Memoirs of a well-traveled danbury girl, September 13, 1984

24 year old, Danbury, CT resident, Harriet White was able to meet First Lady. Dolley Madison in 1816. The meeting was described in a 1871 letter written to Harriet's granddaughter, now owned by the Danbury, Scott-Fanton Museum. Harriet was the daughter of Joseph Fairchild White who married Elisabeth Burr, daughter of merchant Oliver Burr. Oliver Burr and Ebenezer Russell White, her great-uncle, has established the first extensive hatting company in Danbury. They amassed great wealth from the company. Harriet's uncle, Isaac, established the first wholesale hat warehouse in New York City. Harriet and her cousins attended private school there. At 12, Harriet moved to Boston, MA where her uncle and father established a hat store. In 1815, at age 22, Harriet visited Montreal with her uncle William Howard and cousin Betsey. In 1824, at age 32, she married Elias Starr. Harriet is buried at Wooster Cemetery on Elisworth Street. |Identifier: ms069_devlin_1984_09_13c