Rathell’s Announcement

Londoner Catherine Rathell opened a milliner’s shop in Williamsburg in 1766, relying largely on imports from Great Britain. Margaret Brodie, a young mantuamaker trained in London, joined her in her business in 1771. About a year after the passage of the Virginia Association and its subsequent nonimportation agreement, Rathell decided to close her business. Brodie posted Rathell’s advertisement in the November 24, 1775 edition of Purdie's Virginia Gazette. Rathell sailed for England shortly afterwards, but tragically her ship sank off the coast of England and she did not survive the wreck.