1855                94½ Union Street, New Bedford, Massachusetts.

1856                94½ Union Street, New Bedford, Massachusetts.[1]

1856                Address Unknown, New Bedford, Massachusetts.¹

1860                Address Unknown, Fall River, Massachusetts.²

1860                Address Unknown, Barnstable/Hyannis, Massachusetts.¹

1855 May 30.  The Daily Evening Standard.  (New Bedford, Massachusetts.)  May 30, 1855, Vol. VI, No. 89, P. 2.

New Daguerrian Rooms.  The subscriber respectfully begs leave to inform the inhabitants of New Bedford, that he has opened a Daguerrian Room, at No. 94½ Union st., over E. S. Cannon & Co’s. Hat Store.  Having had several years’ practice in the above art, he feels confident that pictures made by him cannot be surpassed in elegance of style or finish, by any operator in this city.  Particular attention paid to taking correct likenesses of children; also, to copying daguerreotype, paintings or engravings.  The public are invited to call and examine specimens. 

P. S. Perfect satisfaction guaranteed.  B. F. Lowden.  ap16.

1857 August 7.  The New Bedford Mercury.  (New Bedford, Massachusetts.)  August 7, 1857, Vol. LI, No. 1, P. 1.

The Daguerreotype Art.—The public are not generally aware of the amount of skill, and judgement, required to produce a good picture in this comparatively new and valuable department of the fine arts.  A correct likeness of a near and dear friend, is one of the most valuable of possessions; and on the other hand, an untrue picture is exceedingly repulsive.  We wish the correct lineaments of our friend’s face, and nothing more or less.  To ensure this [ a ] thorough knowledge, and long practice in the art is required.

Great improvement has been made in this art since its discovery, and it has now arrived to a degree of perfection, which its most sanguine admires little expected a few years ago.

Among the enterprising young men who adopted this new and tasteful pursuit, Mr. Chs. E. Hawes, who has been for sixteen years engaged in it in New Bedford, was one of the earliest.  From a long intimacy with the art, Mr. Hawes has become one of the most skillful and successful artists in this country; in fact, we know of no one more so.  His likenesses in Ambrotype are the most elegant and artistic of any we have seen—they stand out like medallions, and the likeness has a most impressive and life like effect.  No artist, so far as the writer of this notice is aware, has paid so much attention to the light and shade of his pictures—so that the right complexion of the person shall be represented, and a soft and agreeable tone given to the likeness.

Many people suppose that any person can take a good likeness.  This is by no means the case.  Great care and skill are required, not only in the taking the likeness, but in the chemical operation thereafter, to develop the picture.  The greatest care, attention, and skill, and herein imperatively necessary.

In all these most important requisions (sic.) Mr. Hawes has for many years shown himself highly qualified.  We do not hesitate to say, that his pictures will bear a favorable comparison with those of the best artist in this or any other land.

Mr. Hawes is a native of Framingham, Mass., and with true New England sagacity, became one of the earliest to interest himself in his art.  Himself and a brother, both farmers, and mechanics, started with a machine of their own construction at West Cambridge—thence our fellow townsman went to Northampton, Greenfield, and other places having obtained from every reliable source, all the information that could be afforded in Boston and New York, by the advocates of Mons. Daguerre’s discovery.  In the year 1841, Mr. Hawes came to New Bedford, and during his sixteen years experience has devoted himself unremittingly to his profession.  Mr. Hawes attends personally to his business, assisted by Mr. Lowden, one of the most faithful and intelligent operators in the business.

In conclusion we would state as a matter of justice to this excellent artist, as well as the public. That Mr. H. not only was the first to introduce the Daguerreotype into New Bedford, but also that elegant and improved style of the art, the Ambrotype.  In this department of his business he took the First Prize at the Bristol Co. Fair two years since.

1857 May 19.  Barnstable Patriot.  (Barnstable, Massachusetts.)  May 19, 1857, Vol. XXVII, No. 48, P. 3.

Marriages.  In Falmouth, 10th inst., by Rev. Mr. Hooker, Mr. Benjamin F. Lowden, of New Bedford, to Miss Eunice E. Bourne, of Falmouth.

1858 June 8.  Barnstable Patriot.  (Barnstable, Massachusetts.)  June 8, 1848, Vol. XXVIII, No. 51, P. 2.

A Large Eel.—An Eel was caught in “Tim Nye’s pond” in Falmouth, on Wednesday, 26th, by Benjamin F. Lowden of the following dimensions: 3½ feet in length, 9 inches in girth, and weighed 9½ pounds.  

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

²  Craig’s Daguerreian Registry