William Henry Rammell

41 Lower Street
10 Napier Terrace, West Street
8a St. George’s  Place

 

Occupation: Plumber, House Painter & Photographer

William Henry Rammell was born in Deal in 1830. His father, Nathanial’s occupation is entered on the baptism as ‘painter’.  William later advertises himself in the trade journals of the day as a ‘Plumber, painter and photographer’. Quite a strange mix we thought.

It seems you could undertake a short course on this ‘new photography’ and once you had purchased or hired the equipment, you could add to your income with a new venture.

William married Sophia Maxted Baker in 1852 and by 1858 they are living in Napier Terrace, West Street and it was from here that he became a photographer.

Whitstable Times and Herne Bay Herald – Saturday 17 July 1875

We have a feeling that there is some sort of a story behind his relationship with William Sawyer, another photographer, who, when he started on his career, was using the loft space of his father’s shop, as his studio. This was in St George’s Place (later St. George’s Road), where the Deal Maritime Museum is now situated.

We think it is safe to say that the news reporter became confused between the two Sawyer men when reporting this altercation, as Willard was the father. It would appear that William Rammell was something of a rabble-rouser in the town as he is in the papers again for being part of a crowd of men protesting about a right of way being blocked by some boatmen.

Dover Express – Friday 27 March 1874

A year earlier in 1874, in aid of a new Chapel at Ripple, William ‘entertained’ the Congregational Church with a Scripture talk and Magic Lantern Display of  about seventy images. The fact that we can’t find baptisms for his last four children may point to William and his family having converted to Congregationalism as the records for the Congregational Church in Deal are missing for that time.

After William’s initial ‘flirtation’ with photography he eventually returns to being a painter. He has, however, managed to pass on his enthusiasm for the art of photography to his son, Frederick. Frederick moves to Sittingbourne where he sets up a large photography studio and by 1891 he is being assisted by his brothers and sisters who have all left home and had moved in with their brother!

To date, we have been unable to uncover any examples of Rammell Snr’s photography. He must, however, had been a fairly successful Painter & Plumber as when he died he left £699 which in today’s money is just over £54,000.

Name Born Baptised Married Died Buried
William Rammell 1830 23 July 1830 1. Sophia Maxted Baker
1852 Eastry DistrictBorn 1826
Died 1903 St George’s Place2. Florence Louisa Keen
1 August 1905
St. George’s Church

Born 1855
Died 26 December 1931
Oak Street

9 October 1910

The Children of William Henry Rammell & Sophia Maxted Baker

Name Born Baptised Married Died Buried
John 6 May 1853 20 May 1853
St. Andrew’s
1854
Cecillia 1855 5 December 1855
St. Andrew’s
Tom Barker Shuttleworth
1909
Newcastle- upon Tyne
19 January 1952
Globe House, 191
Beach Street
Sophia 1857 8 July 1857
St. Andrew’s
1858
10 Napier Terrace
29 December 1858
Hamilton Road Cemetery
Frederick Miller 1859 8 June 1859
St. Andrew’s
Unmarried 4 November 1936
34 West Street Sittingbourne
4 November 1936
Hamilton Road Cemetery
Ernest 1863 Florence Wyborn
1890
Tilmanstone
1946
Denbighshire
Annie B 1866 Unmarried 1955
Bridge
Walter 1867 Emily Merritt
1898
Portsea Island
23 May 1839
Portsmouth
Agnes 1872 Unmarried 7 March 1935
Sittingbourne
12 March 1935
Hamilton Road Cemetery

Census

Year Address Name Relationship Occupation
1841 Lower Street Nathaniel Rammell Head Painter
Sibyl Wife
Eliza Daughter
Elizabeth Daughter
Ann Daughter
William Son
Mary Daughter
John Son
Alexander Son

Census

Year Address Name Relationship Occupation
1851 41 Lower Street Nathaniel Rammell Head Painter
Sybil Wife
Elizabeth Daughter Governess
Ann Daughter Semptress
William Son Painter
Mary A Daughter Embroiderer
John Son
Alexander Son

Census

Year Address Name Relationship Occupation
1861 11 Napier Terrace, West Street William H Rammell Head Painter & Plumber
Sophia M Wife
Cecillia Daughter
Frederick Son
Susannah M Baker Sister-in-law

Census

Year Address Name Relationship Occupation
1871 West Street William H Rammell Head Photographic Artist
Sohia M Wife
Cecillia Daughter
Fred Son
Annie B Daughter
Walter Son
Ernest Son

Census

Year Address Name Relationship Occupation
1881 63 Napier Terrace, West Street William Rammell Head House Painter employing 2 men
Sophia Wife
Fred Son Photographer
Annie B Daughter
Walter Son
Agnes Daughter

Census

Year Address Name Relationship Occupation
1891 8a St. George’s Place William Rammell Head Painter
un named Wife

Census

Year Address Name Relationship Occupation
1901 Missing for Deal

Trade and Street Directory

Directory and Year Trade or Occupation Address
Post Office Directory 1862 Plumber, Painter & Photographic Artist 10 Napier Terrace
Kellys Directory 1874 Photographer 10 Napier Terrace
Kellys Directory 1903 Borough Magistrate 8a St. George’s Place
Sources and further reading:
Newspaper image © The British Library Board. All rights reserved.
With thanks to The British Newspaper Archive (www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk)
Probate records avaiable on Ancestry and Gov.UK