The birth certificate information for Frederick Brown, 23 Dec 1866, notes that father Richard Brown's occupation was Straw Hat Manufacturer (master). The London Gazette July 11 1865;
"Notice is hereby given, that the Partnership heretofore subsisting between us the undersigned Betsy Rudd and Richard Walter Brown, carry on business in St Albans in the county of Hertford as Straw Hat Manufacturers as Rudd and Brown, was this day dissolved by mutual consent - As witness our hands this 7th day of July 1865
Betsy Rudd
Richard Walter Brown
www.london-gazette.co.uk/issues/22990/pages/3501/page.pdf
