Sourvenir / memento is five hanks of curly brown hair of varying thickness and length, each tied, one with thread, one with red ribbon, one with light string and two with heavy string. Several small coils are loose.
Note on small scrap of ruled paper states: "Curls cut from Mary W. Rettew / when about 8 years of age." Mary was born Nov 17, 1866. See Notes
Longest hank is about 21" and the shortest is about 15".
Condition
Good
Condition Date
2015-03-17
Object ID
2015.999.5
Notes
1880 Census lists Mary W. Rettew, age 13, a niece of the head of home Mary A. Wilson, age 63, of Lancaster. Death certificate for Mary Rettew states she was born Nov. 17, 1866 in Marrietta and died iNov. 4, 1934 in Lancaster. Unmarried, she was living at 1043 Buchanan Ave. in Lancaster. She was buried at Woodward Hill (not found in FindaGrave). Her father was Amos Rettew, born in Chester County.
The 1860 Census lists a possible candidate for father living in Maytown: Amos R. Rettew, age 26, married to Elizabeth (Graybill?) age 23 and one child, George, age 1.
Place of Origin
Lancaster
Credit
Courtesy of LancasterHistory, Lancaster, Pennsylvania.
