This is just the beginning! Our collection holds over 300 years of history, including rare newspapers, obituaries, marriage records, birth records, and so much more—most of which you won’t find anywhere else!
Lace weaving pioneer Dean Walker and the Medway factory
The narrative traces Dean Walker, son of a factory owner, who after early toil and a failed Framingham venture returned to Medway to back two English lace makers. Their crude 1260 shuttle machine began weaving lace in 1820, fueling a fireside industry as women shipped lace home for embroidery. Walker, with partners Bestrick, amassed wealth from machine inventions including a car wheel patent, and by 1830 he stood among Massachusetts's wealthiest men.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
New York
Miga Sophia Walker
Dean Walker
Medway Village
Mags
Young
Framingham
Bloot
Walker
Waltham
Lear
Medway
Bestrick
England
Bestuckss
Andrew Jackson
Wenaina
Maryland
Walser
Baltimore
Franklin Institute
Philadelphia
Massachustts
Franze
Bestrick Brothers
Jace