cape

Black taffeta waist-length cape, trimmed with black beads, sequins, ribbon and lace. Worn by Mrs Rebecca McWilliam, wife of John McWilliam who arrived in Christchurch about the 1860s.

Rebecca Mc William with her husband John (a farm labourer), and their nine children (four of working age and five under 12 years of age) arrived in Lyttelton aboard the Indian Empire, on 24 March 1864. John, originally from Scotland, had lived in England and Ireland before migrating, with his family, first to Canada, and then to New Zealand in 1864.

John died in 1881 aged 69 years, leaving Rebecca a widow. She remained in Christchurch until her death in 1901 aged 87.