Brett Payne's Victorian & Edwardian Photograph Collection Victorian & Edwardian Photographers & Photographic Studios Home / Studio Index / England / Derbyshire / Belper / Jacob Schmidt Jacob Schmidt of New Road, Belper

Jacob Schmidt was born c. 1831 at Nassau in Prussia, Germany. He emigrated to England and became a naturalised British subject, probably in the late 1840s or early 1850s, and settled in the busy Humberside port of Goole, where he married Esther Hunter (born c. 1835 in Goole) in 1852. They had six children, William, Alice, Thomas Walter, Sarah, Jacob and Elizabeth (Lizzie). In 1861 or 1862 they moved to Bristol, Gloucestershire, where the youngest daughter Lizzie was born. In the 1861 Census, he is shown as a musician.

Jacob Schmidt is first described as a photographer in the 1871 Census, when they were living at Egerton, Horfield, Gloucestershire. He had a studio at 1 Regent Street West, as indicated in an 1879 Bristol trade directory (Vaughan), and he remained in Bristol until at least April 1881 (Census). Although he was not mentioned in Kelly's 1887 Derbyshire Directory, by 1891 Jacob had moved to Campbell Street in Belper, Derbyshire, and had set up a studio in New Road (Census & Kelly). Jacob Schmidt died at Belper on 7 January 1893.

After marrying at Islington in early 1878, Jacob's eldest son William Schmidt moved to Margate in Kent where he, too, set up as a photographer. The April 1881 Census and an 1882 trade directory (Kelly) both show him living at 1 Whitehead Villas, Margate St John Baptist, although it is not clear whether this was also the location of his studio. William Schmidt remained working as a photographer in Margate until at least 1901, although he moved to 1 Denmark villas before 1891. A series of three cabinet cards, shown below, indicate that William Schmidt was in partnership with a photographer named Goodman, with premises at Fort Hill, Margate, in the 1890s.

Jacob's second son, also named Jacob, lived near Bristol and became a lithographic artist, while his youngest son Thomas Walter was a pattern maker and remained in Goole.

Type I Used c. 1884-1888 Single frame on front Upper case text Brown ink on white card Blank reverse	Type II Used c. 1884-1889 Diagonal signature Ornate initials & ivy Brown ink on d.grey card Marion Imp Paris	Type III Used c. 1885-1889 Diagonal signature Ornate initials & ivy Brown ink on white card CDV only	Type IV Used c. 1885-1889 Single frame on front Italic text Brown ink on white/buff card Blank reverse/Cab only
Type V Used c. 1888-1892 Diagonal signature Ornate initials & ivy Brown ink on white card OBORNE/CDV only	Type VI Used c. 1895-1898 Shield & branches Ornate text & scrolls Brown/olive ink on white card	Type VII Used c. 1895-1898 Shield, monogram & stylised ivy Cursive text & scroll Brown & grey ink on white card

ID #: jschmidt15 Source: Collection of Rachel Brownell Artist: J. Schmidt of Belper Negative No. - Size: Carte de visite Card Type: Unknown Card Thickness: - Date: Undated, probably copied in the 1880s from an earlier photo taken in the early to mid-1870s. Notes: The mount has "J. Schmidt" at bottom left, and "Belper" at bottom right.. Subject: Eliza Hobday (1845-1938) of Derby, probably in her 20s or early 30s, full length seated portrait with table and chair.

ID #: jschmidt01 Source: Collection of Cynthia Maddock Artist: J. Schmidt of Belper Negative No. - Size: Carte de visite (Mount 63 x 102.5 mm; Photo 56.5 x 91.5 mm) Card Type: Type I Card Thickness: - Date: Undated, probably taken c.1884-1888 Notes: Square corners. Inscribed "Bonzo" in pencil on the reverse. Subject: Unidentified man in military uniform (of unknown regiment), probably in his 30s, full length standing portrait with curtain.

ID #: jschmidt13 Source: Collection of Robert Silverwood Artist: J. Schmidt of New Road, Belper Negative No. - Size: Carte de visite (Mount 63 x 103 mm; Photo 57 x 90.5 mm) Card Type: Type II Card Thickness: - Date: Undated, probably taken c.1884-1889 Notes: Rounded corners. Subject: Unidentified man, probably in his 60s or 70s, vignetted head-and-shoulders portrait.

ID #: jschmidt26 Source: Collection of Robert Silverwood Artist: J. Schmidt of New Road, Belper Negative No. - Size: Carte de visite Card Type: Type II Card Thickness: - Date: Undated, probably taken c.1884-1889 Notes: Rounded corners. Subject: Unidentified man, probably in his 60s or 70s, vignetted half-length portrait with fringed chair.

ID #: jschmidt02 Source: Collection of Cynthia Maddock Artist: J. Schmidt of New Road, Belper Negative No. - Size: Carte de visite (Mount 62.5 x 103.5 mm; Photo 57 x 94.5 mm) Card Type: Type III Card Thickness: - Date: Undated, probably taken c.1885-1889 Notes: Rounded corners. Subject: Unidentified young girl with basket, about 4 years old, full length standing portrait with curtain and chair.

ID #: jschmidt16 Source: Collection of Robert Silverwood Artist: J. Schmidt of Belper Negative No. - Size: Cabinet card (Mount 108.5 x 167 mm; Photo 102 x 147.5 mm) Card Type: Type IV Card Thickness: - Date: Undated, probably taken c.1885-1889 Notes: Rounded corners. Hand coloured. Subject: Elizabeth Adshead (1849 - 1917), full length standing portrait with painted backdrop, curtain and patterned carpet. Notes: (RS) Possibly in costume for amateur dramatic production.

ID #: jschmidt19 Source: Collection of Robert Silverwood Artist: J. Schmidt of Belper Negative No. - Size: Cabinet card (Mount 107.5 x 166 mm; Photo 100 x 145 mm) Card Type: Type IV Card Thickness: - Date: Undated, probably taken c.1885-1889 Notes: Rounded corners. Hand coloured. Subject: George Hargreaves Adshead (1824-1891), probably in his mid-60s, vignetted half-length portrait.

ID #: jschmidt20 Source: Collection of Robert Silverwood Artist: J. Schmidt of Belper Negative No. - Size: Cabinet card (Mount 108 x 166.5 mm; Photo 104 x 148.5 mm) Card Type: Type IV Card Thickness: - Date: Undated, probably taken c.1885-1889 Notes: Rounded corners. Hand coloured. Subject: William Peter Adshead (1818-1909), full length portrait in his greenhouse at Derby House, Campbell Street, Belper. Notes: (RS) Manufacturing chemist and Methodist lay preacher and writer, brother of George Hargreaves Adshead (#jschmidt19), and father of Elizabeth Adshead (#jschmidt16). Both the photographer J. Schmidt and W.P. Adshead lived on Campbell Street.

ID #: jschmidt04 Source: Collection of Brett Payne Artist: J. Schmidt of New Road, Belper Negative No. - Size: Carte de visite (Mount 62.5 x 103.5 mm; Photo 56.5 x 95.5 mm) Card Type: Type III Card Thickness: - Date: Undated, probably taken c.1885-1889 Notes: Rounded corners. Subject: Unidentified woman, possibly in her 20s, vignetted head-and-shoulders portrait.

ID #: jschmidt06 Source: Collection of Robert Silverwood Artist: J. Schmidt of New Road, Belper Negative No. - Size: Carte de visite (Mount 64.5 x 105.5 mm; Photo 57 x 85 mm) Card Type: Type III Card Thickness: - Date: Undated, probably taken c.1885-1889 Notes: Rounded corners. Inscribed "Belper Grammar School" in blue ink in the front. Subject: Belper Grammar School.

ID #: jschmidt07 Source: Collection of Samantha Smith Artist: J. Schmidt of New Road, Belper Negative No. - Size: Carte de visite (Mount 63 x 105.5 mm; Photo 59.5 x 92 mm) Card Type: Type III Card Thickness: - Date: Undated, probably taken c.1886-1890 Notes: Rounded corners. Subject: Unidentified young boy, aged about 5 or 6 years, full length standing portrait with stile.

ID #: jschmidt08 Source: Collection of Robert Silverwood Artist: J. Schmidt of New Road, Belper Negative No. - Size: Carte de visite (Mount 62 x 103.5 mm; Photo 56.5 x 94.5 mm) Card Type: Type III Card Thickness: - Date: Undated, probably taken c.1886-1890 Notes: Rounded corners. Subject: Unidentified child, probably aged 4-5 years, full length standing portrait on chair with curtain and table.

ID #: jschmidt17 Source: Collection of Samantha Smith Artist: J. Schmidt of Belper Negative No. - Size: Cabinet card (Mount 106 x 164 mm, but image slightly trimmed at base; Photo 97 x 143.5 mm) Card Type: Type IV Card Thickness: - Date: Undated, probably taken c.1887-1890 Notes: Rounded corners. Subject: Three unidentified children in sailor outfits, probably aged 3-7 years, vignetted full length seated/standing portrait with curtain and chair.

ID #: jschmidt18 Source: Collection of Samantha Smith Artist: J. Schmidt of Belper Negative No. - Size: Cabinet card (Mount 105.5 x 165 mm; Photo 99.5 x 146.5 mm) Card Type: Type IV Card Thickness: - Date: Undated, probably taken c.1887-1890 Notes: Rounded corners. Subject: Unidentified man, probably in his 30s or early 40s, vignetted head-and-shoulders portrait.

ID #: jschmidt11 Source: Collection of Robert Silverwood Artist: J. Schmidt of New Road, Belper Negative No. - Size: Carte de visite (Mount 62.5 x 104 mm; Photo 57 x 95.5 mm) Card Type: Type III Card Thickness: - Date: Undated, probably taken c.1886-1890 Notes: Rounded corners. Subject: Unidentified man, probably in his 50s or early 60s, vignetted head-and-shoulders portrait.

ID #: jschmidt12 Source: Collection of Robert Silverwood Artist: J. Schmidt of New Road, Belper Negative No. - Size: Carte de visite (Mount 62.5 x 103.5 mm; Photo 57.5 x 94.5 mm) Card Type: Type III Card Thickness: - Date: Undated, probably taken c.1886-1890 Notes: Rounded corners. Subject: Louisa McAuslan n�e Jones (1828-1900), probably in her late 50s or early 60s, vignetted head-and-shoulders portrait. Notes: Louisa was the wife of David Alexander McAuslan, and the mother of photographer Norman Jones McAuslan (1861-1905)

ID #: jschmidt09 Source: Collection of Robert Silverwood Artist: J. Schmidt of New Road, Belper Negative No. - Size: Carte de visite (Mount 61.5 x 101.5 mm, but trimmed at base; Photo 57 x 95 mm) Card Type: Type III Card Thickness: - Date: Undated, probably taken c.1888-1890 Notes: Rounded corners. Subject: Unidentified woman, probably in her late teens or early 20s, vignetted head-and-shoulders portrait. Notes: (RS) This young woman is not identified, but both she and the one depicted in #jschmidt10 appear in another photograph of Louisa Adshead (1861-1922) and two friends, taken by Norman J. McAuslan in the mid-1880s. They are probably friends of Louisa's.

ID #: jschmidt10 Source: Collection of Robert Silverwood Artist: J. Schmidt of New Road, Belper Negative No. - Size: Carte de visite (Mount 62.5 x 103 mm; Photo 57 x 95 mm) Card Type: Type III Card Thickness: - Date: Undated, probably taken c.1888-1890 Notes: Rounded corners. Subject: Unidentified woman, probably in her late teens or early 20s, vignetted head-and-shoulders portrait. Notes: (RS) This young woman is not identified, but both she and the one depicted in #jschmidt09 appear in another photograph of Louisa Adshead (1861-1922) and two friends, taken by Norman J. McAuslan in the mid-1880s. They are probably friends of Louisa's.

ID #: jschmidt14 Source: Collection of Cynthia Maddock Artist: J. Schmidt of New Road, Belper Negative No. - Size: Carte de visite (Mount 64.5 x 105 mm; Photo 58 x 99 mm) Card Type: Type III Card Thickness: - Date: Undated, probably taken c.1888-1892 Notes: Rounded corners. Subject: Unidentified man with clerical collar, probably in his late 20s or 30s, vignetted three-quarter length portrait.

ID #: jschmidt24 Source: Collection of Robert Silverwood Artist: J. Schmidt of New Road, Belper Negative No. - Size: Carte de visite Card Type: Type III Card Thickness: - Date: Undated, probably taken c.1887-1890 Notes: Rounded corners. Subject: Unidentified young man, probably in his mid- to late teens, vignetted head-and-shoulders portrait.

ID #: jschmidt25 Source: Collection of Robert Silverwood Artist: J. Schmidt of New Road, Belper Negative No. - Size: Carte de visite Card Type: Type III Card Thickness: - Date: Undated, probably taken c.1887-1890 Notes: Rounded corners. Subject: Unidentified man with beard, probably in his 50s, three-quarter length seated portrait with curtain, chair, table and book.

ID #: jschmidt27 Source: Collection of Robert Silverwood Artist: J. Schmidt of New Road, Belper Negative No. - Size: Carte de visite Card Type: Type III Card Thickness: - Date: Undated, probably taken c.1887-1890 Notes: Rounded corners. Subject: Unidentified boy, probably in his mid-teens, vignetted head-and-shoulders portrait.

ID #: jschmidt28 Source: Collection of Robert Silverwood Artist: J. Schmidt of New Road, Belper Negative No. - Size: Carte de visite Card Type: Type III Card Thickness: - Date: Undated, probably taken c.1887-1890 Notes: Rounded corners. Subject: Unidentified woman, probably in her late 20s or 30s, vignetted three-quarter length portrait with fringed table and books.

ID #: jschmidt30 Source: Collection of Robert Silverwood Artist: J. Schmidt of New Road, Belper Negative No. - Size: Carte de visite Card Type: Type III Card Thickness: - Date: Undated, probably taken c.1887-1890 Notes: Rounded corners. Subject: Unidentified young man, probably in his late teens, vignetted head-and-shoulders portrait.

ID #: jschmidt31 Source: Collection of Robert Silverwood Artist: J. Schmidt of New Road, Belper Negative No. - Size: Carte de visite Card Type: Type III Card Thickness: - Date: Undated, probably taken c.1887-1890 Notes: Rounded corners. Subject: Unidentified man with beard, probably in his 30s, vignetted head-and-shoulders portrait.

ID #: jschmidt32 Source: Collection of Robert Silverwood Artist: J. Schmidt of New Road, Belper Negative No. - Size: Carte de visite Card Type: Type V Card Thickness: - Date: Undated, probably taken c.1887-1890 Notes: Rounded corners. Subject: Unidentified man with beard, probably in his 30s or earty 40s, vignetted head-and-shoulders portrait.

ID #: jschmidt29 Source: Collection of Robert Silverwood Artist: J. Schmidt of New Road, Belper Negative No. - Size: Carte de visite Card Type: Type V Card Thickness: - Date: Undated, probably taken c.1887-1890 Notes: Rounded corners. Subject: Unidentified young woman and man, probably in their late teens or early 20s, full length seated/standing portrait with curtain, table, pouffe and book.

ID #: jschmidt03 Source: Collection of Stephanie Hitchcock Artist: J. Schmidt of New Road, Belper Negative No. - Size: Carte de visite (Mount 61 x 102 mm; Photo 56 x 91 mm) Card Type: Type V Card Thickness: - Date: Undated, probably taken c.1885-1890 Notes: Rounded corners. Subject: Unidentified woman, possibly in her 50s or early 60s, vignetted three-quarter length seated portrait with curtain, chair, fringed table and book.

ID #: jschmidt22 Source: Collection of Robert Silverwood Artist: J. Schmidt of Belper Negative No. - Size: Cabinet card Card Type: Type IV Card Thickness: - Date: Undated, probably taken c.1888-1890 Notes: Rounded corners. Subject: Unidentified woman, probably in her 50s, vignetted three-quarter length seated portrait with curtain, table, chair and book.

ID #: jschmidt22 Source: Collection of Robert Silverwood Artist: J. Schmidt of Belper Negative No. - Size: Cabinet card Card Type: Type IV Card Thickness: - Date: Undated, probably taken c.1888-1890 Notes: Rounded corners. Subject: Unidentified man, probably in his 40s or early 50s, vignetted three-quarter length seated portrait with curtain, table, chair and book.

ID #: jschmidt05 Source: Collection of Robert Silverwood Artist: J. Schmidt of New Road, Belper Negative No. - Size: Carte de visite (Mount 63.5 x 103 mm; Photo 57.5 x 95.5 mm) Card Type: Type V Card Thickness: - Date: Undated, probably taken c.1892 Notes: Rounded corners. Inscribed "Aunt Loo wife of George Silverwood" in blue ink in the reverse. Subject: Lucy Silverwood (n�e Fletcher) and son Hugh Silverwood, half length seated portrait with curtain and chair.

ID #: jschmidt21 Source: Collection of Brett Payne Artist: J. Schmidt of New Road, Belper Negative No. - Size: Cabinet card (Mount 63 x 103.5 mm; Photo 57 x 91.5 mm) Card Type: Type V Card Thickness: - Date: Undated, probably taken c.1890-1893 Notes: Rounded corners. Subject: Unidentified young man, probably in his late teens, three-quarter length seated portrait with curtain, table and book.

ID #: goodmanschmidt01 Source: Collection of Brett Payne Artist: Goodman & Schmidt of The Fort Studio, Fort Hill Margate Negative No. - Size: Cabinet card (Mount 108.5 x 166.5 mm; Photo 100 x 142 mm) Card Type: Type VI Card Thickness: - Date: Undated, probably taken c.1895-1898 Notes: Rounded corners. Subject: Unidentified child, probably aged about 6-7 years, full length seated portrait with rock.

ID #: goodmanschmidt02 Source: Collection of Brett Payne Artist: Goodman & Schmidt of The Fort Studio, Fort Hill Margate Negative No. - Size: Cabinet card (Mount 108.5 x 166.5 mm; Photo 101.5 x 143.5 mm) Card Type: Type VI Card Thickness: - Date: Undated, probably taken c.1895-1898 Notes: Rounded corners. Subject: Unidentified child, probably aged about 8-9 years, three-quarter length standing/leaning portrait with rock.

ID #: goodmanschmidt03 Source: Collection of Brett Payne Artist: Goodman & Schmidt of The Fort Studio, Fort Hill Margate Negative No. - Size: Cabinet card (Mount 109 x 163.5 mm; Photo 102.5 x 145.5 mm) Card Type: Type VII Card Thickness: - Date: Undated, probably taken c.1895-1898 Notes: Rounded corners. Subject: Unidentified child, probably aged about 10-12 years, three-quarter length standing portrait with curtain and column.

Historical Directories from the University of Leicester
Indexed 1841- 1901 Census Images from Ancestry.com
Partial Transcript of the GRO Index from FreeBMD

Many thanks to Samantha Smith, Robert Silverwood, Rachel Brownell, Stephanie Hitchcock and Cynthia Maddock for kind contributions of images and information.