“WARE, JOSIAH, of Wrentham, m. (1) Mehetable, dau. of Eli Richardson of Franklin, the first in town to buy straw braid and sew into bonnets; resided with his brother-in-law John Torrey in the house fronting the common, and had his shop on the opposite corner, near H. 243, where he kept a variety store. After two or three years traveled the country, making long trips South selling bonnets and fancy goods. She d. 22 May, 1820, aged 37; m. (2) Sally Parker of Charlton… Child by first m., b. at Ox.: JOSIAH, b. 12 Dec, 1812.”
Reference Data:
History of the Town of Oxford, Massachusetts, Vol. 1, by George Fisher Daniels, 1892, page 738
And I believe the tradition, although modernized, is still carried on today. As you sit in Church on a Sunday morning Easter Services, look around. Or at Churchhill Downs on Kentucky Derby Day! A bit of humor here of course.
C. Wayne Ware
Cedar Falls, IA