Middlemore Family Genealogy

The Middlemore's of Birmingham

64. Robert Middlemore [the fourth[1] son of George Middlemore (56), of Bromsgrove and Anne Culcheth] settled in Birmingham, and was engaged in trade there as a bridlecutter[2], being so described on 12 December, 1730, when he joined in a release to his elder brother, John Middlemore of

Figure 36  Signature of Robert MiddlemoreHawkesley, in respect of the legacy of £80 which he received under his father's will. That like his ancestors he adhered to the Roman communion is shown by the fact that his children were baptized at St. Peter's, Birmingham.  Several of his children, and he himself, were buried at Edgbaston, as is recorded in the register there on 6 November, 1766,[3]but his age is not known, for his baptismal record has not been discovered.

He married, at St. Peter's Roman Catholic church, Birmingham, on 20 November, 1722, Barbara Justice, alias Ameronger, or rather Amerongen, the witnesses being Edward Loxley et Philippa Loxley of Edgbaston.  To what family she belonged has not been absolutely ascertained, but from her singular alias it may be surmised that she was of foreign extraction, and for the reasons given below it seems probable that she was the daughter of one Justanus Ammerongen, of Birmingham.  She is evidently the Barbara Middlemore, " a widow," who was buried at King's Norton, 19 November, 1781.

Robert Middlemore and Barbara Amerongen had issue:

  1. George Middlemore, of Walsall, of whom next (65).
  2. Lucy, was baptized at St. Peter's, Birmingham, 27 November, 1725. and confirmed with her two brothers 15 June, 1735. Nothing more is known of her.
  3. Ann, buried at Edgbaston as daughter of Robert Middlemore,23 February, 1727-8, and registered also at St. Martin's, Birmingham.
  4. Thomas Middlemore, "son of Robert Middlemore," buried at Edgbaston 27 August, 1733, and registered also at St. Martin's, Birmingham.
  5. Thomas Middlemore, "son of Robert Middlemore," buried at Edgbaston 25 February, 1734-5, and registered also at St. Martin's, Birmingham.
  6. Ann, "daughter of Robert Middlemore," buried at Edgbaston 21 April, 1737.
  7. Richard Middlemore, of Walsall, of whom hereafter (71).
  8. Mary, her baptism has not been found[4]She appears to have married Richard Hawkeford, of Birmingham, a name sometimes corrupted into Oxford, and also into Hawkeswood, and seems to have had issue:
    1. Joseph Hawkesford, baptized at St. Peter's in 1769, whose sponsors were Samuel Jeffries and his aunt Elizabeth Lewin ; his wife's name was Susannah, and they had a daughter, Helen, or Ellen Walker, mentioned in both wills of Mrs. Lewin.
    2. Anne, baptized 6 August, 1764, at St. Peter's, as Anne Oxford. Sponsor, her aunt, Sara Middlemore. She doubtless married Felix Hendren, and had a son, Felix Hendren, baptized 1798, to whom stood sponsor his great aunt Sara Middlemore.
  9. Elizabeth was baptized at St. Peter's Roman Catholic church, Birmingham, 19 April, 1741. She survived to a great age, and died 4 June, 1830, being buried at Solihull.

    10. She married, before 1788, William Lewin, of Birmingham, a plater by trade. He was confirmed at St. Peter's, Birmingham 4 June, 1769, and is doubtless the William Lewin buried at Solihull 17 November, 1819, aged seventy-six. He had retired to that village, having acquired a large fortune from his business in Birmingham.

    Two wills of Mrs. Lewin have been preserved.  The first dated 20 October, 1820, describes her as of Solihull, widow.  She left a considerable amount of property amongst the following: niece Elizabeth Garner, wife of Robert Garner, of Lane End, co. Stafford, and her children ; niece Anne Hendren, wife of Felix Hendren, of Birmingham, factor, and her children; nephews Robert and Thomas Middlemore, and children of late nephew John Middlemore ; Susannah Hawkesford, wife of nephew Joseph Hawkesford and her daughter Helena Hawkesford; Anne Mold, daughter of late niece Maria Middlemore ; niece Ann Whitehouse. Executors and trustees Francis Witgreave and Thomas Marshall.

    By her proved will she names her "late husband" William Lewin, and devised property in Solihull, Lapworth, Halesowen, Birmingham, Studly, Barston, and personalty to Thomas Marshall and William Francis Paterson, both of Solihull, gentlemen, on trust to sell and to pay ,£200 to nephew Robert Middlemore, £200 to nephew Thomas Middlemore (if living), "but if dead, which I have heard is the case," then to his children or child; ,£200 to each of the children of nephew John Middlemore ; niece Ellen, wife of Mr. Walker, and daughter of Joseph and Susannah Hawkesford ; children of niece Ann Hendren, wife of Felix Hendren ; children of niece Elizabeth Garner, widow ; son of my niece Ann Whitehouse and her children; niece Ann Mold; to Rev. Thomas Watson, of Wolverhampton, clerk, and Rev. Henry Weedall, of Oscott, Handsworth, clerk, £505, dated 4 August, 1828. Codicil 9 March, 1830, appoints in lieu of above trustees, James Brown of Paradise Street, Birmingham, manufacturer, and John Bailey, jun., of Pope Street, Birmingham, gentleman, and Felix Hendren, jun., of Birmingham, yeoman.

    William Lewin's will, as of Birmingham, plater, dated 21 June, 1788, appoints as trustees Richard Middlemore of Walsall, factor, John Clarke, sen., of Birmingham, factor, and John Johnson, of Birmingham, surgeon. He gives , £220 to Sir Edward Smith, Bart., of Wooten Wawen, and after providing for his wife, Elizabeth Lewin, besides numerous bequests to the Lewin family, he gave his business to his brother-in-law, Thomas Parkes, and his wife's nephew Joseph Hawkesford.

  10. Sarah, baptized at St. Peter's, 3 June, 1744,  Probably the Sara Middlemore, godmother, in 1764 and 1798, to Anne Oxford, i.e., Hawkesford, and Felix Hendren.  Presumably she died unmarried, but the date of her death is unknown.

F F

And also

_____ son of Robert Middlemore, was buried at Edgbaston, 26 May, 1749.