Thomas N. Lissett

Born in Cambridgeshire, England in 1822, Thomas Nelson Lissett was one of nineteen children of John and Ann Wright Lissett.^[1] He came to America as a young man and made his new home in New London, Chester County, PA. Here he married Eliza Jane Lemmon and the couple had two daughters, Anna born in 1842 and Mary Jane in 1848. In 1849 he purchased a frame house and two acres in New London.^[2] According to the 1850 Census, Lissett hired himself out as a laborer for area farms.^[3] In 1854 he began the process of becoming a naturalized citizen and received his citizenship in Philadelphia in 1857^[4]. When the 1860 Census was taken he is still described as a laborer.^[5]

His move to a career in photography came by 1863, when the IRS first recorded him as a photographer.^[6] Lissett also appears in the IRS records for 1865^[7] and 1866.^[8]

The 1870-71 Chester County Directory has Lissett listed as a photographer living in New London.^[9] But his business was not only centered in New London, his gallery on wheels took him around the circuit of many small town without an established photographer. The American Republican newspaper published this comment on July 15, 1873: “Photography – Thos. Lissett, from New London, has located his photograph gallery at Avondale, and appears to be doing a good business.”^[10]

In the south western section of Chester County, photographers were established in the larger towns such as Oxford and Kennett Square. This left many of the smaller towns wide open for the itinerant photographer. It is possible that he traveled outside the county as well, he could have even conducted business across the line in nearby Delaware and Maryland.

Lissett also had a studio in his house which was situated on the Newark Road, today known as Route 896, south of New London Village at the intersection of School Road.^[11] Newark Road is a major thoroughfare connecting Oxford Pennsylvania with Newark Delaware. The Daily Local News of February 4, 1875, notes, “Lissett, the photographer is still kept busy taking the pretty faces of male and female of New London.” Later in May the Local comments, “Lissett, the genial photographer, has reopened his rooms in New London on Broad Street and is meeting with flattering encouragement.”

The Daily Local News of July 31, 1876, described how the photographer worked:

Lissett had found two lucrative markets for his photography. The summer fairs with harness racing, judging of all types of farm products, good food and fun brought out everyone from the country round. Here he made portraits of winning horses and livestock as well as people. The article also mentions the retreat at Camp Summit, just over the border in Delaware. This was the site of summertime camp meeting that attracted Christians from a wide area. People stayed in tents as well as tiny colorful summer cottages. Lissett himself was a devout Methodist.^[13]

1879 was a tough year for Thomas Lissett. His wife Eliza Jane died in April, and his daughter Mary Jane Gill died on November 13^th. It was during this sad and stressful time that he traded his photographic wagon for an “oyster saloon” or food truck of its day. Thinking he could do a better business at the fairs with food instead of photography. But here is the sad story printed in the Daily Local News on November 28, 1879:

During this stressful time, Lissett moved in with his widowed son-in-law Samuel Gill of London Grove as recorded in the 1880 Census.^[14] Lissett’s occupation is listed as a photographer. He does resume his itinerant photographic business, but it is not known if it was in his original wagon.

Thomas Lissett died on February 11, 1888, in his gallery wagon which was parked in Media, Delaware County. The Daily Local News of February 13, 1888, tells the story:

His funeral was held from his home in New London and was attended by many members of organizations to which he belonged.^[17] These included the Knights of the Golden Eagle, the Knights of Pythias and the Loyal Order of the Odd Fellows.^[18] Some fifty lodge members, family and friends attended the reading of the burial service at his grave site in New London Methodist Cemetery.^[19] He was survived by his daughter Anna Lissett, son-in-law Samuel Gill and two grand-daughters Bertha and Eliza Gill.

According to Thomas Lissett’s will, his personal property was to be sold and the proceeds to be given to his daughter.^[20] The estate inventory includes a list of all his photographic equipment in the traveling wagon, prices each brought and the name of the purchaser. His camera and lenses were purchased by I. Iveson for $6.50. John Madill purchased the gallery wagon for $60.00 and most of the negatives were purchased by Dr. Dickerson. Also inventoried were photographic chemicals, printing frames, photographic plates, a scale, glass funnel, a head rest, a scenic background, “hanging oil cloth,” chairs, and picture frames. The entire proceeds of the sale brought $85.38. His daughter Anna Lissett, seamstress and farmer, continued to live in the house on Newark Road until she sold it in 1912.^[21]

© Pamela C. Powell, 2021.