1856                Church Street, Clinton, Massachusetts.[1]

1860-1865       Address Unknown, Clinton, Massachusetts.¹

1866                Green’s Block, Clinton, Massachusetts.¹

1867-1871       Address Unknown, Clinton, Massachusetts.¹

1872                Green’s Block, Clinton, Massachusetts.¹

1874-1888       18 High Street [Green’s Block], Clinton, Massachusetts.¹

1889                Address Unknown, Clinton, Massachusetts.¹

1890-1895       20 High Street, Clinton, Massachusetts.¹

1856 September 8.  Broadside (provided by Rod Mackenzie)

Ambrotype and Daguerrean Rooms!  “Old Things Have Passed Away, And All Things Have Become New.” 

The subscriber having taken the Rooms formerly occupied by D. Chase, and known as “Chase’s Daguerrean Rooms,” on Church St., and refitted them with an entire New Stock and Apparatus, and every requisite for the production of Good Pictures, would say to the Public, that he is now prepared to furnish all who wish for a picture that cannot fail to suit, both in point of tone and accuracy.

The Ambrotype Is a Picture that is admired by every one—the reasons are obvious—the Chemical effect obtained by this New Process decidedly surpasses all others, both in point of tone and durability.  The Ambrotype is not reversed as in Daguerreotype, but everything is produced in its true position.  The Picture can be seen in any light, or at any angle; and are soft and mellow in tone, being taken upon the best of German Plate Glass, and hermetically sealed with an indestructable cement,— will never fade or corrode, but will stand the action of water or acid, and retain its Brilliancy in any climate for any length of time.  From the fact that we have sold over six hundred Ambrotypes since he first introduced them, is a sufficient guarantee for their superiority.

Every Person Will have the privilege of sitting as many times as they may think proper, without any regard to time or expense, as the Proprietor’s motto is “Never Give Up,” “It is wiser and better always to Hope than once Despair.”  It is generally supposed that fair weather is the best for taking Good Pictures.  The Ambrotype can be taken equally as well in stormy weather as in fair, bright sunshine.  Fair Weather is the best for Children.

To Parents.  Children can be taken as perfect as Adults, between the hours of 9 A.M., to 3 P.M.  It is always admitted that children make the most interesting Pictures; that no one will deny, who is the lover of Art, but it requires skill as well as a peculiar tact to please, combined with all the facilities requisite to produce pleasing results and a perfect delineation of life.  This New Process enables us to procure Pictures in less than one-sixth of the usual time for Daguerreotypes.  No one will, who have children, wait for the morrow, when the uncertainty of life and health proclaims the danger of delay.  Hence it is folly to defer the priceless present to an uncertain future.

To Children.  It is your duty as you love and desire to remember your parents, to prevail on them to have a likeness taken of themselves, on which you may always have in your possession, as a pleasant memento, after they have passed from the home circle to return no more.

He has constantly on hand, every New Style of Cases and Frames, both Plain and Fancy; some of the most beautiful designs such as cannot be found in any other establishment in the country, all of which are continually awaiting for those who have a taste for the beautiful, and who wish to procure something worthy of the honor of being the keeper of the token within, which will make it still more worthy to be presented to a friend, who must appreciate the gift.

With these suggestions, he would conclude by cordially inviting all, whether wishing a Picture or not, to call and examine specimens, which are free for all to criticise.  J. J. Boynton, Artist.  Clinton, September 8, 1856.

1896.  History of the Origin of the Town of Clinton, Massachusetts 1653-1865 by Andrew E. Ford, 1896. Daguerrean Artists.  P. 397.

…John J. Boynton bought out [David Chase] business on Church Street in 1856.  It was afterwards moved to Sterling Road.  Mr. Boynton followed the business for a short time in the Burdett & Fiske building, but went into Greene’s brick block as soon as it was completed and carried on business there over thirty years.  At first, he had a monopoly and if pictures could be published of all the negatives still in his possession, the community as it existed in war times and in the years before and after would be represented.  Here are pictures of those who are now dignified citizens, taken as chubby infancy to satisfy a mother’s pride.  Here are pictures of slim young maidens in the first flush of womanly beauty, which portly matrons of to-day would scarcely recognize as their own.  Here are pictures of volunteers just about to leave their homes, many of them never to return.  Here are pictures of our older citizens, taken that their children might have their portraits, when they had passed away.

John J. Boynton was born in Holden in 1824.  His father, asa Boynton, was a farmer.  The boy went to West Boylston to work in a mill when he was eight years old.  He worked sixteen hours a day.  He came to Clintonville in October, 1847.  Although he had never worked as a machinist, he had gained some slight acquaintance with the trade, and was employed by J. B. Parker at the Clinton Company’s machine shop.  He developed such aptitude in the trade that he was chosen to work with E. B. Bigelow in the development of his new inventions.  He thus worked “under lock and key”’ for months.  He wove the first Brussels carpeting on the new looms, and became overseer of the weaving room at the Bigelow Carpet Mill.  Here he remained until 1856.  He was in partnership with his son, L. W. Boynton, about 1870, in the drug business where H. A. Burdett’s store now is.  His first wife died shortly after he came to Clintonville.  He married again in 1849.  He built his house at the corner of Church and Prescott Streets, in 1861. 

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[1] A Directory Of Massachusetts Photographers 1839-1900.