Pamela Kirk was born in Lewisham, Kent in 1837, the daughter of Charles Barham, a tailor, and his wife Mary. When she was 22, she was still living at home and working as a milliner. In 1865 she married Edwin Kirk in the parish church of Islington. Pamela and Edwin lived in Shoreditch and had 5 children, including 413 Florence born 1872.
Pamela, Edwin and their family left London on the Bebington and arrived in Wellington in October 1872.Less than a week after their arrival Pamela’s elder daughter (also Pamela) died of severe malnutrition. Pamela and Edwin had two further children in New Zealand.
Pamela set up in business as a dressmaker in Ingestre Street (now part of Vivian Street), her first advertisement appearing in the newspapers in March 1873. She also advertised sewing machines for sale and offered free tuition to purchasers.
In 1876 the family moved to Courtenay Place. Pamela advertised the address change signing herself 'Dress and Habit Maker'.
Around 1889 Edwin and the eldest son, Harry, moved to Waverley and bought a flaxmilling business. The other boys joined them, but Pamela along with her daughters remained in Wellington. One of the boys, Walter, was drowned in 1890 trying to save a younger brother at the beach off Waverley.
About 1891 Edwin and Harry were adjudicated bankrupt and sometime that year Pamela and her younger daughter moved to Waverley. In 1892 her son William married Annie Kirk (see 307 Annie Kirk) and in 1893 her daughter Florence (see 413 Florence Kilfoy) married the son of Rosetta Kilfoy (330 Rosetta Kilfoy). Later that year Pamela and her family moved to Main Street, Palmerston North where Edwin dealt in furniture. They moved to a bigger shop, in Main Street and remained there until Pamela died on 26 April 1915.
Sources
Auckland City Council https://www.aucklandcouncil.govt.nz/Pages/default.aspx
BDM online https://bdmonline.dia.govt.nz/
Papers Past https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/
Petone Settlers Museum https://www.huttcity.govt.nz/arts-and-culture/museums/petone-settlers-museum
UK Census online https://ukcensusonline.com/
Click on sheet number to see the 1893 petition sheet this signature appeared on. Digital copies of the sheets supplied by Archives New Zealand.
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