PART FOUR: MOSS FAMILY TREE

MOSS FAMILY TREE

The Moss family connection to our tree was through the marriage of GGM Sarah Ann Moss (1850-1921) to GGF Henry Boardman (1841-1919) and was significant, because they were the couple that migrated to Australia and established our Australian line of the family. The earliest known ancestors in the Moss line with reliable records were GGGGGF Thomas Moss and the parents of his wife GGGGGM Elizabeth Legg, but there are intriguing hints about the Moss ancestry that go back further than this.

Many of the chapters about the Moss family were extensively rewritten in 2016 using information kindly supplied by Steve Priestley, in addition to the results of further research. Much of this section also incorporates the writings of GGM Sarah Ann Boardman nee Moss, who wrote a family history in the early part of the 20th century.

50.0 Sarah's Notes about the Early Moss Ancestors
GGM Sarah Ann Boardman nee Moss wrote a small amount about her more distant ancestors. Her writings provide some hints about some of the characters in the early Moss family, but at times, her list of ancestor's names, conflict with what historical records tell us.

At the start of her memoirs she said "I have heard that originally, Essex (60 miles from Elstead) was the county from which they came, but I have no authentic record to go by." Near the end of her writing she gets a bit more specific. She says her great, great grandfather (who is yet to be identified) had 'problems' with his eldest son (her great grandfather), who she named as "another George Moss" and he turned out to be a 'wastrel' (good-for-nothing). However the records show that in actual fact her great grandfather was Thomas Moss (1770-1833), who we know married Elizabeth Legg in Seale in 1792 and from all accounts lead a 'respectable' life.

There are three possibilities to this mystery.
a) The first possibility is that the ancestral record I have outlined in this tree is wrong. Was Thomas Moss b1770 really the father of George Moss b1793? The evidence is as follows; a marriage registration dated 1792, listed Thomas Moss as marrying Elizabeth Legg at Elstead and their son George was born in and baptised at Elstead as the 'son of Thomas and Elizabeth Moss' on the 23 Jun 1793. The 1851 census listed a widowed Elizabeth Moss [nee Legg] living with her son George Moss b1793. There is more circumstantial evidence, but these records alone seem to establish the connection.
b) Perhaps Sarah was talking about one generation further back i.e. left out a 'great'. That is, the "wastrel" was her Great Great Grandfather named George Moss, who was the eldest son of an unknown Moss from Essex. GGGGGF Thomas Moss would have been the son of George Moss. Sarah was of advanced age when she wrote her 'memoirs' and there are other minor errors which demonstrate she was getting some things wrong.OR
c) Perhaps, and this is the theory I favour at the moment, GGGGGF Thomas Moss b1770 (misnamed by Sarah as George) was a 'wastrel' at 17 years of age as Sarah said, but by his early twenties he had 'reformed', moved to Seale and started to lead a 'respectable' life, which enabled him to attract the interest of his future wife, Elizabeth Legg. GGGGGM Elizabeth appears to have come from a 'well-to-do' background with well established religious beliefs. One indication that this possibility may be true, is the fact that numerous searches for Thomas' ancestors have been futile, which could indicate a past that had been hidden (or disjointed). Another possibility is that Thomas Moss b1770 may have been 'George Thomas Moss', but dropped the 'George' when he assumed his 'new identity' in Elstead. (Both of these names were given to his grandson, which gives some support to the latter possibility.)

Elstead Village Green

In Sarah's writings quoted below, I have tried to identify the people she was talking about by name and DOB to make her version of events clearer. The words in square brackets are mine "Many years ago my great-great-grandfather [Unknown Moss] lived at a place called Bury St. Edmonds in Suffolk. My eldest brother George Moss [b1847] made it his business to visit this town (as he had heard that our family originally hailed from there). He found that for many generations, the family had lived in comfort and respectability. Our great grandfather; also a George Moss [possibly George Thomas Moss b1770] had turned out what we should have called a “wastrel”. He was the eldest son, but despising his patrimony, had run away from school (whether boarding school or College I know not) when about 17, and became enamoured of a jockey’s life riding in many races for Lord George – I forget the other name. [See note below] He married and had a family of sons and daughters, never revealing to any of them his real position."

Horse racing at Newmarket around 1800

NOTE 1: Lord George Frederic Cavendish-Scott-Bentinck (1802-1848) and his father and grandfather were significant figures in horse racing at Newmarket. However Lord George was born after GGGGGF Thomas had settled down to married life at Seale (where GGGGGP Thomas Moss and Sarah Legg were married in 1792) and Lord George's father and grandfather went by the forenames of 'William'. Sarah was clearly unsure of the full name of the particular 'lord' in her memoir and it in fact may have been Lord George's father William Henry Cavendish-Scott-Bentinck, the 4th Duke of Portland (1768-1854) who records describe as a "keen devotee of horse racing" at Newmarket. In the 1840's Lord George became involved in a number of betting scandals and court cases and the resultant publicity may have led to his name being mistakenly associated with ancestor Thomas' (b1770) by members of the Moss family. The complexity of the names of the men in this family could explain why Sarah could not remember the full name.

NOTE 2: Seale is 3 miles north of Elstead, and Thomas may have been residing there in the employ of Lord George's father, when he met GGGGGM Sarah Legg. No other Legg or Moss relatives seem to have a connection with Seale.

Sarah's writing continued with, "My grandfather George Moss [1793-1864] never referred to any of his father’s [Thomas Moss b1770] doings – perhaps there was not much to be proud of. At any rate he [George Moss b1793] came to Australia in the year 1858, as all his family (excepting my father, his eldest son – of course named George [Thomas] Moss [1826-1892] – and an aunt, I should say daughter [Sarah Moss b1824]), had already sailed for this sunny clime. My brother, after investigating the affairs, be [sic] thought him that it was little use setting the law in motion to regain from a younger member, the lost property, as they had been in possession for a great many years, so that chapter in our life’s history was closed. So true it is that no man liveth to himself. Had my great grandfather [Thomas Moss b1770] been a different man, it is quite likely I should not be writing thus about the diminished fortunes of my family...."

Although these passages do not provide any new names for ancestors, they do set up a mystery that hopefully one day will be solved. Was Thomas Moss b1770 a 'wastrel' in his younger days, disinherited by his wealthy father as a result? If as Sarah implied, the earlier Mosses were wealthy and prosperous, then more records should exist to tell us more, but nothing conclusive has been found.

The passage also provides some credence to the theory that the early Mosses were related to the family of William Moss (who were indeed well off) living around Stock in Essex.But exactly how was Thomas related? Bury St Edmund is only 50 miles from Stock. Furthermore Steve Priestley has information that indicates Thomas Moss b1770 was born in Worlington Suffolk, about 10 miles 'as the crow flies' from Bury St Edmunds.

Adding to the theory of Mosses originating in Essex is the background of Rev John Moss b1806 (see below), who was the son of William Moss and one of the early ministers at the Elstead Congregational Church (seven years after Thomas' death). No direct link proving that Rev John Moss was related to Thomas has been found, apart from the surname. Some family histories refer to him as a nephew of GGGGGF Thomas Moss. This could well be true, but that would make John's father, William Moss b1774, a younger brother to Thomas Moss b1770 and the records do not support this theory.

50.1 The Essex Connection
As with all early ancestors, the records are incomplete, but it appears that GGGGGF Thomas Moss may have had a common ancestry with Essex Puritans from the town of Stock (around 70 miles away from Elstead), where William Moss' family established a Congregational chapel in 1801. The nature of the connection is yet to be discovered.

Heather Neilson has compiled a family tree (with supporting documents) for William Moss of Essex and there are no Thomas Mosses listed in the 1700's, and members of that Moss family by and large stayed in the Essex area. If the Moss family from 'Stock' was related to our Thomas it was probably through a common ancestry.

50.2 William Moss (1774-1859) Possible distant relative

Much of the information below was sourced from ‘Stock, Essex: Its History and Romance, A Historical Servey of the Village’ by L. Donald Jarvis. Published by Ilford, Essex,1934 (located on several Ancestry family trees). Additional information came from The Stock Website .

 

1851 Stock census: William Moss 77 b1774 Faulkbourne & Mary Moss 79 b1772 Stebbing

William Moss was born in 1774 in Faulkbourne, Essex (according to the 1851 census) to parents John Moss (b1727 Coggeshall) and Hannah Oakes (b1738 Fairstead). On 27 Oct 1796 at the age of 22 William married Mary Green of Stebbing (about ten miles away). The family were moderately wealthy and their chief business seems to have been corn milling, an industry for which Thaxted had been noted for many years, and of which the Moss family held the monopoly in that neighbourhood. William seems to have served his apprenticeship in the milling trade in Thaxted, but left there for Stock, where he purchased the post mill, which stood in the meadow, where the present mill stands. William's milling business prospered and the present brick tower mill was built in the early 1800's. (See below)

Tablet marking the location of the first Congregational Chapel in Mill Rd, Stock

 

50.2a William Moss & Non-conformist Religion 
One of William's ancestors was the famous Dr. Robert Mosse, Dean of Ely Cathedral in 1713, and Chaplain to Queen Anne, whilst two other members of the family also held high positions in the Established Church; Dr Charles Moss, Bishop of Bath and Wells (b1711 Postwick), and his son Dr Charles Moss, Bishop of Oxford in 1807.

NOTE William's relatives cited above were not his direct relatives. Dr Robert Mosse had no children and Dr Charles Moss b1711 had two surviving children (a daughter and Charles Moss the younger). Information about the life of Charles Moss the Younger b1763, Bishop of Oxford is scarce. He was very wealthy and had no known wife and no known children. I have looked through his eleven page will (which is very hard to read) and found no mention of a wife nor children.

It may be that William Moss was converted to the cause of evangelical non-conformity by the services at Thaxted Independent Church, or it may have been an echo of the Great Revival, which had swept England under Wesley, and others. The fact remains however, that as soon as William Moss arrived in Stock he gathered round him a small band of religious minded folk and under the guidance and supervision of the ministers of the various Churches in the surrounding district the first Independent or Congregational Church at Stock was formed in 1801.

There was of course, as yet no building, so the little company met regularly for worship in the Stock Mill House where Mr Moss resided. Before any private house could lawfully be used for worship a licence had to be obtained from the Anglican Bishop of the Diocese and a copy of the application for this licence is still in the possession of the present Congregational Church at Stock.

“In 1813 the first Congregational Chapel was built in Mill Road, on a site adjoining the present telephone exchange, and the site is marked by a tablet in the approach road to the Exchange. This continued to be used until 1889 when a new chapel was built in the High Street.”  (Source 'A Short History of Stock').

In Mill Road opposite “Moat House” is the old burial ground belonging to the Congregationalists. This has long been disused as a burial ground, but it was on this site that the first Congregational Church or 'Independent Meeting House' stood. This was built in 1812, and stood here until 1910, when it was no longer required for religious worship and therefore pulled down.

It was a plain rectangular brick building, seating about 150 persons, and it was regularly used for worship for about 90 years. There were marble tablets in the church dedicated to members of the Moss family who were stalwarts of Congregationalism, and these tablets may still be seen affixed to what was the north boundary wall of the little burial ground. There are about 15 graves in this piece of ground, some of which were formerly under the floor of the church.

William's marriage to Mary Green produced eight children. Most (if not all) were baptised in the 'First Meeting House (Independent)' at Baddow Lane, Chelmsford. This was about 5 miles from Stock, but the Stock Meeting House was not built until 1812. The children were Elizabeth Moss (1797-1885), Sarah Moss (1800-1885), William Moss (1802-1865), Mary Moss (1804-1813), Rev John Moss (1806-1873; see below), Lucy Moss (1807-1873), Hannah Moss (1809-?) and Jemima Moss (1812-?).

1841 Stock: William Moss 67 farmer, Mary Moss 69, Sarah Miller 66, Mary Threadgold 14 & George Warren (next page)

The 1841 census listed William Moss farmer 67 and wife Mary Moss 69 living in Stock with Sarah Miller 66, Mary Threadgold 14 (grand-daughter) and George Warren 16, apprentice. Ten years later in 1851 William Moss 77 (born in Faulkbourne) was listed as farmer of 23 acres employing one man and living alone with wife Mary Moss 79 (born in Stebbing).

William Moss died in Apr 1859 at Stock aged 85, less than one year after the death of his wife Mary Moss nee Green. Well before William's death, his son William junior (b1802) must have taken over the running of the mill, because on 10 Jan 1852 William Moss the younger, miller of Stock Mills, Stock, filed for bankruptcy. 

50.2b Stock Windmill
In the early 16th century there were two post mills in Stock, one sited at the entrance to the present bowling green near the Baker's Arms Pub (previously known as The Jolly Miller). The other mill was in the field (then part of the much larger common) near where the present mill stands. William Moss of Thaxted purchased the old post mill and decided to have a brick tower mill constructed, which was completed in 1816. This is the current mill you see today. A brick base was built using locally manufactured bricks in the present mill meadow, and the wooden body of the Post Mill was moved intact across the common, which at the time was unenclosed right up to the Mill meadow (and probably further).

William Moss' brick based windmill at Stock

The story is told that during the moving which was carried out by means of a flat wooden trolley drawn by a team of horses, they had to pass over such rough ground that the miller nearly fainted with apprehension lest the whole structure should over balance and crash. Fortunately no such catastrophe occurred, and the mill reached its destination safely.

The three Mills; two wooden and the present brick one stood together in the same meadow for about forty years, but the two post Mills fell into disrepair, and were finally demolished about 1890. Traces of their foundations may still be seen.

The surviving mill is open to the public from April to September from 2pm till 5pm on the 2nd Sunday of each month. For further infomation see www.stock.org.uk.

NOTE There are records of a miller named Thomas Moss residing about 10 miles from Stock at South Weald. On his death he left a will that named members of his family. The will for Thomas Moss miller of Brook St, South Weald was proved in 1795. It named his wife as Jane Moss, his sons as Thomas and John Moss and daughters as Jane Gertcken nee Moss, Elizabeth Wright nee Moss and Mary Spencer nee Moss. He was possibly a relative of William Moss and even of GGGGGF Thomas Moss b1770.

50.4 Rev John Moss (1806-1873)

Baptisms Chelmsford 1806

The following is largely sourced from the 'Ancestry' family tree compiled by Heather Nielson. "John Moss was born at Stock 1 Feb 1806 (but baptised at an independent church at Chelmsford on 20 Apr 1806)." [His parents were William Moss b1774 and Mary Green; see above].

Rev John Moss Obituary

The above obituary informs us that "with the advice of the Rev J Hayter, his pastor, he studied for the ministry. Mr Moss's first pastorate was at Elstead."

John Moss of Stock, widower married Harriet Hudson on 9 Feb 1830 at St Mary Magdalene, Woolwich. A decade later Rev. J. Moss was appointed as minister at Elstead in July, 1840, and ordained at Kingston, September 30, but successive bereavements of his wife and sister are said to have led to his retirement at Elstead on December 21, 1841.

1841 Census Elstead: John Moss 35 year old minister living with Sarah & Mary Hudson

In early 1841 Rev John Moss 35 minister was living in Elstead Village with Sarah Hudson 30 and Mary Hudson (probably sister-in-laws); both of independent means, (all born outside of Surrey) and one female servant named Harriet Heath.

John must have overcome his grief, resumed his occupation and remarried in 1842 (second wife was Anne Gooch). He thence served in other appointments including Sittingbourne and Trowbridge before retiring with his family to Gravesend (55 miles from Elstead).

 

Probate 1873: Rev John Moss Independent minster granted 26 Nov 1873 to Ann Moss nee Gooch

John Moss died there on 20 Jan 1873. "He did not long survive his energetic brother-in-law the Rev John Adey of Bexley Heath". Probate was granted for the will of Independent Minister John Moss to his wife Ann Moss who occupied their marital home in Windmill St, Gravesend.

51.0 GGGGGF Thomas Moss (c1770-1833)

According to the age given at his death, Thomas Moss was born in the early 1770's. Some records suggest that his parents were Thomas Moss and Elizabeth Hallet of Worlington, who were married early in 1771. Thomas the younger was baptized privately in September 1771.
GGGGGF Thomas may have had an 'adventurous life' in his late teens. His great grand-daughter Sarah Ann Boardman nee Moss said he ran away from school and "became enamoured of a jockey’s life riding in many races" for an English Lord. Worlington is only ten miles from Newmarket, which of course is famous for horseracing and may have been the location where Thomas became a "wastrel" for a few years. (See 50.0 above). By his late teens though, Thomas seemed to have left that life behind and was living a much quieter life (over ninety miles from his home) in Surrey.

NOTE: All references to GGGGGF Thomas Moss above, are an interpretation of the facts from a small number of records and recorded recollections, that have been put together to make a possible ancestral history of Thomas. The information from here-on is derived from a wider range of records that can be crosschecked, and as such, is much more likely to be accurate.

At some point in his very early twenties, Thomas was living in the Elstead area (probably Seale), and there he met his future wife, who although born in Witley, had moved to Elstead with her family when she was quite young. (See Legg Family Part 3)

GGGGGF Thomas Moss declared his intention to marry Elizabeth Legg on 10 Oct 1792

Marriages Church of St Lawrence, Seale: GGGGGF Thomas Moss married Elizabeth Legg on 11 Oct 1792

 

In 1792 at his marriage, he declared he was "of the Parish of Seale and had an age of 21 years and upward", so must have been living in that area for some time (Seale was 3 miles from Elstead). On 10 Oct 1792 aged 22, he married GGGGGM Elizabeth Legg in St Lawrence Church, Seale (See 25.1). Both Thomas and his wife signed their names on the marriage registration, indicating some level of education and they both  declared they were 21 years of age or more, which also ties in with a birth date around 1770 for Thomas. GGGGGM Elizabeth Legg was a bit older at 28 (b1764).

GGGGGP Thomas and Elizabeth Moss nee Legg settled in nearby Elstead, where their first children; GGGGF George Moss b1793 and his sister Elizabeth Moss b1794 were born. By 1798 they had moved 6 miles to Farnham where children Ann Moss b1798, Thomas Moss b1799 and William Moss b1801 were born. In the 1820's, eldest son George Moss b1793 gained employment in an Ironmongery and brush store named 'Tily & Brown' in Farnham and worked as a brush maker.

Burials in Farnham 6 Nov 1833: Thomas Moss of Farnham buried 6 Nov aged 63 (b1770)

GGGGGF Thomas Moss b1770 died at the age of 63 and was buried at St Andrews, Farnham on 6 Nov 1833.

St Lawrence Church, Seale, where Thomas & Elizabeth Moss were married

NOTE: Thomas Moss and Elizabeth were married in St Lawrence Anglican Church, as this was prior to the establishment of the Congregational Church at Elstead in the 1820's. The church lies in open countryside about three miles north of Elstead in the parish of Seale. Choosing this location for their marriage confirms the Legg family was farming in this area at the time.

52.0 Five Children of GGGGGP Thomas Moss (1770-1833) & Elizabeth Legg (1762-1858)

Thomas Moss and Elizabeth Legg were married in Seale in 1792, when Elizabeth was 30. She had her last child when she was 40.

52.1 GGGGF George Moss (1793-1864)

George was born in 1793 at Elstead, Surrey and baptised on the 23 Jun 1793. He may have been named after Elizabeth's father George Legg. He moved to Farnham with his family in his younger days and became a brushmaker at a young age. He married Sarah Leah Turner (1803-1885) in 1822. They went on to have nine children and migrated to Australia in 1858. More can be found about their lives in 18.0.

52.2 Elizabeth Moss (1794-1852)

Baptisms Elstead 1794: 24 August- Elizabeth daughter of Thomas & Elizabeth Moss was baptised

 Elizabeth was baptised on 24 Aug 1794 at St James, Elstead. She was probably named after her mother. She moved to Farnham with her parents in the late 1790’s.

 

Marriages St Andrews Farnham; Elizabeth Moss married John Budd

On 2 Feb 1817 Elizabeth 23 married John Budd at Farnham. John's parents were Thomas Budd and Elizabeth Dedman. Brother GGGGF George Moss and John Budd’s sister Jane Budd, were witnesses at the wedding. Elizabeth made her mark, but John and Elizabeth's brother signed their names.

Sadly, in 1820, Elizabeth’s husband John Budd died at the age of 25. Five years later on 28 Dec 1822 at Kingston on Thames, London, Elizabeth Moss widow married for the second time. Her new husband was her brother-in-law George Budd, who was also a widower. George signed his name but Elizabeth made her mark. Witnesses at the wedding this time were Charles and Elizabeth Budd.

In 1841 the family were living at 12 Robin Hood in the hamlet of Ham and Hatch.The residents were listed as George Budd 50 ag lab, William Budd 25 ag lab, Mary Budd 16 (b1825), Charlotte Budd 12, Jane Budd 10, Eliza Budd 8 and Emma Budd 5. Strangely Elizabeth Budd nee Moss was not mentioned and was possibly visiting others at the time.

1851 census Robin Hood, Surrey

In 1851 George Budd 63 labourer and Elizabeth Budd nee Moss 56 (b1794) were living at Robin Hood, Ham, Surrey along with some of their adult children; William Budd 35 (b1816 from George's first marriage), Jane Budd 20 and Emma Budd 16.

Elizabeth Budd nee Moss died at Ham in 1852 aged 58. Husband George Budd continue to live at Robin Hood until his death in 1869 when he was aged 84.

52.3 Ann Moss (1797-?)

Baptisms St Andrews, Farnham 1798: Bottom two entries: Ann & Thomas, children of Thomas & Eliz(abeth) Moss

Ann was born in Farnham on 15 Feb 1797 and may have been a twin with brother Thomas, who was baptised on the same day (13 May 1798). She may have been named after her grandmother Ann Legg nee Smith.

 

Marriages St Marylebone, Westminster 1822

Ann became a dressmaker, and on 7 Aug 1822 married James Clapshaw, a carpenter at St Marylebone in Westminster, London. They were married in a double wedding at the same time as older brother GGGGF George Moss, who married GGGGM Sarah Leah Turner. Witnesses at both weddings were younger brother William Moss b1801 and Sarah Dedman. Sarah Dedman may have been related to older sister Elizabeth Moss' in-laws (see above).

 

1841 Census Farnham: James and Ann Clapshaw; ages rounded down

In 1841 James and Ann Clapshaw nee Moss were living in Castle St, Farnham. The household consisted of James Clapshoe (Clapshaw) 40 carpenter, Ann Clapshoe nee Moss 40 and Ann’s mother GGGGGM Elizabeth Moss nee Legg 76.

 

1851 Census Richmond, Surrey: James Clapshaw 51 carpenter & Ann Clapshaw 54

By 1851 Ann 54 and James 51 had moved to 7 Halford Place, Richmond.

1861 Census Richmond Surrey: James Clapshaw carpenter & Ann Clapshaw dressmaker

 

In 1861 Ann Clapshaw 62 dressmaker and James Clapshaw 61 carpenter, were living at 1 Parkshot, Richmond, Surrey. [NOTE: at this census their ages were incorrectly listed as 52 and 51 respectively]. It seems that James Clapshaw became unwell in the late 1860's and died in 1870 aged 69. He was buried at All Saints, Wandsworth, 5 miles from his home, on 19 Mar 1870.

 

1871 Census Richmond, Surrey: Bottom Entry; Ann Clapshaw widow 74 

In 1871 Ann 74 was listed as an infirm widow, and she was living at 1 Park Place Richmond with a couple named John and Ellen Vaughan, who were presumably looking after her.

Burials St Mary Magdalene, Richmond 1874

Ann Clapshaw nee Moss’ died at Richmond in 1874 aged 76. There were no known children.

52.4 Thomas Moss (1798-1860)

Baptisms St Andrews, Farnham 1798: Bottom 13 May, Thomas son of Thomas & Eliz(abeth) Moss

Thomas was baptised in Farnham on 13 May 1798 at the same time as his sister Ann. This listing suggests that Ann and Thomas may have been twins born on 15 Feb 1797. Thomas may have died as an infant, as there does not seem to be any further connection with his family, in the records below,

There are records for a Thomas Moss 40 ag lab living about 20 miles away in Chertsey in 1841. His household consisted of wife Lydia Moss 45 and children Thomas Moss 16, Richard Moss 14 and James Moss 10. Thomas had married Lydia Cooper on the 21 Sep, 1823 at Chertsey and Thomas signed the marriage registration. Their children were born as follows Thomas Moss 1825, Richard Moss 1826 and James Moss 1831. According the census Lydia and eldest son Thomas, a brick maker, were born in Chertsey, so the family would have settled there after their marriage.

By 1851 Thomas Moss ag lab and his wife Lydia were living alone in Chertsey. Thomas Moss b1798 died in Chertsey in 1860 aged 62. From 1871 to 1881 the widowed Lydia Moss 91 was 'head' of the household and living in 'New Staw', Chertsey with her unmarried son Richard 55 ag lab. In 1881 they were joined by a niece Charlotte Jones 55. Lydia Moss died in Chertsey in 1881, after the census of that year. We cannot be sure this is the same Thomas, but all the facts seem to align.

52.5 William Moss (1802-?)

Baptisms Farnham 1802: William son of Thomas & Elizabeth Moss 27 Jan

William was born in 1801 or 1802 and baptised on 27 Jan 1802 in Farnham, with his parents listed as Thomas and Elizabeth Moss. During his lifetime William was variously a clerk to a house agent, and a porter. In 1822 William was a witness at his brother George’s wedding (he was most likely aged 20). 

Marriages @ Christ Church, St Marylebone 1831: William Moss married Mary Ann Haines

William Moss 29 married Mary Ann Haines 18 on 29 Nov 1831 at Marylebone. This was the same place that William's older siblings Ann and George held their marriages a decade earlier. Both William and Mary Ann signed the marriage registration.

William and Mary Ann Moss nee Haines went on to have seven children; Joseph Moss 1832, Emily Moss 1834, Charles Moss 1836, Samuel Moss 1838, Julia Moss 1840, William Moss 1846 and John Moss 1852.

NOTE: For an unknown reason, William's age was understated by 6 years in each census (recorded as if he were born in 1807). I have compared William's signatures on his brother's marriage registration (1822) with that on his own marriage and they do differ, but the ten years time difference may explain that. (The first signature looks wobbly, as if he were nervous). The difference in ages may indicate that William born in 1807 may be a different person; but apart from age, everything else seems to fit.

In 1841 the family were living in Crawford St, Marylebone and consisted of William Moss 35 clerk, Mary Ann Moss 25, Joseph Moss 9, Emily Moss 6, Charles Moss 4, Samuel Moss 3 and Julia Moss 6 months.

By 1851 the family had moved to 9 Spring St, Marylebone. The census listed William Moss 44 clerk, Mary Ann Moss 39 dressmaker, Charles Moss 15 porter to a grocer, Samuel Moss 13 (a very young 'dyer'), Julia Moss 10 and William Moss 5.

 

Census St Marylebone 1861 William Moss 54?, Mary Ann Moss 47, Julia Moss 19, William Moss 14 & John Moss 9

In 1861, William Moss 54 porter, Mary A Moss 47 dressmaker, Julia Moss 19, William Moss 14 clerk for a merchant and John Moss 9 were once again living at 6 Crawford St, Marylebone. By 1871 Mary Ann 59 was a widow and living with her youngest son John Moss 19  clerk, at 17 Park Terrace, Marylebone.

 

1881 Census Brighton: Mary Ann Moss nee Haines widow living with her son & his family

By 1881 Mary Ann Moss 70 widow had moved in with her widowed son Charles Moss 45, a teacher of gymnastics and was living with his large family at Brighton. No date of death has been found for William Moss. Mary Ann Moss nee Haines probably died after the census in 1881 at Brighton with a reputed age of 72 (b1809).

NOTES about the sons of William and Mary Ann Moss. Charles was a porter and later a grocer, Samuel a dyer and later a domestic servant, William a timber merchant in Wimbledon and John a lawyer’s clerk. Steve Priestley says, "William Moss (b1801 Farnham) was probably the one living in Spring St, Marylebone, in 1851 (but purporting to be 6 years younger) with wife Mary Ann and children Charles, Samuel, Julia and William. I haven't yet found the marriage. William junior did indeed become a timber merchant in Wimbledon and is easy to find in the 1891 and 1901 censuses".

53.0 GGGGP George Moss (1793-1864) & Sarah Leah Turner (1803-1885)

Baptisms St James Elstead 1793: 23 June; George son of Thomas & Elizabeth Moss was baptised. Stamp duty 3 pence

George was born in 1793 at Elstead, Surrey and baptised on the 23 Jun 1793 as the "son of  Thomas and Elizabeth Moss". He moved to Farnham with his family in the late 1790's and became a brushmaker at a young age. Whilst living in Farnham he met Sarah Leah Turner (1803-1885), who was born in Farnham, but had grown up at Peper Harrow (6 miles away).

1822 marriages St Marylebone, Westminster: George Moss married Sarah Turner 

 

On 7 Aug 1822 George 29, travelled 50 miles to London where at St Marylebone, Westminster he married GGGGM Sarah Leah Turner, who was 19 . The occasion was a double wedding with George’s sister Ann Moss getting married to James Clapshaw at the same time. Witnesses at both weddings were brother William Moss and Sarah Deadman. All signed their names. Often weddings were held in the wife’s home town, but neither Ann nor Sarah originated in London, so why the marriages were held in London (50 miles from Elstead) is a mystery.

Baptisms St Andrews Farnham: 22 Apr 1803

GGGGM Sarah Leah Turner was baptised on the 22 April 1803. The birth record lists GGGGM Sarah as the illegitimate daughter of her mother GGGGGM Sarah Turner (See 45.1)

In the early 1820s George Moss b1793 gained employment in a large Ironmongery and brush store named “Tily & Brown" [incorrectly called 'Gilys & Co' by Sarah Ann Boardman nee Moss] in Farnham Surrey.

Steve Priestley provides the following information, "When I first moved to the area (in 1984) it [Tily & Brown] was still an ironmonger's, little changed I should think from George's day except in name. It closed in about 1990 and is now a restaurant but quite a lot of the painted advertising on the exterior walls survives and in fact has recently been restored. So if you visit Farnham, you can eat lunch where George used to sell his brushes.

I have carried out a lot of research in Farnham museum and elsewhere in an effort to substantiate Sarah's claim that the family were related to the Tilys but have found nothing."

Farnham Museum holds newspapers with many references to 'Tily and Brown', Castle St, Farnham including photos and newspaper advertisements dating back to 1827.

During this decade the first four children born to George Moss and Sarah Leah Moss nee Turner were Annie Moss b1823, Sarah Moss b1824, GGGF George Thomas Moss b1826 and William Moss b1828. During the next eleven years another five children were born to complete their family; James b1830, Thomas b1832, Elizabeth b1834, Charlotte b1836, Frederick b1839 and Joseph Moss b1841.

1841 East St Farnham: The Moss Family

In 1841, apart from eldest daughter Annie (who had left home) and Thomas who appears to have died as a child, they were all living in East St, Farnham. The residents were GGGGP George Moss 45 (b1793) brushmaker and Sarah Moss nee Turner 35 and children Sarah 15, GGGF George 14 (b1826), William 12, James 10, Elizabeth 6, Charlotte 5, Frederick 2 and baby Joseph 1mth. Interestingly Lucy Pink (it could be “Kink”) 54 beer house woman, was living next door. Was this woman related to the “Kinck” women mentioned in 3.1?

53.1 Role of religion in the Moss family 

GGM Sarah Ann Boardman nee Moss wrote “My grandparents lived only a few doors from us and as we were the only grandchildren living near, we came in for the lion's share of their love and tender care. When we all had Scarlet Fever, who could give us the medicine or the cooling draught more gently than Grandma? And who would come in the evening and read the Bible with us and to us but the same quiet dignified person of our Grandma..... So we always had a huge welcome for Grandma, as we opened our bibles (it was always the Bible we read from) to read from Gen. I to Rev. 22. And the beautiful old bible stories we listened to with such rapt attention have never been excelled and not always equalled in after days.”

According to Michael Moss “George Moss and his family were particularly influenced by the Reverends William and John Fernie.... their neighbours in East Street, and ministers of the Dogflud Chapel (later Ebenezer) Chapel in the same street. John Fernie was instructing William (Moss) before he left (for Australia), and it is probably safe to assume he did the same for his brothers and his future brother-in-law."

1851 Census Farnham

Tragedy struck in 1847 when daughter Charlotte died in Farnham at the age of 11. GGGGP George and Sarah Moss nee Turner were still living in East St, Farnham in 1851. The household consisted of parents George Moss 57 brushmaker and Sarah Moss nee Turner 45, children Sarah Moss 26, brushmaker, James Moss 20, brush finisher, Frederick 12, Joseph 9 and GGGGGM Elizabeth Moss nee Legg 87 annuant (George’s widowed mother) and visitor Thomas Williams 26, brushmaker (who married daughter Sarah later that year).

53.2 Ebenezer Chapel (formerly Dogflud Chapel, East St, Farnham)
Ebenezer Chapel, East Street (Formerly Dogflud Independent or Presbyterian Chapel) Farnham is listed in many Moss family histories as it played a significant role in lives of the Moss family. However often it is recorded incorrectly as Dog Flue Chapel. The correct former name of the street was Dogflud, that being the early name for that part of the town.

The former Ebenezer Chapel, East St, Farnham

Steve Priestley pointed this out and added "I had long assumed that the Ebenezer Chapel is no longer there, but recently it has been suggested that it may have survived: Analysis of maps and textual descriptions suggests that this building is the former Ebenezer Congregational Chapel, built in 1793 and superseded by the present Farnham United Reformed Church in 1873. It is behind East Street, Farnham, Borough of Waverley, Surrey, England, on a very narrow alleyway."

The website http://archaeologydataservice.ac.uk/ identifies the location of an early non-conformist chapel as being once located behind the house at No 38 Castle Street. It is marked on the Tithe map of 1839 but disappeared in the mid-19th century.

53.3 The Move to Australia

Passenger List, ;Norfolk' 1858: Geoge 65 year old 'rusher' (makes brushes out of rushes)

 

In the late 1850’s George and Sarah Moss nee Turner made a life changing decision. They decided to migrate to Australia, probably motivated by their desire to be with four of their adult children, who had moved to Australia already. Annie and William had migrated in 1850 and Elizabeth and Frederick in 1855. Left behind were Sarah, James and GGGF George Thomas Moss. GGGGF George Moss (b1793) would never see these three again, but son James Moss joined his mother and brothers, when he too came to Melbourne in Nov 1864, just a few months after his father died. In 1858, GGGGP George and Sarah Leah Moss nee Turner with youngest son Joseph Moss sailed to Melbourne on the ship 'Norfolk' and arrived in July 1858.

GGM Sarah Ann Boardman nee Moss recalled “A great blank seemed to occur in our young lives for we missed them as only children can. But we were sure of getting a letter from Grandma on our birthdays. She always remembered these, in fact her memory in this and many other respects was marvellous, and would be the envy of students now. I do not know the name of the ship that bore our dear ones away from Old England's shore, but I remember my father [GGGF George Thomas Moss] going up to London to see them off, and how he wept when he returned because he would see them no more.

We heard regularly from Australia, but I believe there was only one mail per month, and the postage was 6 pence in those early days, and many a time have I had to chase down the street, just in time to catch the mail”.

53.4 Latter Years of GGGGP George Moss (1793-1864) & Sarah Leah Turner (1803-1885)

The Argus, 22 Sep 1864

 George did not have long to enjoy his life in his new country. He died six years later on 20 Sept 1864 at Prahran and was buried on 24 Sep 1864 at St Kilda General Cemetery

Sarah Ann Boardman nee Moss remembered “The first break in the family circle came when dear Grandfather was called 'home'. We received the news in England shortly after, but I cannot recall the date of his death nor his age.... I believe ... my grandfather had been out one morning just before breakfast tending some plants, but not feeling very well, came in and rested on a sofa while Grandma prepared the breakfast in the next room. Something like a moan reached Grandmother's ears and she hastened into the room to find Grandfather conscious but speechless. He tried to take her hand, and say her name 'Sarah', but the power to do either was gone and he passed away to his heavenly home with scarcely a pang. Heart failure was the cause I believe. Thus did the Reaper gather this ripened saint to be forever with the Lord.

After this episode, my grandmother spent her time amongst her children for a lonely life was not to her liking. Sometimes she stayed with a married daughter, then with a son, but always a welcomed and honoured guest. She lived for several years after her husband had departed, but retained her wonderful faculties up to the last, dying at the good old age of 84”.

The Argus 22 Aug 1885

GGGGM Sarah Leah Moss nee Turner died 21 years after her husband, at the age of 83, on 26 August 1885 and was buried in Sept 1885. She was buried alongside her husband GGGGF George Moss in St. Kilda Cemetery.

54.0 Ten Children of GGGGP George Moss (1793-1864) & Sarah Leah Turner (1803-1885)
Over a number of years, George, Sarah and six of their adult children made the long and risky sea voyage to Australia, without any government assistance, presumably paid for out of their meagre savings. Of the ten children born to George and Sarah, none were as long-lived as their parents. Thomas and Charlotte died as children, Sarah and Joseph died in their thirties, Annie died in her fifties and the rest died in their early to mid sixties.

54.1 Annie Moss (1823- 1880)
Annie was born on 3 May 1823 and baptised at the Ebenezer Chapel, East Street (Formerly Dogflud Independent or Presbyterian Chapel) Farnham. In 1841 she was aged 18, but not living with her parents. At the age of 27 in 1850 and single she took the enormous step of leaving her parents and most of her siblings behind and migrating to Australia with her younger brother William Moss. They sailed on the ship 'Countess of Yarborough'.

54.1a First Mosses to migrate to Australia
In her recollections, Sarah Ann Boardman nee Moss said, “It must have been early in the year 1850 that my Uncle William [Rev William Moss 1828-1891] and Aunt Anne [Annie Moss 1823-1880] left England for Australia, and as this happened before I was born, I must fall back on what I have been told. The voyage occupied six months in a sailing vessel and I believe it was a beautiful but very monotonous voyage. However, the little God Cupid was busy even in those days, for a good looking and what is of far more value, a good young man (a medical student I believe) fell in love with my aunt and wooed and won her in due course. He used to write long letters to my grandmother in England extolling the virtues and graces of his dear Annie and his love and admiration did not cease on the wedding day, for he continued to be her lover until the day of his death”.

Two years after she arrived in Melbourne on 29 Sep 1852, Annie married the young man, John Dunn, at the Congregational Church, Lonsdale St., Melbourne. John’s brother Frederick Dunn was a witness at the wedding. John Dunn became a banker and later Chief Clerk of the Audit Office.

“The couple had three sons, Harry, Charles and Fred and also three daughters, Annie Moss, Maggie and Bessie. Of the sons I do not know how they fared but two of the daughters married, Annie marrying Mr. H. Turner and now living at Brighton, and Maggie becoming Mrs. O'Connor and living at Glen Huntley. Bessie remained single. My cousin Annie Turner nee Dunne used to correspond with me in our girlhood days. I of course, had no idea (at the time) that I should ever come to Australia and see her in the flesh.

While John Dunn (their father) lived, they lived in style, the daughters having their ponies to ride, and every comfort that their father could provide. One day he left the bank and fell down in the street in a fainting fit from which he never recovered. My aunt took it very much to heart, and did not long survive him. The three sons now had to provide for their sisters as nothing had been saved from my uncle's salary which I believe had been quite a princely one. The girls kept house for the brothers until two of them married. I have lost all trace of the boys so can say nothing about either one”.

John Dunne with daughter Annie in the early 1860's

The Argus 27 Apr 1877

 John Dunn died on 25 April 1877 at the age of 54 from haemorrhage in the lung, tuberculosis and consumption (The Argus, 27 Apr, 1877).

The Argus 5 Feb 1880

Annie Dunn nee Moss died three years later in 1880 on 4 Feb, aged 56.

54.2 Sarah Moss (1824-1861)

Baptisms Farnham 1824, Independent Chapel East St

 Sarah was born and baptised in Farnham on 19 Aug 1824. From 1841-1851 she lived with her parents. At the time of the 1851 census, Thomas Williams who worked with GGGGF George Moss as a brushmaker, was living with the family as a visitor. Thomas proposed to George’s daughter Sarah, and a few months later they were married. Their first child was born in 1852, but sadly died at the age if six in 1858.

1861 Census: Address = "Williams Rope Ground"

By 1861 they were living at Williams Rope Ground, Bermondsey, London and at that time had five children. The crowded household consisted of Thomas Williams 36 city missionary, Sarah Williams 36, George Williams 7, William J Williams 5, Alice S Williams 3, Elizabeth A Williams 1 and Frederick T Williams 4 mths. In 1863 Sarah Williams nee Moss 39 gave birth to her final child Walter Williams. At the age of 37, she died soon after (possibly from complications from the birth). By late 1863, Thomas had remarried (Susannah Ann Willsher) and by 1871 had three more children by her and was still working as a missionary in London.

54.2a Memories of Sarah Moss b1824 by GGM Sarah Ann Boardman nee Moss
“My Aunt Sarah (b1824) I can well remember. She was married to a Mr Thomas Williams, brother to Rev. Charles Williams, at that time a noted Baptist minister. Uncle Tom Williams (as we used to call him) was an evangelist under the Rev. C.H. Spurgeon. He used to assist at the services held then in Park Street, visit the sick, conduct prayer meetings, hold mission services, in fact was a thorough Christian and my aunt and he were well suited to each other. They had a large family of children, several of whom I knew intimately, two sons becoming ministers of the Gospel.

My uncle and Aunt Sarah had a family of seven children. The eldest, Benjamin – a lad of great promise – died in his early youth. George became a student at Spurgeon's College, and after completion of his course, was invited to the pastorate of a Baptist Church at Bedford where he did good work for some years (and) the last I remember of him was that he had gone to America with his wife and infant daughter, and was still following the avocation of a Christian minister. The third son William I did not know intimately but I believe he was a student at the Regent's Park College prior to his taking up pastoral work. There were two girls, Alice and Lizzie, both good Christian girls, but these also I lost sight of after the lapse of a few years. The fourth son Fred was not so 'smart' as the others, as he stammered when speaking, and never made much headway in the world so far that I am aware of.

Walter the youngest never knew his mother, for she was called away when he was a few days old. My own mother undertook to care for the poor little mite so we had a little cousin added to our family circle. But the extra worry and responsibility was too much for my mother so the chief of the nursing and caring for Walter fell on me. We had the charge of him for two years, when his father married again so the little chap who had won our hearts and could toddle about passed out of our lives, but not out of our minds for I had got to love him although I was only 13 years of age. I hear of him after, as growing up to be a God-fearing man, but never saw him again. My father sometimes went to have a look at 'Poor Sarah's' children, and said 'Walter will come to see you some day and thank you for your care of him'. But he never came and the meeting will take place in another world where we may hope to see many whom we have missed on earth.”

 

NOTE. Sarah Ann Moss would have been pleased to know that young Walter moved to Manchester. He seems to have made a successful life for himself. He married a widow named Annie Gifford Isherwood, had a family and became a municipal clerk and a lay preacher.

 

54.3 GGGF Rev George Thomas Moss (1826-1892)

GGGF George Thomas Moss married GGGM Eliza Chuter in 1847 and they eventually settled in Ash, where George was a minister. See 55.3 for more details about their life.

54.4 Rev Willliam Moss (1828-1891)
The Rev William Moss is a great, great, great uncle and was recognised as playing a significant role in Melbourne’s early history, which is outlined in the 'Australian Biographical Dictionary' (see below).

Rev William Moss

54.4a 'William Moss (1828–1891)' by Niel Gunson
William Moss (1828-1891), Congregational minister and philanthropist, was born on 23 July 1828 at Farnham, Surrey, England, second son of George Moss and his wife Sarah Leah, née Turner. Though his parents had been Anglicans they attended the Farnham Independent Chapel and sent William to the local Nonconformist day school. With a passion for self-improvement he attended the Farnham Mechanics' Institute. By 1846 (aged 18) he had given his first public lecture and was a church member ... and a village preacher. Instructed in theology and homiletics by his pastor, Rev. John Fernie, he was appointed a 'preacher of the Gospel' by his church on 4 February 1848.

In 1850 Moss abandoned his plan of training for the ministry and sailed to Port Phillip in the 'Countess of Yarborough' (with his sister Annie) and the Browning family, whose sons he expected to tutor on their proposed station (farm) while acting as a local preacher. On arrival at Melbourne in August, he was engaged as a preacher by A. Morison... and... settled at Prahran where he continued his studies. On 5 October 1852, Moss was ordained and inducted as pastor of the newly-constituted Independent Church at Prahran, the first ceremony of its kind in Victoria. The original chapel was the centre of social life in the village and gave its name to Chapel Street. Moss was a leading 'father' of the community and helped to found the Mechanics' Institute, the Prahran and South Yarra Ladies' Benevolent Society and the Prahran Town Mission of which he was secretary. He continued his ministry at Prahran until October 1878 when he and his wife undertook superintendence of the Blind Asylum.

Moss took a leading role in denominational affairs. His itinerant labours had commenced in September 1851 when he visited the Ballarat diggings as 'a kind of chaplain' to a party of church members, and later with Rev. J. L. Poore he helped to start the Congregational Church in Ballarat. A tent mission in Windsor was begun in 1852. He took part in intercolonial conferences, served as secretary of the first Congregational Home Mission and was a founder of the Congregational Union and Mission of Victoria, becoming chairman in 1862.....From the 1860s his name was linked with the leading public charities in Victoria. With F. J. Rose he founded the Deaf and Dumb Institution in 1861-62 and was its secretary for thirty years. He was a committeeman, secretary and later superintendent of the Asylum and School for the Blind; he also founded the Adult Deaf and Dumb Mission in 1883-85.

Moss was described as straight and well-proportioned, 'fair in complexion, with large, deep, thoughtful blue eyes, gentle in manner, and soft in speech'. He had remarkable success in drawing the attention of governors and parliamentarians to his charities, partly by his own persuasiveness, partly through the support of influential Free-churchmen such as George Rolfe and F. J. Sargood. Moss was twice married: first, to Elizabeth, second daughter of Andrew McClure, by whom he had four sons and three daughters; and second, to Mary Eleanor, third daughter of S. R. Herdsman, by whom he had one son and three daughters. He died suddenly, apparently from heart disease, at his home 'Farnham' in Sorret Ave, Malvern on 14 March 1891, survived by seven of his children. William Moss was buried in St Kilda Cemetery.

54.4b Naming of Chapel St
The Rev William Moss arrived in Melbourne in its very early days- just 14 years after John Batman sat down in the bush beside the Yarra River and purportedly said "This is the site for a village".  Joseph Crook is believed to have built the first house in the Chapel Street area in 1849, when the street was known as Fitzroy Road. Chapel Street was named after the first church in Prahran, an Independent (or Congregational) Church, built 100 metres north of Malvern Road on the east side, between 1850 and 1852. The first minister of 'The Chapel', as it was known locally, was Rev William Moss. In an address to the Collins Street Independent Church in 1888 the Rev. Moss said, "I may mention that our chapel at Prahran was the only place of worship in the district for over two years, and ultimately gave to the business street of that flourishing city its name Chapel Street". The Chapel was closed in 1859 and used as a school building until about 1883, when it was demolished. (Wikipedia)

Chapel St c1889

Sarah Ann Boardman told more about William's involvement with Chapel St in her memoir. She wrote that "a chapel was built, and a minister was required to fill the pulpit. My uncle was offered the pastorate and became the minister. I may here mention that the building was of wood, and the street that it was erected in was minus a name. My uncle when appealed to on the matter said 'Call it Chapel Street', and Chapel Street it became and is to this day. As the congregation increased, the wooden building proved too small, so my uncle with the help of some influential friends secured a fine block of land in the Malvern Rd, and the Malvern Rd, Congregational Church was erected on it – a building any minister and congregation might well be proud of."

Chapel St, Windsor looking north

54.4c Blind Institute in St Kilda Rd
Sarah also explained William's involvement in the establishment of the 'School for the Blind', and the 'Deaf and Dumb Institution' in Melbourne. In his work as a preacher "the blind people he often met appealed to him – poor wandering atoms of humanity with no one to teach them or help them to be self-supporting. By gathering some of these together, Uncle taught them how to sing (for like the rest of his family he had a talent for Music besides possessing a most musical voice) and then took them to various centres giving concerts etc. in order to raise money to build an asylum. At last after some years of struggling, the Blind Asylum in the St. Kilda Rd was the result of Uncle’s efforts to help the blind. And what a boon to many and many a poor creature has that asylum been. The work now occupied most of Uncle’s time and resigning the pastorate of the Malvern Road Church, he gave himself up wholly to the amelioration of the sufferings of both the blind, and the deaf and dumb. So that when you or anyone else beholds the Blind Asylum and the Deaf and Dumb Asylum quite near to each other, you will see evidence of your uncle’s efforts to uplift the unfortunate inmates of both."

54.4d Other Legacies of Rev William Moss
i) Prahran Mechanics Institute
In 1854 Prahran Mechanics’ Institute was established after meetings convened by Rev William Moss, for the Mental and Moral Improvement and Rational Recreation of its Members, by means of Lectures, Discussions, Library, Reading Rooms, Classes, Museum, Philosophical Apparatus etc. (https://www.pmi.net.au)
ii) Congregational Church Brighton
It was the first Pastor, the Rev. William Moss of Prahran who, in 1852, occasionally made the long ride through the bush to Brighton, where he conducted services on behalf of the Independents (later Congregational Church) in the home of Mr Frank B Sim in New Street. The Rev. Moss continued these journeys and services until early in 1853. (http://trinitybrighton.org.au)

54.4e Two Wives of William Moss
Rev Willliam Moss and Elizabeth McClure were married in 1853 in Melbourne. Elizabeth was a bit older than William having been born in Donegal, Ireland in 1822. They had seven children: George Andrew McClure Moss, Margaret Rebecca Moss, Elizabeth Florence Moss, William Frederick Moss, William Joseph Alleine Moss, Leslie James Moss, and Marion Emily Moss. William's first wife Elizabeth Moss nee McClure died in 1879 and was buried in St Kilda General Cemetery with William Moss’ parents. (See 53.4).

The following year on 13 May 1880, William 51, married his much younger second wife Mary Eleanor Herdsman 29 (1851-1934). His brother Rev James Moss assisted with the conduct of the marriage. William had four more children with his second wife, before he died aged 63 on 14 Mar 1891 at Malvern.

The Argus 29 Nov 1890

William officiated in many Melbourne weddings including several for members of his extended family. The above ceremony was the marriage of Wiulliam's son William Jeseph Alleine Moss to Lina Ashley Bennet in 1890.

The Argus 16 Mar 1891 (One of many death notices for William Moss)

Sarah Ann Boardman nee Moss finished her piece about her Uncle William with "William took up his abode at the Blind Asylum, occasionally preaching at his former Church. I had the pleasure of listening to him on one occasion, when he forcibly reminded me of my own dear father’s style and manner.

And now I come to the closing scenes of a great and useful life. It was on March 14th 1891 that the news came 'Your Uncle William is dead'. We hastened to his residence at Malvern and found that it was all too true. Uncle had arisen at his usual hour, had taken his morning bath, and was sitting in the Dining room waiting to be summoned to breakfast. But another summons had come and the Reaper whose name is Death had entered that quiet room and carried off the mortal breath of the occupant. Heart failure was the cause."

54.4f Descendants of Rev William Moss
GGM Sarah Ann Boardman nee Moss wrote, "I have often thought what a magnificent statesman he would have made, for he had far-seeing powers and always set out with the intention of carrying out his plans and getting others to help him so to do. He was twice married. His widow Mrs Moss of Malvern [2nd wife], is one of my best friends. By his first wife he had three sons and one daughter [who survived childhood] – the eldest son is Mr. George Moss of Maryborough – a lawyer who has successfully carried on a practice there for some years, and in passing I may say he has given two sons to the Empire, both are helping in this great and awful struggle [WW1].

The 2nd son became a Dr of medicine and had a practice at Kensington where he was much beloved especially by the poor. About three years ago, a lot of fever was about and Dr Moss was continually being called up. As it happened his wife was in England (he had no family) and no one seemed to notice that he was failing. He was taken ill with double pneumonia and in the course of a few days he was called home. The poorer people still remember his loving care for them. He was 52 years of age when the call came.

The youngest son Leslie is (I believe) engaged in the shipping agencies, but of that I am not sure. I have only met him once or twice, but I believe he is filling an honourable place in the world. He too is married and has two or three children.

The daughter Lizzie is married and living in Brisbane. She and her husband (he is blind) are music teachers. I have not seen her for many years, but when last I heard about her, she was not in good health. They have no family. You are acquainted with your cousins Ella and Sam Moss, so I will say but little of them except that they are both striving to extend the Master’s Kingdom." 
 
54.5 Rev James Moss (1830-1900)

Baptisms: Farnham Independent Church, East St. 1830

 James was born on 3 Oct and baptised on 28 Nov 1830 in Farnham. He was living with his parents from 1841-1851. When he was 28, in 1858, his parents set sail for Australia, but James stayed behind. In 1861 he was living at West Croft, Tenterton. James was 30, unmarried and minister at Zion Chapel.

Sarah Ann Boardman nee Moss provided a description of James' character in her writing, "James was quite a different disposition from his brothers. Dreamy, studious, clever in many ways, but lacking the grand initiative of the other two. He was a gifted speaker, and was trained for the ministry at Regent’s Park College. His first pastorate was a Baptist Church in Tenterden, Kent, England. After the death of his sister Sarah Moss (Mrs T. Williams), he expressed a wish to leave England, and came to Australia. This must have been about 4 or 5 years after my Grandparents left England."

In 1864 at the age of 33 he decided to join his mother and siblings who had migrated to Australia earlier, and set sail on the ship ‘Yorkshire’. Sadly, he arrived in November just weeks after his father died in September.

The Argus, 16 Feb 1866

Not long after he settled in his new country James met and became engaged to Mary Jemima Rees. On 14 Feb 1866 James and Mary were married at her father’s residence in South Yarra. The wedding was conducted by the bride’s father, the Rev D. Rees, assisted by James’ brother Rev. William Moss.

In his work as a Baptist minister, the Rev James Moss conducted many marriages at Emerald Hill during the 1860’s-1880’s (see Melbourne newspapers). In 1880 at South Yarra, he assisted at the marriage of his brother William Moss to Mary Eleanor Herdsman.

In the early 1880’s James and Mary moved to NSW and he conducted many weddings there. Before they left, his Melbourne residence was auctioned on the 15 Feb 1883 and the advertisement gave an idea of his standard of living. "Convenient Cottage residence (in Wattletree Rd., Malvern), Opposite the Residence of Robt. Sellar, Esq., and Within Eight Minutes' Walk of the Malvern Railway Station. (We) have received instructions from the Rev. James Moss, who is leaving the district, to sell by public auction ... that very delightfully situated property, having a commanding and extensive view, comprising 2½ acres of land, well planted with choice trees and shrubs of many years' growth, with the convenient and commodious cottage residence thereon, containing six rooms, kitchen and servant's room, with stables and outhouses at rear."

A book of James' poems titled 'Farnham' was published in Sydney in 1882 (and is available for viewing on the internet). Michael Moss described the book as “a nostalgic collection of indifferent verse ....that suggests a comfortable childhood in an artisan’s home.” From 1887-1894 his address was listed in ‘Sands Sydney Directory’. James traveled widely to preach his sermons and these were often published in the press. James Moss 70 died on 28 Apr 1900 and was buried on 30 Apr 1900 at Waverley Cemetery NSW.

Daily Telegraph 1 May 1900

An obituary was published in many newspapers including Broken Hill. The refererence to sister 'Mrs Greer' in the above article should read Mrs Green! (Elizabeth Green nee Moss)

54.6 Thomas Moss (1832- ?)  

Baptisms Independent Church, East St, Farnham 1832

Thomas was born on 15 Oct and baptised on 16 Dec 1832. He was not listed in 1841 census when he would have been 9, so may have died as a child.

54.7 Elizabeth 'Lizzie' Moss (1834-1897)

Baptisms Independent Church, East St, Farnham 1834

 Lizzie was born on 7 Sep 1834 at Farnham. In 1841 she was living at Farnham with her parents. At the age of 17 in 1851 she was lodging and working with the Waller family who were running a straw bonnet (many family histories mistakenly refer to it as “steam” bonnet) manufacturing business in London Rd, Luton. Four years later at the age of 21 she took the big decision to migrate to Australia to join her older siblings William and Annie, who had migrated in 1850. In 1855 along with younger brother Frederick Moss, Lizzie sailed to Melbourne on the ship ‘Asia’.

On 6 Sep 1860 Lizzie married William Jonathon Green b1835 who had arrived in Australia on the ship ‘Nepaul’ (sic) in 1852. The wedding was conducted by her brother Rev. William Moss. Over the next twelve years they had seven children: Charlotte Green and Annie Elizabeth Green born in Melbourne and Melbourne Green, William Bailey Green (twin), Emily Green (twin), Katherine (Katie) Green and Ethel Constance Green born in Sydney (Paddington). According to the place of birth of the children they moved to Sydney around 1863. The 'Sydney Empire', 18 Sep 1868, listed William J. Green working for the firm of 'Lassetter and Co.' Sydney.

In 1872 they were living in Woollahra, NSW when Lizzie’s younger brother Joseph died at their residence. One death notice read, "MOSS. On the 24th instant, at Glenhead, Woollahra, Joseph Ebenezer, the youngest son of the late Mr. George Moss, of Prahran, Victoria, aged 31 years."

On 11 April 1877 William placed the following advert in the SMH: “Tenders are invited for purchase of seats in the building in Point Piper Road, Woollahra, lately used as a Congregational Church. Apply to chapel-keeper on premises. Tenders to be addressed to Mr. Green, Glenhead, Woollahra.” In 1878 they were living at ‘Glenhead’ in Woollahra, when their 14 year old eldest son died.

The Sydney papers contain many other references to William Jonathan Green; most of which relate to his work as a “liquidator” involved in financial disputes. One intriguing document records that William Jonathan Green applied to register the trademark 'Yaala' (a medical preparation), on 28 Jun 1897, at Sydney. This may or may not be the same person.

SMH: 29 Apr 1904

Elizabeth Green nee Moss died on 28 Apr 1904 at Summerhill, Sydney. William J. Green died in 1920 at Sydney

 

54.8 Charlotte Moss (1836-1847)

Baptisms Independent Church, East St, Farnham 1836

Charlotte was born on 13 May 1836 and baptised on 7 Aug 1836 in Farnham. She lived with her parents until 1847 when she died at the age of 11 at Farnham.

54.9 Frederick Moss (1839-1908)
Frederick was born on 13 Dec 1839 in Farnham and was living with his parents from 1841-1851. At the age of 15 he took the big decision to migrate to Australia with his older sister Lizzie. In 1855, along with (slightly) older sister Lizzie, he sailed to Melbourne on the ship ‘Asia’. They were going to join their older siblings William and Annie Moss, who had migrated in 1850.

There are no records that give details about Frederick’s life from 1855 to 1857, but there are numerous newspaper articles relating to him in the Castlemaine area in the late 1850's and early 1860's. When he moved to that area is unknown. He became a 'professor of music' by the time he was 18, but where he completed his music studies is also unknown.

The earliest record relating to Frederick (aged almost 18 years old) in Victoria, is an article in the 'Mount Alexander Mail', 9 Nov 1857, announcing the formation of the Castlemaine Philharmonic Society by "Professor Moss, Singing Master to Denominational Board, Conductor".

From that point on Professor Frederick Moss appears in the 'Mount Alexander Mail' regularly. On 1 Mar 1858 a report announced "The Philharmonic Society, conducted by Professor Moss, will be present, and will sing several pieces in the course of the evening.... and a collection will be made in liquidation of the debt on the chapel." On 26 May 1858 "singing classes in the Congregational Chapel by Mr Frederick Moss (12 lessons for 10 shillings)" were advertised. Another article in the same year reported that, "Mr Frederick Moss delivered a very interesting and instructive lecture on the History of Music at the Mechanics' Institute. Mr Moss had an excellent audience, and his lecture, which was carefully prepared and delivered with spirit, was listened to with the closest attention. Greek, Egyptian, and Roman music was described, and the peculiarities of each pointed out. When the lecturer proceeded to speak of the services rendered to the art by Pope Gregory... Handel etc., he became truly eloquent."

In 1860 'Mount Alexander Mail' reported, "The members of the Philharmonic Society, under the experienced leadership of Mr. Moss, during the evening ably performed a variety of glees, duetts..."  and "Mr Moss, conductor of the Choral Association, made an address on the pleasure and advantage of  music, and the duty of Christians to cultivate it for the worship, of God." (16 Mar 1860). "The second annual meeting of the Philharmonic Society, was held last night at the Church of England School Room.... The Chairman having presented two very handsome books to Mr Moss as a slight acknowledgment of his gratuitous and valuable services as conductor of the Society for the last two years. Mr Moss returned thanks and the meeting separated."  (23 Mar 1860). "We were sorry to hear that Mr Moss suffered during the evening from a sprain in his baton hand which disabled him from wielding that potent instrument as he would otherwise have done, and as was necessary once or twice to check the attempts made by the choir to get away from his time, which we still thought rather slow..."  (7 May 1860).

More articles appeared in 1861. "The Philharmonic Concert. Notwithstanding the unfavorable weather, the Concert on Thursday night was so, well attended that the Theatre was comfortably filled. Considering that the Philharmonic Society relied upon their unaided efforts to attract an audience, they have reason to be proud of their success. The pecuniary results of the concert must have proved beneficial to the Treasury of the Philharmonic. Mr Moss, the conductor, ably discharged his duties..."  (6 May 1861) Frederick continued to earn an income through his "Singing Class". His advert in the 'Mount Alexander Mail' 11 Sep 1861 read "an elementary singing class will be formed in the Baptist Church, Templeton street, conducted by Mr F. Moss, Terms 10s per quarter. To commence at eight o'clock precisely!" Perhaps it was there that he met his future wife?

Mt Alexander Mail 30 Dec 1861

On 19 Dec 1861 Frederick Moss married Mary Hatch (b1843 London) in Victoria (probably Castlemaine) but the exact location is unknown (AMI). In 1862 Frederick recommenced the singing classes and advertised them in the same paper under the headline "Part Song, Glee, & Madrigal Class". This time though, there was a discount for ladies; "Terms; Gentlemen 10s ; Ladies 5s, per quarter." Frederick was honored for his work with the Philharmonic Society at their annual general meeting in Mar 1862, "The Chairman rose and said he ...had been requested to present to their worthy conductor, Mr Moss, a small token of the estimation in which the society regarded his gratuitous services for so many years...he had the greatest pleasure in handing Mr Moss a conductor's baton, purchased by subscription of the members... he handed Mr Moss an elegant ivory gold-mounted baton, which cost fifteen guineas...  The baton bore on a ring in the centre, the following inscription; 'Presented to Mr F. Moss, by the Castlemaine, Philharmonic Society, as a token of regard for his invaluable services as conductor of the above society for four years'. Mr Moss said he had been so taken by surprise at this unexpected mark of kindness that he was really at a loss for words to express his thanks. He was much more at home in singing than in speech-making, but he begged to return the members of the society his sincerest acknowledgements for their handsome recognition of his endeavours to promote their interest, and he hoped to be spared long to officiate as conductor of the Castlemaine Philharmonic Society (cheers.)" (24 Mar 1862).

The following advert on 2 Jun 1862 possibly lists Frederick's home address. "Herr W. Gollmick, Professor of Music, visits Castlemaine every Monday and Thursday, to give lessons on the Pianoforte. Terms -Three Guineas per Quarter. Applications to be made to Mr F. Moss, Templeton street."

Mt Alexander Mail 8 Oct 1862

Frederick gained some fame from a 'Mass' he wrote in 1862, as the review above indicates

The following article appearing on 2 Dec 1862 praises Frederick's hard work but also suggests he was in need of financial support. "The Concert given by the members of the Philharmonic Society for the benefit of their talented conductor, Mr F. Moss, took place last night, at the Theatre, and it was well attended, but not so well as the merits of Mr Moss, and his services in the development of local musical talent deserved. In a musical sense the concert was a highly successful one, but we regret that a greater number of persons were not present to pay Mr Moss a compliment which he has so well-earned by his efforts in promoting cultivation of music in this township." The year ended well for Frederick, when, "On the 8th of December, the wife of Mr F. Moss, Professor of Music, [gave birth to] a daughter". The birth was not registered on Vic BDM until 1863.

The next year held some challenges for Frederick. Apparently there was some ‘talk’ that  he had profited from ‘Benefit Concerts’ held in Castlemaine by the Philharmonic Society, and Frederick was obviously quite upset (enough to try and clear the matter up by writing the following public letter). "Sir, a great deal of  apprehension existing in the minds of the public respecting the amount realized by me from the two 'Benefit Concerts' given 'in Castlemane -will you permit me to remove this misapprehension by laying a correct statement of the proceeds before them.  The actual amount realized from the two benefits is the handsome sum of £6 3s. Permit me also to remove another misapprehension; that my connection with the Philharmonic Society has been a source of great benefit to me. The total, amount of pecunicary benefit I have derived from the Society and for my professional service during nearly six, years has been the sum of. £17 17s 6d. Trusting you will insert this for the enlightenment of the public...." (Mount Alexander Mail 3 Jul 1863).

At about this time Frederick decided to move to India. The negative 'talk' mentioned above may have been one factor, but there were plenty of articles indicating that the community at large were saddened by the impending move. The following article on 27 Apr 1863, displayed how highly Frederick was viewed by the 'musical community' of the area. 

Mt Alexander Mail 27 Apr 1863

 In an article about the second anniversary of the Baptist Church in Templeton Street, Castlemaine there is a hint of another reason why Frederick may have decided to leave the colony. A popular preacher at the Church had decided to return to India, and he may have inspired Frederick to do the same. An edited version of the article follows. "It  is to be regretted that the Baptists of Castlemaine and district are about to lose the ministrations of  the Rev James Smith who has for two years been their pastor. It is his intention to return to India having been engaged there for many years as a missionary..... Mr Smith was induced to establish a Baptist Church in Castlemaine and has been successful so far as testified by a numerous congregation.... The choir of the Baptist Church (under the direction of Mr F. Moss, who has hitherto presided at the harmonium has acquired the reputation of being the best Church choir in Castlemaine." (Mount Alexander Mail 15 Jun 1863)

We know Frederick had left the colony by 7 Aug 1863 because "The secretary of the Castlemaine Philharmonic Society society started his annual report... [by saying] I wish to place upon record the regret felt by the Committee and the whole of the membership of the Society caused by their late conductor, Mr F. Moss leaving the district." After Frederick left,  the future of the Castlemaine Philharmonic Society was in doubt, as this comment attests,  "Now, I would appeal to those ladies and gentlemen who have derived so much instruction and pleasure from Mr Moss's disinterested labours: Are they content that six years of instruction should be lost upon them; if not, then let them come forward and support the committee in carrying out the arrangements which, have been made for the ensuing year, and let them not forget that much of the real usefulness of the musical knowledge they have acquired will lost if the Society is broken up." Mount Alexander Mail 13 Aug 1863

The society did not break up, but had a much lower public profile after Frederick left. One of the few articles about later performances described the celebratory activities related to the eleventh anniversary of the Castlemaine Congregational Church. The Philharmonic Society was to perform, and one of the guests speakers happened to be Rev William Moss; Frederick Moss' brother!

Frederick and Mary Moss nee Hatch had more children once they settled in India, where they lived in the large expatriate British community (probably as a music teacher). At the time of the marriage of their eldest daughter, Blanche, the family's address was given as 'Seven Oaks', Mussoorie, Bengal, India. Frederick's name appeared in the 'Mount Alexander Mail' for the final time on 18 Feb 1869, when it was reported that, "Mr Hodgson has received by the mail six copies of Mr F. Moss's mass in C, at one time performed by the Philharmonic Society of the town to whom it is dedicated. It is beautifully printed, is of folio size and extends to 111 pages. From the list of subscribers, whose names are published it seems to be well thought of in high circles in India".

The birth of son Walter Moss was announced in 'The Australasian' and 'The Argus' 19 Feb 1873 as follows, "On the 1st Jan 1873, at Dehra [Dehradun], India, the wife of Mr. F. Moss of a son".  Dehradun is a large city close to Mussoorie and Mary may have travelled there to give birth. On 19 Apr 1884 at Mussoorie, daughter Blanche married John Parry Scotland (1852-1894) engineer. According to the Scottish Census 1891, sons Frederick Moss 24 and Walter J Moss 17 were living at No 131 Warrender Park Road, Newington, Edinburgh, St Cuthberts, with their mother Mary Moss nee Hatch 48. Frederick was a "student of medicine" and Walter was a "scholar". They had a live-in servant working for them.

Frederick Moss apparently lived at Mussoorie, India until his death on 23 April 1908. Mary Moss nee Hatch seems to have made trips back to England from time to time. In 1909 she was a passenger on the ship 'Britannia'.

Mussoorie in the late 1800's

NOTE: Frederick and his family settled in the Expatriate British community at Mussoorie, where he spent the rest of his life. Most of his children were born there and grew up there. Mussoorie is in the northern Indian state of Uttarakhand and is about 290 km north of New Delhi, in the foothills of the Garhwal Himalayan range.

During British Rule [of India], Mussoorie was founded by a British soldier in 1823 as a 'country retreat'. It was close to a convalescent centre for soldiers at Landour. Many substantial homes appeared, precariously situated on the mountainside, some belonging to Maharajas and others belonging to more humble residents. By 1842 the town consisted of 42 houses, a hotel and five barracks. The clientele for the new resort came from far and wide and it was soon dubbed ‘Queen of the Hill Stations’ due to its spectacular and varied mountain scenery.

Towards the latter half of the 19th century, Mussoorie had became a favoured retreat for British families of privileged class; especially during the hot Indian summers. During these months the town was alive with many activities including polo, horse riding, hunting, ball games and social gatherings. However the difficult truth behind the rise of the hill station was the fact that it was a private retreat only for elite Englishmen; and others (including Indians) were restricted from entering, unless they were household staff or service workers.

54.10 Joseph Ebenezer Moss (1841-1872)
Joseph was born in Farnham in 1841. In 1858, at the age of 17 (incorrectly listed as 27 on the ship’s passenger list), he migrated to Australia with his parents. His occupation was listed as ‘rusher’, which derives from his work in England as a brush maker.

In 1866 he married Edith Thompson (b1841) in Victoria. In 1868 Joseph E Moss, teacher, leased a three roomed house in Henry St., Prahran, but by 1870 he had purchased his own home. According to the electoral roll Joseph E Moss teacher, owned a 4 roomed house in High St., St Kilda. During the period 1867-1872 Edith gave birth to three children; Nina b1867, Lillian b1870, and Joseph Wilberforce Moss b1872.

The Argus, 25 Sep 1872

Tragically on 24 Sep 1872, whilst staying with his sister and her husband in Woollahra, Sydney, Joseph died at the age of 31. The death notice read “On the 24th inst., at the residence of his brother-in-law, W J. Green, Esq., Woolhara, Sydney, Joseph E. Moss, youngest son of George Moss and late of Prahran, aged 31 years”. (The Argus 5 Oct 1872).

Edith was left with three young children, the oldest being 5. She managed to raise her children as a single mother, but eventually remarried in 1885 at St Peters, Melbourne. Her second husband was William Glenn, merchant from Ballarat. Edith Glenn nee Moss nee Thompson died in 1921.

55.0 GGGP Rev George Thomas Moss (1826-1892) & Eliza Chuter (1820-1903)
George Thomas Moss was baptised on 10 Aug 1826 at the Ebenezer Chapel in East Street (formerly the Independent or Presbyterian Church). At the age of 14 he was living with his parents GGGGP George Moss b1793 and Sarah Moss nee Turner b1803 in East St., Farnham.

East St, Farnham

55.1 Education of GGGP George Thomas Moss b1826 by Sarah Ann Boardman nee Moss

“As ...George (Rev George Thomas Moss) was the eldest son, he had to go to work early in life and help with his small earnings to buy the necessaries of life. His father's employer [Tily & Brown] took him as an apprentice, and he earned the reputation of diligence and good behaviour. He did not let his education drop when he left school, but attended evening classes at the Mechanics Institute. He was especially gifted in music and early learned to play (with great taste and feeling) the violin, the bass viol and the flute. Also it was not long before he began to take charge of village services, preaching with great acceptation [sic] to the rural population. I may say here that five young men began their preaching careers just at this time. They were respectively – George Thomas Moss (my father), William Moss (my uncle), Charles Vince of Birmingham, Charles Williams of Accrington, London, and my Uncle James Moss (b1830) who made the fifth.

I believe in those days there were only two kinds of school where the children of the lower middle class could get an education even the most rudimentary at a cost within their means. These two classes were the National schools and the British schools. The former were under the control of the Church of England, and the children attending these schools had to very obsequious to the clergy, and to the rich. Boys were expected to doff their caps, or pull their forelocks whenever they encountered one of the above class. Girls were expected to drop a curtsey nearly to the ground when they met His Highness the Dean or Rector or Curate – Fancy our Australian children doing this kind of thing!

The British schools were run by the dissenters of the community, and the children of these were certainly less servile, but not less respectful to their superiors. However, although education was not free and compulsory as it is today, the children attending either of the above mentioned schools were taught the three 'Rs' well, and in the higher classes Geography and History were not neglected.

After a time my father took charge (as a lay preacher) of a small church at Fleet (7m from Farnham) but still continued his daily avocation in the business of Tily & Brown. (where he had been apprenticed and where his father had worked before him). My father became traveller for the firm, and as such proved himself a very valuable adjunct to the business.”

55.2 GGGF George Thomas Moss (1826-1892) married GGGM Eliza Chuter (1820-1903)
On 20 Sept 1847, George Thomas Moss married Eliza Chuter at Croydon, Surrey (about 40m from Farnham). (See 61.6 for more about Eliza Chuter.) By 1851 the couple had moved to East St., Farnham and George 24 was working alongside his father as a brushmaker at 'Tily & Brown'. GGGM Eliza Moss nee Chuter was listed as being 26 but was really 30, son George was 3 (born 8 Dec, 1847 three months after his parent’s wedding!), Caroline 1 and GGM Sarah Ann Moss was only a baby aged 4 mths.

In the 1850’s most of the Moss family migrated to Australia. Siblings Annie and William Moss had migrated in 1850, Elizabeth and Frederick Moss in 1855 and George's parents along with youngest brother Joseph in 1858. Left behind were Sarah b1824, James and GGGF George Thomas Moss. GGGF George Thomas Moss would not see his parents or 'Australian' siblings again. Five more children were born in Farnham; Charlotte b1854, Alice b1855, Frederick William b1857, Amy b1859 and Kate 1860.

55.3 The Move to Ash Vale
GGGF George Thomas Moss b1826 was invited to take the pastorate of a church at Ash Vale, so he left his job at 'Tilys' and moved his wife and eight children five miles from Farnham to Ash.

1861 Census at Heathvale, Ash, Farnborough

In 1861 their address was listed as Heath Vale, Ash. The family consisted of GGGF George Moss 34 congregational Minister, Eliza Moss nee Chuter 40, George T Moss 13 pupil teacher, Caroline 11, GGM Sarah Moss 10, Charlotte 7, Alice 6, Frederick 4, Amy 2 and Kate 4mths.

GGM Sarah Ann Boardman nee Moss wrote about the move as follows. “The change from town to country, though beneficial to health, was decidedly detrimental to education. No schools were near us except the tabooed National. My father being a dissenting minister was not allowed (even if he had wished) to send his children to that school – the rule being that day school children must attend the Established Church on Sundays, must be christened according to their dictum, and at the proper age be confirmed, and join the Church. After some thought and prayer, my father decided to open a school where dissenters could send their children without the formula of the Church of England. My brother George (b1847) was taken from Farnham and a school was formed.

For some time, all went well, but my father was not a school master, he would far rather sit puzzling over his Greek testament than be teaching the country yokels [sic] their tables, or spelling or in fact anything. Of course, my sister, myself and younger brother all benefited by the instruction, for my brother was a born teacher. He inspired us with a love of study and turned the drudgery into a pleasure. Very sorry indeed we were when father found the task of teaching too irksome, besides, my brother was not making headway in his own studies, so the school as such was given up, and brother [George b1847] returned to his former position.

It now fell to my lot to teach my younger sisters and brothers. What little I knew, I tried to impart and, as our big brother came home at weekend and helped and encouraged me to persevere, we made fair progress. Some of the neighbours now wished me to take their children with our own little flock so behold me at 13 with a diversified contingent of little folk doing my best to pave the way for greater achievements.

My father [Rev George T. Moss b1826] continued to minister to the people of Ash, and took great interest in the soldiers who were stationed at Aldershot about two miles from Ash. He gained liberty of conscience for the Baptists and Independents, and these were marched to the Ash Vale Chapel every Sunday morning. Hitherto, there were only two recognized religious bodies (other than the Roman Catholics) viz. Church of England and Wesleyans or, as they are now called, Methodists. But, as my father discovered that both Baptists and Independents preferred their own beliefs to any other, leave was granted them to attend their own place of worship. To show how much they appreciated the effort made on their behalf, they attended the voluntary service held in the evening in very fair numbers.

He met with opposition as all do who are facing life's problems squarely. I will give one instance. We had among our worshippers a retired stockbroker – a rich man and one who longed for the applause of man. When he first came among us, he appeared to be just the very help we needed both in Sunday School and Church work. But it was not long before he began to instruct my father how to preach, and to decide what tunes we must have to his favourite hymns. Then he did not approve of the soldiers coming to the Church (of course they had no souls to be saved). At last when my father – who had a good stock of patience – refused to hear gossip that Mr. Wilson brought respecting one of the Church members, Mr. Wilson took umbrage and left.

(Mr Wilson) bought a piece of land nearby and, at his own expense, erected another place of worship quite near to ours, and after trying to preach himself and utterly failing, made it over to the Wesleyan denomination. He then bought the house we were living in and had lived in for some years, and gave us notice to quit, as he wanted it for himself. Of course, we had to go. A dissenting minister with a large family could not stand up against a rich man and, just at that time, there were no houses to be had that we could live in. So we had to move quite two miles away from our Church and Sunday School, and what a weary trudge it was, Summer and Winter. There was no help for it. But was my father crushed? No, not a little bit. He said, 'I will get funds to build a manse by the side of the chapel', and this he did, for he had many good friends both in the Army and amongst the civilian population and, as the chapel stood on an acre of land, there was ample room for a house.

It was not long before a good brick house was built, and we were enabled to move in. So after all the enemy defeated himself, for he could not turn us out of the manse which had been built at the public expense. The foundation stone was laid by Miss Havelock, sister to Sir Henry Havelock, and daughter of the famed Havelock of India.”

55.4 Latter Years of GGGP George Thomas Moss (1826-1892) & Eliza Chuter (1820-1903)

1871 Census Ash Common, Ash, Surrey

The 1871 census listed their address as Ash Common. Some of the children had left home and the residents at this time were George Moss 44 Baptist minister, Eliza Moss 50, GGM Sarah A Moss 20 school teacher, Alice Moss 15, Frederick W Moss 14, Amy Moss 12, Kate E Moss 10 and GGGGM Mary Chuter nee Collins 81 (Eliza Moss nee Chuter’s mother). In 1881 George 54, Baptist minister and Eliza 60 were still living at Ash with unmarried daughter Kate Moss 20. Tragedy hit the family in 1883 when married daughter Alice Barr nee Moss died in August after complications due to childbirth. Then, her husband Arthur Vincent Barr, died less than four months later in December, leaving their baby an orphan. GGGP George and Eliza Moss, took on the task of caring for their daughter’s young son. In 1891 they were still living at Ashvale. George was a 64 year old Baptist minister living with his wife Eliza, now 70, and with them was grandson Frederick Vincent Barr 8 (see 56.5a).

The pages of the 'Surrey Advertiser' have many references to the public life of the GGGF Rev George Thomas Moss. Apart from his involvement in Surrey Missions, the British School, the Working Men’s Institute in Farnham and being appointed to the Ash Burial Board he was responsible for having the soldier’s home built at Ash Vale.

It was in the winter of 1891-2 that GGGP George Thomas Moss and Eliza Moss both contracted influenza, and daughter Katie nursed them through it. Sadly she succumbed to the disease herself and died. "George never recovered from this crushing blow, for Katie had been his right hand in everything." Within three months on 15 Jun 1892 at Ashvale, GGGF George Thomas Moss died. Father and daughter were buried in the Ash Church Cemetery.

Probate on the Will of George Thomas Moss

In his will GGGF George Thomas Moss b1826 left effects valued at £246. Probate was granted on 20 Jul 1892 to his eldest son George Thomas Moss b1847 schoolmaster.

After the death of her husband, GGGM Eliza Moss nee Chuter moved to Maldon, Essex to live near her son Frederick Moss. In 1901 at the age of 80 she was boarder with the Reynolds family at Victoria Rd., Maldon, just around the corner from Frederick, and living on her own means. She died in Maldon on 1 Apr 1903 aged 83. Note from Steve Priestley: The "good brick house" or manse in Ash Vale that Sarah refers to is still standing. I visited it some years ago, when a retired doctor and his wife lived there. Unfortunately, there were no remaining traces of the Moss family and the chapel itself was demolished many years ago.

56.0 Eight Children of GGGP George Thomas Moss (1826-1892) & Eliza Chuter (1820-1903)
GGGP George and Eliza Moss nee Chuter had three boys and five girls. Two of their girls (Alice and Katie) died as young adults. Of their daughters, three (Caroline, Amy and Katie) had no children.

56.1 George Thomas Moss (1847-1924)
George jnr was born on 8 December 1847 at Farnham three months after his parents were married. He was named after his father and grandfather who both went by the name ‘George’. George Thomas Moss b1847 lived with his parents in Farnham in 1851 and moved with them to Ash in 1861, when he was a student teacher.

56.1a Memories of GGGF George Thomas Moss (1847-1924) by sister GGM Sarah Ann Boardman nee Moss

“Of course George (b1847) was a hero to the younger members of his family. He very early showed great aptitude for learning and could read music quite easily at six years of age. He attended the British School, and was made monitor or as we now call them, pupil teacher – having extra lessons at night, for teaching in the day. When we left Farnham in July 1860, he remained at Farnham, living with the schoolmaster, and coming home for Saturdays and Sundays. My elder brother continued his studies at Farnham for some time, and then became assistant teacher in a private school where the pay was better and the work lighter. We missed our weekly lessons, without a doubt, but still pursued our education, under difficulties.

Then George began to wish for a college training and, with that end in view, took up deeper studies, sat for a Queen's Scholarship at Borough Road London Training College, gaining a high place on the list and entering college the following January. Here he took a hold on all that was being taught and, in order to defray expenses for books, travelling, etc., undertook teaching in the long holidays at Xmas and Midsummer. He went to a village (a manufacturing village, broadcloth being one of the staple industries of the place), Kings Stanley by name, in Gloucestershire. Here he met a young lady who afterwards became his wife. He remained a student at Borough Road College for two years (the stipulated time) and then returned to the village where the lady was, and eventually married her.”

56.1b George Thomas Moss (1847-1924) & his family
George Thomas Moss b1847 married Hannah Sealey b1843 in Aug 1870 at Kings Stanley the town of her birth. The following year in 1871 George Thomas Moss 23 master of British School, and Hannah Moss 27 master’s wife were living at Kings Stanley, Gloucester. During the 1870’s Hannah gave birth to four boys named Frederick William, George Sealey, Joseph William and Edward Stanley Moss (the grandfather of Michael Moss). By 1881, the family had moved 200 miles to the other side of the country and were living in Crown Rd., Great Yarmouth. Living there were George Thomas Moss 33 school master, Hannah Moss nee Sealey 38, Frederick William Moss 9, George Sealey Moss 8, Joseph William Moss 7 and Edward Stanley Moss 5. Helping with household chores was live-in servant Sarah Goodson 16.

Hannah Moss nee Sealey

It was not long before George Thomas Moss b1847 moved again. According to Sarah Ann Boardman nee Moss in 1883 he “took a school at Bedminster near Bristol, a much larger school and well organized, with a grand staff of teachers. Here he found time to study for his degree of Bachelor of Arts which he accomplished in due course. He certainly had the ability, but added to this he had great tenacity of purpose which carried him through where many others would have given in. After a few years spent at Bedminster, he was then transferred to a London Board School where he remained until he was entitled to the teacher's Government pension.”

1891 Census: 8 Prince Wales Rd, Kentish Town

In 1891 the family was living at 9 Prince Of Wales Rd., St Pancras and most of the family were employed as teachers. The household now consisted of George T Moss 43 headmaster, Hannah Moss 47, Frederick William Moss 19 school teacher, George Sealey Moss 18 teacher assistant master, Joseph William Moss 17 pupil teacher, Edward Stanley Moss 15 pupil teacher and Albert Henry Moss 9. In 1892 George enrolled his orphaned nephew, Freddie Barr, (see 56.5a) in the local Hawley Crescent School at Camden. Presumably Freddie was living with the family at this time. The placement did not work out and where Freddie went for the next few years is not known. The family had moved to Hamstead by the turn of the century in 1901 and the youngest son had now joined his brothers as a teacher. Living in the house were George Thomas Moss 53 school master, Hannah Moss 58, George S Moss 28 school master, Joseph W Moss 27 school master, Albert H Moss 19 pupil teacher and Annie J Hayward 26 niece.

Sarah Ann Boardman nee Moss recalled that while living at Hamstead, George’s wife Hannah Moss nee Sealey “suffered a martyrdom with rheumatism and was bedridden for six years until she died in 1909 aged 67. She was a patient sufferer and, when the final summons came, was glad to go to be forever with her Lord. The sons without exception grew up to be good and able men but, with one exception, were not as clever as their father. This one took honours at Oxford College, and became a Church of England clergyman, in which capacity he is still engaged. As all of his sons were gone from home, my brother took a second wife to bear him company along life's pathway, or indeed he would have been lonely and sad in the eventide of life.”

In Sept 1910, George Thomas Moss aged 63 married the much younger Ethel Phillips (1873–1934) aged 37 at St Pancras. Two years later at the age of 65, in 1912, he retired from 'scholastic duties', after a strenuous life of teaching for over 50 years as boy and man. George and new wife Ethel moved to the Isle of Wight where he bought a property called ‘Maydene’ in Gills Cliff Rd., Ventnor. He enjoyed his retirement for twelve more years, before dying on 24 February 1924 at Ventnor.

Probate was granted to his widow Ethel Moss nee Phillips on on 12 April 1924. The value of the deceased estate was listed as £1940 14s 4d.

56.1c George Thomas Moss (1847-1924) & Rev Edward Stanley Moss (Notes by Michael Moss)
Michael Moss has written in detail about his side of the Moss family. Here are some extracts.
“All I knew about my great-grandfather George Thomas Moss was that he too had been a headmaster in London, that he composed church music, retired to the Isle of Wight and had married for the second time.... Although my great grandfather George Thomas Moss, a schoolmaster, had deserted the Baptist faith in which he had been brought up and become an Anglo-Catholic, (his sister) Sarah Ann Moss kept in touch. She noted in 1915, 'He writes to me occasionally and always appears to enjoy news from Australia.”

One of George Thomas Moss’ (b1847) children was Rev Edward Stanley Moss.“My grandfather (Revd Stanley Moss, the vicar of St Peter’s Church) is memorialised on the Internet by Parkstone School (www.parkstone.poole.sch.uk) that he helped to found, and for his cousin, the Home Secretary James Chuter Ede, there are private papers in the British Library.” (See 62.0)

56.2 Caroline (Carrie) Mary Moss (1849-1919)
Caroline was born in Aug 1849 at Farnham. She lived with her parents in Farnham in 1851 and moved with them to Ash in 1861.

1871 Census: Mission House, Farnborough

By 1871, at the age of 21 she had left home and was manager of Mission House, Farnborough. Her younger sister, Charlotte Eliza Moss 17 school teacher, was staying with her at the time. In 1881, she was 31, single and her occupation was live-in superintendant of Mission House, Farnborough Rd., Farnborough.

Later that decade in Dec 1888, Caroline 39 gave up work and married the much younger, Sergeant-Major Albert Victor Scrivens 25 (1863-1919) at Farnham. The following year in 1889, Albert was posted to Ireland and Caroline accompanied him. They cannot be found in the 1891-1901 censuses but apparently spent time in Gibraltar and later India as Albert fulfilled his army duties.

By 1911 Albert had retired, and the couple were living in Enfield. Albert V Scrivens army pensioner was listed as being 50 (really 48) and Caroline Scrivens nee Moss’ age was understated at being 56 (really 62). They had been married for 22 years, but had no children. Albert maintained a link with the army as a 'drill teacher’ in secondary schools.

Sarah Ann Boardman nee Moss wrote “I occasionally hear from my sister (Caroline) for, although she has no children of her own, she takes a warm interest in her nephews and nieces and often does them a good turn as opportunity offers. She is also actively engaged in Church work, therefore her time – like mine – is fully occupied.”

With the outbreak of war in 1914, Albert 51 was called up to serve in the army with the rank of Captain. On 12 Jul 1917 he was discharged because he was totally and permanently disabled. In 1919 Albert caught a severe cold while discharging his duties, returned too soon to service, and died on 11 January 1919 at Shoeburyness, Essex. (During 1918-1919 thousands died from the deadly 'Spanish Flu' pandemic). As Sarah Ann said in her writings, "Although buried with “military honours” sounds very imposing, it is not much consolation to a lonely wife or widow."

Probate was granted on 8 April 1919 to Caroline Mary Scrivens widow. Albert Victor Scrivens 56 of 'The Elms Lodge', Fitzroy Park, Highgate, Middlesex left effects to the value of £637. The death of her husband was a huge blow for Caroline 70, who passed away herself eight months later, on 15 Sept 1919 at St Pancras. Probate was granted on 31 October 1919 to her brother George Thomas Moss b1847 retired school master. Caroline Mary Scrivens of 'The Elms Lodge' Fitzroy Park Highgate Middlesex widow died 15 September 1919 at St. Pancras House St. Pancras Middlesex and left effects to the value of £872 11s.

56.3 GGM Sarah Ann Moss (1850-1921)
GGM Sarah Ann Moss was the second wife of GGF Henry Boardman, who she married in 1881. She had three children by him, who were step children to those born in his previous marriage. For more about her married life see 57.0 and 11.0.

56.4 Charlotte (Lottie) Eliza Moss (1853-1928)
Charlotte was born in Apr 1853 at Farnham. She lived with her parents and moved with them to Ash in 1861. In 1871, at the age of 17, she was working as a school teacher and was living at Mission House, Farnborough with her older sister Caroline Mary Moss 21 who was manager of the house (see above). In the early 1870’s Sarah Anne Boardman nee Moss recalls that she spent two happy years at Stockwell Teacher Training College in London with her sister 'Lottie'.

On 15 Apr 1879, Charlotte 26, married her first cousin Henry Richard Brown 37 widower at Farnham. Their mothers, Sarah Ann Chuter and Eliza Moss nee Chuter, were sisters. (See 61.0) Henry’s first wife, Sarah Ann Marsh had died two years earlier. With her marriage, Charlotte had gained an ‘instant’ family, which became even bigger the following year when she gave birth to a son. In 1881 living at East St, Epsom were Henry R. Brown 38 builder/cabinet maker, Charlotte E. Brown nee Moss 27, three children from Henry’s first marriage; Herbert H. Brown 15, Florence A.
Brown 12 and Clement G. Brown 9 and Charlotte’s son Cecil F. Brown 1.

By 1891 Charlotte and Henry were living in separate locations. Sarah Ann Boardman in her memoirs suggests obliquely in her notes that Charlotte and Henry’s marriage went through some rocky times. “My sister Lottie (who shared my college life) was married and settled at Epsom, Surrey. As Lottie was born next to me, you may guess we were great chums, and inseparable as children. She was always the adventurous one of the girls, could climb trees, row a boat, slide down the long slides, like a boy, so of course she was the first to sail away in the matrimonial car. She became mother to nine children three of whom died in infancy. Her eldest son joined the army, and fought through the Boer War, but during the present dreadful war (WW1) met a soldier's death near Mons on November 7th. 1914. Her younger son Percy is still serving in H.M. Army but I cannot say where just now, as he was invalided home from the front and has since rejoined his regiment.

Of the four sisters (my nieces), the eldest Daisy is married and has three children of her own. She writes me occasionally and appears to be a really clever young woman, as well as a good wife and mother. I have said nothing about my brother-in-law (Lottie’s Husband), as I do not love him, so will keep silence in regard to him. The three younger girls all appear to be good and amiable, and a great comfort to their mother in her time of bereavement and sorrow.”

1891 Census: Cromwell House in Cromwell Rd, Christchurch

In 1891, although still married, Charlotte and Henry were living separately and were both listed on the census as drapers. Charlotte Eliza Brown nee Moss 37 had moved 80 miles to Cromwell Rd., Christchurch with the younger children; Cecil Frederick Brown 11, Percival Brown 10mths and Daisy Alice Brown 9. Living with them was Henry’s mother Sarah Ann Brown nee Chuter 80 and Emily Gertrude Fry 16 servant. Charlotte was working as a draper and although living in separate houses, their marriage still seemed to be working, as Charlotte conceived another child that was born in 1899. At this time, husband Henry 49 was living in Hermitage Rd., Knaphill (80m from Christchurch). He must have been busy in his drapery business as he had an apprentice and also an assistant.

Charlotte (Lottie) Brown nee Moss c1927

In 1901 they were still separated (but married) with Charlotte having moved back to London and now living at Reading Rd, Fleet. Charlotte E Brown 47 was working in her own business as a draper, and supporting children Daisy A Brown 19, Percival Brown 10, Violet Brown 8 and Margaret Brown 2. At this time Henry R Brown 59 draper, was living alone 7 miles away at London Rd, Hook, Newnham.

Grave of  Henry & Charlotte Brown nee Chuter

56.4a Charlotte Eliza Moss & Henry Richard Brown; Another Perspective, by Steve Priestley
"Now we come to my GGGM, Charlotte Eliza, and her husband Henry Richard Brown. As you note, Sarah [Ann Moss] didn't 'love' Henry [Brown], so she wrote nothing more about him. You suggest that this is an oblique reference to 'rocky times' in Lottie and Henry's marriage and I agree that it may have been so. Lottie and Henry were, as you point out, in different places on census night in 1891 and in 1901. I do not conclude from this that they were necessarily separated as such; it is, I would say, at least equally likely that they were each running parts of the family business, of necessity working and even living apart but seeing each other when they could (as the birth of three children during the period 1891-1901 might suggest). Henry came from a poor background in Somerstown, London, and his father [Henry Brown see Chuter Family Tree] appears to have died when he was a small boy (although the complete absence of any documentary evidence of a death does sometimes make me wonder if there's another explanation (e.g. desertion or even transportation). Henry, his mother and sister were taken in by their 'Chuter' relatives in Epsom, who were in the building and carpentry trades, and this allowed him to make something of himself. I have the impression he was quite driven, probably a strong and uncompromising character. We know from Sarah that Lottie too had a strong character. How happy the marriage was, it is not possible at this remove to state; the evidence is all circumstantial. On the one hand, I was told some years ago by my late 1st cousin twice removed, Audrey Pearce, that Henry "had not much interest in his two late daughters" (Margery and Winnie). On the other hand, I have a photo of the family on the sands at Bournemouth in the 1920s, in which Henry looks positively jovial, if not genial. The truth may well be complicated."

Henry must have been a very successful businessman, as the house he built in 1903 was quite substantial. The 'Basingstoke Gazette' ran an article about it titled 'Gothic Masterpiece', which included this description, "Twin turrets and a wealth of period features make Nately Towers (pictured), on the outskirts of Basingstoke, a gem of a property for a family. The original owner of the house was Henry Richard Brown, who lived there until 1926 and is now buried in the nearby St Swithin's churchyard. In 1903, he sited his Gothic masterpiece in wooded grounds on Scures Hill and salvaged the cast-iron pillars supporting the veranda from St Pancras Ironworks." The full article is here, www.basingstokegazette.co.uk .

Nately Towers, built by Henry Richard Brown in 1903

Steve adds "I recall how as a child, whenever we drove through that part of Hampshire my Mum would always ask Dad to slow down so she could get a look at Nately Towers from the A31 road that runs past it. My grandma used to talk wistfully about spending time there as a child and young woman. I did once ask the former owners if I could look around but they declined, although they were kind enough to send me some photos of the interior. Whether Henry over-extended himself I don't know but oral tradition in the family is that his fortunes declined at some point in the 1920s. At any rate, he died intestate. I think the reason why you suggest that he left his estate to Lottie and their son Percy was that it was to those two that letters of administration were granted by the Principal Probate Registry. The gross value of the estate was indeed £10,435. Its net value was of course smaller and I have a copy of the administration accounts of the estate which show that the house was sold for £1,000, the remainder being realised mainly from sale of war stock, victory bonds, bank shares and a further property, in Epsom. After costs and disbursements, the estate was divided between Lottie and each of Henry's seven surviving children, the sums for Herbert (in South Africa) and Clement (in a mental hospital) ....... In my opinion, the photograph you have of Lottie in a bay window is unlikely to have been taken at Nately Towers. I have seen other pictures which appear to have been taken at the same time and place, which clearly show a modest house (poignantly called 'Nately') in a town or suburban setting. I surmise that it may have been the house of one of her daughters. Although Lottie's address at the time of her death was in Wokingham (which is where her youngest daughter, Winnie, lived), she appears to have spent much of her time with Violet, who lived in Chandlers Ford. It may be that the photo you have, was taken there."

56.4b Daisy Alice Brown (1881-1963) Daughter of Charlotte Eliza Moss (1853-1928) by Steve Priestley
"Turning to my GGM, Daisy, whom Sarah calls 'a really clever young woman, as well as a good wife and mother'. I knew her in my childhood. She was by then a really clever old woman, if somewhat eccentric. She had married, against her parents' wishes (and when very pregnant), a shoe salesman from humble stock, William Hailstone.

William Hailstone

He, like Daisy, was musically accomplished and by all accounts theirs was a true love match and a very happy marriage, albeit they had to flee to Bishop's Castle in the wilds of South Shropshire to escape the wrath of [father] Henry (more evidence, possibly, of Henry's difficult character). Sadly, William died of tuberculosis in 1917. Daisy was by then reconciled with her parents and used to visit them at Nately Towers, with her three children Gladys, Billy and Winnie (my GM). 

Daisy Hailstone nee Brown

In 1918, Daisy married the man who succeeded William as manager of Ross's shoe shop in Bishop's Castle, Alf Saysell. Alf was in his spare time a musician, ventriloquist and herbalist. He and Daisy became spiritualists and I can remember as a child seeing 'spirit photographs' of Daisy and Alf surrounded by the likenesses of departed family members. Alas, all that sort of thing was thrown away by my grandparents when Daisy died. Almost nothing survives, just a few postcards sent by Cecil to Daisy before he died on the front line in 1914, and a photo of Percy in uniform."

56.4c Percival Brown (1891-1983) Son of Charlotte Eliza Moss (1853-1928) by Steve Priestley

"Percy Brown, like his brother Cecil, was a regular soldier in the Hampshire Regiment, although they served in different battalions. Percy's battalion, the 2nd, landed at Gallipolli and he lasted a full month there before being evacuated with dysentery. He recovered and later served in France with the Dorset Regiment. He kept a diary of his army life, a copy of which I obtained many years ago from Dorothy Pottage (how she came to have it I have no idea). It's no literary masterpiece but it does offer a few insights into his character; a gentle man, musical like so many of his family (he played cornet in the army band). He settled at Alveston, near Stratford-on-Avon, after the war, where he married Edith Smith and they had two children, Henry Cecil b1922 and Margaret Isobel b1925. Percy lived until 1983 but I'm not aware of any contact between him and my family after Daisy's death in 1963. Such a pity, I'd have loved to meet him."

56.5 Alice Moss (1855-1883)

Alice was born in 1855. She lived with her parents at Farnham and after 1861 at Ash. Sarah Ann Boardman nee Moss recalled that, “My sister Alice was of a nervous disposition, and rather apt to think herself  'the family martyr'. Alice passed through Stockwell Teachers' College with distinction, and had undertaken school duties at Hitchin. As our schools were only about half an hour's walk apart, we spent our leisure time together, went home (to the Manse which was now finished) for the holidays and in many ways contrived to get a great deal of happiness out of our proximity to each other. We joined the same Church – the Walsworth Road Baptist – taught in the same Sunday School and sat for our Sunday School teachers' examinations at the same time. Alice won the teachers' prize – books to the value of £5 and I passed with distinction in two out of three subjects. We spent five happy years together in this manner. My sister Alice had a sweet voice, and often went to the Infirmary to sing to the convalescent patients, and we both took turns in playing the organ in the Church on Sundays. We attended the Philharmonic practices, and concerts and had a good time generally. What with Band of Hope meetings, choir practices, teachers' meetings and prayer meetings, the time was very fully occupied.”

1881 Cenus Hitchin

In 1881 Alice Moss 26, was sharing a house in Queen St. with another teacher, Amanda Glanville 30. Around this time she met Arthur Vincent Barr 24, a medical student who had moved to Hitchin from his native St Albans (50m away) some time earlier. Arthur was boarding in Walsworth Rd near the Baptist church, which was less than a mile from Alice’s residence in Queens St. They could well have met at a church function. Alice resigned from her teaching job in July 1881. On 8 October 1881 at Ash Vale, Alice and Vincent were married. It was a big occasion as it was a double marriage ceremony, with her older sister Sarah and her partner. The two sisters were married by their father in Ash Vale Chapel.

The couple remained in Hitchin and on 7 Mar 1883 Alice gave birth to son Frederick Vincent Barr. Sadly she became very ill after the birth of her son and spent the last five months of her life in hospital before dying at the age of 28 on 22 August 1883 at Biggleswade, Bedfordshire (80m from Farnham). It seems that the death of Alice was too much for husband Arthur and he died later that year at Hitchin in Dec 1883, leaving his baby son an orphan.

Inscriptions on Alice and Arthur's grave at Hitchin

Note by Steve Priestley: "The former British School on Walworth Road in Hitchin is now a museum of non-conformist education. Sally and I visited a few years ago and it's well worth seeing".

56.5a Frederick Vincent Barr (1893-1934) Only son of Alice Barr nee Moss
Sarah Ann Boardman nee Moss recalled “My dear sister never recovered her health after the birth of her little son (born March 7th. 1883) but was taken away in all her youth and brightness in August of the same year. We little thought when we celebrated our double wedding, and all our family met at the Manse (6 sisters and 2 brothers) that that would be the last time we should all meet in this life. The next time we met was around her grave. Her little son was left an orphan when Frederick her young husband who never looked up again died in Dec. Alice was baptized by our father and joined the Church when about 13 years of age – she was called away quite early being just a little over 27 to join the ranks of the redeemed. It caused a great blank in my life, for we lived near each other and could confide in each other as only sisters can.”

" My father and mother took the little Frederick (Freddie) Barr, and brought him up as their own. My elder sister Carrie (Caroline Moss), who was unmarried (at the time), acted a mother's part to the poor little fellow.... He has grown up to be a trusted servant in a large draper's establishment in London, holding a responsible position. He is very musical and plays the organ in one of the leading churches in the suburbs of London. He is married to a very superior girl, and has two little daughters.”

Frederick Vincent Barr had a very rough start to life. His mother and father died before he was one year old. He was raised by his grandparents GGGP George Thomas and Eliza Moss nee Chuter (assisted by their daughters at times) until the age of 9 when they fell ill and Frederick’s grandfather passed away shortly after.

On 19 Sep 1892 at the age of 9, Frederick Vincent Barr was enrolled (for a few days) at Hawley Crescent School in Camden by his uncle George Thomas Moss (b1847) of 8 Prince of Wales Rd. (see 56.1) As the school was only a half mile from his uncle’s house, presumably Arthur was living there at the time. The record shows that Frederick only stayed at the school for a short time, that he had spent very little time at school previously and that his standard of education was “low”. It seemed  his academic background determined that his future would not involve schooling but rather obtaining a job.

Royal Navy Record

It seems that Frederick (b7 Mar 1883 at Hitchin) signed up for a twelve year engagement as a seaman for the Royal Navy and served on the training ship Impregnable from Apr to Oct 1898 before being invalided out in that same year. The record above tells us he was of very good character and quite short at 5 ft 2 inches.

In 1901 the census tells us that Frederick Vincent Barr 20 born Hitchin, a steel turner and fitter, was a boarder with the Beaver Family at Heybridge Essex. As his full name is uncommon, the place of birth is correct and the date of birth is close, this is probably Frederick.

Frederick married Ethel Lily Watson at All Saints Clapton Park Hackney on 8 Oct 1905 and the following year their first daughter with the beautiful name Joyeuse Alice Barr was born.

1911 Census: 74 Howard Rd, Walthamstow.

In 1911, Frederick Vincent Barr 28 commercial clerk for a coal merchant, Ethel Lily Barr and Joyeuse Alice Barr 4 were living at Walthamstow.

Frederick died in 1934 and was buried at Waltham Forest, Greater London at the age of 51.

Note by Steve Priestley: "Freddie Barr did indeed work as a young man at a large London store. I was told it was 'Peter Jones' in Sloane Square, which is now part of the John Lewis group. I doubt that his Aunt Lottie had anything to do with this; she and Henry were engaged in a very different sector of the market. Sarah's opinion of Freddie's musical accomplishments is substantiated by a newspaper report that he played the organ at the wedding of his sister-in-law, Mabel, in 1914."

56.6 Frederick William Moss (1856-1920)
Frederick was born in 1856 in Farnham and lived with his parents from 1861-1871 when they moved to Ash. GGM Sarah Ann Boardman nee Moss recalled that “My brother (Frederick) William (Willie) Moss was born in June 1856. I remember how very proud and glad we were because of our little baby brother and, as I was 5½ years old when he came, I took quite a motherly interest in him. We all strove as much as possible to ease our parents' burdens, and under God, we grew up to be a Christian family – and outsiders often said we were a credit to the neighbourhood. I may here point out that a lack of riches is not always detrimental to character and as we one and all had to strive to get education for that very reason, we valued it all the more. My brother was no exception to this rule for he too early showed a determination to succeed. I mentioned in the earlier pages of this history that, after father had given up school teaching, and my elder brother (George T Moss b1847) had gone back to his former position, it fell to my lot to instruct my younger sisters and brother in what little I knew.”

"Day by day we gathered around our desk and read and wrote, and 'did' sums as best we could. At the age of 13 father thought it was time to give my brother a better education than I could. It happened that just at this time that Mr. Dominey – my brother George's master, wanted a pupil teacher. So Willie sat for the exam and passed. He had to go to Farnham (7 miles from Ash) everyday, and it was about 3 miles to the station from which the train started. So that made it six miles walk every day, and necessitated rising every morning – summer and winter – at 6 o'clock. But the true British spirit kept the boy up to his work and, as he was very fond of learning besides having a great respect for Mr. Dominey, he made good progress. About three years after this, some new and very handsome schools were built at Aldershot, and Mr. Dominey was fortunate in being made headmaster, so Willie was transferred from Farnham to Aldershot, much to the joy of all concerned. We were only about 2½ miles from Aldershot so, instead of rising at six, your humble servant could remain in bed until ¼ to seven, to summon the weary youth from his dreams to the stern realities of life.”

“My brother [(Frederick) William Moss b1856] continued at Aldershot until he had finished his apprenticeship, and then sat for a scholarship (at Borough Road College), which he obtained and eventually became a student there. After the two year's training, he took up the duties of headmaster at the Maldon British School. Here he remained, doing good work amongst the boys of that town. Here he also found his wife (Emila A Dudley) who, being a school teacher, went to Maldon as a supply, met my brother, and an acquaintance was formed, which proved life-long in their case.”

In Dec 1880 Frederick Moss married Emila Anna Dudley at Brixton and they were living at Maldon the following year in 1881.

1881 census: Maldon, Essex

The household consisted of Frederick William Moss 24 schoolmaster, Emila A. Moss 26, and Arthur F. Dudley 19 (Emila’s brother) assistant teacher.

The family grew rapidly in the next decade, so by 1891 living in the Maldon home were; Frederick W Moss 34 teacher, Emila A Moss 36, Ella M Moss 9, Frederick William Moss 8 and Arthur D Moss 3 as well as Amy Moss 32 (Frederick’s younger sister) teacher, Mary E. E. Knights 20 boarder and Emma Malett 14 servant. Sadly, in 1894, Frederick and Emila's eldest daughter Ella died, at the age of 13. In 1901 the family living at 120 High St Maldon consisted of Frederick W Moss 44 school teacher, Emila A Moss 46, Arthur D Moss 13 and Cyril Frank Moss 7. Eldest son Frederick Mos 18 was living and working as an apprentice 'druggist' with Henry Herbert in Berkshire.

In the 1900's Frederick Moss snr was caring for his elderly mother GGGM Eliza Moss nee Chuter 80, a boarder with the Reynald’s family, who lived just around the corner in Victoria Rd.

1911 Census Maldon

By 1911 the family had moved to 33 London Rd., Maldon. There were Frederick William Moss 54 head teacher for the County Council, Cyril Frank Moss 17 student and Helen Rosalie Phillips 21 house helper. At this time Emila Anna Moss nee Dudley was living at 20 Cliff Parade, Lydhurst, (a boarding house) at Leigh on Sea, staying with her son Frederick William Moss 28 chemist. According to the 1911 census, Frederick b1856 and Emila had been married for 30 years and had five children two of whom had died. However, Michael Moss informs us that Frederick and Emila had separated (see below). Frederick and Emila lost two sons in WW1; Cyril died in 1915 and Arthur was killed on 5 May 1917, leaving them with one surviving child out of the four that Emila had given birth to.

Frederick Moss would have been looking forward to retirement in his sixties, but did not have long to enjoy it (if he had any retirement at all), as he died on 22 Oct 1920 at the age of 64.

Frederick William Moss of 39 Fellows Rd., Hamstead left effects valued at £749 in his will. Probate was granted to his son Frederick William Moss, chemist. Three years later his wife Emila Moss died on 14 Mar 1923 whilst living in Seine, France. Probate was granted on 20 Jun 1923 to son Frederick William Moss chemist. Emila Anna Moss nee Dudley left £208 in her will.

56.6a Three sons of Frederick William Moss (1856-1920); Frederick (1883-1977), Arthur (1888-1917) & Cyril Moss (1894-1915)
GGM Sarah Ann Boardman nee Moss wrote, “Frederick kept in much closer contact, as his mother [GGGM Eliza Moss nee Chuter] was living with him. At least one of his sons came to Australia and served with the Australian army during WW1.

They had sons and daughters born to them, but only three of the former reached manhood. My brother (now 59 years old) is still with his wife living at Maldon, teaching both Sundays and week days for he has ever been an energetic worker in the Master's cause. He has been (a Labor Councillor) on the County Council for 16 years, and is a great favourite with the men of Maldon.

When the Great War of 1914 broke out, two of my brother's sons (the eldest and youngest) enlisted in Kitchener's army and were sent to France. They were both qualified dispensers, and Fred, the elder, was placed in one of the hospitals while Cyril preferred the fighting line. He was always of a bold dashing spirit, afraid of nothing, and he with a comrade of kindred spirits, fought their way through the German wire entanglements, and were the first to throw hand grenades into the enemy's trenches. He was the first to fall, and never did a German shell do a more dastardly deed than take the life of Cyril Moss. He was a handsome, brave, scholarly youth only 21 years of age. It was at Lens (on the 25 Sep 1915 that he gave his life for honour and righteousness. The second son Arthur was in Sydney when this happened, and I believe I am right in saying that he has gone to England intending to join the colours and fill the gap caused by his brother's death.”

Michael Moss provides some additional information about Frederick's marital situation. He writes "Interestingly Arthur Dudley enlisted in Australia which suggests to me that his father emigrated and then returned to Maldon. He is not in the 1901 (census) but is back in Maldon by 1911, by which time his two daughters are dead and he has separated from his wife. Frederick was a prominent local Labour Party politician."

Below is an edited version of what Michael knows about Frederick's sons.
"The first to die was Cyril Frank, who fell at Loos in September 1915. He and his brother Frederick William had only volunteered earlier in the year as part of Kitchener's army. Nevertheless it was his brother Frederick who won the Military Cross for acts of exemplary gallantry in August 1916. On learning of his brother's death his elder brother Arthur Dudley Moss, who was working as an electrical engineer at Burwood ('on the outskirts of Melbourne'), immediately volunteered to join the Australian forces. He embarked from Sydney on board HMAT Wiltshire on 22 August 1916 and reached the rank of 2nd Lieutenant. He was killed at Villers-Bretonneux, near Amines in Picardy in May 1917 leaving behind a young widow and has no known grave. Apart from being commemorated at the national war memorial (Canberra), his name is also engraved on the Masonic memorial at Baulkham Hills. Frederick William Moss survived the war and emigrated to America where he became vice-president of Standard Oil under John D Rockefeller." More information about Frederick William Moss can be found on the internet.

Note by Steve Priestley: "The surviving records of the Stockwell (ladies') and Borough Road (mens') Teacher Training Colleges are held at Brunel University, in Uxbridge. They are unindexed, but I have been able to find some records of interest relating to Frederick. I attach a photo of Frederick's cohort of students; unfortunately, I don't know which of these fine young men is him."

56.7 Amy Moss (1858-1919)
Amy was born in 1858 in Farnham and moved to Ash with her parents where she grew up. Sarah Ann Boardman nee Moss recollected that “My sister Amy is still unmarried. She has always been closely associated with our brother William. While he was serving his apprenticeship at Aldershot in the boys' board school, she likewise became pupil teacher in the girls' division of the same school. She too followed the example of her brothers and sisters, sat for a scholarship and passed, entering Stockwell Training College a few weeks afterwards....for the first year of her London life, my brother was a senior student of Borough Road College, so that they often saw each other especially on Sundays. She remained for the usual two years training, and then took the Head Mistress' place at Maldon Essex, which said place has been raided on two occasions by the German 'Zeps'".

“Being unusually gifted, matrimony has never played any great part in her life. She has gained the coveted R.A.M. in music with honours, both in singing and playing. She has a full Drawing Certificate, and she is also qualified to teach Medicinal Botany. Added to all this, she has gained a full degree at the Edinburgh University, and is entitled to wear the cap and gown. I cannot quite call to mind the exact letters she can use after her name, but I believe they are equivalent to an English M.A. Both sister and brother are still engaged in tuition at Maldon, and are likewise earnest workers in the Master's Kingdom. I often hear from my sister and she gives me much information regarding the bravery and courage of our nation now engaged in war.”

1891 Census 10 Market Hill Rd Maldon

Amy remained a single woman all her life and lived in Maldon where she was a well qualified teacher. In 1881 Amy Moss 22, was boarding with the Raymond family in Maldon. By 1891 she had moved in with her brother Frederick William Moss and his family and in 1901 at the age of 42 she was living in her own home at 13 Wantz Rd Maldon, where she still resided in 1911. In the winter of 1918-1919 there was an outbreak of a particularly deadly form of influenza that became known as Spanish Flu. It often killed its victims within 24 hours. Amy Moss picked up the virus in mid February and died on 20 February 1919 at Maldon, Essex at the age of 58.

Probate for the will of Amy Moss spinster, of 13 County Road Maldon Essex was granted on 28 August 1919 to her sister Charlotte Eliza Brown nee Moss (wife of Henry Richard Brown). Her will left effects to the value of £197.

Note by Steve Priestley: "There is also one paper in the archive relating to Amy Moss, which suggests that she was lined up for appointment as a governess before finding her first teaching position. In the 'Chelmsford Chronicle' of 8 August 1919 there appears this charming piece: "A Handsome Brass Tablet has been placed in the Central Hall of the Council Schools to the memory of Miss Moss, who for over 40 years had been headmistress in the town. The tablet bears the inscription; 'This tablet has been placed here by the scholars, teachers and managers in memory of Miss Amy Moss, LLA, 40 years head mistress of this borough, 1878-1919.'"

56.8 Katie Elizabeth Moss (1860-1892)
Katie was born in July 1860 Farnham and moved to Ash with her parents as an infant. Sarah Ann Boardman nee Moss recollected that Kate “was ever the pet of the home and the very sunshine of our Father's life. Naturally of a cheerful loving disposition, and ever willing to give place to others, it was no wonder we all loved her. As she grew older, she early developed a talent for music, and learned to play the piano, organ and violin in an incredibly short time. As her services were required at home both at the Church and Mission House, she remained at home assisting our Father in every possible way. Neither did she need seek for music pupils for she had as many as her time would allow, and thus added to her income very materially."

“My youngest sister Kate died in 1892, I write with saddened heart. It was in the winter of 1891-2 that my father and mother both contracted influenza, and Katie nursed them through it. But Spring came very tardily that year, and the brave girl herself caught a heavy cold which turned to influenza. She seemed to rally for a time – in fact one morning she felt so much better that she left her room to give a music lesson. It was her last effort. She went back to her bed, and two days after, the Reaper came and took one of the choicest flowers that ever bloomed on God's earth. My dear father never recovered from this crushing blow, for Katie had been his right hand in everything. Ere three months passed, he too had been summoned to the land of rest, and Father and daughter lie side by side in the Ash Church Cemetery.” Kate Elizabeth Moss died in March 1892 aged 31 at Ash Vale, Surrey.

Note by Steve Priestley: "The grave in which Kate Moss lies with her father is still to be found in Ash Cemetery. Unfortunately, the memorial (a stone obelisk) is broken but the inscription remains legible".

57.0 GGM Sarah Ann Moss (1850-1921) & GGF Henry Boardman (1841-1919)
Sarah was born on 13 Nov 1850 at Farnham, Surrey and lived with her parents until the 1870’s. In her recollections she recalled that she spent two happy years at Stockwell Training College with her sister Lottie. During this time at their father's wish, “we joined a Church in London – he saying it would be better for us to be associated with a Church rather than going from one place to another in search of celebrities. Accordingly, we joined the Rev. Arthur Mursell's Church, Stockwell Place, and as our music teacher was choir master there, he very soon had both of us in his choir. On Sunday afternoons, we went to teach a class of boys at Spurgeon's Orphanage which was situated near our college. The time passed all too quickly and, at the end of the 2nd. year, we had to teach a class in the presence of her Majesty's Inspector of Schools. This criticism lesson was the crucial test of the two year's training – If we passed, well and good [and] if we failed, we must perforce be content to take a secondary place in the scholastic world. Fortunately very few failed, thanks to the excellent training of our head teacher, and as both my sister and I got good marks re our teaching ability, we were enabled to start teaching at the beginning of the New Year (1873)."

"My first school was situated in the South of England – and I practically had to form the school, as it had never been under Government supervision before. The children were mostly from Mechanics' homes, as the school itself was built and run by an engineering firm so that I did not have to deal with the dull stupidity of the agricultural class, in fact the pupils were as bright and intelligent a crowd as one could wish to have. I remained at this school for three examinations (2½ years), and got good reports at each. There was a Sunday School, at which I taught, and very often my services were required at the organ. There was also a Band of Hope, and several other affairs that I took part in. Altogether I spent a very full 2½ years of my life there. At this time, my younger sister Alice wrote me saying there was a school vacant near hers in Hitchin. Would I like to come and be near her? Yes I would. I applied. I got the school, for the salary was better, and the work less arduous than at the Foundry School. So I said 'good bye' to many friends and acquaintances I had at Clatford, and took up my new duties at Walsworth near Hitchin. The scholars here had been allowed to do pretty much as they liked, so I had fairly hard work to get them into anything like good order."

“As I had gained my 'parchment' (the credentials a teacher gained after two years of successful teaching at one school) and a school being vacant at Hitchin, I tried and obtained the headmistress-ship of the same school, and took up my duties there in July 1876. As our (with her sister Alice) schools were only about half an hour's walk apart, we spent our leisure time together, went home (to the Manse which was now finished) for the holidays and in many ways contrived to get a great deal of happiness out of our proximity to each other. We joined the same Church – the Walsworth Road Baptist – taught in the same Sunday School and sat for our Sunday School teachers' examinations at the same time...and I passed with distinction in two out of three subjects. We spent five happy years together in this manner, both striving to extend the Master's kingdom in various humble ways.

My sister Alice and I took turns in playing the organ in the Church on Sundays. We attended the Philharmonic practices, and concerts and had a good time generally. What with Band of Hope meetings, choir practices, teachers' meetings and prayer meetings, the time was very fully occupied. There was a teacher's residence attached to the school, and several other emoluments connected with it. I remained here for five years and raised the school into a good and orderly one. We both gave up our School teaching in July 1881 and were married by my father at Ash Vale Chapel on October 8th. 1881.”

57.1 GGM Sarah Ann Moss met Henry Boardman

1881 Census Walsworth, Hitchin

 In 1881 Sarah Ann 30 was a school mistress at Walsworth British School. She had a a 15 year old boarder living with her, who was a pupil teacher. Her workplace was about 1 miles from Market Place, where future husband Henry Boardman had his shop.

At some point around 1880, Sarah Ann 30 met Henry Boardman 40, a successful china dealer. Henry’s first wife had died about twelve months earlier. He had ten children by his previous marriage, and of the seven still living with him, five were under the age of eleven.

Sarah Ann Boardman nee Moss c1881

Henry and Sarah may have met at his china shop, the local church or perhaps his children were pupils at Sarah Ann’s school. Sarah must have really 'been taken' with Henry Boardman (and his large family), because she married him on the 8 Oct 1881 at Ashvale. She was married by her father in a double wedding ceremony with her sister Alice. It was not long before GGM Sarah Ann Boardman nee Moss (1850-1921) fell pregnant and on 27 Jul 1883 she gave birth to GF Reginald Arthur Boardman. Over the next few years two more sons were born; Ralph Edwin Boardman on 20 Jan 1885 and John Moss Boardman on 29 Oct 1887. (See 14.0)

In the late 1880’s Henry’s business ran into financial problems (see 11.5) and as Sarah Ann said, the family “happened on rather hard times and after the birth of my third son, we left Old England's shores for Australia where, under the guidance of Almighty God, we were enabled to keep our dear children about us until they left for homes of their own.”
 
The family set sail on the ship 'Taroba' and arrived in Brisbane in mid 1889, Henry and daughter Bertha kept diaries of the trip. On board were Henry 47, Sarah Ann 38, Mabel 19, Bertha 17, Nellie 15, Annie 11, GF Arthur Reginald 5, Ralph 4 and John an infant. See 11.4 for details of Sarah Ann's life in Australia with GGF Henry Boardman (1841-1919), and 14.0 for details of the lives of her children.

57.2 Note about the Recollections of GGM Sarah Ann Boardman nee Moss
Much of the detail contained in this part of the family tree is sourced from, ‘The Recollections of Sarah Ann Boardman nee Moss’, which is now available on the web. When Sarah started to write her recollections in 1915, at the age of 65, she would have had no idea how far and wide they would have been read, and how valuable they would be for those with an interest in their family background or who just have an interest in the social attitudes of people of that time. No matter what our thoughts about Sarah’s commentary on others in her family, she certainly had a razor sharp memory and I for one thank her for taking the time to jot them down.

58.0 Moss Family Tree

59.0 Reserved for Future Use