N. D. 251 Broadway, New York, New York.
1845 Thames Street, Newport, Rhode Island.
1847 138 Fulton Street, Brooklyn, New York.[1]
1848 138 Fulton Street, Brooklyn, New York.
William Henry Franklin was recorded in one advertisement and one advertisement. The Advertisement ran from May 5 to July 17, 1845 in the Herald of the Times (Newport, Rhode Island). Newport Daguerrean Gallery, Thames Street, (Rhode Island Union Bank Building.) Wm. Henry Franklin, From Plumbe’s Daguerrean Gallery, N. Y. and Wm. A. Judson, From T. Hart’s Daguerrean Gallery, New Haven, Having purchased the interest of Mr. Henry M. Brownell, beg leave to inform the Ladies and Gentlemen, of Newport, that they are prepared to execute Daguerrean Likenesses in a style unsurpassed.—Being thoroughly conversant with all the modern improvements, their Pictures cannot fail to please. No picture will be allowed to leave their Gallery unless it gives perfect satisfaction.
Likenesses taken for lockets, Broaches, and Finger Rings.
The public are respectfully invited to call and examine specimens whether they intend sitting or not.
Instructions given, and apparatus together with chemicals furnished, on reasonable terms.
Likenesses taken without regard to weather.
The announcement appeared on September 11, 1848 in The Brooklyn Daily Eagle and Kings County Democrat (Brooklyn, New York). The Doings Of A Night. Awful conflagration—two hundred dwellings and stores destroyed—three churches burned—immense destruction of property.
The calamity which has fallen on our city is so sudden, so wide spread and so deeply afflicting that we know not how to begin the record of its fearful events. On Saturday night our citizens retired to their beds without apprehension of danger, without a thought that the destroying angel had stretched forth his arm over our devoted city. But when the sun arose on Sunday Morning he looked through the chambers of the east on such a scene of devastation as never spread itself open to his eyes in the annals of this young city. In the brief space of six hours the devouring flame had swept over eight entire blocks in the densest portion of our city, consuming about two hundred buildings and turning into the streets, from their warm beds, probably not less than four hundred persons. As near as we are now able to arrive at the facts the amount of property destroyed may be worth nearly a million dollars……..
138 Fulton Street. John C. Smith, Lawyer; Charles J. Lowry, Lawyer; Sam H. Cownwell, Copyist; William H. Franklin, Daguerreotypist; L. H. Jousberry, piano fortes; John Rolf, lawyer and city surveyor; Cyrus P. Smith, lawyer.
Carey’s Buildings. S. Adams, drugs; M. Nevin, books; Silas Ludlam, city surveyor; G. King, Architect; H. A. Moore, attorney; W. C. Halsey, portrait painter; McDevett, portrait painter; U O of Am. Mechanics; Brooklyn Freeman; Schermerhorn, daguerreotypes; Brooklyn Star.
William Henry Franklin is recorded in Craig’s Daguerreian Registry as being active in Brooklyn in 1847-1849 and possibly in New York City in 1850-1851. The new information is that he was active in Newport, Rhode Island and before worked for John Plumbe, Jr. in New York City, the fact that William A. Judson was active as early as 1845 in Connecticut with Thurman Hart means that Hart might have been active earlier. Also Schermerhorn is possibly A. B. Schermerhorn recorded in Craig’s without an address or location.
[1] Craig’s Daguerreian Registry.