Katharine A. Ware (1797–1843)

MRS WARE is the daughter of the late Dr Joseph W. Rhodes of Rhode Island. She was born at Quincy, Massachusetts. Her first attempts at verse attracted the notice of her kinsman Robert Treat Paine, and the praises which she received from him incited her to follow her inclination for poetry. The earliest production of hers, that attracted public notice, was a poem entitled “Columbia’s Bard,” written at the age of fifteen, and published on the death of Mr Paine. These lines were included in the volume of his works which appeared after his death. From this period, to the time of her marriage with Mr Charles A. Ware, of the United States Navy, we hear little of her poetry, except some trifling contributions to the corners of a newspaper. Shortly after this event, she was called upon by a committee for a national ode for the anniversary of the seventeenth of June. The favorable reception which this ode received, caused her to be constantly solicited for others, on public occasions, and in several instances she complied. Bostonians well remember the circumstance of a little girl of five years old, who presented a wreath and a copy of verses to Lafayette, at his arrival on Boston Common; this was Mrs Ware’s eldest child.

During a year’s residence in New York, Mrs Ware became favorably known as a writer for the American Atheneum, and received many liberal tokens of approbation from the editor of that paper, and others. She was complimented also with a gold chain, from the manager of the Chatham Theatre, for an ode which was recited in honor of Governor Clinton at the canal celebration.

In January, 1828, she commenced a periodical publication in Boston called The Bower of Taste. In this, and other similar works, her verses have been given to the public.

Contents -BIBLIOGRAPHIC RECORD