What is the meaning of "a man-of-ware"

AnonymousWhat is the meaning of "a man-of-ware"? What is a "man-of-ware"?

It sounds like a pun on "man-o'-war."

It could be a good name for a peddler of pots and pans.

Well, apparently enotes.com just got it wrong. From Edgar Allan Poe's "The Fall of the House of Usher":

"I was a man-of-ware, however, that his very ancient family had been noted, time out of mind, for a peculiar sensibility of temperament"

I couldn't find man-of-ware using Google, and I check on cliffsnotes.com, where they also have the text, and it says "I was aware, however"

Thanks for the update, Anon.

That does seem like a difficult error to account for.

This goes back into history - and relates to Ware, Hertfordshire, on the River Lea, which joins the Thames. In 1665 during the great Plague, Ware bargees were the only carriers who continued to supply corn to the City of London. They very largely saved the City from starvation. So Charles the Second granted certain privileges - Ware barges could enter the Thames without the need of a Lighterman, a

I know the post was from a while ago, but thank you so much for this, my Mum told me my Great Grandfather had the freedom of Ware and I admit I was a bit doubtful but there you go, you learn something new everyday...