Any sugar refiners in your tree?

[chinakay]

I came across this by accident...seems working with sugar was an extremely dangerous job with a lot of horrible ways to die....fires, exploding boilers, falling into the vats...yikes

http://home.clara.net/mawer/fatalities.html

Cheers,
China

[Tsu]

Yes, my g.g.g.g.grandfather was Friedrich HOPPE/HAPPE born in Germany.  He was a sugar boiler in Denmark Street London.

He died of TB though.

He's listed in the database as "HOPPER"

http://home.clara.net/mawer/sugarhhoy.html

[Erato]

And in Boston .....

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Great_Molasses_Flood

[tigerquoll]

Hi China,

What a great site! 
I recently found my gggrandfather, Arthur Johnston, occupation listed on the Port Glasgow 1841 census as a SUGAR BAKER at Port Glasgow, Scotland.
After this date he seems to have disappeared off the radar. I thought maybe he had scarpered off  - leaving his wife and 3 little girls -  but now after reading what a dangerous job it was, I think  maybe he was killed. In the article there are alot of fires listed in the Port Glasgow refineries about this time. I wonder if there was anything in the local papers. Thanks so much for posting this link.

regards Janine

[jmj9]

Yes, James Johns , Bristol died in 1844 after falling through a hatch  at Finzel's sugar refinery. Gather workers contributed to a 'benefits fund' so that if any of them were injured or killed, their dependants would be provided for.

[topsy451]

yep - Sooo many John Cook (Kuck) from germany   then christian street London then  Summerseat Liverpool both his wives were Sugar bakers as was his Daughter and her Husband - a whole  bag full of "sweeties"

[joboy]

Some of you might be interested in this site and add to it if you can.
I have records of three German sugar bakers who married sisters that are in my tree and they all lived in the Denmark Street area.
Most of the young German lads left their mother country to avoid military service.
http://www.mawer.clara.net/
Joe

[joboy]

And in Boston .....

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Great_Molasses_Flood

Thanks for that link ........... what a disaster that was .... a very sticky and smelly mess.
Joe

[topsy451]

http://www.mawer.clara.net/
Joe

Excellent site - looking forward to reading  some of the books - hope to add more "meat" to my ancestors bones now

topsy:)