Sophia Anstice (née Catesby, 5 November 1849 – 1 August 1926) was a

New Zealand New Zealand () is an island country in the southwestern Pacific Ocean. It consists of two main landmasses—the North Island () and the South Island ()—and List of islands of New Zealand, over 600 smaller islands. It is the List of isla ...

dressmaker A dressmaker, also known as a seamstress, is a person who makes clothing for women, such as dresses, blouses, and evening gowns. Dressmakers were historically known as mantua-makers, and are also known as a modiste or fabrician. Notable dr ...

draper Draper was originally a term for a retailer or wholesaler of cloth that was mainly for clothing. A draper may additionally operate as a cloth merchant or a haberdasher. History Drapers were an important trade guild during the medieval period ...

and

businesswoman A businessperson, also referred to as a businessman or businesswoman, is an individual who has founded, owns, or holds shares in (including as an angel investor) a private-sector company. A businessperson undertakes activities (commercial ...

who started a chain of dressmaking and drapery shops in 19th century New Zealand.

Early life

Anstice was born on 5 November 1849 in Marylebone,

London London is the Capital city, capital and List of urban areas in the United Kingdom, largest city of both England and the United Kingdom, with a population of in . London metropolitan area, Its wider metropolitan area is the largest in Wester ...

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to Edward Catesby, a carpenter, and his wife Caroline Catesby (Bailey). On 12 January 1873 Anstice married Edwin George King at

St Martin-in-the-Fields St Martin-in-the-Fields is a Church of England parish church at the north-east corner of Trafalgar Square in the City of Westminster, London. Dedicated to Saint Martin of Tours, there has been a church on the site since at least the medieval pe ...

in London. A salesman for a plant

seed company Seed companies produce and sell seeds for flowers, Fruit, fruits and vegetables to commercial growers and amateur gardener, gardeners. The production of seed is a multibillion-dollar global business, which uses growing facilities and growing loca ...

, King was the son of the well-known naturalist George Hoadley King. On 26 October 1874, the couple traveled to

as assisted immigrants with their son Edwin and King's younger brother, Henry. They arrived at

Nelson Nelson may refer to: Arts and entertainment * ''Nelson'' (1918 film), a historical film directed by Maurice Elvey * ''Nelson'' (1926 film), a historical film directed by Walter Summers * ''Nelson'' (opera), an opera by Lennox Berkeley to a lib ...

on the ship ''Chile''. The King family joined a pioneer party that would settle temporarily at

Karamea Karamea is a town on the West Coast, New Zealand, West Coast of the South Island of New Zealand. It is the northernmost settlement of any real size on the West Coast, and is located northeast by road from Westport, New Zealand, Westport. Apart ...

; this was supposed to last from late 1874 through early 1875. The new settlers would receive inexpensive land in Karamea at a bargaining in exchange for labor on public buildings and public works for the new town. However, it was a poor deal for the King family and the other settlers; Karamea had infertile soil and was very remote. All the settlers had a difficult time surviving. Anstice and King's second child died just a few hours after birth. They did not have a properly consecrated burial ground to inter the infant. According to the King family records on the burial of their second child: Henry King made a coffin out of a packing case. He then carried the coffin with the infant inside several miles to a cemetery. In 1876, the King family relocated to a homestead further up the

Karamea River The Karamea River is located in the West Coast Region, West Coast Region of the South Island of New Zealand. The river rises within Kahurangi National Park in the Matiri Range of the Southern Alps (New Zealand), Southern Alps. The river rises t ...

that had better soil. They were able to plant seeds that Edwin King had brought from England. In 1878, the family moved to Nelson. Anstice had her third child there, a daughter Lilian Jane King. During this period, Edwin King senior developed

tuberculosis Tuberculosis (TB), also known colloquially as the "white death", or historically as consumption, is a contagious disease usually caused by ''Mycobacterium tuberculosis'' (MTB) bacteria. Tuberculosis generally affects the lungs, but it can al ...

, which disabled him. Antice now became the primary provided for the family. In 1879, her fourth child, Harriet Louise King, was born in Nelson.

Business

In 1876, Anstice had established a dressmaking business in Karamea, "St. Alban's House". She used her considerable

seamstress A dressmaker, also known as a seamstress, is a person who makes clothing for women, such as dresses, blouses, and evening gowns. Dressmakers were historically known as mantua-makers, and are also known as a modiste or fabrician. Notable d ...

skills to create the dresses. Anstice's business was a quick success; she kept the business in Karamea even after moving to Nelson. She later opened another "St. Alban's House" in Nelson. Her business sustained the family after her husband became ill. In February 1880, Edwin King senior died. Approximately nine months later, Anstice's daughter Harriet died. On 20 June 1886, Anstice married John Snook Anstice. Her new husband owned a bakery in Nelson. He was much older than her and was a widower. The couple had two sons, Herbert Anstice and Leslie Anstice. Leslie died during infancy. In 1891, Anstice established a

drapery Drapery is a general word referring to cloths or textiles (Old French , from Late Latin">-4; we might wonder whether there's a point at which it's appropriate to talk of the beginnings of French, that is, when it wa ... , from Late Latin ). It ma ...

and dressmaking business in Nelson. It eventually became known as "S. Anstice, Son and Company". The company soon employed a large number of people. S. Anstice, Son and Company proved to be a success. Anstice opened other shops in

Tākaka Tākaka is a small town situated at the southeastern end of Golden Bay / Mohua, Golden Bay, at the northern end of New Zealand's South Island, located on the lower reaches of the Tākaka River. State Highway 60 (New Zealand), State Highway 60 r ...

, Murchison, and

Motueka Motueka is a town in the South Island of New Zealand, close to the mouth of the Motueka River on the western shore of Tasman Bay. It is the second largest in the Tasman Region, with a population of as of The surrounding district has a numb ...

. Her business took orders from New Zealand's cities and rural areas. Anstice was a very thorough and rigorous business owner, frequently travelling around the country to visit her stores. Anstice visited London several times to see her family. On these trips, she would buy fabric from her relatives' drapery store in

Tottenham Tottenham (, , , ) is a district in north London, England, within the London Borough of Haringey. It is located in the Ceremonial counties of England, ceremonial county of Greater London. Tottenham is centred north-northeast of Charing Cross, ...

. In 1900, Anstice built another St. Alban's House on Trafalgar Street in Nelson.

Final years

In 1917, Anstice's husband John died. She then moved in with Herbert and his family. Until her death, she wore black traditional widow's attire in memory of her late husband. She always wore her hair in a bun. Sophia Anstice died on 1 August 1926. The business was taken over by Lilian and Herbert. She was buried in

Wakapuaka Cemetery Wakapuaka Cemetery is a cemetery located in Brooklands, Nelson, New Zealand. "Wakapuaka" is Māori for "heaps of aka leaves". Location Wakapuaka Cemetery is located at the southern end of Atawhai Drive in Nelson. The cemetery is located on a h ...

in Nelson.

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Anstice, Sophia 1849 births 1926 deaths British emigrants to New Zealand Businesspeople from the City of Westminster Burials at Wakapuaka Cemetery 19th-century New Zealand businesspeople 19th-century New Zealand businesswomen People from Nelson, New Zealand People from Marylebone