Catherine Rathell came to Virginia from London in 1765 or 1766 "with a view of setting up a Milliners Shop at Williamsburg." Rathell's stock in trade included a variety of fashionable goods imported from London: fabric, lace, fans, ribbons, jewelry, buttons, gloves, shoes, spoons, hats, caps, canes and riding whips. She was very particular about the quality of her goods, insisting that they be "the very best & most fashionable goods in Williamsburg." When the colonies protested British policies by forbidding the importation of British goods, Catherine Rathell announced her intention to return to England "till Liberty of Importation is allowed." She boarded the ship Peggy and set sail. The ship sank within sight of the port of Liverpool. All the passengers, including Catherine Rathell, perished.