Thomas married Mary Ann Allsop (b. 1852) at Belper in 1874.  They had two daughters in Belper, and moved to Bakewell in about 1877, after which they had another four children, three daughters and a son.  It is possible that George J. Jackson took over his studio at The Butts.  Mellor appears to have ceased working as a photographer at this time, and was listed as an "organist and teacher of music" in both the 1881 and 1891 censuses.  In April 1881, the family lived at 30 North Church street, and in April 1891 at Chantry House.

Image © & courtesy of Robert Silverwood

Back row: Alice Jane, Anthony Woodward and Anne Sarah.
Centre: William Henry, Jonathan and Alice.
Front: Thomas Bowmer, Ellen, Mary, Florence, Jonathan jnr and Lucy.

Image © & courtesy of T.B. Mellor of Belper & sourced from Picture the Past

Note from Picture the Past: A portrait showing eleven miners allegedly victimised by the Butterley Company in May 1874. The individuals named are (back row L to R) S Shooter, G Brown, S Cox, G Taylor, T Vickers and J Statham, and (front row L to R) J Seal, W Purdy, T Wheeldon, J Wright and T Purdy. It is noted on the photograph that the miners were never charged, although what their alleged crime was is unclear. It is possible that they were trying to organise a trade union (the first two trade union members were elected to Parliament in this year).