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Who Was the Victorian Businesswoman?

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Female Entrepreneurship in Nineteenth-Century England

Part of the book series: Palgrave Studies in Economic History ((PEHS))

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Abstract

The previous two chapters have established that there were a significant number of female business owners trading in mid- to late nineteenth-century England and they did so in many different trades other than those associated with female domestic duties. Yet more information can be uncovered about female business owners than simply the types of trade that they owned. Discovering how women became business owners, the length of time that they traded, if they traded alone or in partnerships, the locations that they traded from and the advertisements that they commissioned, enables us to start understanding the motivations, agency and skills of female business owners.

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Notes

  1. 1.

    S. O. Rose, Limited Livelihoods; L. Davidoff & C. Hall, Family Fortunes; K. Gleadle, British Women in the Nineteenth-century, (Palgrave: Basingstoke, 2001).

  2. 2.

    P. Hudson, ‘Woman and Industrialisation’, pp. 20–43; J. Humphries, ‘Women and Paid Work’, pp. 72–90; M. Berg, ‘What Difference Did Women’s Work Make to the Industrial Revolution’, pp. 150–169; K. Gleadle, British Women; this is also true of female-owned businesses in nineteenth-century America, S. I. Lewis, Unexceptional Women, p. 25.

  3. 3.

    Kelly’s Directory of Birmingham, 1890.

  4. 4.

    Kelly’s Directory of Birmingham, 1890.

  5. 5.

    Slater’s Directory of Leeds and District, 1890.

  6. 6.

    A. Owens, ‘Property, Gender and the Life Course: Inheritance and Family Welfare Provision in early Nineteenth-Century England’ in Social History, Vol. 26. No. 3. (October, 2001), pp. 299–317, p. 310.

  7. 7.

    A. Owens, ‘Property, Gender and the Life Course’, p. 317.

  8. 8.

    Codicil of the Last will and testament of Ann Corbett, proved at Birmingham on 6th April 1883.

  9. 9.

    D.E.C Eversley, Industry and Trade, p. 136.

  10. 10.

    L. Davidoff & C. Hall, Family Fortunes, p. 284; A. Owens, ‘Property, Gender and the Life Course’, p. 310.

  11. 11.

    Birmingham Daily Post (Birmingham, England), Wednesday, April 5, 1865; Issue 2097.

  12. 12.

    Post Office Directory of Birmingham, 1871; Post Office Directory of Birmingham, 1872.

  13. 13.

    White’s Directory of Leeds, 1861; 1871 Census Class: RG10; Piece: 4552; Folio: 79; Page: 1; GSU roll: 847136.

  14. 14.

    McCorquodale’s Directory of Leeds, 1878; 1881 Census Class: RG11; Piece: 4530; Folio: 104; Page: 7; GSU roll: 1342089; Slater’s Directory of Leeds, 1872.

  15. 15.

    L. Davidoff & C. Hall, Family Fortunes, p. 272.

  16. 16.

    A. Owens, ‘Property, Gender and the Life Course’, p. 317.

  17. 17.

    M. Berg, ‘Women’s Property and the Industrial Revolution’ in Journal of Interdisciplinary History, XXIV, 2 (1993), pp. 233–50; A.C. Kay, The Foundations of Female Entrepreneurship, p. 85.

  18. 18.

    White’s Directory of Leeds & Clothing District, 1842; White’s Clothing District Directory, 1875; 1851 Census Class: HO107; Piece: 2320; Folio: 937; Page: 14; GSU roll: 87545-87547; 1861 Census Class: RG 9; Piece: 3384; Folio: 16; Page: 25; GSU roll: 543123; 1871 Census Class: RG10; Piece: 4555; Folio: 108; Page: 29; GSU roll: 847137; 1881 Census Class: RG11; Piece: 4521; Folio: 109; Page: 5; GSU roll: 1342085.

  19. 19.

    White’s Directory of Leeds & Clothing District, 1842.

  20. 20.

    Slater’s Directory of Leeds & District, 1890.

  21. 21.

    White’s Clothing District Directory, 1875; McCorquodale’s Directory of Leeds, 1878.

  22. 22.

    Hulley’s Directory of Birmingham, 1870; Last Will and Testament of Elizabeth Appleby, proved at Birmingham on 28 March 1871.

  23. 23.

    Directory of Woollen Districts Leeds, Huddersfield and Dewsbury, 1864; Last Will and Testament of Isabella Brindley, proved at Wakefield on 3 July 1866.

  24. 24.

    Kelly’s Directory of Leeds, 1861; 1881 Census Class: RG11; Piece: 4500; Folio: 41; Page: 4; GSU roll: 1342078.

  25. 25.

    The Leeds Mercury (Leeds, England), Saturday, November 5, 1887; Issue 15469.

  26. 26.

    Slater’s Directory of Leeds and District, 1890; White’s Directory of Leeds, 1894.

  27. 27.

    Last Will and Testament of Annie Wightman, proved at Wakefield on 21 November 1905; Last Will and Testament of Susannah Hughes proved at Wakefield on 15 June 1892.

  28. 28.

    Last Will and Testament of Eleanor Sinkinson, proved at Birmingham on 27 February 1884.

  29. 29.

    H. Barker, The Business of Women, Chapter 3; A.C. Kay, The Foundation of Female Entrepreneurship, Chapter 4.

  30. 30.

    A.C. Kay, The Foundations of Female Entrepreneurship, pp. 81–2.

  31. 31.

    H. Barker, The Business of Women, pp. 82–85.

  32. 32.

    S. Nenadic, ‘The Social Shaping of Business Behaviour in the Nineteenth-century Women’s Garment Trades’ in Journal of Social History, Vol 31, 3, (Spring, 1998), pp. 625–645.

  33. 33.

    L. Davidoff & C. Hall, Family Fortunes, pp. 216–222; R.J. Morris, Men, Women and Property, p. 267.

  34. 34.

    R.J. Morris, Men, Women and Property, p. 267.

  35. 35.

    R.C. Michie, ‘Gamblers, Fools, Victims, or Wizards? The British Investor in the Public Mind 1850–1930’ in Men, Women and Money: Perspectives on Gender, Wealth and Investment 1850–1930, D.R. Green, A. Owens, J. Maltby & J. Rutterford [eds], (Oxford, 2011), pp. 156–183, p. 164.

  36. 36.

    N. Phillips, Women in Business, p. 168.

  37. 37.

    J Aston and P Di Martino, Risk and Success.

  38. 38.

    S. Nenadic, ‘The Social Shaping of Business’, p. 633.

  39. 39.

    Wrightson’s Directory of Birmingham, 1839.

  40. 40.

    1851 Census Class: HO107; Piece: 1887; Folio: 83; Page: 19; GSU roll: 221037.

  41. 41.

    Wrightson’s Directory of Birmingham, 1839; Post Office Directory of Birmingham, 1856; 1861Census Class: HO107; Piece: 1887; Folio: 83; Page: 19; GSU roll: 221037; 1861 Census Class: RG 9; Piece: 1380; Folio: 12; Page: 19; GSU roll: 542804.

  42. 42.

    Leeds Post Office Directory, 1882.

  43. 43.

    1861 Census Class: RG10; Piece: 3322; Folio: 68; Page: 4; GSU roll: 839348.

  44. 44.

    1871 Census Class: RG11; Piece: 4542; Folio: 66; Page: 4; GSU roll: 1342093.

  45. 45.

    Baines & Newsome Leeds Directory, 1834.

  46. 46.

    Charlton’s Directory of Leeds, 1847.

  47. 47.

    Charlton’s Directory of Leeds, 1847.

  48. 48.

    1851 Census Class: HO107; Piece: 2321; Folio: 548; Page: 23; GSU roll: 87549-87552; 1861 Census Class: RG 9; Piece: 3552; Folio: 45; Page: 9; GSU roll: 543150; 1871 Census Class: RG10; Piece: 4569; Folio: 30; Page: 54; GSU roll: 847250.

  49. 49.

    1871 Census Class: RG 9; Piece: 1380; Folio: 12; Page: 19; GSU roll: 542804; 1881 Census Class: RG11; Piece: 2142; Folio: 114; Page: 19; GSU roll: 1341516.

  50. 50.

    D.R. Green, A. Owens, C. Swan & C. van Leishout, ‘Assets of the Dead’, p. 68; D.R. Green & A. Owens, ‘Gentlewomanly Capitalism?’, p. 531.

  51. 51.

    1841 Census Class: HO107; Piece: 1342; Book: 13; Civil Parish: Leeds; County: Yorkshire; Enumeration District: 3; Folio: 5; Page: 3; Line: 25; GSU roll: 464285; 1871 Census Class: RG10; Piece: 4569; Folio: 30; Page: 54; GSU roll: 847250.

  52. 52.

    1871 Census Class: RG10; Piece: 4569; Folio: 30; Page: 54; GSU roll: 847250.

  53. 53.

    E. Wharton, The Bunner Sisters, (New York, 1916).

  54. 54.

    H. Doe, Enterprising Women, pp. 102–126.

  55. 55.

    Slade & Roebuck Directory of Leeds, 1851; White’s Directory of Leeds and Bradford, 1861.

  56. 56.

    White’s Directory of Leeds, Bradford etc., 1866.

  57. 57.

    1861 Census Class: RG 9; Piece: 3387; Folio: 31; Page: 24; GSU roll: 543124.

  58. 58.

    White’s Leeds & Woollen District Directory, 1870.

  59. 59.

    Post Office Directory of Birmingham, 1845; White’s Directory of Birmingham, 1855; Post Office Directory of Birmingham, 1856; Post Office Directory of Birmingham, 1860; Corporation Directory for Birmingham, 1863.

  60. 60.

    Last will and testament of Catherine Clews, proved at Birmingham on November 1879.

  61. 61.

    L. Davidoff & C. Hall, Family Fortunes, p. 279.

  62. 62.

    Kelly’s Directory of Birmingham, 1890.

  63. 63.

    White’s Directory of Birmingham, 1876.

  64. 64.

    Last Will and Testament of Sarah Brittain, proved at Birmingham on 22 August 1867.

  65. 65.

    Post Office Directory of Leeds, 1882.

  66. 66.

    McCorquodale’s Directory of Leeds, 1876.

  67. 67.

    1871 Census Class: RG10; Piece: 3726; Folio: 25; Page: 7; GSU roll: 842128.

  68. 68.

    N. Phillips, Women in Business, pp. 48–95.

  69. 69.

    The Leeds Mercury (Leeds, England), Thursday, January 21, 1858; Issue 6745.

  70. 70.

    Leeds and District Trade Directory, 1856–7; 1861 Census Class: RG 9; Piece: 3396; Folio: 10; Page: 13; GSU roll: 543125.

  71. 71.

    The Leeds Mercury (Leeds, England), Tuesday, June 15, 1858; Issue 6807.

  72. 72.

    1871 Census Class: RG10; Piece: 4516; Folio: 101; Page: 6; GSU roll: 848472.

  73. 73.

    The Leeds Mercury (Leeds, England), Thursday, January 21, 1858; Issue 6745.

  74. 74.

    Birmingham Daily Post (Birmingham, England), Friday, June 9, 1871; Issue 4023.

  75. 75.

    The Leeds Mercury (Leeds, England), Monday, March 10, 1873; Issue 10893.

  76. 76.

    The Leeds Mercury (Leeds, England), Thursday, January 26, 1882; Issue 13666.

  77. 77.

    Last Will and Testament of Diana Watson, proved at Wakefield on 13 April 1897.

  78. 78.

    The Pharmaceutical Journal of Great Britain, Vol 11, (March, 1881).

  79. 79.

    Newspaper clipping held in the family papers of the Fourness family.

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    Jennifer Aston

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Aston, J. (2016). Who Was the Victorian Businesswoman?. In: Female Entrepreneurship in Nineteenth-Century England. Palgrave Studies in Economic History. Palgrave Macmillan, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-30880-7_4

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-30880-7_4

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