Sophia Anstice (née Catesby, 5 November 1849 – 1 August 1926) was a New Zealand dressmaker, draper and businesswoman who started a chain of dressmaking and drapery shops in 19th century New Zealand.
On 12 January 1873 Anstice married Edwin George King at St Martin-in-the-Fields in London.
On 26 October 1874, the couple traveled to New Zealand[2] as assisted immigrants with their son Edwin and King's younger brother, Henry.
The King family joined a pioneer party that would settle temporarily at Karamea; this was supposed to last from late 1874 through early 1875.
However, it was a poor deal for the King family and the other settlers; Karamea had infertile soil and was very remote.
In 1876, Anstice had established a dressmaking business in Karamea,[2] "St. Alban's House".
Anstice was a very thorough and rigorous business owner, frequently travelling around the country to visit her stores.
On these trips, she would buy fabric from her relatives' drapery store in Tottenham.
[2] In 1900, Anstice built another St. Alban's House on Trafalgar Street in Nelson.
Until her death, she wore black traditional widow's attire in memory of her late husband.