The Golcher's started as nail makers. For some reason, many early nail makers became associated with the gun trade. Her grand-uncle (??) John Golcher was a gun maker in Philadelphia during the revolutionary war.
http://books.google.com/books?id=kJ1uAAAAMAAJ&pg=RA3-PA7&dq=john+golcher+philadelphia

Her father, William Golcher had a lock making business in the early 1800's in England. Her brother Joseph stayed in England and ran the business, while her brother James came to Philadelphia. Two of his sons are well known here, William Golcher and Thomas L Golcher. The family continued in the gun trade here until 1949. Her son, Thomas, was killed during WWI while driving an ambulance in France.

What Mary's exact role was in the family business is unclear. I can find no record of her ever getting married, even though the census lists her as widowed.

Justin,

I would have assumed the same, except for my research, which points to examples like this. I believe there are other examples of woman, whose husband's owned a business or patent, continuing to run the business after the death of their spouse. I am hard pressed at the moment to give exact names.

Whether Mary ever was accepted by the guild may never be known. There were also many woman in Belgium who were employed as out workers and factory workers by the trade.



Pete

http://www.damascus-barrels.com/Movie.html