By Michele Leggott and Brianna Vincent Unnamed Daughter 7-12 March 1841 Before my confinement I felt very unwell for some weeks, I wanted the frequent doses of Castor Oil as was my custom in England, but from the scarcity of it on board I could not have it, so I was induced to take two Read More…
Author: Brianna Vincent
Sisters at a Glance #2 Catherine (Kate) Moore
By Michele Leggott and Brianna Vincent Catherine (Kate) Moore, nee Harris 24 June 1839-5 April 1913 Katie little fatty is like what Ann might have been as a Child, light hair Curling all over her head. (Sarah Harris to sister Emma Jane Hill. Weekeston, New Plymouth, 2 May 1844) But another time when some friends Read More…
Sisters at a Glance #1 Emily Cumming Harris
By Michele Leggott and Brianna Vincent Emily Cumming Harris 28 March 1837-5 August 1925 In March 1837 my little daughter Emily Cumming was born. She was a very pretty child with large blue eyes, could read easy words at two years old. She was born in England, Plymouth, Devon. (Sarah Harris, A brief account of Read More…
The Erasure of Mrs Corrigan
The Erasure of Mrs Corrigan By Dasha Zapisetskaya Recounting the camping trip in late 1888 that has led us to so many interesting discoveries, Emily Harris lists her fellow campers travelling to the Wakapuaka district by coach, among whom are: Married ladies: Mrs Wright, Mrs Corrigan, Mrs Washbourn. […] Children: Julie, Winifred & Dorothy Read More…
Emily Harris in Full Bloom
‘Emily Harris in Full Bloom’ By Catherine Field-Dodgson When I was working on my 2003 thesis ‘In Full Bloom: Botanical Art and Flower Painting by Women in 1880s New Zealand’, Emily Harris quickly became my favourite botanical/flower painter to research. Of all of the notes and research material I compiled 18-odd years ago, the Read More…
Miss Cottier: Independent Bookseller
Miss Cottier: Independent Bookseller By Kathryn Mercer It is late 1888 and Emily Harris is beginning to look for agents who might sell her books of botanical drawings once they are published. In New Plymouth her sisters Kate Moore and Mary Weyergang explore then dismiss the possibility of either their husbands or sons being suitable Read More…
Harris & Sons of Plymouth, Devon
By Nigel Overton Harris & Sons of Plymouth, Devon: From House Painters & Glaziers to Decorators, Furnishers, Picture Frame Makers, Gallery Owners and sometime suppliers of Artists’ Materials, Fancy Goods and Stationery. Having by chance recently come across an advertisement for Harris & Sons in a circa 1930 Plymouth guidebook, I was prompted to Read More…
From Happy Valley to Siberia: Miss Kate Marsden
By Michele Leggott It is Wednesday 2 January 1889 and the campers at Happy Valley have just two more nights to enjoy themselves under the stars before heading back to Nelson and the start of another working year. Emily Harris records the moment in her diary: Our concert this evening was better as we had Read More…
Which Miss Harris?
By Michele Leggott Last week Ellen had a letter from Dr Taylor & some coloured views of London. He was in Kent, he intended visiting the Exhibition. His letters are always amusing, he wishes that we would get married so that our names might not harass him so. (30 May 1886) Emily Harris is amused Read More…
James Upfill Wilson Redux
By Brianna Vincent. Our recent James Upfill Wilson post didn’t include a photo of him. Despite extensive searches we had found possibilities but not probabilities. There was nothing that we could point to with a measure of confidence and say ‘we think this is him’. Our best guess was a photo of a photo in Read More…