Joseph Songi, c. 1830
Here is the Candyman himself. This is a photo I received years ago of Joseph Songi. Can you tell if he’s Italian, French or Russian? It’s still undecided.
It’s been noted before that Joseph traveled to and from the “continent” several times. He said himself in the London Times article that he was married in 1798 in Lake Como, Italy. But nowhere have we found evidence he was born in Italy.
Family history states he was the pastry chef for the Russian ambassador in Italy. That could mean he was Russian as custom was for the Ambassador’s to bring their staff from their home country. If this was the case however, why was he exiled to England?
Was he French? I’ve found a large number of Songi’s originating from France. Many immigrated to America and settled in the one time French possession of Louisiana. It could easily be conceived that Joseph headed to Italy and when Napoleon rolled through he exiled to England rather than back to a Napoleonic France.
Not sure at this point, but I’m willing to listen to any and all theories. Facts wouldn’t bother me either!
02/19/2008 Note: I was going through old pictures and certificates this past weekend (a new separate post will come from that) and realized when I looked at the back of this picture it is not our Candyman but his son, Joseph Jr. Also a Candyman but born in England and that would probably make this picture from around 1850 or so.
