Thomas Hardy & The Business Women of The Nineteenth Century

There were many business women in Dorchester during the second half of 19th century. While many women's businesses in these period were in respectable fields like dressmaking, hat making, or running small shops, they were active  participants economic life of the area. The following were some of the prominent among them.

1. Sarah Baker (1805 - 1866) Identified as a 19th century business woman in Upham’s Corner. She operated a successful bandbox business in the Savin Hill for over 40 years. She had a savings of ,$5000 and in her will funded the construction of Baker Memorial Methodist Episcopal Church, at Upham's corner.

2. Judith Foster and Clementina Beach: Operated an academy for young women on Meeting-House Hill during 19th century. They founded Elite Boarding school for Girls in Dorchester.

Women were involved in running private academies, and towards the end of the century, practising medicine. Example: Dr Mary Mary Safford-Blake (1834  - 1891)

As in other parts of Boston, women in Dorchester ran boarding houses, grocery stores and millinery (hat) shops.

Industrial schools for girls were run by women who served as managers and directors of these schools. These women operated in a male dominated society where women were restricted to domestic spheres.

There were several documented business women in Victorian Dorchester, who acted as independent entrepreneurs in retail and service sectors.

Notable examples include the following:-

° Fanny and Jain Grain: They ran a shop in North Street that combined 

the roles of bookseller, news agent, and a fancy goods and Berlin wool repository.

°Mary Mullet Moule (1801 - 1877) 

Widely known for her social reform and public health work, alongside her husband she was a significant economic actor who personally financed community projects and schools in the Fordington area of Dorchester.

° Elizabeth Scammell: Records from the 1871 Dorchester census list her as an annuitant, living on South Street, who lived off on her investments.

Women in towns operated as dress makers and milliners; lodging house-keepers, and  school mistresses. They also operated as traders selling snacks, home finished garments, and laundry services.

Thomas Hardy's fictional business women were deeply rooted in 19th century Dorchester ( his Casterbridge).

Direct real life inspirations:

° Elizabeth Martha Brown (1811- 1856) At the age of sixteen Hardy witnessed her public hanging at Dorchester prison for the murder of her abusive husband. Her dignity and fine figure she cut in her black silk gown stayed with him for 70 years and served as the core inspiration for Tess of the d'Urbervilles. 

°Jamima Hand Hardy (his mother)

Described as the real guiding star of his early life. She was a formidable influence on him. A well-red woman who field his understanding of his female characters.

Tryphena Sparks (cousin):

Many scholars believe his cousin, who was a school mistress and high achiever influenced characters like Sue Bridehead in Jude the obscure and provided a template for his more modern and independent characters.

Hardy's portrayal of business women like Bathsheba Everdene (Far From The Madding Crowd) or Lucetta Templeman ( The Mayor of Casterbridge) reflected the evolving economic status of women in Victorian England.

Although not a political feminist, Hardy's characters mirrored the real world shift towards women seeking education and economic independence.