George Henry Polyblank

[Robert Gray]

I am trying to information on the ‘George Henry Polyblank’s’.

The father I believe was born abt 1828 in Plymouth, Devon and on 2 April 1853, married Maria Johnson (born abt 1833 in Islington, London – died 1887).

In 1854 he began a partnership with Henry Maull (born in Clerkenwell in 1829), with their studios at 55 Gracechurch Street, City of London. Rhey also had studios at 187a Piccadilly, Westminster, situated above Hatchards the booksellers (May 1857 - March 1865) and

His only son, George Henry Polyblank Jnr was born 1856 in Walthamstow, Essex.

Around 1859/1860 I have an address for Warwick Street, Eccleston Square, Pimlico, Westminster. From 1860/1866 he had a business at Salter's Buildings, Walthamstow, although the 1861 census shows his wife (as a ‘Photographist’?) and son at 95 Rigis Road, Brighton.

At this time the father took out a patent (B Patent 2924 November 21 1861) for varnishing photographs by coating in paraffin - no specification was included, and it became void.

From 1864 to March 1865 he is with Maull at Tavistock House, 252 Fulham Road, Chelsea, known as the Equestrian. The partnership with Henry Maull was dissolved in 1865, possibly due his divorce from Maria.

By November 1867 he is declared bankrupt and the photographic studio at 72 Piccadilly is taken over in 1868 by Alexander Bassano, Photographic Artist. His application for discharge of bankruptcy is refused and he may have emigrated to America (though no trace discovered).

His ex-wife is shown as a widow in 1871.Working as a Milliner and resident in Finsbury, Islington with her son. She is still in Islington ten years later and died in 1887.

George Henry Polyblank Jnr initially works as a clerk for an insurance company (resident in Islington), and later becomes a lithographic printer in Southwark. He marries Margaret Tyler (b. abt 1858 in St Andrew, Middlesex) in 1882. I don’t know if she dies or they divorce, but by 1901 he is with Ann Maria Whitham (b. abt 1864 in Hackney, London). She is a widow and has a daughter Florence. George Henry Polyblank Jnr. marries Ann Maria in 1907 and they may have had a son George W Polyblank (b. abt 1899 in Walworth, London). GHP dies in 1915 in Camberwell, Greater London.

 

Any details or leads welcome

 

[Michael Pritchard]

PhotoLondon is always a good starting point and most entries are well referenced so can be followed further.  http://www.photolondon.org.uk/pages/details.asp?pid=6177 Check other the other Polyblank listed and Maull and Polyblank entries.

 

[Robert Gray]

Have used photoLondon for original research and found a lot of their info unreliable, also they do not bother updating.

[Michael Pritchard]

Yes - the funding ran out which is a real shame. 

 

 

[Marcel Safier]

Hi Robert, I have also been looking at Polyblank and Maull and I collect their cdvs.

George Henry Polyblank was born 14 June 1831 and baptised 7 July 1831 at St. James, Clerkenwell, the son of George Polyblank (a draper) and Sally Ann Willmott. You will see continually repeated birthyear misquotes of 1820 and 1828 across numerous websites. With some difficulty I have just found the family in the 1841 census in Clerkenwell but George jnr. is not at home but he is listed with his family in 1851 census as a linen draper. I have not yet discovered his fate and wonder whether he changed his name.

A number of the family are pursuing research and Glenn Edy, a collector of London cdvs also has an interest in him. Please feel free to contact me directly to continue the discussion.

Cheers!

Marcel, Brisbane, Australia

[Robert Gray]

Thanks Marel, will contact you

Regards Bobfilm

Marcel Safier said:

Hi Robert, I have also been looking at Polyblank and Maull and I collect their cdvs.

George Henry Polyblank was born 14 June 1831 and baptised 7 July 1831 at St. James, Clerkenwell, the son of George Polyblank (a draper) and Sally Ann Willmott. You will see continually repeated birthyear misquotes of 1820 and 1828 across numerous websites. With some difficulty I have just found the family in the 1841 census in Clerkenwell but George jnr. is not at home but he is listed with his family in 1851 census as a linen draper. I have not yet discovered his fate and wonder whether he changed his name.

A number of the family are pursuing research and Glenn Edy, a collector of London cdvs also has an interest in him. Please feel free to contact me directly to continue the discussion.

Cheers!

Marcel, Brisbane, Australia

[Giles Hudson]

Dear Robert

I don't think the partnership was dissolved due to Polyblank's divorce. This did not take place until 1866 - and was not, in fact, a divorce (at least at first), but a "judicial separation", due to Polyblank's adultery. The court ordered his son to be sent to a boarding school (for which he has my sympathies ...).

See The Times, Thursday, Mar 22, 1866; pg. 11; Issue 25452; col B

Regards

Giles Hudson