Originally published on Facebook: April 2, 2020
Middlestorb - Sugar Bakers from Bremen, Germany
I referred to the surname Middlestorb in yesterday's post. Celia Snowden's maiden name is noted as Middlestaff on her marriage record with William. Taking her family a generation back I found that in fact, the surname was originally Middlestorb which is the German form of Middlestaff, likely anglicized for obvious reasons. Celia's father's name was Robert Middlestorb and, his father our 4th great Grandfather's name is shown Robert's birth record as Daniel. Daniel was born in 1778 in Kirchhuchting, Stadt Bremen, Germany. Daniel's occupation is noted as a Sugar Baker.
Sugar Baker refers to anyone who was involved in sugar refining or boiling to produce various sugar products. It does not refer to baking or a baker as we understand it to be. The work of a sugar baker was some of the most difficult, hot and unhealthy work so undesirable that England depended on German immigrants to perform the work. This is the best online resource I have found on Sugar Baker and Refiners if you are interested in reading more about it. http://www.mawer.clara.net/intro.html
The Middlestorb line goes back a number of generations in Bremen where sugar refining was considered a specialty in that area, many consider Germans to have introduced it to England starting in the 17th century. Our Middlestorb line immigrated to the London area in the late 18th century. During this time it was not uncommon for German or Hanovarians to immigrate to England as their King was also the King of England.
Daniel married Margaret Hunter (English born) in 1804 and I can find at least 5 children born over 10 years. He died in London in 1857 at the age of 79.
Note: Since my original Facebook post I have discovered that Daniel's marries a second time at the age of 59 to Jane Alexander in 1837 and, it is Daniel and Jane who are listed together in the 1841 English census. There are no children from this marriage. The 1841 census was the first official census in England and therefore, there are no earlier census from which to locate Daniel on. The couple are listed at the bottom of the page.
Above: 1841 England and Wales Census
Daniel Middlestorb, age 64 a Carman from foreign parts
Jane Middlestorb, age 54 not from this county (born outside of Middlesex co.)
Above: Close up clip of the 1841 Census entry
The clearest record I have showing Margaret as the mother of the children is this one below, for Robert Middlestorb, second son and second child born to Daniel and Margaret. Trade or profession is noted as Sugar Baker.
The above baptismal entry shows the "abode" listed as Little Distaff Lane, St. Nicholas Cole Abbey parish, city of London. In the 1766 ward map image below you can see the street noted. There was also a Distaff lane, but today, the two streets have become just Distaff Lane. The housing where the Middlestorbs were living in 1816 has long disappeared as you can see from the Google street view shot below. Distaff was a kind of bobbin originally used in the spinning process, and at a very early point in the area's history weaving and spinning was a common occupation. Cordwainer's (leatherwork) Hall is also pictured which lasted in some form in the same location until it was destroyed by Germany during it's blitz bombing campaign in WWII.
Map source: https://collage.cityoflondon.gov.uk/view-item?i=31407&WINID=1605191717009
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