Elizabeth Cowles
Lambton Quay Shopkeeper
Elizabeth was an entrepreneurial woman who ran her own shop in 1870s Wellington. She was born in Devon, England in 1836. Her father died when she was 2 years old and so her mother managed a farm of 165 acres, employing an overseer and four men to work it in order to support her four daughters. By 1861, Elizabeth was the last remaining child at home as her sisters had all left to be married. She worked as a milliner.
In January 1873, Elizabeth is now in Wellington where she purchased some reduced cost haberdashery stock and sold this to the public from Mrs Bentham’s store on Willis Street. The following month, she opened her own shop on Lambton Quay near the Bowen Street corner. The shop sold crinolines, dress improvers, frisettes, hair plaits, chignons, bracelets, brooches, earrings, wool goods, flannels, diaper and waterproof sheeting.
Mrs James Stoddart joined the business in May as Milliner and they traded as Cowles & Stoddart for a short period.
In 1876, Elizabeth decided to cease trading in millinery and had a one month sale to divest her remaining stock of flowers, dress caps and hats (trimmed and untrimmed). Following the millinery sale, her business focussed on toys and fancy goods. She was also an agent for Madame Weigel’s American Paper Cut Patterns. Elizabeth sold the business in 1883 to Miss Cook.
Elizabeth lived in Britannia Street, Petone and let out a separate cottage and rooms in her house. Her home was named Yarnacombe after her birthplace. Elizabeth was active in the Petone Wesleyan Church community. She was also appointed to the local licensing committee and was active in the temperance movement.
When Elizabeth died in 1903, her estate was shared between two married sisters, nieces and a nephew. It was worth over £2000 and included shares in the Wellington Trust and Loan Company, Gear Meat Company, New Zealand Shipping Company and the Wellington and Manawatu Railway Company.
Elizabeth is buried at Karori Cemetery. Her nieces Kate and Maria Jeffery are buried with her (plot Plot: *Public/O/74).
Cowles shop front, Lambton Quay, Wellington. Ref: 1/2-056053-F. Alexander Turnbull Library, Wellington, New Zealand. /records/22764851
Government House and Lambton Quay, Wellington. Ref: 1/2-003819-F. Alexander Turnbull Library, Wellington, New Zealand. /records/23188381