Samuel, who gave his occupation as Photographer for the census. 

Carte de visite 1860s

Samuel was back in Southampton in the late 1860s. 2 of the carte de visites shown here gave the studio addresses as 18 St Marys Street and 16 Middle East Street.

Carte de visite 1860s. The camera seems to have been on the ground to create the strange angle of view in this unusual portrait taken on location rather than in the studio.

In 1869 and 1871 S. White was listed as a photographer at 18 St Marys Street. Samuel must have shared studio space with photographers Alfred and Mary Pibworth, who were recorded living and working at 18 St Marys Street in the 1871 census. WH White (no relation to S.White) also worked from the same address. 

In 1871 Samuel was not in Southampton with his wife and son. According to the census of that year, Eliza White, (photographic artist), and her son Thomas, (steward in the Royal Navy), lived with Samuel's widowed mother Mary White at 119 Bevois Street. Eliza gave her status as married, so Samuel was still alive at that time, but Eliza was the photographer at the St Marys Street studio in April 1871. No records have been found for Samuel White after the 1861 census, and  Eliza White also disappeared after the 1871 census. However, their son Thomas was recorded as a photographer in 1881. 

Carte de visite c 1870

Thomas White married and moved to London in the mid 1870s. His wife gave birth to their first child in Southwark in 1877. Thomas White worked as a photographer in Southwark and Lewisham until he became involved in politics in the early 1900s. His occupation was given as photographer for the 1901 census, and by this time he was also a registration agent for the Liberal Party. Thomas was Mayor of Lewisham from 1904 to 1905. The 1911 census recorded Thomas White as a political agent and secretary. Thomas and Maria had 15 children, 10 of whom were still alive in 1911. Thomas White died at Biggin Hill in 1921.