Alfred remarried in 1882. While his second wife Martha produced another five sons and a daughter over the next twelve years, the photographic business, too, was prospering.  Initially it was necessary for the eldest son George to go out to work as a bricklayer to supplement the family income, but by the mid-1880s, the photography business was booming, giving them enough confidence to set up another shop.

"Going Home", an original watercolour by Andrew Summerfield, showing an electric tram on High Street (probably near Burlington Street?), Chesterfield, c. 1908, with a sign for "Seamans Photo Artists" hanging from lamp post to the left of the tram.  Courtesy of Anne Williams

Also in the mid-1880s, the family moved residence once again.  Alfred, Martha and the younger children went to live above the premises at 1 Corporation Street, within sight of the "crooked spire", while the four older brothers lived together in another house nearby at 49 Durrant Road.  Business-wise, they ventured further afield with a third shop, opening the Borough Studio at number 158a Bath Street in Ilkeston before 1887.  By 1891, this shop had moved to number 51a Bath Street - according to trade directories, although there is no evidence of any photographers in Bath Street on the 1891 Census.

Courtesy of Dave Johnson:  "In History of Ilkeston by Edwin Trueman and R. Westland Marston (publ. 1899) there is a photograph of Bath St, Ilkeston's main road, probably taken in the late 1890's - the original is perhaps with the Erewash Museum, based in Ilkeston.   The photo is taken looking up towards the top of Bath street, and in the bottom left hand corner (at right) is Seaman & Sons' studio.  Just above the large sign 'Seaman & Sons' on the roof of the building, reads 'The Borough Studio' and on the wall are the words 'Seaman & Sons Photographic Studio'.  The studio is therefore on the left or east side of Bath St, as you look up it, from north to south, and is opposite to Manners Road.  Pelham St, the later home of the Studio, is a little further up Bath St, and on the western side.

 

George, Albert, Dennis& F.J. "Joe" (back rt) Seaman Image © Anne Williams & courtesy of John Bradley

In 1892 both Albert and George married in Chesterfield, two years later Dennis tied the knot, and four years after that in 1898 Frederick too was married, although at Basford in neighbouring Nottinghamshire.  The 1890s saw the greatest expansion of the Seaman photographic business.   Between 1895 and 1899 they had an additional shop in the High Street, Alfreton, as directory entries (Kelly) and a cabinet card (see below) testify.  They opened new studios at Fargate and 115 Pinstone Street in Sheffield, and Victoria Square in Leeds.  (The Leeds studio moved to 93 Briggate before 1910.)  By 1901, three of Alfred's sons by his second wife were in the business too, helping Albert to run the shops in Chesterfield, while the older sons had moved further afield.  George was living in Ilkeston, where the shop had moved to Pelham Street some time after 1899. The 1901 Census shows Martha Seaman and her sons residing at the High Street studio premises, with her eldest son Alfred William, then 18, described as a photographer's assistant "working at home."  Her husband, however, was some distance away in Matlock Bath, where he was a patient at the premises of Smedley's Hydropathic Baths.

Inscribed on the reverse, "Grandpa" Seaman in his "Darique" 1904! Image © Allan Douglas Seaman & courtesy of Trevor Seaman		Alfred Seaman with his stereoscopic photographic equipment A self portrait taken in the mirror at Smedley's Hydro Image © & courtesy of John Bradley
There is some evidence that son Dennis Benjamin was involved in the Sheffield branch of the Seaman firm in the early 1900s, but set up his own independent studio in Liverpool after 1894.  Gore's Liverpool Directory of 1898 shows him at 99 Hanover Street, Liverpool, but by 1900 he had a studio at 75a Lime Street in the same town.  The 1901 Census shows Dennis living with his wife Eveline and daughter Violet at Empress Road, West Derby, Bootle, Liverpool, where he practised as a photographer.  The Lime Street studio remained open from 1900 until 1922.  By 1914, Dennis B. Seaman had opened another studio on The Promenade, in the small coastal town of Egremont in Cheshire.

		Frederick Joseph (F J Seaman) was working from a new studio - not part of the Seaman & Sons chain - at 2 High Street, Hucknall (Torkard), north of Nottingham, at least as early as 1897, where he remained until 1903.  At the end of March 1901, he was living at the studio premises with his wife Bertha and three month-old baby Mabel, and described himself as a "photographer & picture frame maker".  Between 1909 and 1912, Frederick was operating a studio at Davygate, York, and by 1922 he was in Doncaster. Frederick Joseph "Joe" Seaman, taken during his stay in Nottingham F.J. & BerthaBeatrice Seaman (standing), with his brother and sister-in-law (seated) Images of photographs kindly contributed by F.J. Seaman's granddaughter Anne Williams
		(Left) F.J. Seaman with his wife Hilda, daughter Evie and the twins, Austin being on the left. Taken on 25 August 1935 to mark the twins' 21st birthday. Hilda died at the end of that year. Another A Seaman & Sons studio was operating at 38a Westgate, Mansfield, Nottinghamshire in 1911.  Frederick Joseph Seaman had a studio in Irongate, Chesterfield in 1935, and was still operating c.1943.  F.J. Seaman's son Stanley ran the business in Ilkeston for a while before taking over the Chestefield premises upon his father's retirement.  Frederick Joseph Seaman died in 1953. (see text obituary below) A reader has stated that the Seaman photographic business was open for business in the 1960s, and a "Seaman Studio" of 1 Ambleside Close, Chesterfield is still listed in a current business directory.
Obituary dated 2 April 1953: The death occurred at his home, St. Margaret's Hotel, Torquay, on Thursday week, of a former well-known Chesterfield photographer, Mr. Frederick Joseph Seaman (79).  Up to the end of 1950 Mr. Seaman lived at 279 Old Hall Road, Chesterfield, and had carried on business in the town as a photographer for many years. He was son of the late Mr. Alfred Seaman, who started business as a photographer in Corporation Street, Chesterfield, in the seventies.  After a period in his father's business he started out on his own account, and in 1897 he opened his first shop at Hucknall.  During his lifetime he opened 12 shops, located in several counties in the North of England and the Midlands.  After six years at Hucknall he moved to Hull, where he started a business and within a short period had branch establishments at York, Beverley and Scarborough.  In 1907 he went to Blackpool, where he carried on a photographer's business for 17 years, and for a short period before he came back to Chesterfield in 1926 he was in business at Doncaster.  In addition he had had businesses at Alfreton and Ilkeston.  The business he established at Scarborough was taken over by his brother, the late Mr. Alfred Seaman, and subsequently by Mr. A. Seaman's son. The family business of Seaman & Sons had several addresses in Chesterfield, and on the death of its founder in 1911 it was situated on the site now occupied by Marks and Spencer's store.  Mr. F.J. Seaman took over the premises in Irongate when he came back to Chesterfield and carried on business there up to his retirement in 1950, when his son, Mr. Stanley Seaman, took over the business. He was an old boy of Chesterfield Grammar School, and in his younger days was a member of the Chesterfield Golf Club.  Another of his interests was bowls and for more than 20 years he was a member of the Chesterfield Bowling Club, of which he was President in 1943. He was twice married and his second wife died about 17 years ago.  He leaves two sons, Messrs. Stanley and Austin Seaman, of Chesterfield, and two daughters, Miss E. Seaman, with whom he lived at Torquay and who assisted her father in business at Chesterfield for many years, and Mrs. Blackmore, of St. Albans. Cremation took place at Torquay on Saturday.

By 1907, Seaman & Sons had opened a branch in Brighton, Sussex, located at 75 Kings Road.  It was first listed in Towner's 1907 Directory and remained in directory listings until 1910.  In 1908 the proprietor was shown as A. E. Seaman.  The photograph at below left (© & courtesy of David Simkin) shows road repairs taking place on King's Road, immediately in front of Seaman & Sons' premises, and is dated 1909.  (From "Brighton in Retrospect", East Sussex County Library Local History Series 1974).  The undated 20th Century photo at below right (© & courtesy of Anne Williams) shows the Seaman premises at Market Hall, Chesterfield.

The following is an outline of the Seaman family as I have been able to determine it from census records and various other sources.  All those who had known participation in the photographic studio business at one time or another have been highlighted in bold text.  Additional information has also been kindly provided by Anne Williams.

Image © & courtesy of Frank Dunn

Notes by FD: Mary Ellen was born at New Mills, Derbyshire, died in Manchester, and was buried at New Elton. She married Richard Dale of Painters Way, Winster.

Image © & courtesy of Roberta Carlson

Image © & collection of Brett Payne

Image © & collection of Brett Payne

Image © & courtesy of Michael Patterson

Image © & courtesy of Jeanne Fox

Nothing further is known about this photo.

Image © & courtesy of Christine Hibbert

Nothing further is known about this photo.

Image © & courtesy of John Palmer

Nothing further is known about this photo.

Image © & courtesy of Michael Patterson

Image © & courtesy of John Bradley

Notes:

Image © & courtesy of Nigel Aspdin

Image © & courtesy of Martin Jackson

Image © & courtesy of Jane James

Notes by Jane James: This photo is believed to be of George Flint, who was born in about 1885. He married Gertrude Hartshorn (born 24 April 1887) at West Hallam, Derbyshire on 18 Aug 1906.

Image © & courtesy of Caroline Dean

Nothing further is known about this photograph.

Image © & courtesy of Nigel Aspdin

Image © & courtesy of Nigel Aspdin

Image © & courtesy of Joy Hungerford

This firm moved from Corporation Street to the High Street in Chesterfield between 1895 and 1899, and from Bath Street to Pelham Street in Ilkeston between 1899 and 1912.

Image © & courtesy of Graham Robinson

Notes from Graham Robinson: I have no other details on Sam Platt other than that he was my grandfather Gilbert Robinson's best man at his wedding in Manchester on 7 February 1903.

Image © & courtesy of Jane James

Notes by JJ: Probably members of the Hartshorn or Flint families.

Format: Cabinet Card

Image © & courtesy of Jeanne Fox

Nothing further is known about this photo

Image © & courtesy of Jane James

Notes by JJ: Probably members of the Hartshorn or Flint families.

Image © & collection of Brett Payne

Notes:

Image © & courtesy of John Bradley

Image © & collection of Brett Payne

Image © & courtesy of Jane James

Notes by JJ: Probably members of the Hartshorn or Flint families.

Image © & courtesy of Roger Vaughan

Nothing further is known about this photo

Image © & courtesy of Carol Standish

Nothing further is known about this photo

Image © & courtesy of Roger Vaughan

Nothing further is known about this photo

Image © & collection of Brett Payne

Nothing further is known about this photo

Image © & collection of Brett Payne

Nothing further is known about this photo

Image © & collection of Brett Payne

Nothing further is known about this photo

Image © & collection of Brett Payne

Notes:  This print was produced from the negative of a larger, group photograph, as the other group members can be seen behind and the the left of the young lad.

Image © & collection of Brett Payne

Nothing further is known about this photo

Image © & courtesy of Kerrie Brailsford

Nothing further is known about this photo

Image © & courtesy of Martin Jackson

Image © & courtesy of Caroline Dean

Notes by BP: Examination of the mount of this photograph suggests that it was produced some time in the mid-1890s.  However, the style of the portrait and, in particular, the woman's clothing, indicate that it was a copy, reproduced from a much earlier image taken, perhaps, in the late 1870s or early 1880s.

by A. Seaman & Sons of Chesterfield, probably in late Summer or early Autumn 1899 Size: Photograph 135mm x 100mm, Mount 166mm x 108mm Format: Cabinet Card

Notes by Carol Foss: Samuel Seaman was born at East Lexham, Norfolk on 18 April 1822 and died at East Lexham on 24 December 1899.  Mary Seaman née Dack was born at East Lexham on 10 February 1824 and died at Newton on 5 October 1914.  Alfred Seaman, the photographer, was the son of Samuel's brother George Seaman.

Image © & courtesy of David Simkin

Nothing further is known about this photograph.

Image © & courtesy of John Palmer

Nothing further is known about this photograph.

Image © & collection of Brett Payne

Nothing further is known about this photograph.

Image © Dorothy Haywood & courtesy of Dave Johnson

Nothing further is known about this photo

Image © Copyright & courtesy of Carol Foss

Notes from Carol Foss:  The people in the photo are, from left to right: William Seaman, born at East Lexham on 25 July 1846 (eldest son of Mary Dack and Samuel Seaman and first cousin to Alfred Seaman), died on 11 February 1917, at buried at East Lexham churchyard; Mary Dack Seaman, born at East Lexham on 18 April 1822 and died at Newton on 5 October 1914; Lilly, a granddaughter of Mary Dack Seaman; a young girl identified only as a grandchild of Alfred Seaman; Alfred Seaman, the photographer, baptized at East Lexham on 11 February 1844.  The picture appears to have been taken in front of Clock House, East Lexham before Mary Dack Seaman's death in October 1914.  The photograph was handed down in my family and has been in my possession since 1998.

Image © & courtesy of Samantha Smith

Nothing further is known about this photo

Image © & courtesy of Denis Potter

Nothing further is known about this photo.

Images © & courtesy of Caroline Dean

Nothing further is known about these photographs.

Image © & collection of Brett Payne

Image © & courtesy of Caroline Dean

Nothing further is known about this photograph.

Image © & courtesy of Caroline Dean

Nothing further is known about this photograph.

Image © & courtesy of Rosemary Lockie

Notes:  Inscribed on the reverse, "(THOMAS or HENRY) GORDON".

Image © & collection of Brett Payne

Image © & courtesy of Robin Turton

Nothing further is known about this photograph.

Image © & courtesy of John Fearson

Images © & courtesy of Dave Taylor

Notes: John Havenhand Thompson was born on 7 February 1908 at Eckington, Derbyshire, and died on 14 January 1963 also at Eckington. (see photo below, taken in 1913)

Images © & collection of Brett Payne

Nothing further is known about this photograph.

Images © & courtesy of Jack Tanis

Nothing further is known about this photo

Images © & courtesy of Lies Ligthart

Image © & courtesy of Di Bakel

Image © & courtesy of David Simkin

Blind stamped at bottom right with studio name and address.  Nothing further is known about this photo.

Image © & collection of Brett Payne

Image © & courtesy of David Simkin

Blind stamped at bottom right with studio name and address.  Nothing further is known about this photo.

Image © & collection of Brett Payne

Notes:

Image © & courtesy of John Bradley

Image © & courtesy of John Bradley

Image © & courtesy of David Simkin

Notes: Written in pencil on the reverse is "Fanny" and, in a different hand, "When I was Nursing".

Image © & collection of Brett Payne

Image © & courtesy of Roger Vaughan

"12.3.11" is written on the reverse, which could be interpreted as the date the photo was taken.  The lady's clothes certainly appear to be from that era.

Images © & courtesy of Dave Taylor

Notes: John Havenhand Thompson was born on 7 February 1908 at Eckington, Derbyshire, and died on 14 January 1963 also at Eckington.  The writing on the reverse of the postcard shows it was given to either his maternal grandmother Ann (Havenhand) Plant or his paternal grandmother Pamela Thompson, who would both have been in their mid to late 70’s at the time.

Images © & collection of Brett Payne

Notes: Inscribed "To Aunty Jenny with love from Rita" on the reverse.

Images © & courtesy of Phil Gregory - visit Phil's Relatives in WW1 web page

Notes:

Images © & courtesy of Kerrie Brailsford

Notes:  Blind stamped in the bottom right corner, "Seaman Chesterfield"

Images © & courtesy of Dave Taylor