Commercial Sailing Vessels and The Beginning of Many Middlesex Family Names

While Middlesex County’s location on the Chesapeake Bay, between two major rivers has made it a prime spot for recreational boaters from all over, it also made way for the freighting of commercial goods in the 19th and 20th centuries.

This led many local men to set off on sailing schooners, bugeyes, sloops and pungies. Middlesex County, more specifically Fishing Bay, also became safe haven for many sailors freighting goods to escape a storm. Some of these sailors had to extend their stays due to foul weather resulting in them heading ashore where many found the loves of their lives, and eventually dropped anchor in Middlesex County for good. Several Middlesex family surnames are thanks to these “detours”.