1875 Kelly's Directory of IOW
James John Rugg, photographer, 87 Upper St James Street, Newport

1898 Kelly's Directory IOW (page 489)
James John Rugg, tobacconist, 19 & fancy warehouse, 20 Shooter's Hill, Cowes

1899 Kelly's Directory of Hampshire & IOW (page 605)
James John Rugg, fancy repository & tobacconist, 19 Shooter's Hill, Cowes

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1898 Kelly's Directory IOW (page 489)
Walter James Rugg, tobacconist, 105 High Street & 1 & 2 Lower St James Street, Newport

1899 Kelly's Directory of Hampshire & IOW (page 623)
Walter James Rugg, tobacconist, 2 St James Street & 105 High Street, Newport

Example of James Rugg's photo back used in 1868
thought to be an 'old stock' backing card - see below
(Emily Porter Williams was born in 1852)

My thanks to Diana Wheeler (Melbourne) for the above photo.

A James Rugg advert from the IW County Press on 18 December 1886
There was a similar more textural advert in the same paper on 24 December 1885

My thanks to Ann Barrett for the above advert.

At the birth of their son Albert William in May 1866, James was recorded as being a Master Photographer living at Upper St James Street, Newport. This seems to contradict the photographic evidence above which suggests he was operating from 76 Node Hill, Newport. One possible explanation is that James was using up old backing cards from his former studio at Node Hill. Incidentally, son Albert William died in October of that year aged 5 months and was buried at Carisbrooke Mount Joy Cemetery.

In the 1871 census, James John Rugg was recorded as being a 32 year old photographer living at 87 Upper St James Street, Newport. Living with James were his wife Janet (sic) (31), sons Walter (12) & Archibald (8mths) and daughter Janet (sic) (8) - all the children being born in Newport. Also lodging with the family was Anna Cheverton (32) described as an unmarried dressmaker born in Newport.

The family was still living at 87 Upper St James Street, Newport, at the time of the 1881 census, with James Rugg being recorded as being a 42 year old photographer. Living with James were his wife Jennett (40), sons Walter James (21) & 'Baron' Archibald (10) and daughter Florence Jennett (17). The eldest son, Walter James, was also recorded as being a photographer. Also lodging with the family were Emma Arnold (26) & Louisa Arnold (22) - both described as unmarried dressmakers (assumed to be sisters). It was later discovered that about 1884 Walter James had married another of Emma's sisters, Caroline Louisa Arnold.

James John Rugg and his wife were not on the Island at the time of the 1891 census so, until they can be found elsewhere, it is not possible to ascertain if James was still working then as a photographer. Certainly, by 1898, Kelly's Directory entries infer that James and his son Walter had given up photography (at least as a mainline business) in favour of running tobacconist and fancy goods shops.

The 1891 census does, however, record son Archibald as being the head (and sole occupant) of the family's home at 87 Upper St James Street - Archibald's occupation being that of a picture frame maker. The 1891 census also confirms that, by then, son Walter was a tobacconist living at 118 Lower St James Street, Newport. Living with him were his wife Caroline, daughter Coral (5) and his sister-in-law Emma Arnold who was now working in the shop as an assistant tobacconist.

James John Rugg died in December 1909 and was buried at Northwood Cemetery. His wife Jennett died in November 1927 and was also buried at Northwood.

Walter James Rugg died in October 1943 and was buried at Carisbrooke Mount Joy Cemetery, his wife Caroline having pre-deceased him in 1937. Their daughter Coral never married and lived to the ripe old age of 92, being buried next to her father at Carisbrooke in 1978.

Of James Rugg's other children, Archibald married Sarah Harriett Cooper and Florence married Arthur Frederick Lowe.